We stumbled across this place while escaping the rain at the Christmas market and it was such a…read moregreat find. A small flat white and small cappuccino for £6 total is a rare find these days and we both loved our drinks. So much flavour and nice, strong coffee. My only reason for giving 4 stars is that the layout was a bit cramped and it was slightly lacking in customer service. If you're just popping in for a takeaway coffee though, this is a fab spot.

I never normally do this anymore but I'm so in awe of this place that I'm writing the review before…read moreI've even finished eating/drinking. I knew I'd love this place as when I walked in, the smell of roasting coffee flew into my nostrils, Faculty literally had me at hello. So more about this love affair, the coffee is brilliant, the cakes taste fantastic and the tea is a relaxing and soothing as the cute little tea pot suggests. The staff working were friendly and happy to offer advice (to me and another customer who had 21 questions about the origin of the coffee) - credit where credits due, the young chap answering knew the answer to every question! They are also linked to next door, a sandwich shop which is perfect for lunch and you can even order from one side and go and sit in the other or vice versa. Owned by the same husband & wife partnership and matched with the same awesome decor. It's not often I'm in Birmingham but one thing for sure is this fling is sure to continue every time I venture in!

Harborne, very lately has had an influx of places where you can get a coffee, but Boo Boo really…read morestands out for me. Located right opposite the swimming baths and gym, I always end up having a brew before a gym session. Being this side of Harborne, works to Boo Boo's advantage as you don't have to take a walk down the High Street which can seem like a mammoth task on a Sunday morning! Every time I have been in, it has been very busy. With a couple of outside tables and a massive window, it's great when the sun is shining on us. The Coffee is most excellent because they use Allpress espresso beans from London which gives their drinks a massive edge over most places some places in Birmingham. Single origin is offered though a Chemex, another brew method not often seen in the second city. If Coffee and Tea isn't your bag then I can recommend one of the many smothies they offer, which can have protein added to them. Boo Boo coffee is very family friendly and you can pop your little ones in the play area they provide. This place has been come a favourite place of mine to have some alone time or catch up with friends. Sure you will love it!

Birmingham is fast becoming a hotspot for great coffee shops. Boo Boo Coffee is located in harborne…read morejust off the high st. This store has always been busy every time I visit. The shop is small and quirky. They do accept reservations so if you are going to visit with friends it's worth booking ahead. There's some seating outside too. The coffee served here is excellent. I couldn't see anywhere advertising the sort of beans or specifics used. The coffee does stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the best in Birmingham though. The store also serves typical brunch which is available all day long. If your looking for a quick coffee or some brunch in harborne I would highly recommend it here!

Now this little tearoom only opened today. I was one of the privileged few to have stepped through…read morethe doors of this amazingly quirky and colourful venue. The theme is inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Not surprising really, considering the owner/proprietor also has a gift shop called Mad As A Hatter directly opposite! The tearoom, aptly named The Tea Party! (what else!?) is very child friendly, with high and low chairs, with pushchair & wheelchair access, two toilets (one of which is also the nappy changing room) a selection of reproduction, upcycled, ornate seats and chairs to choose from, it provided a cornucopia of dizzying delights to bombard the eye with an original look to an otherwise oft neglected part of Bearwood. As a stand out, it really provides a change from the generic high street cafes and as an independent cafe/tearoom. It's going to offer a "library" where patrons can simply read or work on their tablets/laptops or other electronic devices, a "gallery" for local artists and photographers to display and sell their work, craft workshops and rooms to hire to either demonstrate/teach "crafty" things or simply have a small party! The whole concept or venue really offers good value for money and can easily become the creative community hub of Bearwood. Watch this space! It's open 9.30am until 5pm.

If the Alice in Wonderland inspired Tea Party was in Los Angeles it would have a cult following and…read morelines around the block. As it is, in Bearwood, would you believe, it is a fine place to while away an hour with a friend over a pot of tea or coffee. A lot of imagination has gone into making this a fun and relaxing place to be - from the pretty tea pots leading to the entrance, to the delightfully mismatched furniture, hand painted cups and cuckoo clocks! When I was there, the coffee was really kinda lovely and Santa was in there too, taking a tea break!

