Best bars in Birmingham: find options near you

We had a spectacular time at P&P and the brunch experience was fantastic (one of the best, if not the best we’ve ever experienced in Birmingham). And much credit to our wonderful hostess, Zee! Who made the experience what it was. She interactive, attentive, friendly, and always positive throughout, makes it an easy decision to return!

Nice place to sit and have a drink outside in the sun. I didn’t have anything off the food menu so can’t comment on that, but enjoyed a couple of beers overlooking the canal. Service was great. Drinks prices a little high, but expected with the location.

Such a lovely spot for bottomless brunch! The staff are very attentive and check up on you regularly. They are so friendly and make sure you have everything. Greesh was a fab host and ensure we had everything we needed and made sure we were topped up on drinks! Will definitely be back!

The breading on the underside of the fish was soggy and falling off onto the chips. It made it more difficult to eat as a result. It was otherwise tasty. It may have been because the fish was served on top of the chips. The curry was mildly spiced and a good combination of flavors. It was excessively noisy making conversation difficult. Perhaps some a noise absorbing panels would help.

Lovely meal at the Pitcher and Piano, excellent quality and value for money.
Excellent service by Zee, who was friendly, polite and very attentive! Will definitely come back.

Such a lovely place! We had a lovely time here 2 days in a row.
The night before our wedding we had a meal and drinks which were delicious and the atmosphere is just so unique and relaxing. It’s a beautiful place and so cosy. We loved all the plants and the rustic design of this gem next to the waterways in Birmingham
The staff were lovely.
As we went there after getting married too with our family they gave us their cookie dough mixer as a congratulatory gesture.

I highly recommend this place.

It was nice meeting with colleagues.
We only had drinks so I can’t say anything about the food. The service at the bar was fast but we where there at like 6pm so not busy yet.
The location looks very good and it worth some pictures.

Stunning view. I just grab a beer with friends. Will come back to try their food. Friendly staff and amazing atmosphere. The price is expensive, around £4 for half pint beer but worth it.

Highly suggest you to sit outdoor if weather is good.

This was a great location for a team lunch. The menu was pretty limited if you wanted the lunch option, but the lunch size kebabs were actually pretty spot o
n for about £9.50 including fries.

I think with a soft drink and the automatically applied tip, we ended up paying less than £14.50 per person.

I had the pork, and it was surprisingly flavourful. I’d order it again.

I can’t comment on the breadth of the menu. But it was definitely worth the trip.

The service was good. The decor was nice. Good scheme all round.

Food and service were exceptional. Thank you for the little extras that made my graduation celebrations extra special! Special thank you to Dory and Amber who were so attentive when serving us and to Tony in the kitchen for our delicious food. Highly recommend

Our favourite pub in Birmingham. Has a fantastic selection of real ales and the added bonus of a couple of friendly cats roaming around the pub! We mainly go each week to see the cats, but the beer is also fantastic and atmosphere is very friendly with very welcoming staff.

This pub contributed greatly to my decision to pick Birmingham as my new residency. I have this idea that you can tell a good place by checking its pubs, and after living in the South for 10 years I needed some change. Birmingham has so many nice pubs, and after sampling a few places, I quickly got drawn to The Wellington. Central location, gorgeous interior and style, friendly guest and staff members, record number of hand pulls and most importantly, they keep their real ales fresh. This pub introduced me to the beers of Black Country Ales and gave me a new favourite, the BFG. I will be forever thankful to the gentleman who recommended me this beer on my first day of visit. The pub also has two cats. They are not in your face and you can consider yourself lucky if they come to you. If you’re allergic or just dislike them, please show your support for other pubs in the area instead of complaining about this.

Absolutely love this place – it’s been my go-to pub in Birmingham since I moved here.
The staff are friendly and welcoming, there is a good selection of drinks, it’s reasonably priced (especially for a city centre pub), the atmosphere is cosy.
The highlight of any visit is spotting the pub cats, Malt and Hops – it’s just an instant happiness boost to have a drink next to two adorable kitties, and that keeps me coming back again and again.

