By the end of this week – the second week of hospitality being reopen since lockdown – I think I must have been asked which restaurants and pubs in Brum are offering walk ins about 50 times.
Every time I check my messages there’s at least 3 people asking this, so in a bid to be useful I’ve pulled a small list together. This isn’t guaranteed to get you a table, but I understand the frustration (especially at the weekends) and the lack of spontaneity the current situation causes, so hopefully some of the options below might be useful in helping you have fun.
Most of these are local or indies – I’ve tried to include pubs, restaurants, cafes and bars. They’re not in any order but tbh I’m doing the hard work so the least you can do is skim read a list (hair toss). Be prepared to wait for a space, don’t forget to tip, and if you love an experience you have somewhere – shout about it. Help the city get back on its feet and spread a bit of positivity.
If you find this post helpful please share it with your family and friends so it helps a wider audience. You can find daily posts and Brummie finds on my Instagram page – follow me here.
Mama Roux’s – Digbeth
Walk ins only. Two seating areas. Open all day weekends and weekday afternoon/evenings. Drinks mainly, limited food available.
Sommar Tap Room – Brindleyplace/Arena
Walk ins only. Mostly tables for 2 but they’ll try their best to make larger tables. Open day and night all week. Burgers and beers available.
Old Crown – Digbeth
Limited walk ins now available every day. Open day and evening. Brilliant posh kebabs and drinks available. Lots of space.
Canal House – Central
Limited walk in tables available every day. If they can’t seat you there and then they might offer you a table slot for later.
The Woodman – Millennium Point
Walk ins only. Relaxed beer garden away from the city madness. Food and drinks available. Open afternoon and evenings.
Dishoom – Central
Walk ins only. Gorgeous views over Chamberlain Square and the museum. Food and drinks also available. Open every day from breakfast to dinner.
Purecraft – Central
Walk ins only. Lovely views of Victoria Square. Bar snacks and drinks available; focus is beer. Open all week.
The Mill – Digbeth
Limited walk ins available for the rooftop bar. Food and drinks available. Mainly weekend vibes.
Indian Brewery – JQ
Bookings and walk ins welcome. Food and drinks available. Focus on Indian street food.
The Wellington – Central
Walk ins only. Small terrace out the back. Drinks only – welcome to bring your own food in.
Jewellers Arms – JQ
Walk ins only. Two areas to enjoy beers and cobs. Older clientele.
Button Factory – JQ
Bookings and walk ins welcome. Gets very busy on the top terrace but there’s a big garden at the back. Food and drinks available. Also does bottomless brunch.
Distillery – Brindleyplace
Very limited walk ins available in different slots each day. Open all day. Small food menu, mainly for drinks at the moment. Also good if you like watching sports.
Cherry Reds – Central
Limited walk ins. Food and drinks available. Sharing the space with Bonehead so you can also order food from them.
Medicine – Central
Walk ins only. Breakfast, brunch, lunch food plus coffee and cakes. Open all week.
Fighting Cocks – Moseley
Walk ins welcome but booking advised. Pub grub available with drinks. Open all week.
Chung Ying Central – China Town
Very limited walk ins. Open all day every day. Food and drinks, but definitely more a restaurant vibe.
British Oak – Stirchley
Walk ins welcome. Food from OPM and drinks available all day everyday. Big beer garden.
Sobremesa – Custard Factory
Walk ins only. Vegan food from Ba-Ha and drinks. Open daytimes and evenings.
The Loft – Gay Village
Walk ins encouraged. Food and drinks available. Heated beer garden out the back.
Quarter Horse – Southside
Walk ins only. Coffee, cake, brunch and lunch. Small patio out the back.
Vietnamese Street Kitchen – Bullring
Limited walk ins available. Food and drinks available inc an all day cocktail happy hour. Open lunch and dinner.
Grace and James – Kings Heath
Walk ins welcome. Open Weds – Sun for wine, cheese, joy etc.
Lewis’s – Moseley
Walk ins welcome. Daytime venue for brunch and lunch, plus some drinks. Open Thursday to Sunday.
Indian Streatery – Bullring
Walk ins only. Open for lunch and afternoon food and drink. Casual not restaurant vibe.
Kanteen – Custard Factory
Walk ins only. Brunch, lunch, coffee and cake situation. Open daily times only.
Rico Libre – Custard Factory
Walk ins accepted but bookings preferred. Food and drink in the evenings. Same building/space as Kanteen.
Zumhof – Digbeth
Some walk ins available particularly midweek. Open afternoons and evenings. Street food and drinks available.
The Nightingale – Gay Village
Walk ins only. Drinks and music. Veteran busy at the weekend.
Get Grounded – Moseley
Walk ins welcome. Daytime lunch venue. Soft drinks and happy vibes.
Santorini – China Town
Walk ins welcome. Greek food and beers in a very sunny although not glam spot. Open afternoons and evenings.
