The 13 best 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.

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?

What started out as a vegetable cooperative has, in ten years, 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 until closing, you’ll find young families, patent hangover nursers and ladies lunching 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.

One of the few places in Birmingham to serve a beef steak option 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 of the brunch menu. If you’re in the mood for something a little different, The American may be right up your street. Instead of sausages and bacon, expect an 8oz rump steak that’s bound to 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.

Brunch platter for five, anyone? Gas Street Social places a particular emphasis on the sharing and socialising 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. On perusing the breakfast menu your eye will inevitably be drawn to The Social Breakfast, a uniquely gargantuan dish designed for up to five to share. More 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.

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 the same time, with that warm rustic feel that marks a good gastropub. The food and drink on offer is varied, and includes some excellent pizzas, delish burgers and brilliant brunches.

Sharing a courtyard (and the same sort of ethos) with a neighbouring deli and organic farm shop, the Kitchen Garden Cafe does a steady, loyal 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 taken as part of 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. 

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 (that’s soft boiled eggs with soldiers to you and I) 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. 

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. Here’s why: 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. 

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 absolutely 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 8am 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. 

A relaxed, stripped-back feel has been expertly crafted at Boo Boo – think deep inviting sofas, stacks of magazines and lamps from local lighting emporium Jam Jar Lights. Kick things off with one of their ife-affirming smoothies. Then plump for more of the 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. 

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 out into the beer garden.

For every culture and nationality that lives side-by-side in this extraordinary, resilient and welcoming city, there are new openings and exciting delicacies to try at every turn. And this goes far beyond Birmingham’s wealth of brilliant Indian restaurants – though they rank among Britain’s best.