Every August, Oxford welcomes a slew of new faces, and many familiar, returning ones. And Oxford itself changes in many ways over the summer, while the classics hold steady for the incoming crowds.
A few of the newer sights around town include the string of roundabouts on Molly Barr Road near Highways 7 and 30. The Local Voice office is very near this stretch of road we now like to call “Mario Kart Lane.” Keep going a little further west along Molly Barr and you will hit the newest roundabout at Chickasaw. Dizzy yet?
If you’re interested in trying new restaurants, there are a few. Back Nine and Quack’s both opened in April 2023. Back Nine on South Lamar offers a sports bar atmosphere with multi-sport simulators (Mario Kart anyone?) and a menu featuring elevated pub fare like burgers, flatbreads, and even a lobster roll. Quack’s, next door to Oxford icon Ajax Diner, serves up gourmet hot dogs and some truly killer cocktails. Stop by on Monday nights for The Bachelorette watch party when they serve up charcuterie boards and tapas with bottle service.
Some of our familiar favorites have cooked up new specials for the fall semester, too. City Grocery is once again open for lunch and dinner on Mondays, and SoLa has brought back their famous kimchi fries for half-price during Happy Hour every Friday and Saturday. The newly renovated Snackbar now offers a Super Happy Hour every Wednesday night starting at 8:30 pm, where you can nab $8 cocktails and special menu items at the bar. Uno Mas will bring back their late-night menus Thursday through Saturday, so if you get that taco craving after midnight, you can definitely hit that.
If you’re ever in the mood for karaoke (and let’s be honest, who isn’t ever in the mood for karaoke?) you can now sing your heart out five days a week at Rooster’s Blues House, starting at 5:30 pm. Sounds like the perfect pregame, or the main event for those with early mornings.
The Library Sports Bar & Grill is legendary, to say the least. “Sylly Week” is coming August 21, and they will be there for you with all three bars open and THE BULL from Monday through Thursday. There’s live music Friday and Saturday, so you have no excuse to miss out on a good time.
We’ve been hearing rumors about a new late-night situation coming to Opa. The popular Greek spot will have an after-hours menu, full bar service, and secret drink specials every Friday and Saturday night. Dubbed “Mount Olympus,” this locale could be the one where we finally get to brush elbows with Aphrodite or Hermes.
Sleepy Cactus will begin a new Friday night Sleepy Suppers series on home game weekends. These will be four-course prix fixe dinners, and you can snag reservations through their IG @sleepy.cactus.ms. Guaranteed to be YUM and stress-free, plus you can BYOB!
And if all this is just too much socializing for you (we get it), you can always have a chill night in and still enjoy over 85 of Oxford’s restaurants by ordering from Fetcht Delivery. Yep, same awesome stuff, and they will bring it right to your door. You don’t even have to get out of your pajamas. Plus, they’re the only service that delivers from Steak & Shake and Raising Cane’s. Truly local heroes.
Oxford is home to all sorts of folks, some for a few years, some for a lifetime. We’re glad you’re here, too.
