The best restaurants in Birmingham for 2025

Since 2021, Tropea has been bringing the tastes of Italy – more specifically, Calabria – to Harborne. The team serve up contemporary yet seasonal Italian staples at this chilled, relaxing spot, with plenty of authentic Italian wine to get stuck into too. We particularly like that they serve half-portions of pasta here, so you can try a couple even if you’re only a small group. 

Time Out tip: The fried courgette flower with goat’s cheese, mint and honey is to die for. Watch out: the negronis are lethal. 

Address: 27 Lordswood Road, B17 9RP, Birmingham

Opening hours: Friday–Saturday lunch 12–3 pm; Tuesday–Saturday dinner 5–11 pm; Sunday–Monday closed

Expect to pay: Pasta comes in half and full portions, priced between £11 and £28.

An old favourite at this point, Original Patty Men still holds up against the seemingly never-ending competition as a favourite haunt of Birmingham’s burger connoisseurs. Launched by a bunch of designers and now with two restaurants – one in a Digbeth archway, the other at The British Oak in Stirchley – staff refer to themselves as ‘purveyors of filth’. OPM’s menu is deliciously messy (it’s not unknown for OPM to replace a burger bun with a glazed doughnut) and hip-hop megastar Drake even placed a rather large order from here too. Kudos.

Time Out tip: People are going wild for OPM’s burger-hotdog mashup: an aged beef patty with a weiner ring on top. It’s almost pornographic.

Address: 9 Shaws Passage, Digbeth, B5 5JG, Birmingham

Opening hours: Wednesday 5–10 pm; Thursday–Saturday 12–10 pm; Sunday 12–7 pm; Monday–Tuesday closed

Expect to pay: Burgers, £10.25-£14. Fries and sides: £4.25-9.25

There’s been a gaping hole in Birmingham’s Mexican scene since Tierra Tacos and we’re thrilled it's been filled by Perro. Tucked down an alley in Kings Heath, this tiny restaurant has fewer than 20 covers and a weeks-long reservations list but once you’re in, what a treat. Tangy pickled pineapple sits alongside a zingy watermelon salad, while the tacos quite literally drip with a rich, bone marrow birria. Pitch up at the counter and watch chef Matt Wilden torch you corn-on-the-cob to order and wash it down with the smoothest marg you’ll find this side of Tulum. We booked again before we’d even paid the bill.

Time Out Tip: Perro isn’t just for dinnertime - they also offer Sunday brunch featuring Mexican sweet bread concha, fried eggs and chorizo tacos. Good luck getting a table. 

Address: Unit 2, Kings Court, High Street, B14 7JZ, Birmingham

Opening hours: Monday-Tuesday closed, Wednesday-Thuesday 11am-3pm and 6pm-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-3pm and 6pm-midnight, Sunday 11am-3pm

Expect to pay: Ever wanted to try oyster? At Perro you can for £3.50. Mains £10-£15; margs £12.

Ming Nham, the brains behind the effortlessly brilliant Eat Vietnam, turned his street food pop-up into a bricks-and-mortar restaurant in 2019, and Stirchley locals will tell you it’s one of the best things to happen to the suburb. Nham, who grew up in Vietnam and arrived in Birmingham as a child, heads up a team of passionate young chefs whose modern takes on traditional Vietnamese dishes gives diners the gift of marmite and peanut butter cauliflower and salt and pepper-crusted tofu. The curries are an absolute must, with both veggie and meat options that hum with coconut, fresh herbs and delicate jasmine rice. For those that can’t nab a table at this perpetually booked-up gem, they now offer a click-and-collect service.

Time Out tip: For those that can’t nab a table at this perpetually booked-up gem, Eat Vietnam offers a click-and-collect service.

Address: 1422 Pershore Road, B30 2PH, Birmingham

Opening hours: Tuesday–Thursday 5–9 pm; Friday–Saturday 12–9.30 pm; Sunday–Monday closed

Expect to pay: Small plates, £8-10. Curry and noodle bowls, £18-19.

