The prestigious Michelin Guide is a highly respected and influential collection of exceptional hotels and restaurants across the world, reviewed and rated by discerning culinary experts. The very first iteration was produced in 1900 by founders of the now world-famous Michelin tyre company, brothers Édouard, and André Michelin. Originally produced for French motorists to encourage car travel, and by extension, the demand for tyres, it included maps, locations of petrol stations, and places to eat and rest for the night. As Guide Michelin continued to grow in influence over the century, and today, inclusion in its pages and a star rating is highly sought after by fine dining establishments all over the world.
Fine Dining in Birmingham
While London has long been considered the epicentre of fine dining in the UK, Birmingham produces some of the highest quality food in the country. Its diverse culinary scene is a reflection of its rich history and cultural heritage, a fusion of traditional British and international cuisine with strong influences from South Asia and the Caribbean. Outside of the capital, Birmingham was the first city in the UK to boast a Michelin star and today the city and its surrounding area are home to nine Michelin star restaurants, four of which are located in the vibrant centre. Let’s take a look at what Birmingham’s impressive Michelin circuit has to offer.
Adam's Restaurant
Fittingly named after its chef-patron, Adam’s Restaurant opened its doors in 2013, with husband-and-wife team, Adam and Natasha Stokes at the helm. The contemporary fine dining restaurant quickly became a favourite luxury dining destination for residents and visitors of Birmingham, and the duo relocated from their small premises in Bennett’s Hill to the grand New Oxford House on Waterloo Street in the heart of the city in 2016. The 36-cover dining room is airy and spacious, with its sharp and simple decor a subtle nod to the building’s Art Deco roots, providing a perfect backdrop for a luxurious dining experience. The food itself is like a work of art. The A La Carte and two tasting menus can change daily while fresh seasonal produce lies at the heart of each creation. Dishes like monkfish with fennel, XO sauce, and prawn, and the aged beef with truffle, alliums, and Bordeaux, are perfect examples of Stokes’ creative and carefully selected combinations. For an extra special experience, book a seat on the Chef’s Table in the kitchen environment so you can watch the talented team prepare your food.
Purnell's Restaurant
Situated in one of Birmingham's finest conservation areas, Purnell’s Restaurant on Cornwall Street is another gem in Birmingham’s luxury dining scene. Chef-patron, Glynn Purnell, was certainly no stranger to Michelin quality cooking on opening the restaurant, having been head chef at the then-fine dining destination in Edgbaston, Jessica’s, when it was awarded Birmingham’s first ever Michelin star in 2003. Purnell’s opened in 2007 and received its own Michelin star in 2009. The 46-cover restaurant features a diners-only bar and lounge areas, where guests can enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail or after-dinner coffee in plush surroundings. While the colourful and contemporary restaurant compliments the chef-patron's vibrant personality, the food also reflects his wealth of culinary experience, including time working with celebrity chefs Gordon Ramsay and Gary Rhodes, and travels and work with Michelin-starred chefs in Europe. Across a tasting menu, fresh ingredients are elevated with bold flavours from France and the Far East, with signature dishes like Creedy Carver Duck and agnolotti with smoked burrata and burnt tomato being received with great acclaim. Purnell takes great pride in colourful concoctions and flamboyant presentation to bring his creations to life.
Simpsons
Simpsons is a mainstay of Birmingham’s luxury dining scene with three decades of culinary excellence to its name. Chef-patron Andreas Antonia realised his dream by opening his own restaurant in Kenilworth in 1993. The restaurant relocated to an elegant Grade II-listed Georgian villa in Edgbaston in 2004, incorporating bright and modern decor that carefully complements and respects the building’s rich heritage. In fitting synergy, the menu offers contemporary twists on classic British cuisine, incorporating exotic flavours from around the world, demonstrated by the popular Cornish lamb dish perfectly paired with courgette and mint, or the Brixham grab elevated with sea herbs and pink grapefruit. Simpsons offers three and five course menus, a tasting menu, a plant-based menu, and Sunday lunch, with elegant twists on some of the nation’s favourite dishes. If you’ve still got room for dessert, the delicious brioche ice cream with peach and almond offers a perfect conclusion.
Opheem
The first and only Indian Michelin-starred restaurant outside of the capital and Birmingham’s first restaurant to achieve two Michelin stars, Opheem Indian fine dining restaurant on Summer Row offers a first-class dining experience. Birmingham-born and bred chef and owner, Aktar Islam, describes his culinary creations as the ‘unleashing’ of the inner workings of his mind. The five-course, ten course and A La Carte menus change with the seasons and offer progressive takes on classic Indian cuisine, keeping the very best but eschewing comfort and familiarity for experimentation and adventure. Tandoori BBQ mutton rib, korma with Orkney scallop, and the cumin milk loaf with onion bhuna butter are all fine examples of what Islam does best – adapting and evolving classics to create something entirely unique. To complement the bold flavours, let the expert sommelier team take you on a trip around the globe with their exceptional pairings. The beautifully lit, elegant restaurant also houses a private dining room, perfect for intimate dinners with family and friends, business lunches, and special occasions.
Birmingham’s fine dining scene has a huge amount to offer, with each Michelin-starred restaurant sharing its own unique identity, style, and rich cuisine. Offering flavours, ingredients, and influences from all over the globe, contemporary twists on beloved classics, and entirely unique creations from some of the world’s finest chefs, these restaurants will leave you wanting to return time and again.
