11 Fun Places to Eat in Birmingham
Both of us grew up exploring restaurants across the Midlands. We have brought together an extensive list of fun places to eat in Birmingham to save you time and money.
We know Birmingham can get some stick from time to time, but we think you will be surprised at the number of unique places to eat in the city. Our first dates were in Birmingham, so we believe we are best positioned to give you the best recommendations.
If you have read our blog about the best places to eat in Birmingham, you will know the city is home to so many cultures and cuisines to indulge in. The city has everything from halal to Indian street food to Mexican!
This blog will guide you to all the fun places to Eat in Birmingham that recommend you check out if you are in the city.
Why Birmingham?
We might be biased, but we genuinely think Birmingham might be the UK’s most underrated city. All you ever hear about is London, Manchester, Newcastle, Cardiff or Edinburgh, but you never hear about Birmingham.
Birmingham is one of the most exciting cities to experience food. It is indisputable that the city holds the fort regarding cuisines home to Cadbury World and the balti curry (two of our favourite foods).
If you didn’t know, Birmingham is the home to the Balti Triangle. With both of us having lived in several other cities in the UK, we can confirm nowhere does a curry as good as Birmingham.
There are so many fun places to eat in Birmingham that all serve delicious food. Follow along to find a hidden gem dining room suited to you!
Original Patty Man
Let’s start off with a bang and talk about the original patty man. It won Britain’s best street food burger award in 2016, for good reason. The award-winning burgers are out of this world and offer beef, chicken, vegetarian (which is mushroom) and vegan!
Original patty man blew up when Drake was spotted in Birmingham grabbing himself a tasty burger! You can’t blame him!
As well to burgers, they offer some tasty wings, loaded fries and chicken bites. The Alabama fires are crispy, topped with franks sauce, Alabama sauce, fresh onions and crispy onions (mouth is watering writing that!) That is only one of the many options they have on the menu.
What we love about our original patty man is that it is like a dirty takeaway in a sit-down setting. It is an enjoyable place to eat in Birmingham when catching up with friends or before a night out.
Our top choice and Henry’s favourite is the Alabama Slammer! Deep-fried chicken with an unreal lime and ginger slaw. It is a must if you visit, and we love the nod to Birmingham in Alabama, USA.
Adam’s Restaurant
If you have read our guide to Michelin restaurants in Swansea, you will know we are partial to Michelin star restaurants. Named after head chef Adam Stokes, located near Waterloo street, the contemporary fine dining restaurant has been open since 2012.
Now, this is not a cheap option, but if you are looking for something for a special night, then we recommend it. A taster menu is just that when looking for fun places to eat in Birmingham. We love a taster menu as it pushes you out of your comfort zone and makes you try things you would never pick!
What we love about this restaurant is that it takes classic dishes and makes them exciting! So, if you are not used to fine dining and the weird flavours on offer, this is a perfect starting point!
Tattu
If you have social media, you might have seen the infamous Tattu restaurant. This is because it has the most beautiful interior, perfect for Instagram.
Tattu has a beautiful big pink tree towering over the restaurant, surrounded by dim lights to create a sophisticated atmosphere. Not only does that tick all the boxes for an aesthetic atmosphere, the food bangs!
Tattu is a must-do place to eat in Birmingham. With a modern Chinese-inspired menu, the food is to die for. From wagyu ribeye to green pepper lobster, there are a lot of excellent options to pick from.
We love ordering loads of small plates and sharing together as it is fun to do together. It also means you get to try lots of different dishes rather than committing to just one option.
Digbeth Dining club
We think Digbeth dining club matched the brief for fun places to eat in Birmingham the most. That is because it is located in a really cool part of Birmingham, surrounded by plenty of things to do.
Digbeth dining club’s concept is that it is home to several food stalls to pick from. There are currently 3 in the branch over Birmingham, two in central Birmingham and one more in south Birmingham near Solihull.
There is every type of cuisine there, really mirroring Birmingham’s love for diverse culture and food. From Bento boxed to Pizza and even a handful of indulgent dessert places. Digbeth Dining Club is an enjoyable place to go on a date or with friends, as you will all get to eat something you enjoy.
You really could stay at Digbeth Dining club all night as there is a bar and live music on weekends. Great for a night out and for food!
Gaucho
Gaucho is known for its superb steaks, bringing you some South American flavours. This is a super fun place to eat in Birmingham because of the interior replicating the Aregenitians forests.
Sharing a bottle of wine is one of our favourite things to do together when eating. So our first dates involved a lot of red wine! That’s why we love Gaucho, as it pairs great wine with great steaks!
The staff are so friendly, creating the perfect atmosphere for a fun night in Birmingham. It describes itself as an accessible luxury which we love as everyone deserves to enjoy the finer things in life without the price tag.
Sabai Sabai
Thai has to be one of our favourite foods, hence why we are planning to travel to Thailand for a month next year. But, until then, Sabai Sabai will more than suffice.
