The decor and vibe of arcos is really cool - in general I love the aesthetic and it's one of the more interesting places to go in Harborne. I've been here before for food and really enjoyed the food (I can recommend the burgers) but had a bit of a mixed experience this time around. I came with a group of six others for an improptu leaving meal. Although I wasn't drinking, I tried my friends lycee g&t and it was really delicious, and they have a really interesting cocktail menu. However, another friend got the house wine and wasn't impressed. If you order separately, the food comes out at different times. Although we wouldn't usually mind this, there were quite long gaps between when each of our meals arrived despite all order consecutively after one another. I had the veggie kedegree, which was ok but nothing special (but that might be because I found it a bit spicey). Some found the tapas a bit underwhelming. The staff were mixed, some were quite nice but some were a bit short with us. Overall I might go back but it wouldn't be my first option! read more

See all

Arco Lounge is the original 'lounger' to come to Birmingham some six years ago. Arco is tucked into a snug space on Harborne's high street that suggests a quirky coffee shop first and foremost. As a regular of some of the other local area loungers, I finally made my way down to Harborne for Arco's weekly Sunday quiz night with fellow Yelper Jeanette M. and friends. Arco is decorated in the typical lounger way with a colourful palette and interesting paintings covering all wall surfaces. Aside from an absurdly long hallway upstairs that connects to the toilets, this lounger has the smallest square footage in the chain I've seen yet. In this case it's an asset, as it makes the space cosier and more inviting as a coffee shop and snack bar. For whatever reason, this visit also marked the first time I've entered into a lounger quiz. The pay in is only £1, and unlike some other area quizzes, good old fashioned pen and paper is all you need. Our team had to make it through seven categories of ten questions each plus a picture fill in the name of the person section. The questions were at points esoteric, likely owning to the large number of grad students and academicians that frequent the area. You might want to brush up a bit before entering this quiz! I wasn't too hungry on this visit, but still decided to sample their offerings. The loungers have an extensive menu for vegetarians and vegans. I decided on the falafel tapa, which for £3.75 gives you three falafel balls, a smidgen of hummus, and bread. While not the most traditional falafel you'll find, the taste was outstanding and flavourful, and the tiny amount of hummus was good with the bread. To drink, I went with my lounger go-to, a Stowford Press cider. I can happily report that the cider tasted exactly as it was supposed to, so it's clear that this lounger takes keg line hygiene and maintenance seriously. It's not often that I find myself in Harborne, but next time I'm around Arco Lounge will get serious consideration as a place for a quick bite to eat or caffeine fill-up. read more

See all

After 2 years of visiting Arco Lounge on a regular basis I've decided to update my review. Basically, I'm adding a star, because Arco is just a really fantastic spot to have a coffee, have breakfast, have some tapas, have a drink... and really, it's my go-to for a reason. This past spring they went through a major refurb, and maybe fixed some issues in management/with the kitchen (just speculation on my part, but service seems mightily improved these days). There have also been some slight changes to the menu, with the introduction of some new tapas and healthier breakfast options (the avocado brunch... yum!) Staff are as lovely as ever. Coffee is great as ever. Sometimes service is still a bit slow but I've noticed staff really making a point to let you know if there's going to be a delay and how long it will be, rather than keeping people in the dark. Keep it up Arco! read more

See all

A cracking breakie at a reasonable rate. I've been in Arco a few times and it's always been busy. I was early in so it gave me time to myself. In which time I looked around and it really does offer everything. From a casual meet up, family gathering, business meeting to one man and his lappy (me!) Good solid service, clean and overall a jewel in the crown on Harbornes ever changing high street. read more

Arco Lounge - The breakies are spot on - Lounges Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

I've been living in Harborne for 2.5 years and Arco is the restaurant I go to with my wife more than any other in the area, by a wide margin. While some menu items can be hit or miss, we have never been disappointed with the breakfast or tapas items. The only real issue is that service can be slow when there are a lot of customers. They also host a quiz night on Sundays which is a lot of fun and they give a prize to both the first and last place teams. I've been to a few pub quiz nights around Birmingham and this was one of the better ones I've experienced. I recommend Arco to anyone in the area read more

