If you're looking for either a glam night out with the girls, or a night out with the guys checking…read moreout the glam girls then Mechu is the place to go. A firm favourite with the cities footballers and high earning business professionals, you can expect to see bottles of champagne all over the place. I'm 26 and the last time I went I felt quite overwhelmed with how many older men were in there. If you're looking for a wild drunken night with a younger crowd then this probably won't be for you unless you go on the student night which takes place on a Thursday. However if you prefer the idea of drinking with a more mature crowd in quality surroundings then it's definitely worth checking out on a Saturday night. Some of the cities best DJ's can be found playing so you'll be provided with the perfect soundtrack all night long.

Although it seems a bit perfunctory to diss Mechu for its VIP-style snobbery and expensive bar…read moreprices (after all, that's the point!), it has to be said that this is not for the likes of people like me who spent most of their formative clubbing days spilling snakebite over their converse in various dark and dingy indie discos. However, having attended the upmarket Mechu on a couple of occasions for work parties, I'm happy to report it's not without its pleasures. It's a swanky bar and relatively spacious, the music from the decent DJs supplying both a mix of dance and urban cuts. The booths are good if you're in a group, but make sure you have a stacked wallet. The thing that generally puts me off - and why I'm probably not the intended audience in the first place - is the 'footballers wives' vibe it gives off. I'm not into my footie, so I wouldn't recognise the much purported cameos from Villa FC players - however, there are lots of glam, slightly orange women 'coyly' approaching the blokes in smart threads at the bar and suddenly I'm humming the tune to that Amy Winehouse tune 'F### Me Pumps' as it could have been written about this place. If you've got the cash and you want to avoid the lower-rent version that is Rococo on Broad Street, then by all means splash that cash here. I'd rather lounge about in Island Bar, thanks.

My first and only experiences of Sheesha have taken place in here. I wasn't too sure whether I'd…read morelike it or not to begin with, but this place has definitely made me understand exactly why people smoke it. Entering the building, I was immediately greeted by a member of staff, who mind boggled me with the amount of choices and flavours, (Which is obviously good, because you'd never get bored with the same flavour) Luckily, I went with a friend who'd gone here before, so we shared a 'Cloud Nine' for £10, which my friend recommended. I must admit, the flavour was absolutely amazing, and it left a minty-yet-fruity taste in my mouth. It was definitely worth the money, and I felt very relaxed for a long time after smoking it. I've also tried a 'jasmine' sheesha, which was also just as enjoyable. Once you've ordered what you want, you can walk into the outside area, which is full of sofas and tables. The whole experience is really chilled and social, and I immediately felt comfortable here. Staff are very chatty, and they consistently change the tobacco to keep the flavour fresh. The counter also sells tea and cold drinks for £1. I buy a cinnamon tea to accompany my sheesha, which complements the smoke perfectly for me.

The staff are really friendly and the sheesha's ok, but while we were there a stray cat brought in…read morea rat in its mouth and dropped it near our table. We left soon after that, however, the staff apologised profusely. Still would stop me going again though.

Seeing the photos from 4 years ago on here compared to what it looks like now, it is quite…read moredisappointing. Much more casual and dilapidated seating. It gives me hostel / shared living room vibes. Staff were friendly and explained the 2 for 1 drink specials. We just went for an easy beer and wine before heading somewhere else for dinner. It's a decent spot for a quick drink or sitting outdoors on a sunny day. It would be nice if they tried to clean up the indoors a bit more although it was bright and cheery with good music.

The loft lounge is a great little bar located in the heart of Birmingham's Gay Village. It has a…read moreslightly different feeling to the other bars in the area that makes it work well as a daytime lunch/drinks spot as well as a top nighttime location. The bar is very elaborately designed with large chandeliers and art work on nearly every surface or wall. The designers/owners have definitely adopted the 'more is more' approach here and it has worked well for them. The bar feels cosy and full of personality with welcoming bar staff and an equally lovely outside area/courtyard. As we all know happy hours/two for one offers on cocktails are a very good thing....Loft lounge has a two for one on selected cocktails most evenings after work! The drinks are well made and taste as they should, on our last visit our drinks did take a little while to come but the bar was very busy so this was completely understandable. If you are in the area loft lounge is well worth a visit. Great for meetings, lunch or as I mentioned a little after work drink with friends. On weekends the DJ's are also pretty good so this place also makes a good start to any night out. Ill definitely be back soon.

A chameleon usually refers to a small tropical Old World lizard with a long protruding tongue…read more However, a chameleon can also refer to a changeable person. The Chameleon in Birmingham is definitely the later. To date, I am still unclear if the Chameleon is a posh bar, a night club/cabaret, or simply a fancy restaurant. Well it turns out, it's really all of the above. And somehow it actually works although it teeters on the edge of pretentiousness. I went there for dinner while spending a weekend up in Birmingham. The Chameleon offers a wide menu which made selecting a bit difficult. Luckily you don't have to chose, as you have the option to get a platter of starters. While the options are fairly standard---typical finger food and stuffed fancies (chicken skewers, duck rolls, terrine, etc), most were tasty and a good start to the meal. For my main I had the duck---which was a massive roast of a bird. Theoretically it was a 1/2 duck, but what a large bird it was, and quite delicious I might add. Desserts, much like the starters, can be ordered as a sharable plate---I wish more places would do this as you get to try out the whole menu. We didn't stay for drinks, though by 10pm on a Saturday night the Chameleon was filling up with a dressy crowd. For a posher night out in Birmingham the Chameleon is worth a try.

