James March

With Aktar Islam’s sublime modern Indian restaurant Opheem becoming Birmingham’s first ever two Michelin-star restaurant, the Second City’s food scene is quietly going from strength to strength in 2024. And it’s well-earned too. This isn’t a town too fond of hubris or vanity – certain other UK cities do a roaring trade in those particular currencies – but Birmingham deserves its spot in the sun and is now comfortably one of Britain’s best destinations to eat and drink.  But while the city’s regenerated dining scene is worth celebrating, Birmingham’s balti heritage is under existential threat.  The balti is Birmingham’s original culinary gift to the world, but today only a handful of restaurants remain following the balti house’s zenith in the ’90s. Its rise and fall has gone somewhat under the radar amid Birmingham’s continuing gastronomic accolades, but there are a passionate few still keeping the dream alive. And it starts with family.  What is a balti? Developed by Birmingham’s burgeoning Pakistani community in the mid-1970s, the balti is a one-pot curry cooked quickly, stir-fry style, over a searing heat. Using vegetable oil rather than ghee, the cooking takes place within a flat-bottomed wok, also used for eating. The balti’s distinctive caramelisation | Photograph: James March While the balti is inspired by traditional Kashmiri recipes – and packing in spices like garam masala, cumin and turmeric – it was adjusted to suit Western tastes, which meant a cooking time of

Given how big and sprawling it is, it remains somewhat perplexing that Birmingham manages to maintain such a modest rep. Having long shed its neglected post-industrial image, England’s second city is now one of the country’s most exciting and diverse travel destinations. Among its miles of gorgeous canals and awesome greenery, you’ll find characterful pubs, fascinating museums and some of the best restaurants in the country. Home to heavy metal music, a nationally adored chocolate company, the world’s biggest collection of pre-Raphaelite paintings, several high-flying football teams and around three million legendarily hospitable Brummies, Birmingham doesn’t just have a bit of everything – it has a lot of everything. Ready to get out there and explore? Here are the best things to do in Birmingham right now. RECOMMENDED:😋 The best restaurants in Birmingham🍻 The most charming pubs in Birmingham🛏 The best hotels in Birmingham This guide was recently updated by James March, a travel writer from Birmingham. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.