The best of Birmingham
Birmingham, Britain’s second city has grown from a once industrial city to a well-visited cosmopolitan hotspot. The city boasts many famous sites such as having more canals than Venice, as well as being the home to Cadbury’s Chocolate and the regional library in Europe.
In preparation for the upcoming launch of our brand new spa , SANTAI by EF MEDISPA in Birmingham, we took a trip to the city and found some fabulous place to visit...
Best for Brunch: What better way to start the day than with a leisurely brunch? In Birmingham there is nowhere better than the Malmaison hotel in the centre of the city. The brasserie is a celebrity spotting hotspot and offers a modern twist on classic French cuisine so you can enjoy your brunch with flair before hitting the city. We had some amazing scrambled eggs, and cannot wait to go back to try their famous Sunday Brunch we’ve heard so much about!
Best or Shopping: Harvey Nichols, Mailbox – The Mailbox in Birmingham has undergone a recent refurbishment with a brand new digitally focused Harvey Nichols store as its flagship. The store still has a range of designer goods ranging from ‘International’ to ‘Designer’ to ‘Casual’ wear, but all with a digital twist with staff all carrying tablets and no traditional checkout system. It is worth a visit for the ultra-modern layout as well as for the clothes! Our favourite part however was the shoe department... we could have happily returned to London with a suitcase full of shoes.
Best for Dinner: Bank at Brindleyplace – Bank is a contemporary brasserie style restaurant well known for its commitment to quality ingredients both for its food and its cocktails. Located in the popular chic Brindleyplace area of the city, Bank has a vibrant atmosphere to match its menu. We hosted a fabulous dinner here (and thoroughly enjoyed the cocktails!)
Best Beer Garden: The Bureau Bar – Bureau is located in the heart of the Colmore Row business district area of the city, not far from Selfridges and the famous Bullring Shopping Mall. The bar’s undoubted highlight is its rooftop terrace where you can relax with a drink and enjoy the view.
“The Bureau brings expertly created cocktails and food to Colmore Row in a gorgeous grade II-listed building, full of 1920s glamour with a speakeasy edge. If you haven’t tried the Deli Dogs yet, you’re missing out… and when the sun is shining there’s no place we’d rather be than The Bureau's roof terrace with a gin cocktail in hand.” – East Village Agency, Birmingham
Best for a stroll: Edgbaston Reservoir – The Edgbaston Reservoir, located a little outside the city centre is a great place to wind down and take a stroll. The area is one of the feeder reservoirs for the city’s canal system and is a designated Site of Importance for Nature Conservation due to the surrounding wood and grassland areas and the natural wildlife which life there.
Most exciting new opening: Resorts World – The range of shopping, culture and entertainment on offer in Birmingham is poised to get much bigger and better in Birmingham very soon with the opening of Resorts World in the National Exhibition Centre (NEC). Located next to Birmingham International Airport the new shopping, dining and entertainment complex is the first of its kind in the UK.
The complex will have a
flagship Genting Casino and boutique hotel as well as a cinema, a range of restaurants and bars, a 50-unit strong discount shopping outlet and, of course, our brand new medispa
SANTAI by EFMEDISPA. The resort promises to be a thrilling new venture for the city and one which we’re proud and enthusiastic to be a part of!
So, we welcome you to Birmingham, Britain’s second city, with its multitude of fantastic attractions, relaxing spots, modern shopping, contemporary restaurants and more. See you there!
Best for Brunch: What better way to start the day than with a leisurely brunch? In Birmingham there is nowhere better than the Malmaison hotel in the centre of the city. The brasserie is a celebrity spotting hotspot and offers a modern twist on classic French cuisine so you can enjoy your brunch with flair before hitting the city. We had some amazing scrambled eggs, and cannot wait to go back to try their famous Sunday Brunch we’ve heard so much about!
Best or Shopping: Harvey Nichols, Mailbox – The Mailbox in Birmingham has undergone a recent refurbishment with a brand new digitally focused Harvey Nichols store as its flagship. The store still has a range of designer goods ranging from ‘International’ to ‘Designer’ to ‘Casual’ wear, but all with a digital twist with staff all carrying tablets and no traditional checkout system. It is worth a visit for the ultra-modern layout as well as for the clothes! Our favourite part however was the shoe department... we could have happily returned to London with a suitcase full of shoes.
Best for Dinner: Bank at Brindleyplace – Bank is a contemporary brasserie style restaurant well known for its commitment to quality ingredients both for its food and its cocktails. Located in the popular chic Brindleyplace area of the city, Bank has a vibrant atmosphere to match its menu. We hosted a fabulous dinner here (and thoroughly enjoyed the cocktails!)
Best Beer Garden: The Bureau Bar – Bureau is located in the heart of the Colmore Row business district area of the city, not far from Selfridges and the famous Bullring Shopping Mall. The bar’s undoubted highlight is its rooftop terrace where you can relax with a drink and enjoy the view.
“The Bureau brings expertly created cocktails and food to Colmore Row in a gorgeous grade II-listed building, full of 1920s glamour with a speakeasy edge. If you haven’t tried the Deli Dogs yet, you’re missing out… and when the sun is shining there’s no place we’d rather be than The Bureau's roof terrace with a gin cocktail in hand.” – East Village Agency, Birmingham
Best for a stroll: Edgbaston Reservoir – The Edgbaston Reservoir, located a little outside the city centre is a great place to wind down and take a stroll. The area is one of the feeder reservoirs for the city’s canal system and is a designated Site of Importance for Nature Conservation due to the surrounding wood and grassland areas and the natural wildlife which life there.
Most exciting new opening: Resorts World – The range of shopping, culture and entertainment on offer in Birmingham is poised to get much bigger and better in Birmingham very soon with the opening of Resorts World in the National Exhibition Centre (NEC). Located next to Birmingham International Airport the new shopping, dining and entertainment complex is the first of its kind in the UK.
The complex will have a
