Damascena Coffee House in Birmingham

Después de haber visitado esta cafetería de Oriente Medio en el centro de Birmingham el año pasado, había sugerido que probáramos la sucursal de Harborne para el almuerzo del sábado. Llamé por teléfono con antelación para reservar una mesa para 2 pero no se le dijo ninguna necesidad de reservar a menos que 4 o más como paseo - ins siempre se puede acomodar. Llegó y esperó un tiempo para ser mostrado a una mesa, pero al seguir al camarero, desapareció en algunas puertas batientes, así que no estábamos seguros de dónde sentarnos. Pedí bebidas y 2 vasos de agua luego pedí comida - sopa, ensalada, kofta y un envoltorio para compartir. sopa y ensalada llegaron pero no cubiertos en la mesa en la caja (incapaz de comer sopa sin una cuchara). la bebida (cola) llegó y tuvo que pedir un vaso después de que le ofrecieron una pajita. Después de haber terminado la sopa/ensalada después de haber tenido que pedir cubiertos, preguntamos de nuevo por el agua pero ninguno se materializó. Pregunté de nuevo y finalmente trajo justo antes de la kofta. tuvimos que pedir al camarero que quitara los platos sucios cuando trajo la kofta. esperó siglos para el plato final e incluso después de preguntar, se les dijo que sería solo una corta espera más larga, pero no más platos sucios se quitaron. Eventualmente trajo y estaba sabroso, incluso si no tan caliente. Cuando pedimos la factura, venía con cargo por servicio añadido automáticamente, así que preguntamos si era discrecional, ya que sentimos que el servicio no era tan bueno y no quería pagar eso (a pesar de pagar eso cuando comemos fuera). cargo fue retirado y se dieron disculpas. Los platos sucios permanecieron en nuestra mesa y una larga mesa más cerca de la cocina que había permanecido con sus platos sucios durante más de media hora. El camarero que tomó el pago dijo que tenían poco personal, pero habíamos visto varios pedidos salir de la cocina para la entrega y los camareros a menudo caminaban a la cocina con las manos vacías a pesar de las mesas que podrían haber sido re-ocupados / girados para otros clientes permanecen desordenados. Decepcionante haber recomendado el lugar. No volveremos a pesar de que la comida está bien, hay alta competencia en Harborne y alrededores y haber viajado más de 40 minutos para llegar allí, lamentablemente no valió la pena.

I usually enjoy Damasena, but unfortunately today I got chicken wrap no pickle it as gooey and gummy and no pickle. Wasn’t worth the money.

I usually love damacena food but today I ordered showerma Arabia chicken but I got a pickle wrap instead. It barely had chicken in there it was filled with pickles wow spend a lot and travelled a long way for it as well.

Nice coffee and dates in a spotless place with wonderful decor. Unfortunately when i rubbed the kettle a genie did not come out.

The service over here was really great. Suvan was really friendly and welcoming. We ordered the shawarma platter based on his recommendations and it was really delicious. Cooked really well. Would definitely be back here again.

Such a great place, with yummy food! Sedra served us today and was wonderful and helped with dietary needs.

Lovely food and service from our server Sedra!

Nice coffee house with a decent selection of food. The service was the stand out feature! Our server, Sedra, was very kind and welcoming. Would definitely recommend!

Ive been visiting Damascena since it was open and they never disappoint. Harbourne is now my closest branch and I do love it there. The staff members are always attentive and helpful, atmosphere is amazing and the food (and good value for money) is delicious! During my recent visit Rahi and his colleague went out of their way to make our stay extra special. Thank you!

If you're looking for an exceptional coffee experience beyond the usual chains, Damascena on Harborne High Street is the place to be. Unlike Starbucks, Costa, or Nero, this independent café offers not just great coffee but a truly authentic Levantine atmosphere. The name itself, inspired by Damascus, hints at the rich Syrian influence, but the menu takes you on a broader Middle Eastern journey. You'll find Lebanese dishes, Turkish-style coffee and teas, and delightful Egyptian cakes—all crafted with care and tradition. The decor, with its traditional Arabic outfits and warm ambiance, transports you straight to the heart of the East Levant, where the aromas of saffron and cardamom fill the air. One of the must-try drinks here is their Spanish Latte—the best in town! And if you have a sweet tooth, their cheesecake is simply to die for. If you're craving an escape from the ordinary without leaving Birmingham, Damascena is a hidden gem that brings the authentic flavors and spirit of the Middle East to Harborne. Find it right next to Costa—but trust me, once you've been here, you won’t look back!

