Birmingham best restaurants: where to eat, drink and stay

Best restaurants in Birmingham

Otto – best pizza

Hip, utilitarian Jewellery Quarter space that serves some of the best Neapolitan-style pizza this side of Sorrento. From Otto’s lush, crushed tomato sauce to its homemade ham, or its pea and wild garlic pesto, every element of the menu has been lovingly honed. Fermented for at least 72 hours to create delicious flavour complexity, then blast-cooked to puffy, leopard-spotted perfection (in an imported wood-fired Gianni Acunto oven), Otto’s bases are thoughtfully topped with, for example, beef ragu, taleggio, braised red wine shallots and pecorino, or ‘nduja, honey and – Otto’s makes good use of British charcuterie, too – Wenlock Edge Farm chorizo. A relaxed buzzy vibe completes this attractive deal. ottopizza.uk

Bonehead – best for fried chicken

Tucked in behind New Street station, the black-clad Bonehead has a rock bar vibe (heavy metal memorabilia, street art, craft beers, cool, grungy-alternative music), and a stellar rep for its buttermilk fried chicken. Think: juicy poultry encased in crisp, light 'original' or 'Nashville hot' coatings, deftly layered with vibrant flavours. Tenders can be dipped in sauces from lime aioli to ranch dressing, while the chicken thigh burgers include various additions and glazes, such as bourbon BBQ or sriracha honey. Look out for one-off events and collaborations. This summer, these included a fish sandwich created using a new hot sauce from the electronic DJ-producers, Bicep. Bonehead also has a sister bar in Stirchley, Deadbeat. boneheaduk.com

Albatross Death Cult

With its theatrically black interior and rock soundtrack, chef Alex Claridge’s The Wilderness restaurant is a singular experience. His second Birmingham venue, Albatross Death Cult, is similarly distinctive. A 14-seat, omakase-style counter dining set-up, it uses wild British seafood to create dishes which it promises will “smack you in the face like ocean spray”. ADC’s tasting menu is constantly changing, dictated by the seasonality and volatile availability of the exceptional fish and seafood it relies on. Said produce is treated with great technical skill and an intelligent restraint to create plates of, for example, smoked trout belly and belly fat XO with smoked caviar, which aim to enhance these prime ingredients, without any superfluous cheffy flourishes. The chatty staff are enthusiastic exponents of the methods and ingredients used to execute dishes which might range from Cornish mackerel with fermented plum ponzu to a crowning sushi rice ice cream, mushroom caramel and candied nori seaweed. If, like olive, you were wondering about that name, it was inspired by Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s epic 18^th century poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. albatrossdeathcult.co.uk

Riverine Rabbit – best for small plates

Birmingham’s hottest restaurant? Quite possibly. Launched in the suburb of Stirchley early in 2024, Ash and Erin Valenzuela-Heeger’s counter-dining small plates venue quickly won plaudits from Michelin, clued-up Brummie foodies and the National Restaurant Awards – Ash was tipped on its annual 'Chefs to Watch' list. This South African-born rising star has cooked in some seriously high-level kitchens (Cape Town’s Test Kitchen, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal), and that calibre is reflected in her assured, creative use of sustainably farmed, seasonal ingredients. To give you a flavour of the excitement on offer, standout dishes so far have included bone-in turbot collar and black pepper sauce; charred leeks with lemon oil, brown butter hollandaise, fried shallots and breadcrumbs; and Ash’s take on tartare: beef marinated in rapeseed oil, shio koji and tosazu dressing vinegar, topped with crispy seaweed. Monday to Friday dinner only. riverinerabbit.co.uk

Tropea – best sharing Italian food

Named after a coastal Calabrian town, this hip Harborne restaurant takes inspiration from across Italy, while putting its own contemporary spin on that source material. “In a culinary sense, each region is almost independent. It’s fascinating,” says co-owner Ben Robinson-Young. Chef Kasia Piątkowska’s sharing plates menu might run from bombolone doughnuts filled with gorgonzola, pickled walnuts and red onion jam, to lightly battered, fried courgette flowers stuffed, not with ricotta, but goat’s cheese, mint and lemon juice, then dressed with local honey. Pappardelle is a permanent fixture, the ragu for these thick ribbons of egg pasta changing with the seasons. “My favourite is a rabbit ragu braised with spring vegetables and white wine,” says Kasia. tropea.uk

Asha's – best Indian sharing dishes

There’s no danger of anyone going hungry at this Birmingham institution. Be prepared for a spectacular Indian feast in the UK’s ‘curry capital’, and bring friends. Go à la carte or, if you want a taste of everything on offer, try the Asha’s dining experience. The six-course menu includes a tandoori kebab platter, a house speciality made to order. Choose from lobster tail, tandoori lamb or spiced paneer, served with all the trimmings. Tuck into bowls of creamy dhal, plates of fluffy naans and a choice of your favourite curry classics. Great for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike, this colourful spread is the perfect choice for an elevated evening feeding a crowd. ashasbirmingham.co.uk

