Best Brunch In Birmingham: The Definitive Guide

Birmingham is a cosmopolitan city nestled in the English West Midlands that gets more than 40 million tourists every year. People flock to the city for interesting museums, some of the best shopping in the entire country, world-class art galleries, and too many other attractions to mention.

It may shock you to learn that Birmingham has more canals than Italy's Venice and parlays this into picturesque scenery from the modern skyline of the City Centre to the charming outskirts reminiscent of a picturesque English village. The city is the youngest in Europe and has a high population of people under 25. With this, as you might imagine, the nightlife in Birmingham is fantastic and should be sampled while you're in town regardless of your age.

It's well-known that Birmingham is the birthplace of many international food brands, most notably Bird's Custard and Cadbury. In addition, the first Indian Balti was created here and you can try this tasty dish at one of many restaurants in the Balti Triangle. With all the food pioneers in Birmingham, it's no surprise that the city is a foodie hotspot, and there are countless options for dining around town. The brunch spots in Birmingham also emphasize this important meal and offer many variations on the classic English breakfast and all your other brunch favorites.

Before you head out for a tasty brunch in Birmingham, make sure you're not loaded down with luggage. Head to a Bounce bag storage to ensure your suitcases are safely tucked away so you can move around town with ease. Chances are, the places with the best brunch in town don't want to accommodate your luggage and you.

Grand Central Kitchen

Grand Central Kitchen is one of the most sought-after brunch spots in Birmingham located steps from New Street Station on Stephenson Street in the City Centre, otherwise known as downtown Birmingham. Everyone who visits this casual restaurant for Sunday brunch walks away full and wowed by the quality of the food. The brunch menu is inclusive of all diets and you can experience a classic English breakfast in traditional form done up with meat, veggie sausage, or gluten-free. The local and seasonal ingredients add so much flavor to each dish.

While they don't officially serve breakfast pizza, you can get both breakfast and pizza here, so maybe we're on to something? The breakfast menu includes eggs in multiple varieties. Opt for poached eggs, scrambled eggs, or a fried egg on toast with your choice of meat or venture off the all-day breakfast menu and try a burger or a hot wrap. The fried chicken wings and potato wedges are a tasty addition to any meal here.

The restaurant is open from 6:30 am every day except Sunday morning when they open at 7:30 am. Make sure you get there before 4 pm when they close or you'll be missing out on an amazing brunch.

The Button Factory

Found in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter - famous for its interesting museums - in a restored Victorian factory, The Button Factory is home to some of the best brunch in town. Available from noon on Saturday, the brunch menu items here feature everything from fried chicken and waffles to eggs Benedict and avocado toast. One of the main reasons to come to The Button Factory is their famously decadent bottomless brunch. You get two or three courses of amazing food with bottomless bellinis or prosecco for between £35 and £39 depending on your course selection. The bottomless brunch is available from noon to 4 pm and they offer two-hour seatings, so remember to pace yourself.

One of the highlights of dining at The Button Factory is the prominent Robata grill that sits in the center of the restaurant to cook all their meat over an open flame fueled by English oak. The grill itself adds coziness and warmth (quite literally) to the space and the delicious food that comes off the grill is certainly an added bonus.

York's Cafe and Coffee Roasters

Very close to the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, York's Cafe is where to head when it's brunch time. From their name, you can assume they serve good coffee from both their Birmingham locations - one on Stephenson Street and the other in the Westside neighborhood near the National Sea Life Centre. The iced coffee, especially good if you're visiting in the summer, comes in five options and pairs perfectly with one of their cakes for a quick breakfast on the go. The cakes alone come in 13 flavors, some of which are vegan, and one thing's for sure - they're all delicious.

If you have more time to spend and want to indulge in a decadent brunch, then hit their patio and stay awhile. York's Cafe pulls flavors from around the world using local ingredients, which is evident in their inventive menu items like Turkish eggs, Chicago honey fried chicken, Marrakesh avocado toast, and the green breakfast with an Indian flair. Other breakfast food options include savory eggs Benedict and eggs on toast. The main venue on Stephenson Street is open from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm during the week and they open a little later on Saturday and Sunday but stay open until 6 pm.

Gas Street Social

Gas Street Social is a well-known Birmingham restaurant for great food and a welcoming atmosphere. The venue is bright and industrial and is located a short walk from some of the best luxury shopping in Birmingham at The Mailbox. The restaurant is closed on Monday and opens at 10 am for breakfast and brunch on the weekend. The brunch menu items are served until they close at 6 pm, which is ideal if you've significantly slept in. If you woke up late from too many cocktails the night before, you might want to pass on their bottomless brunch, although it's a steal at £19.50 and includes unlimited beer, bloody mary's, and bellinis.

