Best Places and Services in Handsworth, West midlands (2025)

Rating: 5 / 5

I was really excited to visit here following a recommendation from my wife and her mother, and I really was not disappointed. On arrival the staff were friendly and welcoming and we were quickly seated at a table, and provided with menus for food and drinks. The menu is quite varied and everything sounded so nice, I struggled to decide as it's not a type of cuisine I'm familiar with, but I made some choices based on the clear descriptions. Drinks were served quickly, and we had to wait a little while for food (this is clearly stated on the menu). When the food arrived, it was well presented in a combination of bowls and square wooden trays and looked very appetising. Everything I ordered was lovely, and everything I tasted from the rest of the party's dishes was equally good. I particularly enjoyed the lamb soup (I forget the menu name) but I had such a depth of flavour, it made me really happy. Desserts were chosen from a cabinet near the front of the store, and we're very enjoyable, again in line with the cuisine a little different from every day fare elsewhere. Particular mention to Lerla and Ferdi who provided excellent service the whole time we were there. Would I visit again, yes, most definitely, perhaps brunch next time as the breakfast menu looks exciting.

Rating: 4 / 5

One of the better Damascena locations, a friendly and clean environment and the food was hot and tasty. Service was poor as they were short staffed and one server for all the tables. The food delivery was slower than expected. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Vegan options available.

Rating: 5 / 5

Great food, always love the ambience and staff is ever so friendly and welcoming. Niamh served us and there were few of us, she stunned all of us as she remembered every single one of our orders, very impressive which proves Damascena staff takes pleasure in providing ace customer service. Lovely place for family and friends gathering.

Rating: 5 / 5

Such good value for delicious food. Have eaten here a few times over the years and really feel the quality has improved. Soups (Lentil and Harira) are really good, as are the hummus and Baba gannoush dips. And a wide selection of drinks too - I particularly like the Turkish samovar tea.

Rating: 5 / 5

Delicious breakfast! Vegan and Vegetarian breakfast was lovely! Amazing coffee! Very happy and friendly staff! Would visit again!

Rating: 5 / 5

I have enjoyed a lovely morning at Boston tea party with my husband ❤️ we had the big breakfast tasted amazing! And to finish we both had blondie🧁😊. Welcoming staff and 5 star service. Will definitely be returning and recommending!

Rating: 5 / 5

My first experience here was through delivery. I loved my meal! Finally, I found the time to walk over and to eat in person. My experience was even better. Delicious food, great staff, and a cozy space—you couldn’t ask for more. Definitely a must go to place for breakfast and brunch. My favorite is the green smoothie!! Delicious 🤤

Rating: 4 / 5

Good choices of food. Mexican eggs and Egg Benedict were of a decent standard. Plenty of choices for drinks. Attentive table service (we were served by Mary) and overall clean environment. An improvement compared to our last visit a few years ago.

Rating: 5 / 5

Just had the most incredible lunch at Damascena Coffee House in Birmingham! I ordered the chicken shawarma and it was absolutely bursting with flavor. The chicken was perfectly cooked, tender and seasoned beautifully, and the accompanying sauces and fresh vegetables were a delightful complement. It was easily the best shawarma I've had in ages! To drink, I paired it with their black tea with mint and honey. It was the perfect refreshing and sweet accompaniment to the savory shawarma. The mint was fresh and fragrant, and the honey added just the right touch of sweetness. It was so soothing and delicious. The atmosphere in Damascena is always so warm and inviting, and the staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. It's the perfect place to relax and enjoy a delicious meal. I can't recommend Damascena enough – I'll definitely be back soon!

Rating: 5 / 5

Returning customer here at this branch, it was lovely as always and the food was really nice. there’s a range of vegetarian options which is nice to see. the decor and the aesthetic is pretty but maybe the seating areas in the centre is a little cramped - we asked to move and we’re accommodated which was appreciated :) Our server was Hamza - super kind and helpful. good customer service.

Rating: 5 / 5

Amazing food and amazing service. The waitress was very polite and attentive. Food was fresh and came quickly. I had the avocado toast with a medium-cooked egg along with a black tea and later ordered a Turkish coffee too. My coffee was served in a traditional authentic Turkish cup with a Turkish delight. Been coming here for a while now, and they never disappoint. Prices are very reasonable; I'd 100% recommend Damascena in Birmingham.

Rating: 4 / 5

Really positive! Great menu choices with enough choice for small, big (and huge) appetites. Staff are really attentive; basically awesome. Now, if you're after a nourishing salad bowl - this is not the place for you. But if it's eggy crumpets, thick hash browns and a full English - this is the Yard for you. P.S. ignore the mayo, I was given the most delicious chilli jam moments later.

Rating: 5 / 5

Probably the best breakfast / brunch spot in Birmingham city centre. Exceptional value for the quality of the food and the options are great - the fried chicken on crumpets is wicked stuff. Compared to competitors like Yorks, this place offers more for your money, and better quality too. 2 breakfast options + 2 coffees is roughly £30-35 opposed to £40-50 at Yorks.