16 ales at the bar! Now that is impressive! Busy on a Monday lunchtime, their ale list was varied and the beers that I tried were all in excellent condition. Comfy carpeted interior with the beer list on screens. Impressive back bar as well, I was tempted into trying a long row red whiskey that was finished in Pinot noir barriques. You could spend many an hour in here. Lovely pub

I’ve removed 2 stars from my original review on account of BCA’s decision to remove 2 stars from the pub (malt and hops). Had so much fun with these cute characters over the years, they’ll both be missed so much. Just hope I’m not sharing a pint with mice now…

Lovely venue with nice atmosphere, had nice soup, chicken dinner and cheesecake. Roast dinner was great, only issue was roast potatoes were slightly undercooked and there could be a few real ales on tap (at least I missed them if there was). Really nice old building and venue to eat at/ have a few drinks

We were early to arrive but sat at the bar while our table was getting ready. The food was amazing and desserts delicious. We had cocktails from the 2 for £12 and they were spot on. We were also given two free cocktails made accidently by the barman…. Hubby was pleased! Overall we really enjoyed our evening with our daughters and would definitely recommend a visit.

Highly recommend, my family and I came to celebrate my mom’s birthday over the weekend and had an incredible time! We booked theatre tickets right after our meal and honestly didn’t want to leave because the atmosphere was fantastic, lively, and the great music added to the ambiance. We had pizza and the black truffle rigatoni, all very delicious!

Daniel is a real asset to your team, he really took care of us and made our experience even better!

Thank you to Daniel and the team for being so accommodating! We will definitely be returning.

The place is beautiful and service was very friendly and accomodating.Some of the dishes were really good and some very average.Definitely recommend the Festa carne pizza..thin base and busting with flavour! They have a specific cocktail list on offer which is two of the same for £12 which a fantastic deal and cocktails are not your standard ones. Pork was so overdone, couldn’t cut into but server very kindly replaced it with another dish.The Lamb grill platter was okay.The kofta was way overdone.Squid and chicken thigh starters were nice! I would come again for the cocktails and the lovely atmosphere!

Absolutely delightfull. Loved the food and fabulous service from.Chloe..thank you.

I’ve been to the other branch in Birmingham and loved it, so I thought I’d try this one as its alot more central location ( note gave the other branch 5/5)

Foods 10/10 just like the other site, the only thing that lets this branch down is the staff.

1 out of the 3 staff who dealt with us was really good! The other two were just not very friendly….

It’s worth going just for the food! But I would recommend just going to the other branch ( about 20 minutes away )

Came in at a very early and quiet time of day which probably didn’t do it justice, as I can imagine it’s probably a lot livelier as the day goes on. It was still ok in there, very nicely done up inside. I didn’t have anything to eat so can’t comment on the food, just had a cocktail and a beer which were both fine.

Amazing and tasty food, absolutely loved the dirty burger and pan fried sea bass.
It was so tasty, my husband and I were in tears of joy
The ambiance is so rustic and beautiful
We are planning to go again this weekend!

Visited mid day for cocktails for my Mom’s birthday. Really nicely decorated, friendly barman and great tasting cocktails. Will definitely return

Great cocktails, very long wait to be served. Nice decor, friendly staff.

First time in here and I fell in love with the space. You feel like you are in another era.. Staff were super chill and friendly even though it was busy..food was a reasonable price, great selection and very tasty. Definitely will be back ✨

We were here on a Saturday evening for a few drinks. The atmosphere and interior were very nice – a really interesting place to relax. However, the service leaves much to be desired. There were only two bartenders working at the bar , and unfortunately they did not know how to make cocktails correctly: the proportions were wrong, and they could not make a non-alcoholic cocktail at all. I wish the staff knew the menu better and knew how to make drinks, especially on weekends when the flow of guests is high. We hope that in the future the service will be at the level of the atmosphere of the establishment.

