The Plough (Harborne)

The Plough is a beloved independent gastropub on Harborne High Street blending retro charm with contemporary cooking. Its colourful interior features bare wooden tables, brick walls and quirky design touches throughout. The kitchen turns out excellent burgers with homemade beef patties, stone-baked pizzas, battered cod, Cuban sandwiches, calzones, and an extensive brunch menu including bacon butties and full breakfasts alongside award-winning filter coffee. Sunday roasts often sell out; the venue runs a reduced menu until 5pm those days. The substantial vegetarian menu caters well to dietary preferences. Outside, a sheltered beer garden with wicker roof becomes the heart of the venue in warmer months, hosting DJs playing relaxed summer sounds. Table ordering via tablets allows flexible group dining.

The Early Bird Bakery

The Early Bird Bakery is a beloved independent café on Kings Heath High Street, run by three passionate food enthusiasts with over fifteen years of industry experience. All pastries, cakes and savouries are baked fresh daily in-house using high-quality ingredients, with many sourced locally. The speciality coffee is supplied by independent local roaster Hundred House Coffee.

The small space operates with characteristic chaotic energy, often with queues out the door during weekends, so arriving early is essential. Despite the crowds, staff remain attentive and accommodating. The menu rotates seasonally, offering creative and unusual cakes alongside savoury options like mushroom toasties and chorizo breakfast dishes. Signature items include pistachio croissants, cruffins, seasonal creations, and the Lemon Baked Cheesecake. The kitchen operates 9am to 2:45pm daily, so come for breakfast, brunch or an afternoon cake and coffee.

Vegan, gluten-free and nut-free options are available, and they also offer bespoke cakes for events through their catering service.

EL&N London

EL&N is London’s iconic café chain bringing Instagrammable style to Birmingham’s city centre. The space features signature pastel pink interiors, lush floral installations, and photo-perfect settings throughout. The all-day menu spans brunch classics like shakshuka and French toast, alongside grab-and-go pastries, bagels, speciality coffee, and decadent cakes that are as visually stunning as they are indulgent. Expect high footfall and waits during peak times, but the venue is located centrally within Bullring and Grand Central shopping complex, making it ideal for refuelling between shopping or catching up with friends.

Café Craft

Café Craft blends creative pottery painting with a welcoming coffee lounge. Pick from over 150 pottery pieces-mugs, plates, bowls, figurines-and paint with supplied materials and easy-to-follow instructions. Your finished piece is glazed and fired in the kiln, ready to collect in 5-7 days. The coffee lounge serves quality coffee, hot and cold drinks, paninis, filled bagels, fresh cakes, muffins, patisseries and a frozen yoghurt bar. The studio hosts children’s parties, hen parties, corporate team-building, baby showers and special events with optional off-site service. Walk-ins welcome but advance booking advised. Free street parking off Bearwood Road.

Wellcome Collection

Wellcome Collection is a free museum and library housed in a striking neo-classical building on Euston Road, dedicated to exploring the connections between medicine, life and art. The collection spans centuries of objects, from Napoleon’s toothbrush to shrunken heads, displayed across multiple galleries. The Building features a permanent exhibition called Being Human, designed with disabled artists and activists, plus rotating temporary exhibitions. The café serves freshly prepared sandwiches, salads, cakes and hot and cold drinks on the ground floor, while the acclaimed Reading Room on the second floor offers a hybrid space for browsing books, objects and attending free events. The venue hosts group visits, private events and offers fully accessible facilities throughout, including British Sign Language tours and audio-described tours for blind and partially sighted visitors.