Land – best for plant-based dining

Land focusses on modern, seasonal dishes that make veg the star. The menus change frequently to reflect whatever produce is at its peak but you can guarantee whatever you’ll be served is delicious. Choose from a four- or six-course menu, complete with special snacks to whet your appetite. Expect expertly plated morsels with perfectly balanced flavours. You can also choose a drinks pairing with your menu, with each experimental wine chosen to make the flavours of your meal pop. It’s a great spot for celebrating a special occasion or simply enjoying a leisurely lunch with friends. land.restaurant

The High Field – best gastropub

The High Field is a couple of miles from Birmingham city centre in leafy Edgbaston. One of the Peach collection of pubs, the food is overseen by Trevor Blake and Paul Hunter-Finn with Sam Collins in the kitchen. Ingredients are well sourced, with pork from Jimmy Butler, seasonal game and a menu of pub dishes such as chicken schnitzel, anchovies and gremolata and fish-packed pie pictured below. highfieldedgbaston.co.uk

Kilo Ziro – for vegetarian afternoon tea

With their zero-waste refillable store, Clean Kilo, now in Moseley, owners Jeanette Wong and Tom Pell have turned the original Digbeth site into a hip bar, where biodynamic wines are served on tap from reusable stainless steel kegs, alongside carbon-negative gin and seasonal ‘waste-not’ cocktails that use rescued, surplus fruits. Each weekend, Kilo’s meat-free afternoon tea showcases the work of local producers, including Artisan Epicurean and Sunshine Bakehouse. The menu aims to strike a neat sweet-savoury balance. Before your brownie bites, chocolate and sultana tiffin or victoria sponge cake, expect goodies such as filled piadina, vegan sausage rolls and goat’s cheese, shallot marmalade and pistachio tarts. kilozirobar.com

Folium – best tasting menu

Chef-patron Ben Tesh’s dishes look almost austere in their sleek minimalism but never skimp on flavour, with an imaginative approach to British ingredients that makes a visit to Folium, in the city’s Jewellery Quarter, a must for foodies. The tasting menu changes daily but might feature homemade bread (using flour milled on-site) and butter; light-as-air crab tart with crab meat hollandaise and a fluffy grating of frozen duck livers; crisp-skinned cod draped in silky cured pork fat with mussels and preserved white asparagus; and blushing lamb neck and saddle spiked with salty anchovy paste and umami seaweed jus. Delicate desserts include sheep’s yogurt sorbet with aerated white chocolate, and salted milk ice cream with nuggets of cobnuts and caramelised ice cream crumbs. restaurantfolium.com

Medicine Bakery + Gallery – best bakery

Walk into this bakery in the city centre and you’ll be greeted with trays upon trays of baked goods, from baskets piled high with rye loaves and plump sourdough croissants to serried ranks of glossy white chelsea buns, plus brownies, cronuts, cupcakes and more. Make your selection (try the enormous passion fruit cronut – you’ll need two hands to eat it) then tuck in at communal tables in the bakery’s light-filled, grandly proportioned Victorian dining space (it doubles as an art gallery). Medicine is also a great spot for brunch, from masala eggs and falafel tartines to pesto ricotta on sourdough toast. medicinebakery.co.uk

Grain & Glass – best whisky bar

Forget dim basement bars, this bright, bustling spot in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter is a must visit for whisky fans. The friendly staff will guide you through the extensive library of more than 300 drams to find your perfect sip. We recommend trying the house cocktails showcasing different styles of whisky in lip-smacking combinations. For even more adventurous exploration, try a tasting flight grouping together regions or flavour characteristics. There’s something for everyone, from full and fruity sherried whiskies to smoky peated spirits. grainandglass.co

Faculty Coffee – best coffee shop

Mellow tunes and spare, stripped-back décor define the vibe at this laid-back coffee den inside the city’s elegant Piccadilly Arcade. Take a break from shopping (and admiring the Arcade’s hand-painted ceiling murals) and head inside for guest roasts that range from Square Mile Coffee Roasters to local Quarter Horse Coffee. Order a dinky, super-smooth piccolo and a jaffa brownie or matcha canelé (cakes and pastries are supplied by sister bakery Sixteen, next door), grab a seat by the window and people watch. facultycoffee.com