Adam’s began life in 2013 as a less than glamorous pop-up in a former sandwich shop. Thanks to subsequent high demand and an almost cult-like following, it amped up the production pace and outgrew its original location  – receiving a Michelin star in the process. These days, you’ll find Adam’s in a much grander premise on Waterloo Street, where contemporary British dining is the name of the game. And while Michelin-starred restaurants can often feel pretentious, Adam’s manages to avoid this and excite with its refreshing, approachable fine-dining experience.

Time Out Tip: Look out for special events like the Wine Dinner, hosted by experts. Expect champagne on arrival, five courses and paired wines.

Address: New Oxford House, 16 Waterloo Street, B2 5UG, Birmingham

Opening hours: Tuesday–Saturday 12–5 pm and 6.30 pm–12 am; Sunday–Monday closed

Expect to pay: The three-course lunch menu is £60, five courses is £85. The 7-course tasting menu is £139.

The Wilderness is a somewhat provocative experience. Spearheaded by proud Brummie Alex Claridge, this could well be Birmingham’s most creative fine-dining experience; his passion for local heritage, food and rock and roll is plain for all to see. What feels playful on the surface is deadly serious, though: The Wilderness unlocks senses and unearths flavours you didn’t even know existed. Seriously cool, and seriously overdue a Michelin star.   

Time Out tip: There’s two tasting menus on offer and happily for those with certain dietary restrictions, The Wilderness offers vegetarian, pescatarian and gluten-free alternatives.

Address: Unit B, 27 Warstone Lane, Jewellery Quarter, B18 6JQ, Birmingham

Opening hours: Wednesday–Saturday dinner 6–9 pm; Friday–Saturday lunch 12.30–2 pm; Sunday–Tuesday closed

Expect to pay: Tasting menus: £65 and £140.

Birmingham’s only Peruvian restaurant doesn’t have to be this good, but it is. Robert Ortiz’s Chakana, housed within a former bank in Moseley, pushes all flavour and presentation boundaries here; micro herbs and edible flowers float on blobs of vivid green, purple and peach, while main-course elements are placed so meticulously that it’s almost a shame to dig in and ruin it. Less of a hidden gem, more of a slow discovery – and we’d advise you to discover it soon. See you at the bar for a pisco sour.

Time Out tip: Chakana now offers a bar menu between Thursday and Sunday. Go for a pisco sour, stay for the small plates. 

Address: 140 Alcester Road, B13 8HT, Birmingham

Opening hours: Wednesday–Thursday 5pm–10pm, Friday–Saturday noon–3pm and 5pm–10pm, Sunday noon–6pm; Monday–Tuesday closed.

Expect to pay: Tasting menu: £80. A la carte mains: £22-28. 

It’s been remiss of us not to include this much-loved Harborne haunt, known as much for its warm atmosphere as its giant pizzas, which are the same size even in low-gluten mode. Think elevated pub fare: big fat burgers, crispy fish and chips, and chunky Cuban sandwiches. In the winter, the Sunday roasts come with comfortingly large Yorkshire puds; in summer, the beer garden is one of the prettiest places in the city to sip an Aperol spritz. 

Time Out tip: Finish with a scoop of Odi and Moo - Birmingham’s own small-batch indie ice cream. The Jammie Dodger flavour is the retro-flavoured dessert you didn’t know you needed.

Address: 21 High Street, Harborne, B17 9NT, Birmingham

Opening hours: Monday–Friday 8.15 am–11 pm; Saturday 9 am–11 pm; Sunday 9 am–10.30 pm

Expect to pay: Between £12 and £20 for your mains. 

There’s little else to be said about Bonehead other than it is Birmingham’s best fried chicken – hands down. This effortlessly cool chicken joint near New Street station attracts fried chicken fans from all over the country to devour its wares, and despite its speciality being succulent chicken, its sauces aren’t far behind. Think: hot wings, sriracha honey butter burger dressing and blue cheese tater tots.

