The 18 best breakfast and brunch spots in Birmingham

Anyone who claims New Street Station is the busiest place in Birmingham hasn’t been to Yorks at the weekend. Here, hungry Brummies tuck into brunch in stripped-back industrial surroundings well into the afternoon. Choose from a breakfast bar that includes homemade granola, bagels and as much freshly baked bread as you can get down you, plus an extensive range of egg-based brekkies.

A firm favourite and for good reason, the cult following for Medicine’s baked goods is well deserved, but it really does hold its own with its brunch menu. Its brioche buns make a prime platter for all manner of ingredients, including pumpkin falafel, harissa hollandaise eggs or its titular Medicine sandwich of bacon, fried egg, cheese and chipotle aioli, while vanilla french toast props its maple streaky bacon. Elsewhere, things get a little more heated with Huevos Rancheros. 

What started out as a vegetable cooperative has, over a decade or so, transformed into Bournville’s foremost brekkie hub and organic deli. With the most important meal of the day served alongside an array of homemade, wholesome staples from opening until closing, you’ll find young families, hangover nursers and ladies lunching, all sat shoulder-to-shoulder at Leverton and Halls. If the pancakes with crispy bacon and lashings of maple syrup are too sweet for your palate, the vegetarian breakfast is a first-rate choice.

Gas Street Social places a particular emphasis on the sharing and social aspect of eating. When it comes to the ubiquitous bottomless boozy brunch, it’s chosen to put the bellini centre stage. The classic Italian combo of prosecco with peach juice guarantees a morning buzz. Modest appetites might opt for a sweet helping of fruit pancakes, which come with banana, berries and clotted cream, or American-style pancakes topped with streaky bacon and a drizzling of maple syrup.

One of the few places in Birmingham to serve a beefsteak at brunch, The Lord Clifden is one of the Jewellery Quarter’s most venerable venues. The full English is – as you’d expect – a staple. But if you’re in the mood for something a little different, The American may be right up your street. Instead of sausages and bacon, there’s that 8oz rump steak that’ll set you up for the rest of the day. Then there’s The Brummie, which combines steak, sausage, bacon and black pudding in a meat-laden homage to the West Midlands. Lighter options include granola, porridge and smoked salmon with scrambled eggs. There’s also a range of sandwiches on offer, with both meaty and vegetarian options.

Whilst it is easy to overlook The Ivy’s contribution to mid-morning meals and head straight to the main menu, its brunch selection is varied and impressive. There are plenty of classics on the menu - eggs royales and benedicts or buttermilk pancakes with mixed berries - plus good options for the vegetarian and vegan crowd via asparagus, avocado and buffalo mozzarella. On the other end of the spectrum sits a more worldly twist with tempura prawns, salt and pepper squid, tuna carpaccio and lobster linguine – a win for the fish lovers. 

The Jewellery Quarter is dotted with cafés and coffee houses, but when it comes to a proper Brummie breakfast, there’s only one name you need to remember. The Hylton Café draws a cult following for its breakfasts served until 2pm from Monday to Saturday. For an eminently reasonable sum, you can expect all the usual fried breakfast staples plus freshly ground coffee or tea. If you’re looking for breakfast on the go, the classic bacon sarnie is a must. 

Located in the south Birmingham suburb of Kings Heath, The Early Bird Bakery is a bright independent locale founded by not one but two men named Tim. With a background working in five-star hotels from Australia to Malaysia, plus festivals and street food, they know what succeeds on a menu. Whether your preference is sweet or savoury, you are well-catered for. Try the BBQ Beef Brisket Eggs Benedict or indulgent pastries.

Artisan bread and Parisian patisserie are the order of the day at Moseley’s Maison Mayci. We love the unexpectedly large, multi-levelled garden at the back. As you might expect, the oeufs à la coque (soft-boiled eggs with soldiers) are a particularly popular choice with Maison Mayci's junior following. You’d be forgiven for sticking to a basket of toasted bread (served with butter and jam) – it’s just that tasty. 

Sitting pretty in the suburb of Harborne, The Plough is one of Birmingham’s favourite pub-restaurants, with a lively atmosphere and fully occupied tables whether you visit on a Tuesday or a Sunday. Harborne high street is lined with pubs, but The Plough wins hands down for a number of reasons. The venue manages to be both smart and relaxed at once, with that warm rustic feel that marks a good gastropub. The food and drink offer is varied and includes some excellent pizzas, delish burgers and brilliant brunches.

This is a lively and distinctive addition to Birmingham’s food and drink scene. The killer combination of live music, Latin American food and a colossal rum selection (over 130 varieties) make it the kind of place you keep coming back to again and again. And what’s more, The Cuban Embassy serves its own great twist on breakfast and brunch. Ready for it?

Boo Boo has a relaxed, stripped-back feel, think deep inviting sofas, stacks of magazines and lamps from local lighting emporium Jam Jar Lights. Kick things off with one of its life-affirming smoothies. Then plump for more good stuff with the avocado and poached eggs on sourdough muffins, or enjoy the subtle sweetness of the brioche bap, offset by smoky, crunchy bacon. 

Whilst it may be part of a chain, The Botanist takes a pleasantly unconventional approach to its brunch offerings. Visitors can customise their meal from a range of menu options: fancy scrambled tofu to your eggs or shakshuka? Or smoked trout and salmon pâte added to your Cumberland sausage and maple streaky bacon? And don’t forget to make space for lighter moments, bakery goods and dessert.

Sharing a courtyard (and an ethos) with the neighbouring deli and organic farm shop, the Kitchen Garden Cafe does a steady trade throughout the week. For the meat-minded, the smoked dry-cured bacon stands out and can be enjoyed as part of the full English or in a chunky breakfast sandwich. If fuel for the day is your primary aim and you arrive sufficiently hungry, try the Kitchen Garden’s take on the classic Victorian breakfast staple, kedgeree. 

Pitched a stone’s throw from the train station, the Grand Central Kitchen has garnered a great reputation for its friendly service and generous portions - perfect for those who crave a proper pot of tea. Customer favourites are, without a doubt, the full English plates, but curveballs such as cheesy omelette English breakfast put a twist on the classics. Unfussy yet arriving with a touch of flair, it’s a place to fill up on hearty grub before a busy weekend in town.

See and be seen at the Mailbox’s biggest and smartest canal-side terrace. Sip on a mimosa (that’s blanc de blanc brut with fresh OJ, dah-ling) while you peruse the breakfast menu and think about how fabulous you are. Mid-week, we like to keep things classically French with a buttery croissant, fruit salad and creamy yoghurt pot. Efficient service, an 9am opening, and proximity to major transport hubs make Côte one of our favourite brunch spots.

Boston Tea Party is a friendly, family-run chain that has been growing exponentially up and down the M5 over the past few years. It’s a byword for consistency and familiarity. Arriving in Birmingham in 2013, this was a caffeinated shot in the arm of Corporation Street, occupying the huge space left by a giant Yates pub. If you’re not sucked in by the massive trays of home-baked cakes at the counter, then BTP’s vast menu covers everything from all-day breakfasts to mains including burgers, salads, toasted sandwiches, soups and a very good kids’ menu. 

Housed in an iconic Victorian building, the Junction is a serious player when it comes to Harborne’s increasingly competitive Saturday brunch scene. We like the French toast with bacon and maple syrup – and the Bloody Marys, another weekend staple. Sun out? Take your food  into the beer garden.