Park in St Giles, Oxford, step out of your car and within seconds you'll be in gastro heaven. For clustered around the area of trendy Little Clarendon Street is a foodie's paradise.

It seems that almost every week a new delicatessen, restaurant or bar opens, each brimming with new edibles and ideas.

And if there was any doubt that food is the main leisure pursuit of the 21st century, an afternoon here will change all your preconceptions.

But come, let's wander down and prove it is no longer a bastion of smart women's clothes shops and interior design stores, but a wonderfully colourful mix of delis and eateries.

Starting at the top of the street, just past the Oxfam Book Shop and the famous Eagle and Child pub there is the new Green's Café, a calming minimalist sandwich shop that taps into the rushing academic passing trade.

Taylors delicatessen is on the corner of St Giles and Little Clarendon Street, drawing people in with its wonderful window display. It is an Aladdin's cave for anyone interested in eating or cooking and simply begs a quick browse.

Further up, past Browns, is the booming Woodstock Road Delicatessen with a vegetarian backbone. The café serves fresh salads, sandwiches and soups, in a wonderfully original variety of flavours using only the tastiest combinations and ingredients for a very reasonable sum, which change every day.

Sitting at rustic wooden tables inside, the clientele can watch the world go by and eye up the delicious provisions from pasta and olives to oils and cakes, which grace the rest of the shop.

The café is a firm favourite with students and the health conscious, who just can't get enough of this kind of fresh produce and come back time after time.

Little Clarendon Street is jammed with restaurants of all shapes and sizes, and you certainly won't go hungry here.

From the well-known Pierre Victoire and Café Rouge chains to the independent Porters, there is something for everyone as you stroll down the street.

A new Mortons sandwich shop has opened, rubbing shoulders with the Juice bar, a new tapas restaurant, the well-established Duke of Cambridge and Angels Cocktail Bar, while shops such as the legendary George & Davis ice cream parlour inject some fun.

From the west-end of the street, venture a little way in to neighbouring Walton Street and you'll discover a delight of delicatessens.

Opposite you is the new Gastros Deli, a tiny sustainable food shop selling local, organic and fair trade produce including local meat, cheese and vegetables and promoting a vegetable box scheme. Want to look at the future shape of the deli? Take a peep inside!

The well-established Gluttons is further up, past The Big Bang sausage and mash restaurant, curry houses and a fantastic selection of ethnic eateries.

The Jericho Tavern serves great food and competes with the wonderful Italian, Branca, and its French equivalent, Brasserie Blanc, while Loch Fyne welcomes all lovers of seafood.

Gluttons is a well-known and well-established Oxford delicatessen that should have no problem competing with the new kids on the block. Great pies, quiches and salad concoctions fill their shop and they offer a home catering service.

Keep going past the Infirmary, aim for the old bathroom shop - the latest concept business to hit Jericho. Manos fresh food bar and deli, which not only boasts a mezze selection to rival any Greek restaurant and is also child-friendly.

On offer are a tempting selection of Greek delicacies, Mediterranean produce and wine, and downstairs you can eat your purchases on sunken tables. Mums' heaven.

And with a garden being planned for next year I've no doubt this will be a rip-roaring success.