 You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I'll be spending some time in Birmingham over the next few months. It's a place I've only been to a couple of times, and I don't think I've every stayed there, so I'm looking for recommendations for bars / pubs / places to eat.
I'll eat pretty much anything and like a decent pint of IPA.
For reference, I'm a big fan of the Flatiron and Sticks n Sushi chains, and of course like a balti / curry.
So what have you got?
If you like a good pub with a good variety of ales (not just IPA) then The Prince of Wales on Cambridge Street is a traditional place with lots of Black Country ales on. Not a foody place though, just cobs I think.
Ah, my area of expertise this is. I'll give answers mainly focussed centrally with a proviso that heading out to Stirchley and Harborne is a good idea too. I'll also focus mainly in independents, you can work out the chains yourself.
Food, higher end:
Adams, Folium, Opheem and Wilderness. All very much in the fine dining category, all very different in style and all awesome. Folium is the standout of the 4 in my view. Land is also brilliant, and is vegetarian.
Still higher end but not fine dining are Oyster Club, Pasture and Chapter. Cucina Rustica is the best Italian in the city.
Food, cheaper eats:
Original Patty Men does the best beef burgers, Bonehead do the best chicken. If Pizza is your thing, head to Otto or Smoke & Ash.
The Balti triangle doesn't really exist anymore but thankfully, Shahbab's is still there and is about as authentic as you'll get for curry. Asha's is good to but probably should be in the higher end category given it's prices. Manzil's is wonderfully old skool.
Tiger Bites Pig does amazing Bao and rice bowls.
Food, lunch in the city:
Anderson & Hill make the best sandwiches, and are also a good deli. In the same arcade, Habanero's is the only burrito worth eating in Birmingham. Monty's is an institution for city lunchers.
Waylands Yard is the best place for brunch and breakfast, and their coffee is awesome too. Medicine is where you go for baked good such as cake and bread.Â
Coffee Collective or Faculty are where coffee aficionados head to, Java Lounge is good too.
Drinks, cocktails and wine:
Fox and Chance is a proper, old fashioned cocktail bar with in my view the best cocktails in the city. Isaacs is also good, located in the Grand Hotel. Lucky7 is Japanese inspire cocktails, the guy who owns it is an absolute genius.Â
If you want wine, head to Arch13 for a very friendly little bar that does great snacks too. Loki is a win merchants where you can drink in too and has a phenomenal selections of wine available.
Drinks, beer:
I know some will disagree, but I think this is an area central Birmingham struggles with. Pure Bar is an exception and is always my first stop in Town. The Wellington is beloved by many real ale heads and well worth a visit. The Old Contemptibles has a fascinating mix of ale heads and city workers. The Jewellers arms, The Wolf and the Barrel Store should also be on your list.
Â
That'll do as a starter, I'll add more when I can think of them.
Â
The Wellington is beloved by many real ale heads and well worth a visit.
Â
+1 -- the #1 place I head for in central Brum for a decent pint.
Thanks all. Keep the recommendations coming. 👍
The Indian Brewery by Snow Hill Station is great for an IPA and Indian food. Maneki Ramen in the Jewellery Quarter should be good too. I've only been to its Sister restaurant in Worcester, but that is superb.Â
Kungfu Noodle near the hippodrome theatre. Hand pulled noodles/soup/authentic Chinese dishes. One of my favourite places anywhere. (The Manchester one, but the brum one is the same)
Â
https://www.instagram.com/kungfunoodleuk?igsh=a3liaHVzemphZjJj
I would agree with a few of the above, I also enjoy a pint in the Colmore, part of Thornbridge Brewery.
If you do head out to Stirchley a visit to Brum Brewery is worth it, nice little taproom.
For micro breweries try Burning Soul on Mott Street and Rock and Roll Brewhouse Bar on Hall Street. Both only open on Friday and Saturday afternoons generally. Rock and Roll have live bands playing their own stuff most Saturdays.Â
Sabi's Kitchen by Burning Soul for Punjabi food as well.
https://www.tokyoizakaya.co.uk/
We've been back to this japanese place a number times to explore the menu
I'd second Asha's for curry etc; went there for my retirement lunch with 20+ colleagues (boss was paying!). Probably worth a look into Dishoom while you're at it, and for similar Indian food but quite a bit cheaper, Tamatanga seems very popular. A mate took me to a place called Brown's last year before a gig, they do a much more European menu and very acceptable it was too.
Sorry, as a teetotaller, I can't help on the drinking front.