Great experience, delicious coffee, made to perfection will come again. Great service as wellread more

Can't believe I have not reviewed this place before now great spot, brilliant coffee and just the…read moretype of vibe I love....relaxed, none pretentious and friendly! I went in today and had a soy latte while at a meeting. The coffee was the best I have had in Birmingham I think partly die to the beans being roasted on site and partly due to the fantastic soy milk they are using. Truly a great cup of the dark stuff. I had a look at he breakfast and lunch options and they all also look amazing I'll be back in to munch on them all soon I'm sure.....how can you not?! If you haven't been to quarter horse then go asap. The ideal spot to work, relax or just get a coffee to go. Lovely

When my mum last came to visit me in Birmingham, we stumbled across the Little Tea Shop and tempted…read moreby the name, we went in. The shop itself was small but the decorated tastefully. On offer were your normal hot and cold drink selections, alongside what looked like homemade cakes. As we went in on a Tuesday afternoon, we were able to get a table so we sat down and enjoyed a slice of chocolate cake and a couple of hot chocolates. It was a pleasent experience and a great stop off point before getting a train.

It's often hard to find a nice independent, intimate place to grab a meal in a large city centre,…read moreso coming across The Little Tea Shop, a short walk away from New Street Train station was an extremely pleasant surprise. As the name suggests, this eatery is small and friendly and on top of that serves up some great quality grub! You can get yourself a delicious handmade sandwich or opt for the more traditional option of a good old fry up. Obviously being a small business, seating is at a premium so it can be difficult to eat in on a busy day, but if that's the case then simply grab a sandwich to take away and eat in the fresh air, although on a typical Birmingham day this can present its own problems due to our less than favourable weather most of the year round.

I am really annoyed at my dad right now. Why? Because he asked me two days ago if I wanted to go to…read moreThe Cave tonight as I LOVE going to new restaurants. It's only after eating this wonderful meal, he told me that he has been coming here for months with his old friends. It's like he didn't want to tell me...like..I don't know...he didn't want me to tell the whole internet! On entering you, you are greeted with a plethora of sweets! No messing about! Much like Jyotis in Hall Green, it's a good move to have a sweet shop in a restaurant. The amount of times I have been stuffed after a meal to have dessert, that you can pick up some cheeky jalebis or barfi to have when you get home. It's a cosy and intimate affair but certainly not cramped. The music was very calming and I felt totally relaxed as soon as I stepped into the Cave. It sounds cliche but it's true! The place was so clean and modern and looked like it just opened today, despite it being around for a year or two. While in the Cave, I bumped into and old friend and his daughter who said they were regulars. He is a harsher food critic than me! They had a Pizza which they said was perfect. The menu is amazing! They have all the usual burgers and pizzas but it's everything else which makes the Cave more appealing to your average Asian restaurant goer. The curries are really authentic and not too wild for any newcomer. No Chicken Tikka Masala here, but more Achari Chicken and Lahori Haleem. You don't like curry? No problem! There are plenty of starters for you to try individually or as part if the "Veg mix" or "The Cave mix" You are a Vegetarian or Vegan? No problem! There are 7 veggie curries, endless starters and naans and rotis for you to sample! Me and my dad went for the starters option. Grilled fish, Baby chicken, Masala rice and Tandoori Roti. The part of this selection that blew me away was the Grilled fish. It's an insult to make the comparison, but the only similar method of fish I have had is masala fish, which can be found in most kebab shops around England. But those are laden with salt, oil and food coloring. The Cave's grilled fish was delicate, soft with a slight spice which made it a joy to eat with rice. The Chicken wasn't grilled but done as a rotisserie done with coating of your choice. I went for mild, as you know my dislike for things chilli. It was better tasting and a snip in price than other chain that does grilled Chicken.. All members of staff were accommodating and friendly which was a lovely touch. I really can't wait to come back and try the curries in particular because from the descriptions, sound unpretentious and genuine. My dad has tried some and can vouch for them being great! It is definitely a place where I would bring friend to eat in a less formal yet still lovely surroundings. But would feel fine about coming to on my own. And not a trace of Pork, Beef or alcohol in sight... p.s I forgot to say there was plenty of salad on every plate!