Time Out tip: There’s no bookings here, just walk in and hope they’ve not sold out early, which does occasionally happen.

Address: 8 Lower Severn Street, B1 1PU, Birmingham

Opening hours: Monday–Thursday 12–10 pm; Friday 12–10.30 pm; Saturday 11.30–10.30 pm; Sunday 12–8.30 pm

Expect to pay: Wings, £9. Burgers, £11.50. Fries and tots, £4.50-£6.50.

It’s true that fine-dining etiquette (and often the prices) can put people off – but this is where Harborne Kitchen comes in. Jamie Desogus heads up this neighbourhood restaurant which aims to do away with the stuffiness you expect at some establishments and provide equally good food at more attainable prices. See this as an informal introduction to high-end food, if you like, with simple British tasting menus to equal the very best in the city from just £55.

Time Out tip: Every so often, HK drops a surprise Sunday lunch service. Watch their socials or sign up to the mailing list to be first to book.

Address: 175–179 High Street, Harborne, B17 9QE, Birmingham

Opening hours: Wednesday–Thursday dinner only 6–8.30pm; Friday–Saturday lunch 12–1.45pm and dinner 6–8.30pm; Sunday–Tuesday closed

Expect to pay: Sunday lunch £55. Tasting menu: £100. 

With a handful of locations across the West Midlands (Birmingham city centre, Moseley, Harborne, Solihull and Stratford-upon-Avon), Sabai Sabai is thriving with quiet composure. Its pleasurable Thai menu caters to all dispositions, whether that be pad thai stalwarts, seafood lovers or the vegan-friendly crowd. Sabai Sabai really are local legends: they lead where others follow.

Time Out tip: The Pad Thai is hands-down our favourite - and if you’re too hungover to leave the sofa, Deliveroo will bring it to your door. 

Address: 268 High Street, Harborne, B17 9PT, Birmingham

Opening hours: Monday–Thursday 12–11pm; Friday–Saturday 12–12am; Sunday 12–10pm

Expect to pay: Starters and salads. £8.95-£14.95. Noodles £15.95; wok fry, £14.55. 

Orelle is the swanky new kid on Birmingham’s fine-dining block. This contemporary French restaurant sits pretty on the 24th floor of the shiny 103 Colmore Row skyscraper, in the heart of the city’s business district, with unparalleled skyline views accompanying its intricate dishes. Order the côte de boeuf and share a bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Thank us later.

Time Out tip: Orelle also offers bottomless brunch, so you can enjoy those panoramas with prosecco. 

Address: 103 Colmore Row, B3 3AG, Birmingham

Opening hours: Monday–Thursday 12–11pm; Friday–Saturday 12–12.30am; Sunday 12.30–6pm

Expect to pay: Bottomless brunch, £33 and £39. Sunday roast, £29. A la carte mains: £24-£38.

In the charming Great Western Arcade – home of independent bars, shops and restaurants – Land sets out to prove once and for all that plant-based dining is long past being dull. Since opening in 2019, the restaurant has focused on prioritising seasonal ingredients while taking inspiration from various cuisines around the world. Taste and texture are heightened by the stylish presentation.

Time Out tip: Land offers both a four and six-course menu but dishes can change daily to showcase the freshest ingredients.

Address: 30 Great Western Arcade, Colmore Row, B2 5HU, Birmingham

Opening hours: Tuesday–Saturday lunch 12–2:30pm and dinner 5–9pm; Sunday–Monday closed

Expect to pay: Four courses: £50, six from £70.

