Further proof that simplicity should never be underrated, the Coffee Room is as good for a morning…read morebeverage or pre-theatre bite to eat as it is for a dose of coffee or pre-drinks ahead of a big night out in Arcadian or around Hurst Street. The spacious and pleasant self-appointed 'bar and bistro' is a great addition to the Chinatown lineup, as it offers something different to the generic bars and clubs and perfectly complements the Hippodrome over the road. Whenever I treat my mom to a show at the theatre, we usually head to here if we have time to chill before the show and then the Dragon Inn if we fancy a wee tipple after. I haven't experienced the full possibilities offered up by the menu, although it always looks very nice - I can state though, without a shadow of a doubt, that the full English is a satisfying beast of a brekky despite being pricier than the neighbouring Wetherspoons. Coffees and teas have always been satisfying, while soft drinks and other options are available for those who don't like their hot drinks. The bar is also host to the usual array of beers you would expect if you plan on hitting here for a relaxed start to a big night out, and you can expect to get served quickly as the place starts to empty out after 8pm. The table area outside is also a great spot to chill with a drink and people watch whenever we're lucky enough to get a bit of sun.

I know its been reviewed to death but I HAD to write about this place, simply because for people…read morewatching - or at least watching people struggle with the table service concept and grow increasingly cross when their chips fail to materialise - it can't be beaten. The ambiance tends to vary according to what's on at the Hippodrome (which is just over the road) so at Christmas its families having a quick dinner before the panto and at the moment (Dirty Dancing is on) vast swathes of ladies chuckling 'nobody puts baby in the corner' into their white wine spritzers. Actually despite my snippy comments the bar staff are actually pretty good. The food is okay and they have a decent selection of lagers and beers. Opening/closing times are a bit unpredictable - they tend to close earlier if there's nothing on at the theatre.

Im giving this venue 5 stars as the catering is the best that i have tried in the local area and at…read morevery affordable prices i had a 22 item buffet for just 6.50 per head and it was out of this world the selection was huge and was served on crock plates which is unusual for the local area. The staff was brillent they gave me all there help that they could offer helped me book a fab dj for the night which made our party extra special great entertainment and amazing food x

So, I visited Two Towers Brewery for the second time last night. As it was an event, I am going to…read morepost about my first experience of this beery treat. So... I tend to plan something fun for a group of us to do around my Birthday. We've been to Monkey Forest and done all sorts of things... but last year I was at a loss. Whatever I plan has to be sufficiently fun to appease me, a group of goths and my lovely parents. It also helps if it's cheap and there is plentiful booze (this is generally the case in most dilemmas in life). After a brief poke around the interwebs, I stumbled upon the Two Towers website. Being an attraction that's local to me and makes beer, I was on to a winner. I dropped the fabulous Peter an email to enquire as to the chance of getting a private tour (as there were about 25 of us). About the same time, there was a groupon offer floating about (2 people for £6 for the tour). After having a conversation with Peter, it was decided they would do us the tour for the promotional rate of £3pp (very kind of them). As it's a little hidden away in the backstreets of Hockley, it's worth doing your homework first. It's actually only about a 10 minute walk away from the Clocktower in the JQ, but if you don't know where you're going you can get lost easily. A normal tour price is £10pp (but is well worth the cost), but keep an eye out for offers. From the outside, it doesn't look like much. The first comment I got last night was "Vicky... are you taking us to a carpark?". Well, yes, in a manner of speaking. The Brewery is in an mini-industrial estate. After arriving at the white door (normally surrounded by kegs and polypins), you might think it was closed! Just give it a push and if it opens, the brewery is open! It's actually open 8:30am - 5:30pm most days for sales to the public, but you need to pre-book if you want to do the tour. It's a small unit, but it doesn't need to be large. As an aside, there are plans in the works to extend and buy some new equipment; but I imagine it won't be ready and open in it's new state for a little while yet. There is a small area with beers for display and sale, a hatch for the serving of the drinks and the equipment at the back of the room. Despite it's small size, a tour can be between 1.5 - 2 hours in duration. Mark takes you through the background and history of the brewery and it's beers, the brewing process and the details of all of the ingredients used in the making. Whether you are an experienced home brewer yourself or have no idea about the process, it's interesting to learn the minute details of what makes the Two Tower beers so special. I have done the tour twice now and love it. I thoroughly recommend giving it a go (or you can always just pop in and grab some of the delicious beer for sale). The current facilities are basic, but will be changing this year!

A tour of a Birmingham Brewery that takes its names, and inspiration from the huge history of our…read moregreat city??? Yes Please I was invited to visit the Brewery on a Saturday afternoon. Most of the 16 or so people attending had been given the tour as a Christmas Gift which sounded like a fantastic idea. I'd tried Two Towers before at Hotel La Tour with their amazing Steak and Brummie Ale Pie which made it even more fun to try some of their other ales. The building itself is two units of a warehouse on the edge of Jewellery Quarter with several "vats" to create the beer in. I tried Electric Ale which is an exclusive to the Electric Cinema (The oldest working cinema in the UK) It's tasty and citric as ales go. If you are looking to sample some locally produced ale and hear all about how the history of Birmingham ties in to the beer then you can't go far wrong.