There's a lot to like about this place. The owner is a Liverpool supporter for one, but the Lassi's…read moreare good too and so are the misc curry type options I've tried and the poppadoms. You can tell the guy what 'heat' you like ... and worth considering the heat settings seem tailored for Indian and Pakistani tastes. I go mild! Food tastes fresh and quality is good. Prices are fair. The pizza tho' I wasn't keen on. Imagine a mildly curried pizza sauce on sub-average base and you've pretty much got it. Something for the kids maybe! The tea at £1 a cup is awesome value and the Chai/Desi tea is great too but is rather less bargain territory. They sell a decent enough selection of 'Indian Sweets' but none of the ones I like unfortunately! It's a spacious place with effectively two room, plus the kitchen. Service is good tho can be a little slow at times even when it's empty. When I'm working over that way I'll usually pop in for a working lunch a couple of times during the week. It's definitely the best food place around the Cape Hill area ... at least that I've found so far.

Winterbourne is a great place for a sunny day. £5 gives you access to the Arts and Crafts house and…read moregardens, both of which are lovely. Behind the more formal gardens are woodland trails (you might even see a beech tree I helped to coppice as a student many years ago) and Edgbaston reservoir, a calm expanse of water populated by ducks, moorhens and crested grebes. There are beautiful waterside rock gardens with stepping stones, which I love. The whole place feels like a sanctuary from the city and is conveniently located close to the Barber Institute and the university campus if you want to make more of a day of it. There's a tea room which sells serviceable scones (with that really aerated cream rather than proper whipped or clotted cream though) and also sandwiches, soup and potatoes etc. You can get plants and gifts at the shop- and if you go during the week you may be able to get some advice from the gardeners, too.

Winterbourne House and Garden is an oasis from the hustle and bustle of the University of…read moreBirmingham campus, located a short five-minute walk from the eastern edge of the University. Built in the early 1900's, the entire Grade II Listed estate was bequeathed to the University in 1944 and is composed of a villa house and seven acres of gardens with thousands of different plants from across the world. Owned by the University, students are admitted for free while general public tickets are £6 per entry. The gardens are best visited on a sunny day in the late spring or early summer when you can take advantage of maximum flower coverage. With such a staggering numbers of plants on display, one could easily make a day of it to properly examine them all. Plants are both planted throughout the garden outside or placed within greenhouses to regulate temperature and moisture, an excellent example being the orchid house. The grounds are laid out with meandering, terraced paths on a hill that eventually lead to a stream at the back of the property. A wooded trail gives access off the property to Edgbaston Pool, which is classed as a site of special scientific interest with numerous birds that call it home. The house itself and attached grounds are set up as a quasi-museum to display early twentieth-century country estate life. The garden sheds/office house a second-hand bookstore, art gallery, plant store, and the ticket office/gift shop. Cacti, flowers, herbs, and other interesting plants can be purchased at reasonable prices. Attached to the ticket office is Winterbourne Press, a fully functioning printing press that performs demonstrations every Friday. The house was built with the most modern of amenities, including fully functioning cistern toilets for servants. A restoration in 2010 brought the house back to its former glory. A secondary feature of Winterbourne is their vaunted tea room, one of the primary reasons for my visit with Brittany A. recently. The public are not able to simply enter the house to visit the tea room, so each visit to the room will cost a person the full ticket price. Given these preconditions and the grandeur of the house, I had high expectations. Unfortunately, the 'tea room' is a basic cafeteria style set-up that you'll find at many historic sites across the UK. Pre-prepared cold case sandwiches and drinks are available, and until 3PM on most days you can order toasties and hot soup. I skipped the unimpressive looking and overpriced scones and ordered a slice of carrot cake, which was absolutely delicious and worth the price. Tea here is the most disappointing aspect, consisting of a tepid pot and a bag of Twinings thrown in. No loose leaf tea is available, and you get the luxury of carrying your supermarket tea out on a cafeteria tray, once more shattering the splendour of the home and grounds. In this aspect, Winterbourne could take notes from the splendid tea rooms of sites like Edinburgh Castle, which offers table service and higher quality teas at comparable price points. The lackluster tea room experience aside, Winterbourne House and Garden is a real gem of a historic property in the University area. While the ticket entrance price won't see me coming here all that often, the free entrance for UOB students is a reason to visit regularly if you attend the University.

As it'd been suggested to me, Urban Cafe on Church Street was to be my breakfast destination before…read moreI started heading back to London. It's a good location just a short walk from Colmore Row and St Philips Cathedral square (also known as Pigeon Park by the locals). The cafe itself is actually really nice. It felt lively but not busy when I walked in. I had a quick look at the menu and, as I was really rather hungry, I went full on hipster and had the Avocado Smash with bacon and poached eggs. I tell you what - this cafe is not cheap. The avocado smash and a coffee cost me more than £10. Can you believe that? In Birmingham! It did taste good but for that amount of money I would expect to have had 2 slices of toasted sour dough with avocado along with the bacon and eggs.The coffee was delicious so I would go back for that alone (and it wasn't extortionately priced).

