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

This little corner of Bristol Road is currently under a surge or new businesses and Quarter Horse…read moreCoffee seemingly has come out of nowhere to add to this strip, just a stones throw away from the Pagoda. Quarter Horse is based from Oxford and the Birmingham branch is it's sister shop. The space here is vast with huge ceilings and windows at the front and back of the shop coupled with minimalist furniture, there is plenty of seating and will be very exciting to see all these full once the name of Quarter Horse name gets out to Birmingham. I enjoyed a silky latte this morning which was excellent in taste and kept me warm from the wet weather outside. QH are using Round Hill coffee beans at the moment which is a welcome change from the many other fine coffee shops in Birmingham. At the moment, QH is limited to hot drinks (they opened 2 days ago) so it will be interesting to see what food and other additions QH will provide over the coming weeks and really develop into a place with its own identity. But what is extremely exciting for coffee buffs is that on one side of the shop, a new roaster is going to be installed within the next 2 weeks! First in Birmingham! I'm sure I am not the only person who is thrilled at this prospect and cannot wait to see this in action. I have been to many coffee shops in London where this set up works very effectively so this will certainly be something Brummies can be proud of.

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!

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!

Every Wednesday lunchtime I like to pop into the Clock Cafe in Northfield as it's right next to my…read moreWeight Watchers meeting and is perfect for my after weigh-in treat. It's been here quite a few years now, but I've never really spent much time in here until recently. I like the selection of people in here, it's a very popular cafe and is always really busy. Sometimes I'll have to wait a few minutes for a table, but it's worth the weight and I think this shows how good the cafe is that people are actually prepared to wait to be seated rather than heading to one of the other numerous eateries in Northfield. I generally have a jacket potato with cheese because the spuds here are absolutely delicious, plus I can carry on feeling righteous about my diet! There are loads of different toppings for the jacket potatoes including tuna mayo, beans and coronation chicken - my favourite though has to be the cheese because they absolutely pile it on the spud which is how cheese should be really! As well as jacket potatoes you can choose to have a good old English breakfast, I've had this on occasion and it really is a wonderful fry up. There are a choice of sizes of breakfast including a mini one for those with modest appetites and a huge gigantic meal that includes what looks like dozens of pieces of bacon and sausages, I've seen a few workmen eating this and always wonder where they put it all! You can also choose a sandwich or hot meal with chips, if I bring my children to the Clock Cafe they will usually have sausage, chips and beans and they always say how nice the sausages are. Prices are very reasonable in the Clock Cafe, when I visit with the kids three meals will cost around £10 including a drink each. There are some more expensive options on the menu such as curry or a 'proper' dinner but I haven't tried these so can't comment on the food. I like their bacon and egg sandwiches as they are not too greasy, you do have to mention if you don't want butter though as they tend to butter all the sandwiches and I personally don't think hot sandwiches need it. The bread is always very fresh, as are the fillings, and I think the best cold sandwich is the tuna mayo which is rich and creamy. You have a good choice of drinks in the Clock Cafe including coffee, tea and a very nice hot chocolate plus a selection of cold drinks in cans or bottles. I ALWAYS, repeat ALWAYS have the hot chocolate because it's creamy and delicious - and perfect for a cold day after shopping. The staff in the Clock Cafe are great, they are chatty but not over friendly like some cafes I've been in. I find they are always polite when taking your order and delivering your food, but don't hang around talking as you're trying to eat which I always find very annoying. The only issue with the Clock Cafe is the parking. My mum is disabled so can use her blue badge to park just down the road, but this part of Northfield is covered in double yellow lines and is notorious for traffic warden patrols so do beware if you do a bit of naughty parking to grab a bacon butty!

The Clock Café on the edge of Northfield's high street is a relatively good café to pop into in the…read moremornings for a spot of light breakfast or for an early morning hot beverage. The prices aren't too expensive nor inexpensive, I guess it's what you would expect at any café. I have only ever been here once as the atmosphere and lack of natural lighting, no, lack of any lighting wasn't what I was looking for. I guess maybe if you're into a shady café like this then you should check it out. Perhaps they were going to the 'too-early-for-light' kind of scenery, whereas when I wake up and need to actually be fully awake I need a lot of light to brighten up my eyes and mind. The only way to know is by checking out the café and seeing what you think of it. My opinions are so-and-so.