Rating: 5 / 5

Simply exceptional. Fresh, quality ingredients. Beautifully seasoned and great value when you consider the price you pay in some of the other big chain brunch spots in the city. The potato rosti things were next level! Lovely coffee too and the staff were friendly and welcoming. Will definitely be back soon

Rating: 4 / 5

Coffee was nice. Have various milk you can choose. I chose the coconut milk. It was not bad just too many ice. Can try the hot one next time. I ordered the pancakes with berries and eggy crumpets with avocado! They were nice and delicious as our small snack. Big space but just with one toilet. I was waiting for a long time to have it.

Rating: 5 / 5

I have been coming to Saint Kitchen for over 3 years and this is my space space. My partner and I come here on a Sunday morning, I bring my friends when they come to stay, and I come on my own whenever I have the time. It sounds cheesy but this place is honestly like a warm hug to me. The staff are lovely, the food is absolutely delicious, and the coffee is the best in Birmingham. It’s right next to Saint Paul’s Square which is one of the prettiest spots in Birmingham. You can never get bored of the food because they are always changing up the menu. You know it’s fresh as well because you can see the chefs making it in front of you. I rarely write reviews but am writing this one because this place is just amazing. I love Saint Kitchen so so much ♥️

Rating: 5 / 5

Their loaded eggs Benedict is absolutely brilliant. The long walk in the cold to get here was fully worth it. The crew are really nice as well and all of them made me feel very welcome.

Rating: 5 / 5

Excellent food and service. Had shakshuka and I would 10/10 recommend. I would definitely come back to this place.

Rating: 4 / 5

This place makes one of the best if not the best chai lattes (with oat milk) that I’ve had. I love that it is an independent store and they have some nice meals on the menu. I had lamb bagel and hash brown fries (see photos and I had takeaway). I didn’t love the sauce that come with it and maybe it’s best to have on a pot in the side. But it was nice nonetheless. Staff are friendly and the venue is a nice place to sit and do work or have a little catch up with a friend but the space isn’t the largest. Only thing I’d warn is that the price, (I paid around £17 for the 3 items but I was able to get the hash browns half price with Independent Birmingham App, so it would have been more ) so it is a bit more on the pricier side but worth a visit still. Card only as a payment too.

Rating: 5 / 5

Amazing food and service! We ordered the Soho Mixed Grill, butter chicken and garlic naan. Highly recommend this place to eat if you’re in Birmingham. We came all the way from London and it was totally worth it! Special thanks to Roshni and Siwani for their amazing service! I hope you both are able to see this 🙏. 10/10.

Rating: 5 / 5

My experience at shoot tavern was good. The place has a very cool vibe, it was Saturday night and the place was veryyy busy. Please book table or you might have hard time finding table. There was soo chaos and very noisy as it was tooo fulll. Food was absolutely delicious. Each dust we ordered was made with love and flavour. Drink : soho fiesta Dish : masala fish , tandoori prawns( must try ) and chilli chips

Rating: 5 / 5

The food was delicious and beautifully presented ,I want to give a special shoutout to siwani for making our dining experience truly memorable. Their attentiveness and friendly demeanor enhanced our meal and made us feel valued guests. Overall, dining at this restaurant was a delight from start to finish.

Rating: 5 / 5

Amazing Grill House with Value for Money ! We ordered Boneless Grill , Chilli cheese fries , Veg Platter Grill , Naan , Mojito and Ginger beer . Quality of the food was satisfying Portion size is great thereby justifying and exceeding expectations. Service was friendly and efficient , the ladies serving us were prompt . Ambience is decent , the room for improvement will be their mocktails and bar service which needs more training . Overall, worth a visit !!

Rating: 5 / 5

The atmosphere in this café is truly delightful. From the moment we walked in, the two ladies, who I believe are the owners, were incredibly warm and welcoming. Their friendliness and the cozy ambiance they’ve created really set this café apart from the more mainstream spots in Birmingham—it feels like a home away from home. The coffee and Eggs Benedict were absolutely delicious, and I’m excited to try more from their menu. A charming touch is their well-behaved dog, who politely sits on a chair, greeting every customer as they arrive. The outdoor seating area is a great addition, with umbrellas for shade and blankets available if it gets chilly. They have a lovely view of the canals. Overall, it’s a wonderfully inviting place that I’ll definitely visit again and happily recommend to everyone I know.

Rating: 5 / 5

Lovely staff, beautiful food, chilled out city centre canalside setting. Certainly not fast food, this is home cooked quality fare. If you're waiting impatiently while they're cooking, I find you can always have another Bloody Mary or three.