Delicious food, amazing atmosphere and the supervisor was very nice and accommodating when I asked to change my drink. Would love to come back here again some time!

Definitely one of my favourite places to dine in Birmingham. The food, atmosphere and customer service is authentic and second to none. I would like to say thank you especially to Sedra and Nour for there warm and professional customer service.

A Fantastic Experience in a Cozy Atmosphere Spent a wonderful time here today with my friends, and I have to say, everything was top-notch! From the moment we arrived, the service was impeccable. Rahi and Aworas took great care of us, always attentive and making sure we had everything we needed. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, making our time there even more enjoyable. And let’s talk about the coffee—absolutely amazing! Perfectly brewed and just what we needed to complete the experience. Overall, a fantastic place with excellent service. Definitely looking forward to coming back!

The place is well located but the service is terrible, the attendants want to be better than the customers!!!!!

Really tasty food and no problem catering for vegan gluten free. Really friendly polite staff.

Great experience and the food is great! Nour and his colleagues provided excellent customer service—friendly, professional, and attentive. Highly recommend!

Nada más llegar (y estábamos llenos de comida de nuestra cena) , decidimos tomar una taza de té calentita, y aunque estuviéramos llenos de comida, nos vimos tentados por la selección de golosinas por el mostrador... .. todo estaba completamente por encima de nuestras expectativas, pero más que nada, estaba esa encantadora niña “Selma” (espero que el nombre sea correcto) , que con su sonrisa, su actitud profesional y apasionada, y su sonrisa, hacía más agradable nuestra cena de la tarde. Gracias Selma.

I had a great experience at the coffee shop thanks to Madina. She provided excellent service, was very friendly, and made sure I had everything I needed. Her attention to detail and warm attitude really stood out. I truly appreciated her professionalism and kindness. Definitely a great example of outstanding customer service!

Such a delicious meal, we shared lots of different dishes and they were all lovely!

Mi amigo y yo vinimos a tomar un pequeño aperitivo al mediodía, (venimos casi semanalmente, pero nunca a la sucursal de Harborne) se puede obtener hermoso manakeesh por solo £ 5 , nos atendieron por LuLu que es genial, muy amable y conversador. Sin duda volvería a esta ubicación de nuevo, es un lugar muy agradable para llevar su computadora portátil y trabajar en un entorno hermoso con café fuerte!

One of the best restaurants in Birmingham Delicious food amazing staff very friendly specially Nour thank you so much for helping us with choosing our food highly recommended!

Nice relaxed feeling about the place . Very nice

Food was sooo tasty! Our server Sidra was great and accommodating. Will come back again for sure.

Very delicious Halal food, syrian style & great service

They don't bother to deal with deliveries through deliveroo and Just Eat, I believe the staff is so frustrating when you ask about delivery if its ready, staff today, 16 Jan 12.35pm , rude towards delivery drivers and both driver left after wait8ng 15 minutes and orders still not ready so please don't bother ordering from them as your food would be delivered as cold or rotten

An amazing cafe, with a wholesome atmosphere. Staff are so kind and welcoming with smiles on their faces accommodating to everyone. Specially Madina who recommended the lovely dishes and was very friendly and very inviting. The food was well seasoned and cooked and prepared with care.

Sedra provides exceptional customer service! She is incredibly friendly, attentive, and ensures every customer feels welcomed and taken care of. Her professionalism and positive attitude truly enhance the dining experience. Highly recommend visiting Damscena and being served by Sedra—she’s amazing!

Regular here, great service by the male Iranian waiter (I think he said his name was Rhai). He followed up regularly and could see him cleaning the tables / front of house areas when it was quiet, can tell he’s a hardworking and integral part of the Damascena harborne team!

The best one out of all of them. Gentlemen knows us now, always makes sure we are good

Decepcionante. Tuvimos que esperar unos 30 minutos para nuestra comida a pesar de que había pocos otros clientes. El restaurante estaba frío. Tuvimos que mantener nuestros abrigos puestos todo el tiempo. La comida fue decepcionante. Las albóndigas secas que la camarera dijo que venían con una ensalada tenían solo un chorrito de perejil y granada. Al ser interrogada la camarera dijo que estaba equivocada y que la versión vegetariana venía con ensalada. Habíamos esperado tanto tiempo por la comida que no queríamos esperar de nuevo. El "calentamiento fuul" no estaba calentando en absoluto. Frío y soso. El té de menta era precioso. Me encantaba este lugar, pero en los últimos meses ha perdido su magia.