With plenty of venues to pick from over Birmingham, you should always have a fun place to eat near Birmingham. It is an underdog and should not be overlooked, especially if you love Asian food.
What is great about Sabai Sabai is that you can really customise your meal to add extras you fancy from the menu with options like a side starter. However, we would advise going for a set menu so you can indulge in all the fantastic dishes on offer!
Akram’s Kashmiri
Now we have mentioned Birmingham being famous for the Balti triangle, so we had to include a curry house in this blog.
Akram’s is hands down the best curry house in Birmingham that we have found. Its message and passion is sharing, which is great for dates or friends.
There are various vegan, vegetarian, meat and fish options in authentic curry sauces and spices. You have to eat a curry when you are in Birmingham and couldn’t recommend Akram’s Kashmiri enough.
Meat Club
As you know, we recently did a blog about halal restaurants in Birmingham. The Halal restaurant, Meat club, can now take place on that list.
The meat club is a premium steak house that promises to serve the most high-quality beef. Experience a luxury night out while enjoying some of Birmingham’s best food.
What we look for when looking for fun places to eat in Birmingham is somewhere we can dress up. For us, dating each other and putting on your best outfit is enjoyable and meaningful. But, equally, dressing with your friends for a fancy night on the town in the meat club is unmatched.
Mowgli
We are biassed because Mowgli is up there with one of our favourite restaurants of all time! We had two of our first dates there; we loved it so much that we went back again.
Mowgli is an Indian street food restaurant which is always lit with fairy lights and swinging chairs. Mowgli is a chain in other cities in the UK, but the one in Birmingham has a special place in our hearts.
Again, if you haven’t guessed by now, we love to share plates of food. So Mowgli’s whole USP is ordering a few dishes and eating them as it comes. It is some of the tastiest food we have ever had! Our recommendations would be the gunpowder chicken and the Monkey wrap!
Craft
As far as fun places to eat in Birmingham go, the craft definitely ticks that box. Located by the ICC, it is near the canals and a beautiful part of Birmingham.
Craft has really cool pods and a summerhouse where you can sit and dine. Craft caters for all if you want bar snacks, full meals or drinks. What makes it fun is the resident DJ that will make you want to dance.
It is a unique and different restaurant from the others as you get a little pod, and it brings the outdoors inside. The pods actually have a sound system where you can play your own music, so you don’t even need to leave!
It is designed for a relaxed, fun evening with friends, family or your significant other. But, of course, the food is the cherry on top!
Gaijin Sushi
You will have to run to get a seat at the Gaijin sushi restaurant. This is such a fun place to eat in Birmingham as it only seats ten people!
Robyn has been to Japan before and said it is the closest to a Japanese restaurant she has seen in the UK. Traditionally, sushi bars are small and intimate. Usually sitting around a bar-like table in front of where the food is made.
So, this is such a unique, intimate experience as you immerse yourself in the culture and fantastic food. You can get all the classic sushi dishes here as well as octopus and sweet prawns.
We would recommend checking this out if you get the chance and can get in! We always think the smallest, most understated restaurants are the most fun and tasty!
Fun places to stay if you are visiting Birmingham
If you are visiting the city and want somewhere to stay whilst exploring all the places to eat in Birmingham, we have a few suggestions. Click the links below to book the accommodations directly.
If we have missed any fun places to stay in Birmingham City Centre, United Kingdom, or the Bullring shopping centre, please let us know!
Ever wondered what this building is in Birmingham? It’s Rotunda, one of the fun places to stay in the city
One Five Six
One Five Six is in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter, which is a beautiful part of town. It is an apartment equipped with a dining area, kitchen, TV bathroom and an unreal bed. You will have your own little pad in Birmingham to return to after indulging in all the food around the city.
Rotunda
We love Rotunda because it has epic views of Birmingham from each room. Beautifully designed apartments are just a stone’s throw away from shopping and fun places to eat! The rooms have floor-to-ceiling glass windows and balconies so that you can take in all the views from the comfort of your apartment!
The Edgbaston
If you visit Birmingham for a special occasion or love a bit of Luxury, you need to check out The Edgbaston. If you didn’t know, Edgbaston is a lovely town in Birmingham just outside the centre.
The Edgbaston is a 20-room boutique hotel with the most amazing decor and elegance. Every room has its unique twist, and many come with a free-stand bathtub in the room! It is a sight in itself and the best way to relax after a day of finding fun places to eat in Birmingham.
Final thoughts on fun places to eat in Birmingham
If your mouth has not been watering throughout this blog, then we have done something wrong! We know that you won’t be short of fun places to eat in Birmingham if you visit.
If you want to explore more of the UK, check out our romantic restaurants in Cardiff or our guide to the best rooftop restaurants in London.
There is plenty to get you started in Birmingham; let us know if you check any out! Also, don’t hesitate to contact the Couple Thing To Do Team if we have missed anything or if you want to feature in the blog.