Arco Lounge - Tapas at Arco Lounge: Squid Calamari, Falafel, Hummus, 5 Spice Pulled Pork, Halloumi and Courgettes, and Chicken Teriyaki - Lounges Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

Great spot for brunch. It's a bit of a quirky place but the food is great and the coffee is good. I had the Diner Brunch which was a plate of BBQ beans, fried potato, 2 pancakes topped with bacon and a sausage patty. At £9.50 I thought it was a little on the expensive side but when it came there was a load of food, it was filling and delicious. The milkshakes are nice but in my opinion not really worth the £3.50. read more

Arco Lounge - The Diner brunch - Lounges Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

Now, I can't comment on what Arco Lounge was like before it's refurb, but after attending a relaunch event last week - I can comment on what I found it to be like afterwards... Harborne is kicking at the moment. Between gelato, wings, great coffee, tea and cake; it's somewhere that offers everything you would need for a gastronomical adventure within a 10 minute walk. If you've been around Brum for a while (or were born here), you might have heard of the Harborne mile... 13 pubs which make up an epic pub crawl around the main stretch. Well, since this was first formulated; there may very well might be some additions to be made. Arco Lounge would be a very welcome addition to this historic drunken trail. Situated around the top end of the High Street (nearer Junction than the School Yard) and looks like you would expect it to, a Gastropub. Once you walk in, you can see why this little venue is a treat. Decorated with a slightly Moroccan feel, the very cool basic light fittings, comfy seating and warm glow that has been added to the internal decor makes for a welcoming and enticing space that you would easily lose a few hours in. On my first visit I tried a selection of tapas including Chorizo, pork and a vegetarian sweet potato dish. It was all piping hot, looked fantastic and very satisfying. To wash this down I had a couple of pints (unfortunately there wasn't ale on offer, but there was a decent selection of lagers) which were served well. My little taste of Arco has made me want to go back to try it again. I wouldn't pop here for a pint nessesarily (down to the lack of ale), but I would go with a group of friends for lunch or tapas. It's a lovely spot to sit, chill and catch up. read more

See all

I'm a massive fan of everything that this little local 'chain' of cafes/bars has to offer. The Lounge Bars are a wonderful invention, and I look forward to them spreading all over in a Starbucks-like rash. Yay for expansion. Arco Lounge serves a wide range of food, cakes, tapas, coffee, beer and cocktails. In short, there really is something here for everyone. At night time the whole place is lit up with candles in a cosy and personable air, which is romantic, comfortable, classy and relaxed. One of my favourite things about this chain of cafes is the interior design. It's completely to my taste; think old churchy interiors with cosy sofas, candles and chit chat-able tables. The food and drinks here are wonderful; slightly on the expensive side, perhaps, but I've always found that it's worth every penny. A choice selection. Go and enjoy. read more

I like the Loungers chain in general and I love a quiz. So the two combined was always going to be a winner for me. Edd and I went to meet fellow Yelpers Jeanette and Brandon for a quiz at Arco Lounge. It's ideally located on the High Street in Harborne and always looks busy. In a location with plenty of pubs they must be doing something right! The Loungers chain pubs all have a slightly different look while retaining a bit of quirk. Arco Lounge is a little smarter than some of the others but still had everything you would expect- the funny pictures, mis-matched furniture and the standard drink and food menu. Edd and I had chips to share which were perfectly nice. We also had ciders and g&ts from the wide selection available. The hot chocolates were pretty special too with lots of marshmallows! Overall, a pleasant place to spend a couple of hours and I would certainly return when in the area and will continue to use the Loungers chain. read more

My friend suggested this place for a hot beverage after a meal. I immediately felt at home with the cosy and intimate environment and the quirky decor that included floor lamps with old fashioned lampshades, a bookcase at the back, and vintage photos on the wall. The dining area was busy, with plenty of people choosing to have a meal or some cocktails. This place has a very relaxed feel about it, and I can imagine it would be lovely to come here on Sunday for breakfast with a book or a newspaper. I noticed they offer a kids menu for breakfast. The food menu is displayed on chalk boards on the wall. There was so much variety, that I would probably be hard pushed to make a choice but there is something to suit everyone's palette. Our drinks were ordered at the counter, and then bought over to our table. My hot chocolate was lovely and was served with marshmallows on top - perfect for a cold wet night. All I needed was my dressing gown and slippers! A place that I would like to return to again to sample the food. read more

