Cherry Red's Cafe Bar

You'll find Cherry Red's wedged into the heart of the city centre, right where John Bright Street gets properly buzzing. It's the kind of place that works just as hard at 8am when you're hunting decent espresso as it does at 6pm when you fancy something more substantial. The vibe is unfussy and genuinely welcoming—you've got students hunched over laptops next to business types, and nobody seems bothered about any of it. The food goes beyond your standard café offerings, and they actually care about what they're serving. It's become something of a reliable favourite for people who know Birmingham well enough to skip the obvious spots.