Another great venue in the Urban Coffee Companies very respected string of cafes around Birmingham…read more Every time I have been in here I have not only left with a great cup of coffee I have also had great service from their team of smiley friendly baristas. This branch of Urban Coffee has a small mezzanine area where they sometimes have events or private hires making it more versatile than some of the other cafes. Due to that and its location you get a real mixed crowd of people in the store all the time. Everyone from young creatives right through to suited and booted businessmen are regularly enjoying a cup of the dark stuff in the chilled out and laid back space. My personal favourite beverage from here is a skimmed hazelnut latte....if you are into hazelnut flavoured drinks they syrup they are using here is AMAZING.

Came here for some breakfast on the recommendation of our friend... while others ordered breakfast…read moreentrees, I opted for the classic burger and fries. I wasn't really blown away. The place kind of confused me, to be honest. It's a type of casual, sit down restaurant. You order at the counter/bar, pay, and then pick a seat and they bring it to you. If the food had been better, I probably would've enjoyed it more. It really just didn't leave an impression on me, good or bad. It was rather forgettable.

I like this BTP branch. There's something about the way they do cream teas-- their scones are large…read moreand addictive, and they are quite generous with the jam and clotted cream. They put together a decent breakfast as well, and have bountiful baked goods on offer. Not a bad place to stop in Harborne for afternoon tea or maybe brunch, and there's a nice outdoor seating area with large tables as well as a smaller lounge area upstairs. I find it to be a bit pricey compared to many of the other cafes on Harborne High Street that do coffee and breakfast quite well, though the coffee is decent, and the latte art is on point! It is also usually very busy, and often full of young families and rather noisy, which doesn't make it ideal for getting work done. All in all good though, and definitely better than its counterpart on Corporation Street!

Woodstock is an unassuming presence from the outside and what with its mostly lame 'music pun'…read moretheme that screams "avoid" amongst Selly Oak's chip shop haven, it turns out to be a real treat. Pleasant and polite staff, coffee that is reasonable and of good quality and a huge menu that will prompt a good five minutes of staring at the wall trying to make a decision (this can be a little awkward when a couple are sat directly underneath the menu on the wall and you are stood there, motionless, rushing your confused brain and abating your impatient belly in the process of making a decision). The baguettes and paninis are particularly nice - the veggie option was thoughtful and delicious. Whether it's an early hangover cure, or to just get away from the usual fare that Selly Oak boasts, Woodstock is a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of the Bristol Road.

Woodstock Cafe in Selly Oak is a wonderful place to pop in for a baguette or jacket potato for…read morelunch, when I lived in Selly Oak I'd often be found in here at lunchtime because the prices are so reasonable and the food so tasty. It's a similar set up to Subway where you tell them exactly what salad items you want on your baguette and then choose a filling from the menu board. The end result is a delicious baguette that will keep you going all day because the staff are so generous with their fillings. The choices range from the standard ham right up to more unusual Mediterranean fillings, everything I've tried here has been delicious apart from one baguette I had which had loads of black olives in there. Now, I hate olives so the fact that I didn't like this was not the cafes fault in the slightest - more me being a numpty and ordering a food I loathe! In the winter the jacket potatoes are excellent comfort food and again they come with a range of fillings from cheese to ratatouille so there is something to suit everyone. The staff in Woodstock are lovely and will chat as they are preparing your food, I always get the impression that they are really interesting in what I'm saying rather than just talking for the sake of it. The atmosphere in Woodstock is very chilled out and comfortable, sometimes I'll go in with a magazine and sit reading that for an hour without being disturbed - apart from when I want another delicious fresh coffee that is! The customers are mainly students as the university is two minutes up the road, I've eaten in cafes surrounding Northampton uni and found the students obnoxious and loud but this is definitely not the case in Woodstock and this seems to be the place for people to sit and relax rather than be shouting and screaming. Next time you're in Selly Oak I'd definitely recommend a visit to Woodstock for a spot of lunch, the food is fantastic and it won't break even the most credit crunch affected bank!