Kilder – best craft beer bar

Next door to Digbeth’s Original Patty Men is its hip sister bar, which combines clean, sleek interiors with an impressive craft beer offering (there are around 15 on tap and more in cans and bottles – anything on the menu is also available to take away at a 20 per cent discount). Find anything from IPAs and pale ales to porters, stouts, goses and saisons, and a brewery line-up that includes the likes of Alphabet Brew Co, Magic Rock, Northern Monk, Cloudwater, Siren, Mills and more. There are also plenty of craft ciders on offer (think the likes of Tom Oliver and Little Pomona) and natural wines, including a scrumpy-like orange wine and Austrian pét nat on our visit. Line stomachs with the bar’s speciality, grilled cheese sandwiches, including ’nduja with cheddar, Ogleshield, mozzarella, honey and mint. kilderbar.co.uk

40 St Pauls – best gin bar

There’s a decidedly speakeasy feel to this multi-award-winning gin bar in the Jewellery Quarter, where you have to knock on an unmarked door to get in. Inside, discover a low-lit, intimate drinking den with a 140-strong gin collection that’s meticulously and informatively detailed in a book-like menu – gin novices will find it especially helpful. Service is attentive and friendly, and tutored gin tastings are also on offer. Go classic and order a G&T, or try the silky dirty martini, with its subtle lactic notes. 40stpauls.co.uk

Tiger Bites Pig – best bao

Just two minutes from New Street station, Tiger Bites Pig is all about soft, pillowy baos stuffed with moreish fillings such as peppery chicken with crispy sesame chicken skin; red-braised pork belly with pickled mustard greens, and salt and pepper tofu with fish fragrant aubergines. Choose from house-made XO sauce and szechuan chilli oil to pep up your buns (or one of the rice bowls) and wash them down with an array of Japanese drinks, from ice-cold Kirin beer, to Suntory whisky and Haku vodka. tigerbitespig.co.uk

Chakana – best Peruvian restaurant

Having left Michelin-starred Peruvian restaurant Lima in London to set up shop in Moseley, Robert Ortiz’s first solo project combines light and bright interiors with seriously colourful, flavourful plates of food. Kick off the meal with elegant flutes of creamily foamy pisco sours at the cobalt blue bar before feasting on classic and modern Peruvian dishes. Ceviches are well represented on the menu – try the sea bream, with butter-soft chunks of fish swimming in a zesty tiger’s milk with creamy sweet potato and crunchy, nutty canchita corn – as well as tiraditos (think Peruvian sashimi) and causas, a spicy potato terrine (order the king crab version, with potato coloured bright red with achiote, spicy avo purée and sweet morsels of crustacean). Mains lean towards hearty, from confit suckling pig with yucca root to sea bass fillet in tiger’s milk and pisco broth. Finish with Amazonian chocolate mousse and a pisco from the restaurant’s extensive menu. chakana-restaurant.co.uk

The Oyster Club – best seafood restaurant

A few minutes’ walk from central New Street station, The Oyster Club is chef Adam Stokes’ second Birmingham restaurant. Grab a seat at one of the luxe leather barstools at the counter and order a platter of oysters – there’s normally six different varieties on ice, ready to be shucked, with the option of having them as nature intended or with a Japanese or rockerfeller dressing. There are also three different types of caviar, served with crème fraîche and blinis. Or, of course, you can visit here without trying oysters at all. There’s a comprehensive menu of small and large plates (aka starters and main courses) covering anything from sea bass sashimi and a selection of cured meats, to fish pie with an Old Winchester cheddar mash top and a wagyu beef burger in a brioche bun. the-oyster-club.co.uk

Opheem – best Indian restaurant

Originally from Aston, North Birmingham, with Bangladeshi parents, Aktar Islam has made a name for himself as one of the Birmingham's leading chefs, and Opheem is his first solo restaurant. Focussing on Indian culinary traditions married with modern techniques, this is fine dining with dialled-up flavour. Choose from Herdwick lamb loin with tongue beignet and bone marrow sauce, or tandoori cauliflower with lentil bhaji and coconut milk, and curd dumpling with milk sorbet and finger lime. The room is dark with a large twinkly-light chandelier dominating the dramatic space, with brown leather chairs, cloth-less dark wooden tables and grey walls. There’s also a private dining room and a bar, where you can have small plates and snacks. opheem.com

Read about chef Aktar Islam's gadget-filled home kitchen.

