Fond of a bread-based bite for lunch? Whether your usual is a Taste the Difference, seasonal special or a plain old Just Ham, we're here to expand your horizons.
We've decided to escape the big chains and jump into Birmingham’s independent scene to discover some of the best sandwiches in the UK's second city.
Your guide to the best sandwiches in Brum
Medicine Bakery
Multiple locations
Medicine is well known for all things baked, and really comes into its own with its selection of brioche buns, and artisan focaccia or toasted sourdough sarnies – enjoy a bacon and halloumi, The Vegan Reuben (ft. vegan pastrami) or a classic grilled cheese to name but a few. Medicine is going from strength to strength and has multiple locations in Birmingham and Wolverhampton.
Caneat
Stirchley
Heading just out of the City into Stirchley, you’ll find Caneat, whose slogan says it all: ‘We serve good food. We serve good drinks. We sell nice things’. Suffice it to say we can vouch for them on all three counts. They offer a select menu of sandwich buns. If you don’t want the fun to stop there, they’re also well known for their bakes and brownies, so you can round it all off with a sweet treat.
Grace & James
Kings Heath
You can expect the finest of sarnie ingredients from this place, which doubles as a shop, bar and deli. With a sandwich menu that changes every other week, Grace & James certainly like to keep things fresh – think British and European cheeses and charcuterie and you’re pretty much there. Let it be known that you can also pick up a traditional bacon sandwich here, too.
200 degrees
New St or Colmore Row
Just a short walk away from our City Centre Campus lies 200 Degrees, one of the coolest cafes in town serving up sourdough toasties and a range of wraps alongside an impressive menu of coffees and cakes. Consider yourself a coffee enthusiast? Their Barista School can teach you the skills of latte art, microfoam and home brewing.
Damascena
Various locations around Birmingham
You won’t find your traditional sandwich here, but instead plenty of wraps and flatbreads filled with Middle-Eastern flavours - we recommend the Makali or Chicken Shawarma Flatbread. The best part? Boasting venues in the City Centre, Moseley, Jewellery Quarter and Harborne, you’re never too far from a taste sensation at Damascena.
Anderson and Hill
Great Western Arcade
Self-declared purveyors of fine food, Anderson and Hill sell everything from dry goods and their own brand of coffee, to cured meats, Italian baked goods and a full lunch menu to boot. Take a look at their deli counter to see what sandwiches they’re serving on any given day.
Habaneros
Great Western Arcade
Habaneros started life in 2013 as a mobile Mexican street-food vendor located at the back of Rackams (also known as House of Fraser...depending on your years). It quickly became known for making the best and hottest burritos in Birmingham. Now it’s found a permanent home at No3 Great Western Arcade to continue serving the good people of Brum the good stuff.
Whether you're looking for sarnies, buns, wraps, or toasties, Birmingham's independents have plenty to offer you for a tasty lunchtime fix.