This is another of my local favourites - they make a lovely latte and a delicious breakfast & brunch. Even later at night, they're busy and make nice cocktails and a banana split that's just perfect as an after dinner treat. My personal favourite is the vegetarian breakfast which consists of eggs, toast, beans, tomatoes and mushrooms, corn fritters (my personal fave) and hash browns. My husband usually opts for a full English and has never complained. One of the nicest treats is the fresh squeezed orange juice.. It's so refreshing! There is always a nice mix of families, friends and couples here, which makes it perfect for almost anyone, and there are always plenty of people coming and going so it's never too hard to get a table. This place is worth getting out of bed on a Sunday for, even if it is a little bit pricier than your usual Cafe Nero etc. read more

Arco is part of the Loungers franchise, which started in Bristol. It's kind of a combination of a bar/restaurant and a coffee shop, which does mean that you can get a coffee or a tea and a snack in cosy surroundings up until 11pm. Arco serves all day brunch, tapas, burgers, sandwiches and has a specials menu to choose from, so there's plenty of choice and the food is generally pretty substantial. It has a small range of cocktails as well as wine and a fairly good selection of bottled beers and ciders. We go to the Arco quiz on Sunday nights, which is a nice change from the usual pub quizzes we used to go to. It gets a very good turnout, and it's worth popping in. During the day it's a great lazy place, with board games and other table games available to use, plus free wifi for customers. read more

If you fancy a coffee in Harborne this is the place to go. Always employ the friendliest of staff and serve some lovely food if you want to grab something to eat. The interior is well done- large but not cavernous with old style furniture and modern injections. The coffee itself is good and well priced. Give it a try over the Nero down the road- you won't be disappointed. read more

I have only been here once for a coffee but definitely wish to return. The decor is quirky - unusual and interesting - but very comfortable and homely. It is quite noisy here but not overwhelmingly so, it's more a constant low level of happy voices chatting which is incredibly relaxing, feels very European here! There's a variety of food and drink on offer here (the eggs look amazing, as I am an egg fan!) but I only went for a latte as meeting a friend. I think this is the best coffee I've had in Harborne; strong and rich and a pleasure to drink straight - not too overpowering or bitter. The staff are courteous and friendly, they do not seem to rush anyone, so if you fancy a break from the norm I highly recommend this place to have a lounge around, as the name suggests! read more

Regular visitor here for breakfast or dinner. Food is always a good quality with plenty of choice including tapas and specials. Staff are always helpful and polite. Very reasonably priced good option in Harborne. read more

You can never go wrong at Arco lounge. It's my favourite place for late breakfast on a lazy chilled day, quick lunch and candle light dinners. The atmosphere is lovely and staff are super friendly. At times the service is slow but it's unpredictable when Arco gets busy! I still get quality suppose to rushed and poor service. Parking is difficult at times but it's worth waiting for a spot, if your cheeky enough park at the waitrose car-park its free for 2 hours. It has Free Wi Fi too which is a bonus!! it has a great laid back atmosphere that promotes class and relaxation. A must go to place for everyone!! read more

Another of my favourite spots in Harborne. Situated along the High Street, Arco Lounge offers a cross between a cafe and a restaurant, with the relaxed environment a hit amongst the public. The wide variety of food/drinks available provide something for everyone, with tea and coffee extremely popular, as is the desserts and the tapas. The atmosphere is one that promotes class, calm and overall relaxation, although the lounge itself can seat up to 80 guests. The open plan layout and overall decor are a favourite amongst visitors, in what proves to be one of Harbornes hot-spots along the High Street. read more

This is the perfect place for a breakfast. The food is delicious and, despite having asked for what would be a pretty standard dish elsewhere (eggs florentine) they really pushed the boat out with presentation and it tasted delicious. The place is quite large but always pretty crowded, not so much to make it uncomfortable though. There's no waiter service, you have to order at the counter which irked me a little as the food is pretty pricey. That being said, it's a very nice upscale cafe and if you want something a bit classier than a takeaway or a greasy spoon and don't mind paying extra, this is definitely the place in Harborne. read more

