16 Of The Best Cafes In Birmingham

The second city gets a bad rap, but these cafes prove there’s much more to Brum than the rumours would have you believe. Settle into comfy seats with top class coffees, decadent pastries and a healthy serving of Heartland hospitality.

1. Urban Coffee Company

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Situated among the gorgeous red brick buildings between Snow Hill Station and St Phillips Cathedral, this caffeine lovers’ paradise boasts freshly ground beans, single origin filter coffee and a fantastic porridge bar. Be sure to ask your Urbanista for daily recommendations.

30 Church St, Birmingham B3 2NP www.urbancoffee.co.uk

2. Damascena

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Nestled cosily in the heart of Moseley village, this café will take you on a surprise thrill ride to Damascus by way of rich Turkish coffee, sweet mint tea and fantastic Middle Eastern meze dishes. Visit on a sunny day for a chance to sit outdoors among olive trees and swinging filigree lanterns.

133 Alcester Rd, Birmingham, West Midlands B13 8JP www.damascena.co.uk

3. Faculty

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As the name suggests, this café takes its coffee knowledge pretty seriously. Offering Brew classes and an ever changing menu of baked goods, head here to observe expert technique and taste how to bring the best out of your coffee.

14 Piccadilly Arcade, Birmingham, West Midlands B2 4HD

4. Eis Cafe

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This one goes out to the sweet of teeth. Take everything you picture when you think of a quaint, indie café then flip it upside down and cover with candy floss. Eis Café’s overwhelming locoshakes come with doughnuts, sprinkles, cookies, cream, candies…and anything else your heart would (actually) stop for. Share your overindulgence with friends, then smile your way through soothing cups of Arabic spiced tea.

500 Coventry Rd, Birmingham B10 0UN

5. Boston Tea Party

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First opened in Bristol, this café franchise caters to students, foodies and young professionals longing for a laid back hang-out. Situated in a beautiful old building between the law courts and bustling city centre, expect to see a joyful mix of business people and creative types all dropping in for coffees and teas in a funky setting.

190 Corporation St, City Centre, Birmingham B4 6QD bostonteaparty.co.uk

6. Cafephilia

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This is the kind of café that draws you in from a distance, then keeps you there with exceptional warmth and tastiness. Decorated in cool Americana style, you can’t help but feel like you’ve stepped into a swanky New York bar. With passionately made coffee, The Best Red Velvet Cake I’ve Ever Had and truly friendly staff, this place is a must visit for café lovers.

138 Alcester Rd, Moseley B13 8EE

7. Saint Kitchen

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With an enviable address in the green and trendy St Paul’s Square, this stylish deli-come-café serves heavenly flat whites, chewy-sweet bagels and single origin hot chocolate courtesy of Kokoa Collection. A real gem.

2, 61a St Paul's Square, Birmingham B3 1QS

8. The Kitchen Garden

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Hidden at the back of an independent garden centre in Kings Heath, visiting is like stepping into an old-timey greenhouse. With wholesome, seasonal and locally traded produce, The Kitchen Garden is an oasis from the relentless bustle of the second city.

17 York Rd, Birmingham B14 7SA www.kitchengardencafe.co.uk

9. The Old Crown Coffee Club

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The Old Crown pub is famed in Digbeth for its impressive 14th Century visage, honest grub and trendy rose garden, but the adorable coffee shop is not to be missed. By day, the Tudor beams and exposed bricks turn cute and homely, and with traditional English breakfast offerings and Winchester Coffee Roasted beans, it’s the perfect way to start your day.

188 High Street, Birmingham B12 0LD

10. Quarter Horse Coffee

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This independent café is also Birmingham’s first and only commercial sized coffee roaster. With two roasting machines constantly burnishing beans, the café smells incredible and offers freshly ground packages for home use. Sample the flat white with a slice of carrot cake and bathe in minimally-chic natural light.

88-90 Bristol Street, Birmingham B5 7AH www.quarterhorsecoffee.com

11. The Bond Cafe

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Hang out canalside at The Bond Café. Situated in a Victorian courtyard complete with cobbles and blossoms, the café itself feels like stepping in to an art gallery. Wholesome food and a chilled atmosphere, along with floor to ceiling views of the canal make this a perfect out-of-office work spot.

180-182 Fazeley St, Birmingham B5 5SE www.thebondco.net

12. Yumm

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Head to Yumm in The Custard Factory to break bread with some of the coolest people in the city. Opposite an old library and huddled between walls of graffiti, vintage shops and a skate park, Yumm is buzzing with life and creativity.

The Custard Factory, Unit 9, Zellig, Gibb Street, Birmingham B9 4AA http://yummcafeblog.co.uk

13. Friska

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Like Boston Tea Party, Friska is an exciting new franchise testament to Birmingham’s burgeoning coffee scene. Order the cappuccino with a granola bar and relax in the vibrant atmosphere and wood furnishing. Alternatively, get it to go and wander from Brindley Place’s central water feature down to the canal bridge and symphony hall.

11 Brindley Place, 2 Brunswick Square, Birmingham B1 2LP www.friskafood.com

14. Cafe Opus at the Ikon Gallery

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Flooded with light and contemporary design, Café Opus never fails to impress. With vibrant outdoor seating, café classics and delicious vegetarian food, it’s an ideal stop on your quest for Midlands culture.

1 Oozells St, Brindleyplace, Birmingham, West Midlands B1 2HS www.cafeopus.co.uk

15. Yorks Bakery Cafe

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Locations on Stephenson Street and Newhall Street, as well as a drop in espresso bar in the Great Western Arcade make Yorks a household name in Birmingham. Pop by for drawn out lunches with avocado toast and smoked salmon, or for a quick black coffee and wedge of Jewish apple cake in the afternoon.

www.yorksbakerycafe.co.uk

16. The Eight Foot Grocer

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Hidden in the Jewellery Quarter, this little grocer is a must visit with a friendly village feel. Don’t be fooled by the modest entrance and vaguely pop-up vibe; they serve the best pancakes in the city, along with artisan produce, freshly squeezed juices and mounds of flour dusted fresh bread.

15 Caroline Street, Birmingham B3 1TR www.the8footgrocer.com