Rating: 5 / 5

This cafe is not pretending to be anything it's not! It's cost and wholesome food! We were in town for a show and came here for breakfast. The menu looked good and the food did not disappoint! We had parked about 10 mins away and I didn't see any parking local to this cafe, so make plans before hand if you are traveling by car. We were welcomed warmly and within moments seated. It looks small but has a surprising amount of space. Which it needs as it was very popular and filled up pretty quickly! You order by scanning the QR code, which seems to becoming the norm these days. When the food came it looked amazing and tasted just as good. It has a lot of options for vegetarians! A point about the coffee! It was lovely! Usually I end up adding a little sugar to dull the bitter taste, but here it tasted amazing! Just right! Highly recommend this place but I'm guessing when the weather is better, this place is that much more in demand. Definitely one I saved to come back to when in the area again. ENJOY!

Rating: 5 / 5

We went today for breakfast, everything was AMAZING! The location over the canal is exceptional and very relaxing. The atmosphere and food were great. Julia, the owner, was such a lovely person taking care of everything and everyone. I highly recommend this place.

Rating: 5 / 5

Returning customer here at this branch, it was lovely as always and the food was really nice. there’s a range of vegetarian options which is nice to see. the decor and the aesthetic is pretty but maybe the seating areas in the centre is a little cramped - we asked to move and we’re accommodated which was appreciated :) Our server was Hamza - super kind and helpful. good customer service.

Rating: 5 / 5

Amazing food and amazing service. The waitress was very polite and attentive. Food was fresh and came quickly. I had the avocado toast with a medium-cooked egg along with a black tea and later ordered a Turkish coffee too. My coffee was served in a traditional authentic Turkish cup with a Turkish delight. Been coming here for a while now, and they never disappoint. Prices are very reasonable; I'd 100% recommend Damascena in Birmingham.

Rating: 5 / 5

Just had the most incredible lunch at Damascena Coffee House in Birmingham! I ordered the chicken shawarma and it was absolutely bursting with flavor. The chicken was perfectly cooked, tender and seasoned beautifully, and the accompanying sauces and fresh vegetables were a delightful complement. It was easily the best shawarma I've had in ages! To drink, I paired it with their black tea with mint and honey. It was the perfect refreshing and sweet accompaniment to the savory shawarma. The mint was fresh and fragrant, and the honey added just the right touch of sweetness. It was so soothing and delicious. The atmosphere in Damascena is always so warm and inviting, and the staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. It's the perfect place to relax and enjoy a delicious meal. I can't recommend Damascena enough – I'll definitely be back soon!

Rating: 4 / 5

One of the better Damascena locations, a friendly and clean environment and the food was hot and tasty. Service was poor as they were short staffed and one server for all the tables. The food delivery was slower than expected. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Vegan options available.

Rating: 5 / 5

The ambiance is nice. Servers are super nice and patient. We had a good brunch here. Food is okay. The thing we loved the most was the falafels with humus. They were freshly fried and very tasty.

Rating: 5 / 5

I was really excited to visit here following a recommendation from my wife and her mother, and I really was not disappointed. On arrival the staff were friendly and welcoming and we were quickly seated at a table, and provided with menus for food and drinks. The menu is quite varied and everything sounded so nice, I struggled to decide as it's not a type of cuisine I'm familiar with, but I made some choices based on the clear descriptions. Drinks were served quickly, and we had to wait a little while for food (this is clearly stated on the menu). When the food arrived, it was well presented in a combination of bowls and square wooden trays and looked very appetising. Everything I ordered was lovely, and everything I tasted from the rest of the party's dishes was equally good. I particularly enjoyed the lamb soup (I forget the menu name) but I had such a depth of flavour, it made me really happy. Desserts were chosen from a cabinet near the front of the store, and we're very enjoyable, again in line with the cuisine a little different from every day fare elsewhere. Particular mention to Lerla and Ferdi who provided excellent service the whole time we were there. Would I visit again, yes, most definitely, perhaps brunch next time as the breakfast menu looks exciting.

Rating: 5 / 5

Great food, always love the ambience and staff is ever so friendly and welcoming. Niamh served us and there were few of us, she stunned all of us as she remembered every single one of our orders, very impressive which proves Damascena staff takes pleasure in providing ace customer service. Lovely place for family and friends gathering.

Rating: 5 / 5

Stayed for 3 nights in Birmingham and this is quite possibly the best cafe I've been too. Food is out of this world and the staff have been amazing.

Rating: 5 / 5

They pour the beer without sparklers here and the Pale Brummie turns out to be the best pint of the day. Great service and a worthy entry in the Good Beer Guide. The food offer looks irresistible and I’ll have to return soon to sample it.

Rating: 5 / 5

Excellent quirky little bar so close to Birmingham New Street that you might be able to squeeze in a pint while waiting for a connection. The Fairy Tale milk stout sounds like it might be sickly but it was very drinkable. I came across the same beer in London a week later and it was much poorer. Didn't get a chance to sample the food.

Rating: 5 / 5

It's a cozy place in the middle of the city with a good atmosphere and vibe. Even though it's always full of people, the staff are super kind. The coffee and the pancakes are really good. They are warm enough to heat you up on a cold day.