First date restaurants in Birmingham

No matter how many times your friend tells you you’re going to love their mate (who funnily enough, has never been introduced to the group), you can never be sure with blind dates. Which is why it’s good to pick a fun spot with exciting drinks in case things get a little dull. Enter Turtle Bay. This Jamaican-themed spot is bright colourful and best of all, serves great food, including tasty burgers and jerk-pit BBQ meats. It wouldn’t be a date without a cocktail and if you get there before 7pm, or after 10pm, their rum punches, mai tais, and much more are on a 2-4-1 Happy Hour deal. Yay!

At ResDiary, we’ve only ever been taken to the local ‘Spoons on a first date, so if anyone suggested Adams, we’d be in love before we even got there. This Michelin-starred delight can be hard to get a table at, but if you do, you’re in for a treat. Check out their tasting menu, featuring octopus, veal sweetbread, scallop, and more while drinking from their lovely selection of wines. If you’re not the adventurous type, there’s also a three course choice which features their own boozy version of Horlicks. If you’re looking for the best of first date restaurants in Birmingham, Adam’s has got to be top of your list.

Perhaps somewhere like Adam’s is a little out of your comfort zone? If you’re looking for a slightly more chilled atmosphere where you can both hang in your jeans, Purecraft might be just the place for you. They serve lots of small plates which are a perfect ice-breaker on a first date, and more substantial dishes like burgers and steaks if you’re feeling hungry. It’s the beer that’s the star of the show though, with six casks and 16 craft taps running at any one time, from respected breweries like Ringmaster, Tiny Rebel, and Magic Rock. It’s perhaps not the most romantic place in the world, but the chilled out vibes and great selection of food and drinks make it a perfect first date restaurant in Birmingham.

Uhoh. Has someone text you to set up that date and all you have is a vague memory of a sweaty face in a dark club? What if they don’t drink? What if they’re veggie? Vegan? Don’t worry, we’re covering all the bases with 1847. Not only are they a vegetarian restaurant that caters to vegans and gluten free, their food is delicious, and it’s a really lovely spot to spend an evening. Expect treats like marinated tofu, battered halloumi, and gnocchi with cheese sauce. And when you’re done, head to Dandelion, their cocktail bar where expert mixologists will serve up botanically based cocktails and mocktails in gorgeous surroundings.

A pop up that was so successful it turned into a full time restaurant? It doesn’t get more trendy than that. Add in stripped back interiors, an open-plan kitchen, and a chef that has previously worked at Michelin-starred restaurants, and it’s a pretty cool place before you even taste the food. And taste the food you must. Although you can just pop in for a drink, to really impress your date, you should order some grub. You can go for a tasting menu called “chosen”, where either six or eight courses are picked for you, or go out on your own with “choice.” Here, there are revelations like salmon with orange and buttermilk, and banana panna cotta served with rum. As far as first date restaurants in Birmingham go, this relaxed space is killing it.