Edwardian Tea Room

Lovely hidden gem in the heart of Brum. We were strolling by the museum and decided to pop in since admission is free. In addition to some great exhibits, the museum also boasts the Edwardian Tea Room, tucked neatly behind the gift shop.
The atmosphere is absolutely dreamy. With high, vaulted ceilings, soft lighting, and spacious clustered seating, I felt like we were in a quaint high tea room from the late 1800s. Across from us was a large group hosting a baby shower and many couples were snuggled up with newspapers, books, and pots of tea to share. This is the perfect location for romantic book nerds or singles looking to escape for the afternoon.
I ordered the cream tea and Seth S. had a cappuccino. The tea flavors are all organic and served in enamel pots. Each cup is nicely fitted with a strainer so as to prevent any loose leaves from floating around your perfect cuppa. 4 mini sultana scones are included with the cream tea and are served just warmed with fresh clotted cream and strawberry jam. Larger afternoon teas are available as well — with sandwiches and pastries served on cute wooden window boxes. The lunch options (soup, sandwich, pastas, etc) also looked delectable. I can’t wait to go back and try more.

I visited here recently for brunch with a friend. It’s been refurbished since I last came and looks really cool now. Lots of space and comfy seats. The menu offered an array of delicacies to choose from and I went with pancakes and a green tea. It was really delicious and the place had a relaxing vibe. Great for friends, families, dates… anything!

The Edwardian Tea Room has long been a call in point for me on trips to Birmingham — a chance to meander through the art gallery and then enjoy a nice pot of tea in pretty surroundings.
On a visit last week I got a chance to check out the new refit — it has several good points, now boasting an array of different types of seating (sofas and soft chairs as well as just «normal» tables and chairs), and serving a range of teas and delicious cakes.
However, I wasn’t 100% convinced all the changes were for the best. Pots of tea now come served in ceramic pots — which may reflect the attempts to look «authentic» and give it a quirky Edwardian twist, but in reality look like they’ve been dug out of the back of someone’s cupboard, and get overheated so you can’t lift the lid (to give it a stir), before pouring. In addition, although having soft chairs are an improvement, its a shame that the more decorative hard chairs have been replaced by newer, more generic looking ones.

I do really like having a beverage or a snack at the tea room. It has a nice, relaxed atmosphere and it is really pretty to look around. (I also recommend checking out the museum while you are here) or enjoying the museum first and then relaxing for a chat about it at the tea room!

Beautiful hidden gem in the centre of Birmingham. Nice cakes and tea — well worth a visit.

After living in Birmingham for over 10 years it was about time I visited the Edwardian Tea Rooms. Nestled away in the BMAG the tea rooms have been recently refurbished. I can’t comment on how they looked before but I really like what they’ve done with the place. A great mixture of rustic, industrial, classical and contemporary without looking too busy or over the top. It reminds me a lot of a cross between The Lost & Found and Pure Bar & Kitchen.
Being a museum café I was expecting over inflated prices but a large americano is only £1.90 ish and it’s pretty good coffee. We went on a busy Saturday afternoon (the day of the Christmas parade) not long after the new Staffordshire Hoard exhibit opened and whilst it was busy we easily found a table and the service was prompt and friendly.
Prefect for recharging your batteries after exploring all bmag has to offer and also for a quiet brew and a cake to escape the chaos of a weekend in Birmingham city centre.

This place is a hidden little gem in the centre of town. Just at the back hall of the art gallery is a huge and wonderfully decorated tea room and snack bar, full of cakes and nibbles and everything you could want.
Their prices are cheap too, so this is the place to go. They offer afternoon cream tea which is always welcome on my taste buds (I really love scones) and if you have a group of people you can reserve tables.
It really is a lovely little establishment and if you are in the museum or fancy some tea go have a look!