Poli – Kings Heath
Walk ins welcome. Pizza and beers. Open Weds – Sun.
The Edgbaston – Edgbaston
Walk ins only. Garden terrace out the back. Open from 5pm Fri-Sun for cocktails and fizz.
Stackz Burgers – Brindleyplace
This is in the same venue as Sommar. Burgers, loaded chips, fried chicken – walk ins only.
The Physician – Edgbaston
Limited walk ins available each day for lunch or dinner. Drinks only also available. Massive tipi situation.
Dirty Martini – Central
Limited walk ins available to sit on the new purpose built terrace. Cocktails mainly. Open all week.
Laghi’s Deli – Five Ways
Walk ins welcome. Food and drinks available. Open all day.
The Plough – Harborne
Very limited walk ins available. Food and drinks. Open daytime and evenings.
Waylands Yard – Central
Walk ins only. Brunch and breakfast type vibe with coffee and cakes. Open daytimes.
Red Lion – JQ
Limited walk ins. Open all week. Sunday lunch vibes.
Craft Inn – Bearwood
Walk ins welcome. Drinks only.
Park Regis – Five Ways
Walk ins welcome. Terrace on the roof for cocktails and nibbles. Open all day.
Engine Room – Digbeth
Walk ins welcome. Small venue offering drinks and music.
Mythos – Arcadian
Walk ins encouraged – new venue. Greek food and drinks available all week.
The Ruin – Digbeth
Walk ins only. Drinks and fun slightly off from the main hub of the area. Hidden gem vibe.
Saint Paul’s House – St Paul’s
Limited walk ins available. Food and drinks on the terrace out the back or drinks out the front. Open daily.
Urban Emporiums – JQ
Walk ins only. Brunch, lunch day time only. Will do booze if you ask very nicely.
Saint Kitchen – St Paul’s
Walk ins only. Brunch and lunch plus coffee and cake. Limited seating out the front first come first served etc
Coyote Ugly – Broad Street
Walk ins only. Open afternoons and evenings. Mainly just drinks.
Karibu – Digbeth
Walk ins welcome. Small outside terrace for lunch and coffee/drinks.
Big Fang (pop up) – Digbeth
Walk ins accepted, might have to wait for a space. Drinks and merriment. Open Fri to Sun.
Dark Horse – Moseley
Walk ins only. Food and drinks available daily. Open all week.
Actress & Bishop – St Paul’s
Walk ins only. Drinks only but welcome to bring your own food from local businesses. Open daily from afternoon.
Chance and Counters – Digbeth
Walk ins only. Small food menu but good bar selection. Open all week.
The New Inn – Harborne
Walk ins only. Open all week for food and drinks. Big beer garden.
Bounbrook Inn – Stirchley
Walk ins only. Open all day for food and drinks. Main seating is out the front of the pub.
The Village – Moseley
Walk ins welcome. Massive beer garden. Open from 11 daily for food and drinks.
Indico – Mailbox
Walk ins welcome. Venue has moved from inside to the terrace space outside. Open daily.
Coffee Tales – JQ
Walk ins only. Breakfast, brunch, lunch plus coffee and cake. Open daily.
BrewDog – Central
Walk ins welcome plus takeaway pints. Open daily, gets very busy so you may have to wait.
JQ Bar & Grill – JQ
Walk ins accepted. Open afternoons and evenings all week. Food and drinks available.
Lunchi – JQ
Walk ins only. Open daily for lunch and drinks. Shares terrace space with Urban.
Damascena – Central, JQ, Moseley, Harborne
Walk ins only across all sites. Open daily for breakfast and lunch plus coffee and sweet treats.
York’s Cafe – Central
Walk ins only. Breakfast and brunch plus coffee and cake. Open until 3pm.
Roberto’s Bar – Custard Factory
Walk ins only. Beers and more beers. Open 2-10pm daily.
Paper Duck – Harborne
Limited walk ins available. Dog friendly space for beers and cocktails. Open daily.
200 Degrees – Central
Open daily for walk ins only. Coffee, cake, lunchtime grub and snacks. Parklet available for customers to sit outside.
Gusto – Central
Bookings preferred but walk ins available. Open daily for lunch and dinner, also drinks.
Blue Piano – Edgbaston
Walk ins welcome. Sunny garden for food and drinks. Open daily.
Soho Tavern – Soho
Walk ins welcome and lots of space. There’s a garden and a roof terrace, partially covered in case it rains.
Roxy Ballroom – Digbeth
Walk ins welcome, good tunes, particularly good for a chilled Sunday sesh.
Birdies – Digbeth
Limited walk ins available but probably unlikely at the weekend. Mostly covered.
*You’ve also got all the chains around Brindleyplace offering walk ins each day.
I’ll keep adding to the list and if you’re a business wanting to be added drop me a DM here.
If you found this useful you may also like this previous post about venues with outside seating – don’t forget until May 17th you can only dine and drink outside!