This tiny little cafe has only been open a month and a half. I went in recently, and the whole…read moreexperience literally made me feel as though I was on holiday. The place is quite hidden away, and you might miss it if you're only walking up the Coleshill High Street. But if you park in Church Hill car park, you have to walk past L'Maiz to get to the main road. And it's definitely worth stopping by. Inside, you'll be immediately greeted by the Italian owner, who'll seat you in one of three tables. Yes, the cafe only has limited space, but I think this provides a great intimacy to the whole experience. Browsing at the menu, I was absolutely astonished by the wide range of food available. From hot roasts to toasties to breakfast to pasta, everything was freshly made by the owner himself. The pizzas (all of them!) particularly looked tempting, and I loved that you could get three size choices, and even just purchase once slice for £1 if you wanted! I did exactly this because I had eaten not long before. But if had I known how delicious the margarita was going to be beforehand, I'd have definitely bought a 9" (or maybe even a 14" for £9.50 if I was feeling particularly greedy). Next time I go in, I'm definitely trying the Hot Mexican Madness. It looks, sounds and smells amazing. Surprisingly for June, it was exceptionally cold outside; so I opted for a hot chocolate to accompany the pizza. The hot drink tasted exceptional, and beats any run-of-the-mill coffee shop version that I've tried in the past. No matter what time of the day, L'Maiz can cater for you. Personally, I must return for breakfast to sample the Full English (£3.50). It was also lovely to learn that the shop was named after the owner's daughter, which explained the homely, warm feel to the cafe.

Me and my wife visited L'Maiz this morning for breakfast and we cannot fault this place. The…read morebreakfast (full english) and coffee were outstanding and despite the shop being very small in size, it has a nice warm feeling to it. The owner is very polite and welcoming and we look forward to returning in the future.

First time diner at El Cafe; the family and I were very happy indeed…read more Decent tapas menu, great service, good atmosphere. Loads to recommend, none to fault.....try them all!! Would be great for a large party, will be coming back

Mainly Spanish with some Italian/English food. One of the two best places for breakfast in town -…read moreand even better for lunch. It's open some evenings at the weekend. Best to reserve a table for lunch - and a must for the evening. Dog friendly, great service and food at a reasonable price.

A very clean and well presented café in the heart of Hall Green. I ordered the veg Panini and it…read morewas fantastic. Lots of filling, they were not shy. I have ordered the sandwiches for a business lunch that I was having. I wasn't too impressed as they came on a flat tray which meant that the individual sandwiches were knocked over as soon as the neighbouring sandwich was taken. I thought that a better presentation tray was needed. Otherwise it was nice.

Couple of seats but not likely to be free.. this is perfect for a cheap lunch if you're not…read moreplanning on stopping whilst shopping. cheap and will fill you up for the afternoon. Located next to the Bull Ring, staff very friendly and smiley

This is a real gem. It is a small, independent selling delicious Mediterranean salads and snacks…read moreand wonderful cakes. There are 2 floor levels, which gives it a nice feel, plus there are a couple of outdoor tables at the front which are used when the weather is good. Having sat outside, however, i would say that it is better to sit inside if you want a conversation, as it is quite close to the main road between Solihull and Warwick and there are a lot of noisy lorries etc trundling past. I have been 3 times and would recommend the salads, which from what i can recall are largely vegetarian. I have also tried the cakes, which are good too. The prices arent the cheapest in Knowle but it is good to go for something a bit different from the standard chain. Finally, they allow small dogs in the front area of the cafe, not that I have one, but, if you do, that's probably a bonus.

From the outside Mr Pickwicks looks like a great little cafe for a cuppa, sadly once inside it has…read morethe transient feel of a take-away cafe. I've only ever popped in here a couple of times for a coffee on the go, and with a sign out front declaring 'proper coffee' available it gives you hope for a good brew. Sadly I was left disappointed. I'm not sure if the guy who served me is normally the cook or whether they were shorthanded but my Vanilla Latte was just meh. I can honestly say i don't think i've ever been asked how much vanilla before and do I also want sugar. Having said this the coffee itself was tasty, it was just the vanilla part of the latte that was a fail. Although i haven't eaten here they seem to do a good range for veggies and the food is generally cheap to eat here. Whilst they do have places to sit outside as well as inside, it's small size and busy lunch queues does make it feel too crushed for a relaxing bite to eat. Worth trying if you need something on the go but unless you are passing through or work over the St. Paul's, Jewellery Quarter area it's a bit out of the way to make a point in visiting.

Situated in one of the back streets, 5 minutes walk away from both the centre of St Pauls square…read moreand the Jewellery Quarter, this little cafe offers a great selection of food and a quality service to match. If you're in need of a breakfast, they make a great sausage and egg (the egg is always really runny!) sandwich. I tend to go here for lunch as they offer a great salad box. In the fridge counter, you'll find a selection of exciting salad options which include vegetable cous cous, potato salad, chopped apples and other tasty choices. The only downfall of this place is that the salad box comes to around £4.70 which is too expensive for me to go here everyday. It's a nice treat though!