Visited Bacchus Bar for drinks, and it was a great experience! The ambiance was cozy and relaxed, perfect for an evening out. The drink menu had a fantastic selection of cocktails, beers, and wines, and everything we tried was spot on. The bartenders were friendly, knowledgeable, and made some excellent recommendations.

Whether you’re looking for a casual drink with friends or a night out, Bacchus Bar is a solid choice. Definitely looking forward to going back soon!

Cool bar with good vibes. Price is acceptable for the second city.. but my god, fill your pints up properly! Not a sip taken from these 2

What do a pair of Aussie tourists fresh off the plane get for dinner on their first night in Birmingham? Easy answer, a pie, of course! But not just any old pie, no no my friend. You ain’t had a pie until you have ventured into the subterranean bar/ restaurant that is Bacchus.

Located in the Burlington Arcade in the heart of Birmingham you descend down a fight of stairs into the most over themed, ostentatiously decorated pub you have, and will, ever experience. Is this a negative? No way! The venue is cozy and inviting and has lots of little nooks and crannies where you can secrete yourself for an intimate dinner or relaxed drinks with mates.

The choices at the bar are extensive and the food coming out of the kitchen is top notch. Their pies are what they are famous for and for good reason. Packed with quality filling and doubling down on flavour the range of pies is impressive and great value of money.

I’ve left the best for last. The service is impeccable. The staff are amazing here. Super friendly and attentive and most importantly can have a joke about how rubbish English beer and cricket is compared to Australia.

We were served by the guy who I assume is running the show down there. Will, what can I say… the guy is an absolute star. Smart, witty and handsome; I was about to marry my mum off to him if I thought I could get away with my dad not finding out…

We had a great time. Cheers guys.

Amazing food, beautiful drinks and menu. What stands out is the lovely, attentive staff who are working really hard in a high pressure and loud busy environment. We were constantly being offered more drinks/food and were never left waiting for service. This is something that is really important to me, they did so good. The staff provide amazing customer service.

My *only* negative & reason for 4 stars:

The music is way too loud! We came at 6.30pm and the music was blaring so loud that you cannot have a conversation. For context it’s a Thursday not a weekend. To be honest I couldn’t wait to get out of there after 2hrs. Maybe I’m getting old????

been several times now for their bottomless brunch and love it! I have the smashed potatoes and sunny eggs with sausages and my partner loves the chicken and waffles. Just wish there was more cocktail choice as they’re lovely!

Food and cocktails were delicious. Staff were great couldn’t do enough and they were very busy with a large party.

Fantastic place, good atmosphere. Service was 5* friendly staff. Lovely food and drinks we had a great time.

The Alchemist on Colmore Row left much to be desired during my recent visit. The overall experience was disappointing due to the poor quality of food and shockingly arrogant service. From the moment we arrived, it felt as though the staff were dismissive, which set a negative tone for the afternoon.

The food itself failed to impress. Portions were alarmingly small for the price, leaving me questioning the value for money. One particular example was the fries – priced at over £9 for two tiny portions. It felt excessive and unjustified, especially given the underwhelming taste and presentation.

Beyond the food, the service was a major letdown. The staff came across as aloof and unhelpful, creating an unwelcoming atmosphere that dampened the entire dining experience. Despite the restaurant’s trendy reputation, the quality of both the service and the food fell far below expectations.

While the venue’s aesthetic might appeal to some, it is difficult to overlook the significant flaws in service and value. Dining out should be an enjoyable experience, but unfortunately, The Alchemist on Colmore Row failed to deliver on even the basic expectations. For those seeking quality food, reasonable portions, and attentive service, this restaurant may not be the best choice and will not attend again.