I went along to the re-​launch of the iconic Edwardian Tea Room at the heart of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and experienced first-​hand its remarkable transformation. The once tired and much overlooked canteen has been transformed into a wonderful space for a spot of lunch or an event.
Prior to makeover the Edwardian Tea Room wasn’t leaving a great taste in the mouth. It was basically a glorified canteen that didn’t add anything to your visit to BMAG. Now, however, it is worth going in for a peek alone. The new look Tea Room is really impressive, with gorgeously upholstered soft furnishings, a large trendy looking bar area, large tables and great lighting. The walls are adorned with copies (splash resistant) of portraits of stylish Edwardian gents and ladies about town from the gallery’s collections. The whole design feels very sophisticated and compliments the amazing, authentic space, with its beautiful tiled floor and huge glass ceiling vaulted ceiling, perfectly.
The culinary offerings seem centre on British classics. On the launch night I got to try mini fish and chips, bacon rolls, fish finger sandwiches and various meats, cheeses and chutneys from the generous antipasto platters. All really fresh and tasty. Of course, I had to finish off with cakes and macarons — also delicious. I’m definitely going to be heading back for afternoon tea. Friends have eaten here for lunch since the launch, munching down on bacon sandwiches and more, and all have really enjoyed it.
For a more boozy lunch, or a special event, there’s also a well stocked bar. You can hire the Tea Room for a private do and the launch night demonstrated its potential as a venue. The lighting looked great, live music came floating down from the mezzanine above and the numerous guests fit comfortably into the space.
The reincarnated Edwardian Tea Room makes a fitting addition to BMAG and is well worth a look; there’s no better place to refresh after an afternoon spent looking at the collections.

Edwardian Tea room certainly looks the part; it’s spacious with large regal ceilings and huge ornate windows. The chairs are oh-​so-​chic with kitsch colours and patterns. It’s a little bit retro but with an equally stylish modern twist. On décor alone, this is one pretty place for tea. And so it would seem, the perfect place for an afternoon bite to eat.
Situated in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, it’s wonderfully located, with all manner of interesting things to be found just around the corner. It’s nice to have such a beautiful museum café waiting to be discovered. The décor really lends itself to the museum, in particular the various beautiful paintings which hang in the Round Room. Delightful! We popped in for lunch after our set in the museum as part of the Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival.
From the onset, service was a little slow with the lady on the till repeating our choices back to us several times as she put the order through. I went for a peppermint tea and a baked potato with tuna. In hindsight, I should have asked for mayo as it came without. Although, I did think that this was the norm. Not to worry! We did have a short wait for food but it was definitely worth the wait. My suki peppermint tea was delicious and the potato was generous in size and also loose on the portion control of the tuna filling. Just what I needed to power me through to our gig in the evening!
The antipasto platter that was brought to our table, when delivered, was just left at the side of our table with not a word or question of where it should be placed which, unfortunately, was on the other side! I have to say that the antipasto did looked incredibly delicious and fresh. Although more of a sharing platter than for one unless you’re very hungry.
I would have liked the service to be a little warmer since no one came over to check if everything was okay during the meal or said goodbye and thanked us as we left. Although, I still did enjoy the Edwardian Tea Room for lunch this time round in Birmingham. The staff told us that it had just opened after being refurbished so maybe they’re still getting to grips with things for the moment.
As it stands, I’d say it’s the beautiful interior that steals the show!