Arco Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

See all

The most adorable little restaurant in Birrmingham! Lovely decor and love that the seats are comfy. It definitely gives you that home-y feeling. They have a super kick-butt play list that will make you grove in your seat. The food is delicious! Check out their tapas and wine! Definitely will be back! Very perfect for a first date. Ps. Love their candles on the table during dinner time. Romantic and cute. Great job, guys. read more

Never ceases to be anything less than amazing and welcoming. Great Food, great atmosphere, great staff- I go here to read, lunch with my friends and have a cheeky smile from the baristas! Only wish it was bigger- but I'm being pedantic. They do the loveliest Rooibush tea! :) read more

My review of this buzzing Harborne tapas joint may well be influenced by them serving my all time favourite gin. I can report that Old Tom and tapas work startlingly well together. Everytime I visit Arco Lounge, I leave flushed with that lovely cosmopolitan big city vibe. I'm also full of delicious olives, hummus and, err, gin. What I love about this place is how it is always full of intriguing luvvie types (of which Harborne has an abundance). There are the yummy-mummies with their buggies and babies chowing down on ciabatta, the students glugging bottles of house white and wearing hockey team hoodies, and nosy journalists (moi?) listening in on their conversations as they nibble on some manchego. The décor is best described as "eclectic rustic", with chunky wooden tables, mismatched chairs and vintage photos adorning the walls. You can happily while away an evening people watching and leisurely working your way through the tapas menu. Three dishes will set you back a mere £7.95 - I highly recommend the broad bean, pea and cream cheese pate, the shredded five spice pork and the cheesy patatas gratinadas. Even better, get a group of friends together, pop open some Rioja and order the whole lot! read more

Favorite casual place I've found in Birmingham so far. I'd characterize it as as a British take on an American diner. (In particular, the lighting is more comfortable.) Low price, pretty good food, quirky decorations, nice staff. Kitchen takes orders until 10pm. read more

Hero Hamburger is designed for meat lover, not me, haha But the drink is nice Most important, kind staff and service read more

Great place for a coffee and a game of connect 4! Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner etc as well as drinks and desert in a very relaxed clean and comfortable environment. Games and papers available for all ages. Variety of different seating/ dining styles for whatever suits your mood. Food is great, the sweetcorn friitters (breakfast) are wonderrful! read more

Not a massive fan of the Arco Lounge after my visit yesterday. I went with a couple of friends around 2pm. Two of us ordered Tapas and one of us ordered the buttermilk chicken. We ordered our food at the bar and the member of staff serving us was really friendly and nice. The reason why I am giving this restaurant a poor rating is because I do not think the food was good value and because the service we received after we ordered our food was shockingly bad. I don't believe it was the waitresses fault. There was probably some confusion in the kitchen. The first three tapas dishes and the buttermilk chicken arrived about ten minutes after ordering. I went for three vegetarian dishes: The Halloumi, Falafels & the patatas bravas. I was really looking forward to my three dishes; however they did not taste very nice. The Halloumi was very bland, the patatas bravas tasted burnt and the falafels were nice but nothing special. Around twenty minutes later, after two of us had finished our meals the staff brought over what appeared to be the third meal we ordered. We noticed that they had brought over four tapas dishes instead of three. My friend noticed that three of the dishes were not what she ordered so she spoke to one of the members of staff. A member of staff then collected the dishes from our table and gave it to the table next us. We didn't think much of it because obviously mistakes happen. Another ten minutes later a member of staff came over to confirm the tapas dishes my friend ordered. A couple of seconds later a different member of staff came over with three tapas dishes. None of these dishes were what my friend ordered, so yet again we were given the wrong order. The staff looked bewildered and confused. Finally the right food was brought over and my friend could enjoy her meal. She thought the food was nice but not worth the wait. We noticed that within that time about 3 tables who ordered tapas after us received there meal before my friend did. To be honest it wasn't even that busy in there, so not really sure how everything managed to go so wrong. The staff did apologise and gave us some extra tapas dishes. Although it did feel like the only reason why we were given them was because they accidentally made them and it made sense not to waste them. read more

Had breakfast here this morning, food was excellent and reasonably priced . Would def eat here again