Nexus Cafe: Digbeth's bagels and jazz coffee shop

Digbeth has always been Birmingham's creative quarter, and Nexus Cafe fits right into that. It opened at the end of 2024 at 38 Meriden Street, and it's a proudly independent, women-of-colour-owned specialty coffee shop that has quickly found its feet. The vibe is relaxed and community-focused, the kind of place where regulars are on first-name terms with the staff and laptops don't end up taking over every table.

The coffee is the obvious starting point. Nexus uses a blend from New Era, a Birmingham roastery, and runs through the usual flat whites, lattes, espressos and long blacks, all available hot or iced with a choice of milks. Two rotating drinks get the most attention: a blueberry matcha and a Spanish latte. If coffee isn't your thing, there are specialty teas, hot chocolates and a chai latte to fall back on. New Era itself is worth a mention for the coffee-keen: founded in 2017 by brothers Ben and James, the roastery sits over in Sheldon and works from specialty-grade beans sourced from around the world, with roasts happening on Tuesdays and Fridays each week.

Food is the other half of the appeal. There's a changing selection of baked goods — chocolate brownies, loaf cakes, cookies and a creamy Basque cheesecake — and a savoury menu built around filled bagels and toasties. Among the bagels you'll find salt beef, a Cuban-style meat, salmon and avocado, and raclette with caramelised onion; the brisket bagel with sauerkraut, mustard and pickle is the one to look out for if it's on the day's line-up. The toasties cover pulled BBQ smoked beef, a tuna melt and a vegan falafel hummus version, and there's a vegan PLT for good measure. A bit of context on price: one review puts a food and drink order at just over £10, and Independent Birmingham members get any bagel plus a hot drink from the main menu for £8.50, or 10% off the bill at any time.

The space itself is easy to settle into. Bistro-style tile-topped tables sit alongside longer wooden ones, mismatched chairs fill the room, and a wall of plants and mirrors keeps it bright. There are board games like Uno on the tables, and it's genuinely family-friendly, with a kids menu, highchairs, outdoor seating and buggy-friendly access, so it works as well for a solo coffee as it does for a group or a family. After hours, the cafe doubles as a community hub, with monthly coffee tastings, art exhibitions and a run of live music nights — jazz, open mic and songwriter evenings among them.

Opening hours are straightforward: Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm, with the place closed on Sundays. If you're planning a visit, that six-day window gives you plenty of room to pick a day. It's the sort of unhurried spot that rewards taking your time rather than rushing in and out, which is exactly what Digbeth does best.