The Best Cafes And Coffee Shops In Birmingham UK

While Costa and Starbucks seem to be taking over the majority of high streets in and around Birmingham, it’s worth noting that the city has an abundance of wonderful independent cafés and coffee shops to discover. Here are 10 of the best.

1. Yorks Bakery Cafe

Bakery, Cafe, Coffee Shop, Contemporary

Yorks Bakery Cafe in Stephenson Street in the centre of Birmingham

In its newer location just a stone’s throw from New Street Station, Yorks stands tall in a beautifully restored, red terracotta brick building on the corner of Stephenson Street. Its rustic interior and wonderful selection of drinks, baked goods and light bites make Yorks the ideal pit stop for breakfast or lunch.

2. Damascena Coffee House

Cafe, Restaurant, Contemporary

Damascena has become so popular with the locals in Moseley that they’ve just opened up in the city centre too, which says it all! Their extensive selection of teas and coffees compliment their Middle Eastern-influenced food and the classic yet elegant interior.

3. Quarter Horse Coffee

Cafe, Contemporary

Quarter Horse is located on Bristol Street, across the road from the O2 Academy and a short walk from New Street Station, and is a coffee shop and roaster. You’ll find some of the freshest coffee in the city here, seeing as they roast it themselves in their basement! Check it out for yourself and pick up a bag of their finest coffee beans for consumption at home.

5. Faculty Coffee

Cafe, Contemporary

Faculty is a hidden coffee emporium in one of Birmingham’s independent shopping corridors, Piccadilly Arcade. Faculty offers no-frills tea and coffee in a chilled setting, just a stone’s throw from Birmingham New Street train station.

6. Six Eight Kafe

Cafe, Contemporary

A little more quirky than some of the other cafés in the city, Six Eight Kafe not only offers a fantastic selection of hot drinks and accompanying snacks, but in the Temple Row branch they also have a basement where they showcase the best in live music from the local area! Keep an eye out for their barista and coffee courses if you’d like to learn about coffee, too.

7. Java Lounge

Cafe, Contemporary

This one is perfect for the real coffee connoisseurs out there. Its owner supposedly scoured the world for the perfect coffee beans, and as a result Java Lounge now offers a unique range of beans from all over the world.

8. The Old Crown Coffee Club

Cafe, Pub, Contemporary

Situated in a small cottage-style hut on the side of the oldest pub in Birmingham, The Old Crown Coffee Club provides a range of teas and coffees to go with the food it offers from its deli. Food-wise, think hearty full English breakfasts, sandwiches and pastries.

9. Cherry Reds

Cafe, Bar, Contemporary

With two branches, one on York Road in Kings Heath and another on John Bright Street in the city centre, Cherry Reds offer a great range of hot drinks as well as vegetarian meals and alcoholic beverages. While not strictly just a cafe, its quirkiness should really make you feel welcome.

10. 200 Degrees

Cafe, Contemporary

200 Degrees is one of the newest kids on the block in Brum’s coffee game and definitely one of the most impressive. Serving artisan coffee and a range of teas and sandwiches, the shop is on Colmore Row and sits beneath the impressive Grand Hotel. 200 Degrees boasts a stunning simplistic, rustic style with wooden panels and bare brick on show, making it one of the best coffee shops to visit.

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