Bacchus

Birmingham might not instantly remind you of wine, song and Bacchanalian excess but then you probably haven’t been to Bacchus. Named after the Greek God of Wine (and fertility) it’s located in the basement of the four-star Burlington hotel on New Street. And it deserves every star. The style brings the worlds of Ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt to modern-day Birmingham and somehow it all works. Various spaces include a four-poster bedroom, an Egyptian tomb, a library and Roman pillars and statues. We most liked the ornate plasterwork above the well stocked bar where the word “Bacchus”, written in Roman lettering, glow in the gloom. Plush carpets, velvet drapes, antique club chairs and renaissance art complete the scene. Food-wise you can order Thai green curries or braised shank of lamb while the drinks, though pricey, run the gamut from fine cognacs and whiskeys to classic martinis and shots. Why not take a Jameson to the library bar, sit back on those upholstered chairs, and dream your date is actually called Cleopatra.