Lovely location on the Canal. Large seated area inside and a reasonably sized terrace. It’s a Green King pub so has the standard selection of beers. Outdoor seating could benefit with a little TLC.

We tried to get food on a Friday night when Peter Kay was on at Utilita and it was chaos. Very few tables, big lines at the bar. We almost bailed, but managed to get lucky. Food came out quickly which was a blessing. The pie seemed a bit overcooked to me with more pastry than filling. Overall a stressful experience, but somewhat unusual circumstances.

My wife and spent a few hours here waiting for our daughter to finish watching a concert at the NIA. It was a friendly atmosphere, with good food and drinks. Recommended!

Went here for lunch after we got married.
Paul Rena served us they were polite and professional.
The food we ordered was fantastic and even cheap beer on offer I couldn’t turn that down .
The location is stunning highly recommended

This was my flat Iron steak £17.99 came out cold with cold chips you don’t really get a lot .. I ordered chicken wings to come out at the same time.. Chicken wing where good and hot.. I’m presuming they waited for the chicken wings to be done and left the steak underneath a heating lamp.. all staff were polite but no one came round to check if our food was okay

This is a firm favourite of ours. You know what you’re getting and it’s very consistent. The menu is easy to navigate with something for everyone and the cocktails are ace, especially at happy hour. Personally, I’d like more spice and stronger seasoning for my palate, but regardless, I enjoy my meal every time. The staff a lovely and attentive and we’ve never felt ignored or rushed.

Quite disappointing unfortunately. Sat down with my partner and they took 40 minutes to serve us. I would have no problem with this if they were busy but the staff were standing and talking to each other not serving anyone. When we were finally served we were given watered down drinks that cost 10 pounds each. It took more time after that before our food orders were taken. We gave our food order and then 15 minutes later they came back saying it wasn’t available. Yes, it took 15 minutes for them to check if they had what we ordered as they stood around talking. When we gave them an updated order with what they actually had in stock the food they gave us was not at all worth the price they charged. Feathers in the chicken and the rice was undercooked. (see photos). 2 watery drinks, one small plate and one regular plate cost 50 pounds. Save yourself time and money.

Hard to sum this place up. Service was intially really good but lacked a bit as time went on. Two of the four dishes we ordered weren’t available, alternatives offered which was acceptable. When the food came, one of the four dishes was wrong one, so now we only have one of the originally ordered items. Pointed out the incorrect dish but didn’t get rectified until we had finished our other food. I’d give it another chance based on the tasty food, maybe at a less busy time.

I absolutely enjoyed my drinks after work with my colleagues yesterday. I’ve noticed there’s some positive improvements in this venue with their drinks, food and staff. Thanks for looking after us, Andrew! Definitely coming back, totally recommend for a couples night out or even after work drinks. Keep it u guys!

Had lunch here in the run-in to Christmas, and overall it wasn’t great.

We were seated at a table with standard menus only, and noticed that was being done with other diners too. Fortunately we were aware there’s a lunch deal menu and my wife went to get that instead.

From the lunch deals, we ordered ourselves burritos, then ordered a Taco meal as a kind of side to share. Very glad I didn’t order that as my main meal as it was tiny.

I opted for the Pork pibil because I’m not sure if they keep the meats of the haallal menu and the normal menus separate, and I didn’t want to mistakenly eat haallal meat.

The food was ok, I expected a lot more flavour, but overall not bad or anything. The mocktails were quite nice, the virgin colada was lovely to be fair.

My wife suggested we head to the nearby Christmas market for churros for dessert, but I insisted we stay put. She ended up getting the dessert menu herself and we ordered the Churros to share.

They came without ice cream, so we had to ask for that again, which we received an apology for and were then given strawberry instead of vanilla as that was all they had left.

It did seem the one guy who looked like he was in charge was trying to keep it together, but generally it was a bit of a shambles from his crew. I did witness another diner receiving even worse service, but that’s not really my story to tell.