When looking for a casual Tuesday evening drink with a friend I would have normally walked straight…read morepast Chameleon. I was tempted in by the two for one cocktail offer......and I am happy I was. Unlike a lot of places that do a two for one offer, you are allowed to have two different cocktails from the menu. We went for a couple of 'the classics' with a mojito and my favourite, a margarita. We sat at the bar and watched our seeming well-trained waitress making our drinks, both were served perfectly and tasted great. The only reason I am not giving more stars for this place is that it's usually quite quiet and lacking atmosphere. If you are looking for a buzzing bar on a weeknight, keep on walking and go elsewhere.

nice pub in a cosy little village, nice staff, awesome beer, just wish it had bicycle parkingread more

i have never tried french food before and wow I am definitely coming back!!…read more The food was excellent with a great selection for all of us that went and the service was just as good. I will 100% return.

I wish i had taken pictures, but we came as a large party for my friends' last night before her…read morewedding. The venue is large and trendy and the staff are friendly and helpful. They really made the experience feel like we were regulars here. The food was very good. We ordered an assortment of tapas, burgers and breakfast options and everyone seemed to enjoy their food. I ordered the sri Lankan curry and it was very tasty, hitting the perfect spot for a cold night. You order and pay at the bar and they bring out your food to the table. The bathrooms were clean and there's parking not far. They have outside seating also, overlooking the river which is beautiful. I wish I remembered the name of the gentleman that night (I think it was Miles?), but he was wonderful at making it a special night for my friend and our group. 100% would return and recommend to those in the area.

We had breakfast at Tapetto Lounge and really liked the vibe as it was cozy and relaxed. You can…read moreorder on your phone with the QR code or just go up to the bar. I went for a sausage butty - simple and satisfying! My husband had the full English, and our friend had the eggs Benedict. Everything was tasty, everyone was happy, and it was a nice, casual spot to start the day.

I remember the first time I ventured to the Arcadian's Indi Bar, back in I think 2008. I remember…read morebeing so excited - 'Ah,' I thought, 'here comes an alternative to Snobs where I can swing my hips to a bit of the Smiths without being cramped on to a tiny dancefloor.' It turns out that 'e' that follows 'indi' can make a whole lot of difference, as Indi turned out not to be a Converse and guitars kind of place. Still, it offers a fun night out if you're easily pleased. The tunes run the gamut from 90s R'n'B, the latest chart dance anthems and poppier stuff (not exactly Morrissey, eh?) so it's good for a dance, although the dancefloor isn't that much bigger than Snobs' main room to be honest. It has the added advantage of a nice little space outside for smokers and, during the early evening, beers outside. However, why anyone would choose Indi over superior Arcadian bars like Poppy Red is beyond me. Actually, maybe it isn't. The drinks prices are rather more accessible and, coupled with what might be termed 'generic' populist music, it's an ideal choice for students.

Great bar and plenty of space to dance. Sometimes you can be charged to get in but ony 2-3 pounds…read moreand drinks are not expensive at all. Great music. The only problem is I wish it were bigger! Best place to go to in the arcadian.

I'm a bit of a sucker for a voucher. I don't buy loads of them, but occasionally something pops…read moreinto my inbox and either reminds me of somewhere I want to revisit or try... A voucher for this place reminded me that I hadn't been for around 4 years (I know, terrible right?) and I thought it was high time I should go back and give it another go. I actually really love the decor of this place. It's a basement restaurant and bar (hence the name), with the entrance being located on Newhall Hill. Once you enter and head down the stone steps you are presented with two doors; the entrance to the restaurant and the entrance to the bar. We proceeded to follow the labyrinth to the eatery and found the check in desk with relative ease. The staff were ON IT from the moment we walked in. Reservation confirmed, seated and presented with some water within a couple of minutes. We went on a fairly busy Saturday night, but everyone seemed to be looked after during our visit. There was no snobbishness that we had used a voucher and we were presented with the wine and food menu (which wasn't so large that it was a nightmare to decide, but there was plenty of choice) and left to ponder for a couple of minutes. We opted for a bottle of house white wine (on top of the glass that was included with the deal), which wasn't too overpriced at £16.95 and had a good think about what we were going to have. Our waiter had recommended the pigeon (something that I love, but don't have as often as I would like), so I went for this to start and the venison for main. The first course was bought out piping hot (obviously freshly cooked) and within about 10 minutes of our order. Although the portion wasn't massive, it was very tasty and all of the flavours in the dish complimented the complex flavours in the meat. The venison was the star of the show. This was tender and delicious. Now, not having a huge sweet tooth, I opted for a cheese board for dessert. This looked great (being presented on a slate) and offered 4 kinds of cheese, a range of crackers and a honey jelly (as well as the obligatory celery). We left £20 (with tip and the cost of the wine) and the voucher had cost £29 making the meal just under £50. The cost of a 3 course meal was £25, and 2 course was £22.50 when we visited - so I would say it's pretty reasonable. For a sumptuous dining experience in an underground basement, I would recommend a trip to the Vaults.

The owner of the Vaults, Julian, first opened the bar and restaurant a few years back. Back in…read moreVictorian times, I've heard that the venue was used as a mailing house that had been forgotten as time went by. Luckily for us, Julian found this little jem - which is quite fitting as it's situated in the Jewellery Quarter - and restored it to its full glory keeping the original characteristics including the popular 'vaults' which have been turned into private booth areas. The venue itself is probably one of my favourites not only because of its detailed and stylish décor, but also the quality drinks and delicious food. Daryl the bar manager will ensure your cocktails are mixed to perfection and if you don't see any that you fancy, ask him as he's always busy making his own concoctions. Food wise, I highly recommend pretty much everything on the menu it's that good but my personal favourite has to be the salmon. They often have food deals such as 2 courses for £15 so it's worth checking their website before you book a table.