If you have the appetite for it, order a full English breakfast with a side of waffles or pancakes. Use the pancakes strategically and you can make your very own breakfast burrito. The classic breakfasts come with black pudding, which diners typically either love or hate. Another solid choice is the vegan Masala-spiced omelet or the smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on sourdough toast. Aside from the relatively affordable bottomless option, during the week you can get any brunch item with a coffee and orange juice for £10, so this is one of the more affordable brunch spots in Birmingham.

Boston Tea Party Birmingham

With two locations outside the historic center and one within it, Boston Tea Party is a popular brunch option in town. The restaurant on Corporation Street is likely to be the most frequented by tourists. The brunch place is about a ten-minute walk from Bullring & Grand Central, so it's the ideal food stop on a day of shopping and sightseeing. The eclectic decor from checkered tiles, wood-adorned bar, and exposed ductwork has a great vibe to complement the good food. Brunch and breakfast are served all day, so you can stop in any time.

For a taste of typical American food in Birmingham, try their French toast and maple buttermilk pancakes. You can get your protein a number of ways here with vegan and regular sausage, smoked salmon, back bacon, and their famous Boston beans. As for the eggs, you can get a fried egg as part of a full English breakfast or get a poached egg on toast for something a little lighter. There are plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices to keep everyone happy.

The Plough

The generous portions and inventive brunch options at The Plough in the Harborne neighborhood are what keep the locals and tourists coming back. The charming outdoor patio is one of the best brunch spots in Birmingham when the weather is good that's also dog-friendly. They are open from 10 am to 11 pm most days for your dining needs. The veggie breakfast is a popular brunch meal at The Plough with grilled halloumi, avocado, fried egg, tomatoes, and baked beans. The homemade bread and veggie sausages are the icing on top.

Aside from breakfast items, The Plough offers small bites full of Middle Eastern flavor, pizza, and Cuban sandwiches. To say the menu is varied is probably an understatement. This restaurant works well for groups and families with different brunch preferences.

The Early Bird Bakery

Open from 9 am to 4 pm every day except Monday, The Early Bird Bakery on King's Heath High Road is your one-stop-shop for coffee and pastries as well as a full-service brunch. If you can spare the time to stay for a meal, you won't be disappointed. Although the menu changes weekly, one of the staple items is the cinnamon roll French toast that's to die for. Consider adding a side of crispy bacon to balance out the sweetness. The menu is carefully planned with international flavors and the bakery side of the business is ideal for something to take back to your hotel. You can certainly tell the difference between a pastry chef (they have one) and a baker.

Cosy Club Bennett's Hill

A nationwide chain of upscale restaurants, Cosy Club is a great place to enjoy a fancier experience, although the breakfast food is quite affordable. Cosy Club gets its grandeur from the building itself and maintains a casual and accessible menu. Cosy Club Bennett's Hill is housed in a building built in the 1830s that was once the headquarters of the Birmingham Banking Company. The proud columns, elaborate chandeliers, and velvet sofas make for a luxurious atmosphere. Combine your breakfast fare with a bloody mary or glass of bubbles and you're bound to feel fancy.

Cosy Club is open from 9 am to 11 pm with even later hours on the weekend. Get there from 9 am to 11:45 am to order from their breakfast menu. If you spill into lunch, they have you covered so don't worry.

Urban Cafe

With locations on Church Street and in the Jewellery Quarter, it will be easy to fit brunch at Urban Cafe into your itinerary. For £30 you can get a bottomless brunch that features the usual bloody marys and prosecco, but also extends to espresso martinis and mocktails for younger brunchers or anyone who doesn't drink alcohol.

The menu at Urban Cafe is everything you need for a pleasant brunch from the full English breakfast in regular, vegan, or vegetarian to harissa tofu and potato rostis. The bacon and sausage bap is a simple sandwich packed with flavor. If you're in the mood for American-style pancakes, Urban Cafe has many options. Try the vegan pancakes with Nutella and mixed nuts or keep it traditional with maple syrup and scrambled eggs.

Conclusion

Whether you're planning a day trip, weekend getaway, or longer vacation to Birmingham, you're bound to have brunch at least once or twice. You can easily fit it in at any time of day in between exploring all the sights and where you eat the most often will likely depend on what neighborhood you visit or stay in.

Come to Birmingham for the amazing shopping, museums, and nightlife, but stay for the vast dining options including brunch. And, don't forget to make sure you've stored your luggage safely before you start navigating this exciting city.