Birmingham and Indian cuisine are a historically synonymous pairing and while purists are spoiled by the likes of the Balti Triangle, it’s Moseley hotspot Zindiya that slaps a truly original twist on modern Indian street food. If its colourful rickshaw booths and nostalgia-laden advertising don’t mentally transport you to the bustling markets of Delhi or Mumbai, its menu will finish the job. Puffed rice spilling out of paper cones and paneer-stuffed dosa are just the tip of the iceberg, while the playful cocktail list will take you on a tour of India by marrying your prosecco, tequila or non-alcoholic lemonade with chai bitters, delicate rose or lime pickle. High chai afternoon tea and festive menus offer yet more reasons to check out this criminally underrated spot.

Time Out tip: High chai afternoon tea and festive menus offer yet more reasons to check out this criminally underrated spot.

Address: 21 Woodbridge Road, Moseley, B13 8EH, Birmingham

Opening hours: Tuesday–Thursday 4–11pm; Friday–Saturday 12–11pm; Sunday 12–10pm; Monday closed

Expect to pay: Street food dishes: £5.95-£7.95. A la carte: £6.95-£11.95.

Trentina lays claim to serving the freshest pasta in the Jewellery Quarter but the true USP of this chic corner restaurant is its bottomless Sunday offering, where diners can choose two courses – typically pasta then dessert – while imbibing 90 minutes’ worth of frozen garibaldi and limoncello granita. Though its staple dishes lean toward the pappardelle-orecchiette-ravioli variety, don’t overlook its seasonal dinner menu which has recently featured BBQ guinea fowl luxuriating in a glossy jus and pink bream with braised fennel. As the Italians might say, delizioso. 

Time Out tip: Trentina now offers a lunch menu for less than a tenner. Get in before the summer’s out.

Address: 33 Mary Street, B3 1UD, Birmingham

Opening hours: Wednesday 5pm–9.30pm, Thursday noon–3pm and 5pm–9.30pm, Friday–Saturday noon–9.30pm, Sunday noon–8pm, Monday–Tuesday closed.

Expect to pay: Bottomless brunch: £35. Mains: £10-16. 

One must heed the name of this brunch spot in Kings Heath and be standing outside its doors at opening time on the weekend because it operates a walk-ins only policy and is guaranteed to have a queue. So frighteningly popular is Early Bird that after five years on the high street it practically had no choice but to expand into the space next door. It means there’s now slightly more chance of devouring their delectable baked goods or sampling the Cowboy Breakfast, a plate stacked with spiced honey pork, hash browns, boston beans, fried egg and – somewhat outrageously – both jalapeno butter and peanut butter BBQ sauce on the side.

Time Out tip: Early Bird now offers a co-working space - so you can have your cake, eat it, and do your job too.

Address: 28 High Street, B14 7JT, Birmingham

Opening hours: Monday–Friday 7am–6pm, Saturday 8am–6pm, Sunday 8.30am–5pm.

Expect to pay: Cakes and pastries: from £3.50. Brunch: £12-£17. 

Hearty portions and delightful presentation showcase Tamu’s high-quality ingredients at their colourful best, and there’s plenty to cater for vegetarian and vegan tastebuds too. Open sandwiches, French toast and pancake stacks make this a prime brunch spot, with ‘super salads’ a decent healthier option. A real Bearwood gem worth making the effort for.

Time Out tip: Pistachio is the latest sweet trend and Tamu offers it in pancake and French toast form. 

Address: 29 Bearwood Road, B66 4BE, Smethwick

Opening hours: Tuesday–Friday 7.30am–5pm, Saturday–Sunday 8am–5pm; Monday closed.

Expect to pay: Mains, £13 - £15.

Another of the city’s most creative dining experiences comes with Kray Treadwell’s 670 Grams, based in the Custard Factory. His dishes often reflect the surrounding heritage; the rhubarb custard tart is a nod to that. 670 Grams is Michelin-recommended and Treadwell won the Michelin Guide’s Young Chef of the Year award in 2021 – it’s no surprise to see their ten covers often fully booked out. And at £110, the 18-course tasting menu might just be the best value in the city.

Time Out tip: Though the signature menu might be more suited to a special occasion, 670 also offers an “in-and-out” five course experience for a very reasonable £50.

