Michelin star chef from Birmingham recommends: five restaurants & bars to visit

By Asmita Sarkar

Digital Journalist

Published 10th Apr 2023, 12:10 GMT

Chef Aktar Islam, who runs one of the Michelin-starred restaurants - Opheem - in Birmingham city centre, has shared his recommendations

Visitors and residents of Birmingham are spoilt for choice when out and about in the city. There are several great restaurants, pubs and bars to pick from - no matter what the occasion is.

And, this varied offering was acknowledged by The Good Food Guide in 2022 when it crowned Birmingham Britain’s Most Exciting Food Destination.

The Michelin guide lists 19 of the city’s restaurants, of which five have a Michelin star. The Michelin starred restaurants in Birmingham are Opheem, Simpsons, Carters of Moseley, Purnell’s and Adam’s. Nearby Solihull also has one Michelin-starred restaurant.

And, Chef Aktar Islam, who runs one of the Michelin-starred restaurants - Opheem - in Birmingham city centre, has shared his recommendations.

Here are the five restaurants and bars that the chef loves in Birmingham:

Chef Aktar Islam called the Grand Hotel, Birmingham the best hotel in the city, and he calls the Madeleine Bar beautiful because of its “old-world charm”. It’s a good place to relax, for him, according to the Good Food Guide. (Photo - The Grand Hotel)

1. The Madeleine Bar at The Grand Hotel, Birmingham city centre

Chef Aktar Islam called the Grand Hotel, Birmingham the best hotel in the city, and he calls the Madeleine Bar beautiful because of its “old-world charm”. It’s a good place to relax, for him, according to the Good Food Guide. (Photo - The Grand Hotel) | The Grand Hotel

Chef Aktar recommends The Oyster Club by Michelin starred chef Adam Stoke - a casual seafood restaurant on Temple Street. Aktar recommends ordering from a fresh selection of oysters on offer, as well as caviar and some large paltes like the XO glazed octopus, roasted turbot and Dover sole on the bone, he told the Good Food Guide. (Photo - Google Maps)

2. The Oyster Club by Adam Stokes, Birmingham city centre

Chef Aktar recommends The Oyster Club by Michelin starred chef Adam Stoke - a casual seafood restaurant on Temple Street. Aktar recommends ordering from a fresh selection of oysters on offer, as well as caviar and some large paltes like the XO glazed octopus, roasted turbot and Dover sole on the bone, he told the Good Food Guide. (Photo - Google Maps) | Google Maps

Tiger Bites Pig on Stephenson Street is a laid-back restaurant offering Pan-Asian cuisine, and is home to the “most authentic Taiwanese bao” in Birmingham, Chef Aktar tells the Good Food Guide. His favourite at the restaurant is the chicken bao. (Photo - Google Maps)

3. Tiger Bites Pig, Birmingham city centre

Tiger Bites Pig on Stephenson Street is a laid-back restaurant offering Pan-Asian cuisine, and is home to the “most authentic Taiwanese bao” in Birmingham, Chef Aktar tells the Good Food Guide. His favourite at the restaurant is the chicken bao. (Photo - Google Maps) | Google Maps

Chef Aktar says that Bonehead, located on Lower Severn Street, does the Nashville wings right. He told the Good Food Guide: “They have to do it right, because in Birmingham the trends - or ‘faff’ - get snuffed out.” He recommends ordering a little of everything here or if you are after just one thing, order the ‘hothead’ chicken burger. (Photo - Google Maps)

4. Bonehead, Birmingham city centre

Chef Aktar says that Bonehead, located on Lower Severn Street, does the Nashville wings right. He told the Good Food Guide: “They have to do it right, because in Birmingham the trends - or ‘faff’ - get snuffed out.” He recommends ordering a little of everything here or if you are after just one thing, order the ‘hothead’ chicken burger. (Photo - Google Maps) | Google Maps

Birmingham Michelin Restaurants Residents Pubs Restaurant Britain

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.