Fresh and Tasty food, wonderful atmosphere kind staff and as Always happy to be served by Salma such amazing service. never disappointed about damascena

Este es el mejor lugar. El servicio al cliente es increíble. Todo el personal es acogedor y la comida y las bebidas son de primera categoría. Hay un montón de cafeterías - pero la cultura / ambiente impresionante de este lugar es sin esfuerzo. El tipo Karak Chai.

Thank you Noor for looking after us, enjoyable time at Damascena as always

Loved it. Went for a dessert after dinner. It was a nice and cozy place with a great choice of dessert. Will visit again for sure.

Too cold to eat or enjoy a coffee We came here to get a snack however we left immediately as it was freezing, everyone was wearing a coat or jacket and it was just not an inviting atmosphere. Was really disappointed so went across the road instead to the falafel shop and that was so cosy.

Lovely place parking is an issue as not much space around harborne high street service fast and very friendly Lovely staff prices okay a step so not to sure on disabled access however I think they would help you no toilets on site the place next door has toilets brilliant experience keep up the good work 👍

I’ve always had wonderful experiences at Damascena restaurant, which is why I’ve never felt the need to leave feedback before. Today, however, I was disappointed with how an issue was handled. We ordered a lamb shawarma wrap, which was delicious as always, and I also ordered a cravy cream (avocado milkshake), which I’ve enjoyed many times before. However, this time it had a strange taste, as if the ingredients weren’t fresh. When I mentioned this to the waiter, her response was very unprofessional. She insisted that the same person had made it as always and didn’t seem willing to take my concern seriously. While I tried to explain that I’m familiar with how it usually tastes, she showed a lack of trust in my feedback. Eventually, she said, “I’ll see what I can do,” but there was no apology or acknowledgment of my concern. Mistakes happen, and I understand that, but the way they are addressed is crucial. A simple apology goes a long way. Unfortunately, this experience has made me question whether I’d want to return to Damascena, as customer service is just as important as great food. I hope the staff can be trained to handle such situations better in the future!!

Entró y vio que solo 2 mesas tardaban más de 45 minutos en servir 2 sopas. Salió sin que me sirvieran. La explicación del gerente Raheem fue que dice 20 minutos para cumplirse. Patético mientras trabajo en esta dirección de la industria tratando de justificar que no llegaron tarde. Nunca más visitaré esta sucursal

Brilliant food and drink as always Lovely place to sit and wonderful staff Recommend the festive rice bowl but wish this could become a regular on the menu!

Bit too cold in there, they really need to turn up the temperature as it can be unbearable to stay there. However, really can’t fault the food or the drinks, it’s just too cold.

Love this place. Food is out of this world. Staff are very friendly. Well worth the visit

It’s unusual for me to leave a 5-star review, but I honestly can’t find anything to fault here. I visited the place on a Sunday afternoon and didn’t have to wait long for a table for four. We started with some drinks before moving on to food. What stood out to me was how delicious the food was. It didn’t look as pretty as I had hoped (though, to be fair, I may have really high expectations, so most people would probably rate the presentation 5 stars). But the taste was great, the portions were perfect, and the final bill was pleasantly lower than I expected—a definite plus. I also appreciated the service style. This isn’t one of those restaurants where the staff is constantly hovering over you. If you need something, you can easily find someone, which I much prefer to being “nagged” every few minutes about whether everything is okay. The place was warm and clean, and the music wasn’t too loud. However, next time, I might choose a table further from the coffee machine since the milk steamer/frother was a little noisy. :D There’s no parking directly in front of the restaurant, but that wasn’t an issue for me as I used a paid car park a short distance away. Based on this visit, I wouldn’t hesitate to come back in the future. Thank you!

I had come to Damascena Harborne last week and had to come back again due to the brilliant service from aworas in-particular!! Today I was again served by aworas. Upon arrival i was greeted with a warm welcome and a lovely brightening smile. I ordered the coffee and it was made to perfection! I will definitely be coming back again especially for the coffee made by aworas it really is the best. A very lovely heartwarming experience I would definitely recommend❤️❤️

Amazing food and lovely service by Mo and Sendra!! Definitely coming again.