Address: 42–44 Bromley Street, B9 4AN, Birmingham

Opening hours: Thursday–Friday 6–9pm, Saturday 12–2pm & 6–9pm; Sunday–Wednesday closed.

Expect to pay: Tasting menu: £90 (lunch) and £135 (dinner).

Possibly Birmingham’s most lauded restaurant is contemporary British restaurant Simpsons, a local institution that has held its Michelin star aloft since 1999. Simpsons offers more than just your traditional meal: for a start, it’s in a Grade II-listed Georgian villa on the city-centre peripherals. You’re also in the hands of multi-award-winning chef patron Andreas Antona who has three decades of culinary experience. Simpsons caters for all tastes: British fish and meat is highly regarded, but they have also been recognised by Peta as one of the UK’s top ten restaurants for plant-based dining. 

Time Out tip: If you really want to push the boat out, you can exclusively hire a space at Simpsons for 16 people.

Address: 20 Highfield Road, B15 3DU, Birmingham

Opening hours: Wednesday–Saturday 12–5pm & 6pm–12am; Sunday–Tuesday closed.

Expect to pay: Three-courses, £85. Prestige menu: £140.

A lot is going on in and around Digbeth landmark The Custard Factory, but Baked in Brick has been quietly smashing it. With a custom-built oven and an in-house bakery, you presume good things from the dough – play it safe with one of its thick-crust, thin-base pizzas, go a bit wild on a calzone, or pop in on a Sunday for the much-raved-about roast dinner.

Time Out tip: If you can’t make it to Digbeth, Baked in Brick also has locations in Sutton Coldfield, Wylde Green and the Jewellery Quarter. 

Address: The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, B9 4AA, Birmingham

Opening hours: Wednesday–Saturday 12–10.30pm, Sunday 12–6pm; Monday–Tuesday closed.

Expect to pay: Pizzas range from £14-19. Baked goods: £3 and up.

Despite the prime location on New Street, it’s easy to walk straight past Medicine’s unfussy exterior. Pop inside, however, and you are greeted with a boggling range of sweet and savoury bakes, which could easily be considered a meal on their own. The excellent brunch menu includes traditional and vegan breakfasts, buddha bowls and a mouthwatering grilled cheese sourdough. And if you do struggle to find the entrance, head to the Mailbox where Medicine boasts a coffee stand for a flyby caffeine hit or take a seat in its standalone restaurant just a few feet away and enjoy the impeccable interior design and curated artisan menu.

Time Out tip: This hotspot now has an outpost at Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens, making for a very chilled coffee-and-cruffin experience.

Address: 69 New Street, B2 4DU, Birmingham

Opening hours: Monday–Friday 7am–6pm, Saturday 8am–6pm, Sunday 8.30am–5pm.

Expect to pay: Pastries: £5-6. Brioche and Benedicts: £6.50-9. Brunch: £9-12.

La Galleria is tucked away on the short stretch between New Street and the thronging railway station bearing the same name. First-rate Italian cuisine awaits at this family-run venture, whose team are passionate about the food they serve; notably the top-notch pizza and fresh pasta dishes (served in reassuringly generous portions). Cosy with a relaxed atmosphere, it’s a snug spot for a date or family meal.

Time Out tip: The restaurant prides itself on serving pizza that rivals the slices you can buy on the streets of Naples. 

Address: 5a Ethel Street, B2 4BG, Birmingham

Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 12pm-midnight, Sundays 12pm-11pm 

Expect to pay: Small pasta portions, £6.95; large, up to £27.45 for lobster. Pizza: £13.15-£17.55.

There’s a lot to be said for a good curry at the end of a night out, but nowhere does it better than Shababs: home of the authentic balti. This dish was invented in Birmingham in the 1970s when chefs attempted to make their dishes lighter to appeal to western tastes, and Shababs on the world-famous Balti Triangle is where everyone goes to try it. For less than £30 per head you can enjoy a starter, rice, naan, main and a drink - and it’s BYOB too. Great value.