Went for NYE after reading good things and good reviews, but reality was a cramped space, with bad nightclub vibe. Music was way too loud (I appreciate volume and a vibe but it was seriously hard to talk to anyone at all). Music choice was hit and miss, more miss than hit, entertainment was pretty non existent, a couple of drag queens just walking around lol. The worst thing was that out of the 6 cocktails we tried, only 2 were any good, really odd considering its the same chain as dirty martini who have great drinks, and we watched bartenders make them and it all seemed fine, but they mostly tasted awful. Also no coat check, which is the simplest thing to set up, and entrance ‘hosts’ were kind of pointless, maybe realign your budget as you don’t need 6 people stood at the door.

I ‘should’ love this venue, but its just really poorly executed, at least the new years event was.

22 of us went for a Sunday afternoon leaving party for a friend. An amazing time was had by all. Entertainment was brilliant and Scott, our server, was excellent and nothing was too much of an ask for him. We are definitely going back.
Last time we went to Josephine’s it was amazing. We went again on 1st September 2024 and this time it was even better, 14 of us enjoyed the food, the drinks were in abundance, and what can I say about the entertainment? It was fantastic and Donna Trump was brilliant. Even the non-drinkers said how amazing it was. Our server, Amar, was wonderful too. Thank you for making my celebration an event that none of us will forget xx

Great night out for an awards ceremony! Great food, great staff and great environment! Thank you!

We came for the hoedown bottomless brunch for my moms birthday recently. Unfortunately, my mom broke her leg a few weeks before and so turned up with crutches and a wheelchair. The security team in particular were absolutely fantastic and incredibly helpful. Assisted us with getting her in and to her table, stored the wheelchair for us, and let us leave last so that she could exit without getting bumped. Huge thank you to the team there for making this so easy! In addition to this, the brunch was great fun, drinks were constantly topped up and the team were kind enough to give us a bar tab to replace the payment of someone who couldn’t attend. We were all very impressed with the service and had a really great time – thanks so much to the team at Tonight Josephine!

I had initially given Tonight Josephine a glowing 5-star review after my first visit, but my second experience left me so disappointed that I doubt I’ll be returning anytime soon. It’s a real shame because my initial visit had been so promising.

On my second visit, which was on a Tuesday evening, I was shocked to find the seating in a rather sorry state. All the seats were sticky, and some had tears. It was not particularly busy, with only three other people at the bar, so there really was no excuse for the poor condition of the seating. We attempted to place an order at the bar, but were promptly told to take a seat. Unfortunately, that’s when our wait began, and no one came to take our order for an uncomfortably long time.

What added to our disappointment were the two females working that night who appeared to have quite an attitude. This was a stark contrast to my previous visit, where the staff had been friendly and welcoming. Their behavior only exacerbated our dissatisfaction with the overall experience.

I ordered two Cosmopolitans, and to my surprise, they were excessively bitter, even for someone who typically enjoys bitter drinks. I managed to finish them, but it wasn’t an enjoyable experience. To make matters worse, as we prepared to leave (before 9 pm), my partner had ordered two beers but only managed to finish one. I decided to take the unfinished beer with me for the train journey, as is often permitted in similar establishments. To our surprise, one of the ladies, who had been largely absent throughout the evening, suddenly appeared and chased us up the stairs to inform us that we couldn’t take the beer outside. It was an odd and untimely display of attention that felt like an unnecessary final straw in an already frustrating night.

Overall, my second visit to Tonight Josephine left a lot to be desired. The condition of the seating, slow service, unfriendly staff, and poorly made drinks were all significant disappointments. To top it off, the sudden enforcement of rules as we were leaving only added to the frustration. I’ll be exploring other options for my future outings, as there are better places around that offer a more enjoyable and consistent experience.

Note that there is a forced 12% tip and when you pay they ask if you want to tip again!?

(Photos from the first night when I left a 5 star review)