Purnell’s – best for service and fine dining

“Fine dining doesn’t have to be stuffy,” says Sonal Clare, sommelier and restaurant manager of Glynn Purnell’s eponymous Birmingham restaurant. Sonal has also curated the Book of Wine, a 25-page drinks list that includes a section of wines currently being enjoyed by the staff, as well as vintage champagnes at £3,250 a pop. “We don’t have linen tablecloths or serviettes but what we try to do is pass on the philosophy, ethos and personality of Glynn through the food and service. People see his fun personality on TV, so that’s what they come to the restaurant for.” With a Michelin star since 2007, Purnell’s has forged a national reputation for its food and service; Sonal says it’s all about adding theatre to a meal. “I don’t see a problem with a bit of romanticism or ‘va va voom’ during the dining experience. There’s nothing nicer than a smart and sophisticated waiter or waitress attending to your table, and as long as the table chat is genuine and in good nature, then everyone leaves feeling happy. Personalities are very important here at Purnell’s – we certainly aren’t robots who all look and act the same.” purnellsrestaurant.com

Loki Wine – best wine bar

A wine merchant and bar with its own tasting rooms, Loki has two sites in Birmingham and more than 800 wines on its list. Customers can enjoy any of these bottles on site for a nominal £7 drink-in corkage charge and Loki’s wine-dispensing machines enable the bars to serve tasters of some 70 wines, which tend to be exciting new discoveries such as bottles from Japan, China and Israel, alongside classic wines from the new and old worlds. As well as charcuterie and cheese, sandwiches and scotch eggs, Loki also works regularly with street food businesses to provide guest pop-ups. lokiwine.co.uk

Baked in Brick – best pizza

The 60-seater pizzeria in Birmingham's funky Custard Factory is seriously relaxed with rough and ready wooden-clad booths, tables and chairs, exposed industrial ceilings, with looming fans, and a Mini Cooper breaking through the wall. There’s charcuterie, cheese and the odd salad, but the star attraction here is the pizza. The majority are served with mozzarella and San Marzano tomato sauce, which is a good start. Beef shin ragu and wild mushroom calzone won the title of best street food dish at the British and European Street Food Awards, and its meltingly tender meat with rich sauce stands up. The dough, too, is impressive – bouncy, crisp and with plenty of flavour – and works well in another iteration, topped with goat’s cheese, caramelised red onion and grape chutney, with wild rocket and a slick of onyx balsamic. bakedinbrick.co.uk

The Wilderness – best British restaurant

Cooking that focusses on native, often foraged, British ingredients and a theatrical, boundary-pushing approach (don’t be surprised to find an arrangement of ants on your plate) have made The Wilderness one of the hottest restaurants in Birmingham. Book early and enjoy the ride. wearethewilderness.co.uk

Original Patty Men – best burgers

Cutting its teeth on the street food scene before partnering with Siren Craft Brew to launch its own restaurant, Original Patty Men serves the best burgers in Birmingham. Big Vern’s Krispy Ring is a meat patty encased in a doughnut; it sounds weird but it works. originalpattymen.com

Where to stay in Birmingham

High Field Town House – best boutique hotel

This listed Victorian villa in leafy Edgbaston has 12 high-ceilinged, elegantly decorated bedrooms filled with antiques and expansive beds. If your budget can stretch to it we suggest opting for one of the premium rooms with roll-top baths set in front of bay windows – perfect for a morning soak. It’s self-check in (with free coffee and an honesty bar in the cosy, newspaper-filled lounge) which keeps things pleasantly low-key, and you can head next door to gastro pub The High Field for hearty, free-range breakfasts such as classic fry-ups, shakshuka, creamy mushrooms on sourdough or coconut yogurt with berries and granola (you can book either on a room-only basis or a breakfast-included basis).

Doubles from £138 per night, check availability at booking.com.

The Grand Hotel – best luxury hotel

This imposing spot on Birmingham’s Colmore Row is an eye-catching mixture of Victorian, art deco and French renaissance style. The Grand Hotel sits right at the heart of Birmingham city centre overlooking St Phillip's Cathedral, five minutes from shops galore, restaurants and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. The iconic building was refurbished over 18 long years and it was worth the wait. Make time for a pre- or post-dinner cocktail in Madeleine, the stylish hotel bar. Filled with chandeliers and sumptuous wingback chairs, it’s the ideal spot for an aperitif. Try the house Madeleine martini or a punchy antique negroni with aged liqueur. There’s also a leafy green garden terrace where you can sip your morning coffee and get some fresh air. The New York-style brasserie, Isaac’s, is a mouth-watering mix of American classics, from crispy buttermilk chicken to prime rib-eye steaks. There are substantial veggie options, too, try the aubergine ‘Philly cheese steak’ with caramelised onions.

Doubles from £143 per night, check availability at booking.com.

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Words | Laura Creaven, Georgina Kiely, Tony Naylor, Laura Rowe and Mark Taylor. Laura Craven runs Full to the Brum, a Birmingham-based food and drinks blog (fulltothebrum.co.uk).

Photographs | Jack Spicer Adams, Team Loaf, Tom Bird Photography, Wesley Alcorn