Time Out tip: Shabab’s recently appeared on Joe Lycett’s United States of Birmingham - if it’s good enough for TV, it’s good enough for Brummies.

Address: 163–165 Ladypool Road, B12 8LQ, Birmingham

Opening hours: Daily from 12pm-midnight

Expect to pay: Starters: £4-7. Baltis: £11-14.50. Table naan: £8.

It was only a matter of time before affordable dining concept Six by Nico added Birmingham to its now 10-strong list of locations. Just before Christmas 2023 it opened its egregiously weighty doors on Colmore Row to diners who needed no more than £39 in their wallets to enjoy six courses inspired by the great British chippy. Punchy onion ketchup, a smoke-filled cloche hiding a scene-stealing trio of pork, and a tangy sorbet somehow embodying the very essence of Irn Bru were just some of the highlights from the restaurant’s first menu in the second city. Those who dilly-dallied on their reservation might have missed out however, because every six weeks the restaurant unveils a new theme tied to memory, place or idea. More recently it has gone down the rabbit-hole into Wonderland with a Mad Hatter-style tea party and a red velvet cake fit for the Queen of Hearts. Whatever comes next is sure to be as fanciful – and given the price tag, one can afford to experience multiple gastronomical journeys. 

Time Out tip: New to Sundays is a mystery six-course tasting menu that includes a blindfold and headphones. Trust is essential.

Expect to pay: The price has increased since our first review - you’ll now pay £45.

Located at the intersection of the Gay Village, The Arcadian and The Hippodrome, this understated Korean establishment whips up some of the best East Asian grub in the city centre. Aside from the eponymous dish, Topokki's dupbap and bibimbap tickle the tastebuds; take a punt on the bulgogi dupbap – sticky, tender beef – or classic ramen for an authentic Korean meal.

Time Out tip: Try their latest dish Rapokki - a dish bursting with noodles and heavy on the gochujang, with optional egg and cheese.

Address: 1C Hurst Street, B5 4TD, Birmingham

Opening hours: Monday–Thursday noon–10pm, Friday–Saturday noon–10.30pm, Sunday noon–9.30pm.

Expect to pay: Almost everything costs more than £5 but less than £10. A bargain.

Isaac’s brings New York-style diner classics to the UK’s second city. Everything here is exceedingly rich: there are your famed New York steaks and cheesecake, plus Italian staples like gnocchi and ragú, but there’s a hefty section of the menu dedicated to oysters and seafood too. Top it off with a boozy Miami Vice milkshake. Top it off with a billionaire cookie or banana knickerbocker glory – both of which, in a pleasant surprise for coeliacs, are gluten free.

Time Out tip: One of its most popular offerings is the Sunday roast. Those who can’t choose between the meats can order the triple.

Address: 28 Barwick Street, B3 2NT, Birmingham

Opening hours: Wednesday–Thursday 5.30–10.30pm, Friday–Saturday noon–11pm, Sunday 1pm–6pm, Monday–Tuesday closed.

Expect to pay: Starters: £8-12. Signature mains: £22-28. Sunday roast: £26-36.

Another popular establishment in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, Saint Pauls House is a boutique hotel, restaurant and bar that has made a name for itself as a stylish abode with great food and drink without compromising on the hearty portions. Their full English breakfasts and Sunday roasts, for example, will set visitors salivating, while their hoisin-glazed confit pork belly and hefty steaks offer something a tad more indulgent. Stay the night for an all-round relaxed experience.

Time Out tip: Saint Pauls House overlooks a gorgeous square with a church at its centre - perfect for a post-cocktail stroll. 

Address: 15–20 St Paul’s Square, B3 1QU, Birmingham

Opening hours: Monday–Saturday 7am–10pm, Sunday 7am–9pm 

Expect to pay: Sunday roast and bottomless brunch: £38-42. Two for £15 happy hour cocktails.