I'm giving such a high rating because I really believe Sandra's cafe is one of the best most…read morewelcoming cafés around. The cafe is situated on the weoley castle square. I have been using the cafe for about 4 years now and everytime I go there I'm made to feel welcome straight away, I know this isn't because I'm a regular because Sandra and the other members of staff that work there are the same with new people that visit the cafe. The pricing of the meals on offer are really good especially when you see and taste the quality of them! I always have a large breakfast and no mushrooms, and my god it's tasty every single time! Lol So if your ever in the weoley castle area before 2 and feel like a breakfast or hot sandwich pop in and enjoy The food :)

Breakfast Review: I…read moredo like an Indi deli. In fact I love an Indi deli. So much so that this morning, I cycled in heavy rain and a blustery wind, 17.5 miles to try out their breakfast. I was recommended this place by some of the fine people on Twitter. Their enthusiasm for the place meant I had to give it a go. It's a small shop in a group of shops on a residential road in suburban Bournville. There's no uniforms, just people that obviously care about their products and produce. That definitely included their breakfasts. Perfectly cooked bacon, (2 slices, not one as advertised), 2 sausages, a spot on golden yolked egg, a choice of plum or fresh tomatoes, great black pudding, (an extra), baked beans, (served in a separate dish), a good portion of fresh mushrooms and hand cut, crusty bread - as far as I'm concerned, a MUST for a quality breakfast - which this absolutely was. Coffee was good quality too, not too rich, just how I like it. In summary: 9/10 one of the best ones I've had. Excellent.

Love their full English breakfast. I live in California but whenever I'm visiting family in…read moreBirmingham I always have to stop by for a proper pot of tea and great breakfast that's very tasty and not greasy like some breakfast places can be.

This very peculiarly named cafe is definitely an unusual one to stop off at on the way to the…read moreLickeys, and I couldn't walk past without looking in the window. The back of the coffee shop has flashing (almost Christmas-like) lights, which enticed me further to go inside, just to understand why they were there! I'm still not exactly sure why they are there, (maybe to attract simple minded folk like me who are mesmerised by bright things!) The front of the cafe is very sleek, modern, cool and cosy, while the back and one-side isn't actually a cafe at all, but a slot machine arcade! (Maybe this why the place is called Coffee & Confusion!) I bought a cup of tea and a muffin, which came to £5, I guess that's a little more expensive than usual, but you are paying for the beautiful Lickey location, so that's understandable.

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.

Beautiful House and garden just 5 minutes away from Birmingham University. Amazing greenhouses…read morefilled with various flowers, cacti, plants. Such a lovely place to visit on a summer day especially if you check out their tearoom by the terrace!

What can I say other than that it is a Costa Coffee Shop. The choice of coffees are wide and the…read morepremises are actually very clean, if you need a pick me up or just need a caffeine fix then this is the place to be.

I used to go into Jimmy's about 10 - 12 years ago with my mum and remember the food and service…read morebeing absolutely wonderful. For the sake of nostalgia I decided to pop in with two of my daughters' last week for a spot of lunch after hitting the sales in Northfield. The thing that sets Jimmy's apart from other cafes in Northfield is the fact that it's run by Chinese people and you can order either from the English or Chinese menus. This was about 1pm so way too early for Chinese food, so I chose scampi and chips while my daughter went for sausage and chips from the childrens menu. We reckoned the baby could share a few of our chips as there was nothing really suitable for her on any of the menus. I sat back and waited for our drinks and food to be bought to the table, expecting a delicious treat based on my memories of Jimmy's from years ago. I was disappointed, and so was my daughter. My scampi was overcooked to the point of being rock hard and a dark brown colour and the portion of chips was very small and not well cooked at all. My daughter's meal was a disgrace and it's only really my fond rememberances of this place which stopped me complaining - it was cooked OK but on her tiny plate there was just one small sausage and perhaps twelve chips, bad luck for baby as there just wasn't enough chips to share! The beans on my daughters meal were disgusting and had obviously been boiled to death, being served in a revolting looking thick, sticky sauce. Our drinks were OK, my daughter had a free Coke with her meal (in a small glass) and I had coffee, but even this annoyed me as it automatically came with milk in it which is irritating as I like to add my own! I was chatting with a lady on the next table and she agreed that Jimmy's has gone downhill compared to years ago, she was only in there for a cup of tea and she told me she used to eat in here several times a week but doesn't think the quality of the food is worth the money now. For our two tiny, badly cooked meals and drinks I paid almost £9 which is an absolute rip off. I will never go to Jimmy's again, it's the perfect example of how not to run a cafe which is a shame considering how wonderful it used to be.