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Explore a new city, grab a cocktail and try our favourite places to eat in Birmingham.

We want all our guests to get the very best recommendations when it comes to dining and drinking in the city so who better to ask than the person who organises Birmingham’s annual restaurant, wine and cocktail festivals? Alex Nicholson-Evans knows her fine dining from her prix fixe and every other menu option in between. She’s certainly our go-to person.

We’re excited to announce Alex as Staying Cool’s resident drink & dining editor. She’ll be sharing her favourite venues to suit any city break at our stylish Birmingham apartment hotel.

In this section you will find:

Cocktail O’Clock

Time for Wine

Around the World in 8 Meals

Fine Dining

Let’s Brunch

Down to Business

Vegan Dining

Family Friendly Dining

From brilliant brunches and working lunches to delicious dinners and late-night cocktails, Alex’s new dining out guides are your go-to for the best of Birmingham.

The guides show you how long it takes to reach each venue from Staying Cool, with several just a few minutes’ walk – one of the many benefits of our central location.

If you’re staying with us for a special occasion, take a look at Alex’s guide to the restaurants at the very top of their game and creating unforgettable dining experiences, as she introduces the five Birmingham restaurants that have achieved a much-coveted Michelin Star.

Plus, she shares one other unmissable favourite, The Wilderness, our top treat venue.

Or if you’re enjoying a city break with the children, Alex highlights a selection of family favourites and those venues that go the extra mile to keep the kids happy – getting that right is no mean feat, as any parent will testify.

No city break should be complete without a cocktail or mocktail or two and Alex has this covered as she singles (or doubles) the best places for a Margarita, Negroni or Old Fashioned in the city centre, Jewellery Quarter, Digbeth and further afield. Finally, if a glass of red or chilled white is more your thing, take a look at Alex’s guides for the best wine bars in the city centre, of which there are many.

Have a read to whet your appetite for a great break in Birmingham!

Alex Nicholson-Evans at Staying Cool at Rotunda
Alex Nicholson-Evans, Staying Cool’s Drink & Dining Editor

Cocktail O’Clock

Birmingham has an incredible choice of bars serving up some truly excellent cocktails. Whether you’re a fan of a classic or looking for something a little more experimental, you’re bound to find your new favourite bar right here in the city and possibly just round the corner from Rotunda.

To get you started, here are some unmissable cocktail bars that are all a short walk or a momentary tram ride away from your room.

Time For Wine

Whether you’re searching for a bottle of your favourite fine wine or just want to sip a glass of rosé in the sunshine – you’ll find both, and so much much more, just moments from your hotel room. 

What’s more, all of the great wine bars listed below have bottle shops too – so you can take something delicious back to your room at the end of the night.

If you’re in the market for a bit of wine tasting, all of the venues featured run a whole host of special events too so do check their websites for what’s on during your stay.

Around the world in 8 meals

Birmingham has recently been crowned the most exciting food destination in the UK (Good Food Guide 2022) and a huge part of that excitement is the sheer breadth of cuisines right on our doorstep. Birmingham offers a range of dining delights from all over the world without leaving the city!

Below are just a handful of venues we recommend if you’re looking to explore and enjoy incredible food from different cultures. So let us take you around the world in 8 meals…

Fine Dining

There are some truly extraordinary fine dining venues in this city. Restaurants at the top of their game creating unforgettable dining experiences. Below we introduce you to the five Birmingham restaurants that have achieved a much-coveted Michelin Star. Plus we share one other unmissable favourite.


It goes without saying that these venues are using the highest quality ingredients and delivering consistently excellent dining experiences. You can read more about what it takes to earn a Michelin Star here.

Let’s Brunch

How do you like your eggs in the morning? Whether it’s poached, scrambled, or served on top of some delicious smashed avo, you’ll certainly find your perfect brekky here in Brum. 

Below you’ll find some of Staying Cool’s favourite local breakfast spots but if you’re prepared to travel a little further afield you’re even more spoilt for choice. 
Try an infamous cinnabuffin with your coffee at Pause or tuck into a picture-perfect brunch at Early Bird Bakery.

Down To Business

Whether you’re meeting clients, treating your team or looking for a great place to co-work from, Birmingham has plenty of options that will bring a little joy to your working day. First things first though, did you know you can actually host meetings with Staying Cool and that your Rotunda apartment doubles as a unique remote workspace?
But if you do want to get out and about, explore the city and enjoy a bite to eat whilst you work… here are the five places you need to have on your radar.

Vegan Dining

At most restaurants in Birmingham you will find a vegan option or two on the menu, but this list is about restaurants that go above and beyond and have made a real name for themselves in the world of vegan dining. Meat-eaters, don’t tune out yet – there are some very talented chefs working in this space in the city and you’ll absolutely be missing out if you skip over this section of the guest guide!

Family Friendly Dining

When a restaurant is truly family friendly, it can make such a difference to the experience of eating out with kids. We put a call out to local parents to share their favourite places to take the family, and we’re thrilled to share the top four here!

Of course, you can always dine in the comfort of your own apartment at Rotunda. Check out our Dining In section.