An Insider’s Guide to Birmingham
EAT
The Wilderness
These are our neighbours in the Jewellery Quarter. Sadly, they’re open at the same times we are, so I don’t get to visit as often as I’d like, but there’s always exciting food on the menu. Sonal, who keeps the atmosphere flowing as well as the wine, is a friend. The menu is always inventive and, more importantly, always enjoyable. Be guided by the tasting menu and you’re in for a treat.
Visit WeAreTheWilderness.co.uk
Bonehead
Every city has a favourite chicken spot and Bonehead is ours. Great fried chicken and super low key, it has a fantastic team. It has perfected humble chicken and chips, as well as burgers, wings and Nashville-inspired sides. It’s a favourite among the Michelin lot – some of the best chefs from around the country often pop in when they’re in town.
Visit BoneheadUK.com
Soi 1268 by Buddha Belly
This is a success that started at the Digbeth Dining Club/Hockley Social Club and now has its own spot in Stirchley. The team serve excellent Thai street food packed with so much flavour. I can’t fault the place and I’m always trying to sneak a night off so I can grab a table – if it’s not full, which is rare.
Visit Soi1268.co.uk
Hockley Social Club
This is a post-lockdown reinvention from the team at Digbeth Dining Club. Everyone in Birmingham’s food and drink scene love it lot. It’s provided a stepladder for so many ambitious and talented chefs with their own vision. With rotating street food vendors, it’s a great place to swing by for a long lazy afternoon at the weekend – they’ve got a great eye for finding quality traders, as well as providing a cool space for vinyl or live music and DJs.
Visit HockleySocialClub.com
Opheem
Birmingham has a fantastic food scene with more Michelin stars than any UK city outside London. It’s grown so well over the last 20 years, and you can find a wide spectrum of food styles done really well and made with love. I couldn’t not include my little baby on this list. There’s always a long way to go, but I hope my approach to combining Indian flavours with quality British produce continues to be something people enjoy.
Visit Opheem.com
Tom Bird
DRINK
Couch
Couch won me over on my first visit and it’s always perfect. Unpretentious, unless you want it to be, you can sit at the bar or in the little garden. It feels like a little family local, just with some of the best cocktails in the country. Many of our regulars from Opheem pop in, too.
Visit CouchBar.co.uk
Passing Fancies
Like Couch, PF has been winning awards left, right and centre. Matt made it to the world finals for bartending last year and was just pipped to first place (a robbery!). It’s a classic Birmingham institution with a friendly atmosphere – it now offers brunch which, from what I’m told, is excellent.
Visit PassingFanciesBar.co.uk
Loki
My old friend Phil has established Loki as some of the best independent wine bars in the city. There are two (one by Snow Hill station and one in leafier Edgbaston) with a great selection of low-intervention and organic wines alongside a couple of snacks.
Visit LokiWine.co.uk
Madeleine Bar at The Grand
This is my favourite hotel bar in the city. It’s comfortable, professional and beautiful. Birmingham has often been shy of doing swanky and upmarket to the same level as London, but Madeleine and the Grand really get the luxury balance right. Expect great drinks and a great team that make you feel at home.
SLEEP
Saint Paul’s House
Sadly, we’ve seen a few of our boutique hotels struggle to make it through Covid, but Saint Paul’s House is a great spot and not far from Opheem. It’s bright and comfortable, with a lovely bar on St Paul’s Square, which is a little green gem in the Jewellery Quarter. I’ll often pop here after a long dog walk.
Visit SaintPaulsHouse.com
The Grand Hotel Birmingham
I’ve got a lot of love for The Grand. It was covered in scaffolding for as long as I could remember before it reopened a few summers ago. It represents the development of Birmingham – things don’t necessarily come quickly but when they get there, they’re pure quality. For its grand style, top-notch service and attention to detail, I recommend it to anyone who wants to experience the best of the city. We’ve partnered with the hotel, so guests can book the Opheem Grand Experience for an overnight stay and dinner at Opheem. A win-win.
Visit TheGrandHotelBirmingham.co.uk
Hampton Manor
Our friends out in Hampton in Arden own the beautiful Hampton Manor. It goes to show that not far from the former industrial juggernaut of the city centre (15 mins on the train) Birmingham has lovely countryside. Smoke, with Stu Deeley at the helm, is another of my favourite restaurants, while Dave’s Grace & Savour recently won a Michelin star. It’s the perfect spot for a foodie weekend.
Visit HamptonManor.com
VISIT
The Canals
Anyone who has ever met a Brummie knows that the canals are a talking point. We have more canals than Venice, they say, but probably also a few more plastic bags. However, most are beautifully maintained, especially in the south or west. They’re a calming feature of the city when you want a bit of peace and quiet.
Museums & Galleries
Another often-missed part of Birmingham’s cultural depth is our galleries and museums. The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is spread over multiple parts of the centre, with the striking main museum just off Victoria Square. It’s been going through a refurbishment for a few years and it’s now back, partially open, and due to completely reopen at the end of summer. I love how understated it can be. It’s world-class both in terms of its collections and history, but I don’t think people hear about it too often outside of the city itself.
Visit BirminghamMuseums.org.uk
Symphony Hall
Beyond the big-hitting Utilita Arena (still known as the NIA by Brummies) and NEC, which host the huge shows, not enough is said about the Symphony Hall for an incredible experience. We are a city of culture – music runs through our blood – and the Symphony Hall shows how Birmingham can turn its hand to everything. It’s considered one of the world’s best venues acoustically and it’s absolutely beautiful.
Visit BMusic.co.uk
Selfridges & the Bullring
The Bullring is a must-visit during a weekend. It’s an iconic part of the Birmingham skyline now. Coming from the south, it’s something to spot from the train in, but it’s also a great attraction to drive people into the city and support the local economy. Shopping in the city is a big draw; we’ve got big names and plenty of independents.
Visit Bullring.co.uk
Birmingham Library & Centenary Square
Another now-iconic part of our skyline, this a great spot to learn about Birmingham’s history. The library is modern, but nods to Shakespeare with its reading room on the top. You can walk through the square and see the beautiful architecture of Baskerville House and the Hall of Memory contrasted with the modern library, then walk past the REP theatre and the Symphony Hall before heading towards the canals.
Visit Opheem.com & follow @AktarIslam on Instagram
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