Best-of Guides Birmingham
7 Restaurants
Birmingham, England’s ‘second city’, was once the beating industrial heart of the Midlands. In recent years, it has steadily reinvented itself as a cosmopolitan hub, taking care to preserve its past while becoming a vibrant multicultural metropolis. An enormous part of the Birmingham of today is its fabulous food scene, headed by chefs who show as much pride for their home city as they do the dishes they create.
Updated on 22 March 2024
Adam's
16 Waterloo Street, B2 5UG Birmingham
££££ · Modern Cuisine
One always gets that welcome feeling of luxury and a sense of occasion when entering Adam Stokes’ eponymous restaurant, lying just a couple of blocks from Birmingham Cathedral. A visit to the co*cktail bar is the way to begin, before moving through to a dining room brimming with atmosphere. The kitchen succeeds in delivering dishes which look clean, colourful and enticing on the plate, while always delivering on flavour. For a special experience, consider booking the Chef’s Table with its bespoke tasting menu.
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Land
30 Great Western Arcade, Colmore Row, B2 5HU Birmingham
£££ · Vegetarian
The lovingly restored Great Western Arcade prides itself on being a home to independent businesses and makes an ideal spot for this cosy restaurant focusing on plant-based dishes. Working with the seasons ensures ingredients are only used when in their prime, therefore delivering maximum flavour. A degree of creativity and some Japanese influences like kimchi and dashi also help to add identity and overall appeal to the cooking. It’s a little gem which deserves its loyal following.
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Opheem
48 Summer Row, B3 1JJ Birmingham
££££ · Indian
In a city synonymous with curry houses, Opheem’s Chef-Owner Aktar Islam has continually pushed the boundaries of what is expected of Indian cuisine – in the process, his restaurant has become the first ever in Birmingham to be awarded Two Michelin Stars. Aktar’s unique style of cooking is creative and enticingly original, combining recognisable Indian flavours with prime British produce. Dining here takes you on a culinary journey, powered by supreme technical skill and just the right amount of imagination.
Hear more from Aktar Islam on how it feels to win Two Michelin Stars.
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Purnell's
55 Cornwall Street, B3 2DH Birmingham
£££ · Modern Cuisine
If there were an award for best-known chef in Birmingham, Glynn Purnell would be the likely winner. He’s fiercely proud of the city and while he has recently started to spread his wings with ventures like Plates by Purnell’s and , his flagship remains the focus. Never one to stand still, Glynn’s restaurant continues to adapt to modern tastes; a subtle lightness to the style is more evident these days, while the sauces remain staunchly classic and superbly crafted. He’s even found the time to write a children’s book too!
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Simpsons
20 Highfield Road, Edgbaston, B15 3DU Birmingham
££££ · Modern Cuisine
Fans of a cricketing persuasion will instantly recognise Edgbaston as being the home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club, while those of a culinary bent will head to this affluent residential suburb in search of Simpsons. Housed in a Georgian property with a verdant garden and terrace, it’s been a fixture of the city’s dining scene for years. Its longevity is largely down to Head Chef Luke Tipping, whose experience shines through in cooking that displays just enough modernity to keep things relevant, while remaining a real pleasure to eat.
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The Wilderness
Unit B, 27 Warstone Lane, B18 6JQ Birmingham
££££ · Modern Cuisine
Given the name, you could be forgiven for thinking this restaurant is set in a rural location rather than the historic Jewellery Quarter, a vibrant neighbourhood that was once the industrial heart of the city. Self-taught Chef-Owner Alex Claridge takes a slightly punk-rock attitude to his cooking, delivering dishes filled with an assortment of globally influenced flavours and a healthy dose of invention. The dining experience as a whole has an immersive feel and is enlivened by the pumping soundtrack.
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Tropea
27 Lordswood Road, Harborne, B17 9RP Birmingham
££ · Italian
A love of all things Italian led owners Ben and Kasia to name their restaurant after the Calabrian town of Tropea, and they have succeeded in bringing a welcome touch of the Mediterranean to the suburb of Harborne. Kasia is in the kitchen crafting sharing plates that follow the Italian principle of pure, ingredient-led cooking. Homemade pasta is a highlight, available in small or large portions so you can try as many as possible. The wine list offers sensibly priced options too.
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Copyright from top to bottom: Jack Spicer/Adam's, Jack Spicer/Adam's, Tom Bird/Land, Jack Spicer Adams/Land, Opheem /Opheem, sm2/Opheem, Jim Varney/Purnell's, Steve Read/Purnell's, Simpsons, Simpsons, Tom Bird/The Wilderness, Richard James/The Wilderness, Tom Bird/TROPEA, The Relationship/Tropea
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