When I first started with Unilocal,I threw this question to the masses; «Where is the best tea shop in Birmingham?». One of the first recommendations I received was the Edwardian Tea Room. Now, I have always known this place existed — but never had a chance to visit. This was finally rectified last week.
The Edwardian Tea Room is housed within the fantastic Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (on Victoria Square). You need to head in the building, up the stairs and through the shop and the Buddha exhibit to find it.
Decorated beautifully, the tea room really does feel like you’ve stepped back in time. No music plays in the background, but you can hear the murmur of conversation, the scraping of chairs along the floor and the clanging on trays as the staff clean up the empty tables.
The menus are displayed on the wall (rather than individually on tables). You need to head up to the counter and order before you find a table (although if you’re in a group, you would do well to bag a table first). The Tea Room (as you would expect) has a large selection of cakes (and tea, of course). A slice of cake and a pot of tea is a bargainous £2.95 — meaning it’s a wallet safe alternative to some of the more hipster coffee and tea shops in the centre of town.
Again, as previously mentioned, it’s very popular with an older crowd due to the prices. However, on my visit their were older visitors, young people and families (who were catching their breath after trekking around the huge museum). I grabbed a herbal tea (£1.60) and took a seat in the large room to do a little bit of work while I enjoyed my hot drink.
As well as tea, coffee and cake, there is a varied menu on offer for very reasonable prices. A large fish and chips (with all the trimmings) and a cup of tea was around £7.50. Not too bad, and they offer many other hot options too.
Even on my many trips to BMAG, I haven’t ever taken the opportunity to visit the Tea Rooms. Following my trip last week, there is a good chance I’ll be back JUST TO visit the tea rooms.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is one of the stars of Birmingham. Despite my boyfriend and I being fully paid up ‘friends’ of the museum one of the ways I feel I give back is by always spending some money in the tea room.
My tendency is to have the scones cream tea (with coffee of course, I don’t do tea) and even though the scones are a little dry and the coffee not perfect, the ambience of sitting under this glorious balconied roof makes up for any little short comings in the food quality department. They do offer hot meals and soup if you get there in time and there is a bigger selection of cakes than ever!
And the hot chocolate is good!

This tea room, located inside BMAG, is where I like to take people visiting Birmingham especially if they are not from the UK. It is great that Birmingham still has a tea room and daytime eatery like this.
As you enter you are greeted by a huge room with very high ceilings and a stunning glass roof. The walls are decorated with art. The furniture is made up of simple wooden tables and chairs. There is normally ample room even if there is a group of you.
The food, cakes, tea and coffee is normally of a very good standard and not too expensive considering the location. It is even licensed if you need an early afternoon tipple.
Often there is live music, of a classic nature, for free which really adds to the overall ambiance of the experience. It is a real shame it isn’t open in the evenings as it keeps to the museum’s opening hours. However, the space is available to hire for private functions.

Located inside BMAG the main clientele of this tea room appears to be OAPS and BMAG staff members. If you ever want to find good quality food at cheap prices then you can’t go wrong by following the blue rinse brigade. I had a toasted Tea cake and pot of tea which came to £3.40 which is the price of a grande drink in the coffee chains and I got three cups of tea from that pot! Bargain!
I love the décor of this place as it has high ceilings, ornately tiled floors and artwork scattered around however the actual tables and chairs are pretty much the same as you’d find in your average café.
When you select your food you can either get it out the chiller cabinet if you’re after cold drinks for example or you tell the staff member behind the what you’d like from the hot meals and they dish it up and you load up your plastic tray. You do get the feeling of being on a conveyor belt as you’re heading towards ordering hot drinks section and the till although a staff member did bring over my tea cake once it had toasted.
From a cursory glance of the menu other items to purchase include soups, fish and chips, jacket potatoes, sandwiches and salads.
I went in on a Friday at 12pm and it filled up very quickly so perhaps elevenses or late afternoon may be quieter times.
If you prefer traditional tearooms to hipster hangouts or are looking for a drink and a snack after vising BMAG them this eatery comes highly recommended.

This is Birmingham’s loveliest spot for a cup of tea. The surroundings are so elegant that they more than make up for the occasional screaming child or self-​service counter.
The walls are sumptuous shades of jewel green and burnt sienna and the floors are ornately tiled. There are paintings and sculptures dotted around the room. There are even potted palms (I’m a big fan of potted palms and think they can make or break a tea room).
The food available is your traditional tea room fayre — sandwiches, cakes, hot and cold drinks. My main issue is the self-​service counter, it just doesn’t feel quite right with the surroundings, especially not with the stacks of grey trays and a giant Coca Cola fridge. Call me old fashioned but I’d much prefer waitress service.