5 star review all round. We had the Fatoor option for 2. Hearty, healthy, and satisfying. A special thanks to our waitress Sidra, who provided excellent customer service and had a warm, calm, and welcoming demeanour. صحتين

I Visited damascena this evening for the first time with my colleagues and I definitely recommend it , tasty food a very nice atmosphere and all I can say about the service is amazing ,Salma did wonderful job she was so kind and helpful with smile on her face, she was checking on us to make sure we have everything and we are happy.We felt very welcome Thank you !

I really did enjoy the visit today and cant forget the service that was provided by Aworas who was such a helpful staff member, thank you Aworas❤️

The atmosphere and everything was absolutely amazing thank you Aworas such a lovely young lady with a really lovely smile.

Amazing food!! Everything tastes amazing. Sedra was part of our service staff - lovely person. There is a wait on food as its all freshly made and soooooo worth it!!

I had a wonderful experience at Damascena today, and I want to thank aworas for her fantastic service and for making us feel welcome.

I was served today by Aworas, she was very friendly and very polite. I enjoyed the service and the coffee that was made by her was absolutely the best coffee I've ever had.

Horrible costumer service. I was waiting to be seated for over 10minutes behind the “wait to be seated” sign when there was barely anyone at the restaurant. The staff kept passing by and ignoring me every time I spoke to them. I love Damascena but would not recommend the Harborne branch. Go to the city center or the one in Hagley Road, avoid this one as they seem to not care about customers anyways.

Excelente comida y servicio por Isra. Ella era muy amable / servicial e informativo l. Gran lugar para disfrutar / relajarse y charlar para la salida en familia. Feliz 10 aniversario @Damascena

Israa was an absolute gem yesterday! She was right on the button with recommendations, effectively quick and served with a smile and gentle attitude. Love coming to eat there over the years, but Israa made it memorable, thank you :)

Came in for the first time after passing by regularly on my commute to work. Had such a helpful interaction with a cute server mohammed who kindly walked me through the menu, pricing, and recommendations. I really appreciated him taking the time to offer help despite what appeared to be a busier period. Food turned out amazing and wanted to leave a formal thank you for the service. Will be back!

One of my favourite arab food places in Birmingham. I travel all the way from london to eat here. I had a memorable interaction with a young Syrian called Mohammed with Green eyes. He made me feel at home. Even after my food was served he made sure I had everything that was required to enjoy my special occasion with my newly wedded wife. He even congradulated us which made the occasion feel even better. Whenever I do pop back to Birmingham I will surely pay this place a visit. And despite the restaurant being very busy he took care of us and made sure everything was in order.

I had a wonderful experience at Damascena today, and I want to thank Nour, the gentleman who served us, for making us feel like welcomed.

Such a WONDERFUL experience, I will definitely go there again with my family. It was very busy and the staff were very helpful and quick, Mohamad from Syria is an absolute legend he helped us a lot and made the experience more enjoyable and memorable. Beautiful Green eyes ;)

I recently visited the place and had a wonderful experience. Nour was fantastic he provided excellent service and made our time there enjoyable. The atmosphere was cozy, and food was delicious.

Great service from Israa and Nour!

Great food and atmosphere, special thanks to israa and nour for their great service!

I had a fantastic breakfast at Damascena. The food was delicious. Our server, Israa was quick, efficient and very friendly. She made sure we had everything we needed. She informed us about the £10 platter offer, which included a free drink, and it was a very good deal. I definitely recommend this place for a breakfast!

The food is always spectacular here and the extremely friendly waiters israa and nour make the atmosphere lovely.

I visited Damascena Harborne today , I had a great service from Nour who was super quick and looked after us well , and explained how the £10 pounds bundle works. Very satisfied

Celebrated my son's birthday here. Being of Syrian heritage we've been many times before and it's great to see that the quality of good, authentic food, and great service is consistently good. We'll be back soon. Thank you Damascena

Nuestro servidor Nour recomendó el Lahm Bi’Ajeen y fue genial. El café también estaba bueno. Ambiente agradable y personal amable.

Not good at all. It was better before. The food was nit tasty and seemed to be same as cheap shop kebabs and not fresh at all. Especially the meat kebab was very smelly and not tasty. Very pricey too. For the same prices you can have proper food elsewhere. They also try to sell foreign cans for the same price as popular brands. This is really disappointing. For example, when you order coke, they bring something called “Salaam Cola”🤣🙂‍↔️ and they charge the same price as coke. Wouldn’t go again.

Loved my mains and dessert with Saffron tea ❤️

It was good experience Very good atmosphere drink was nice. ,Special moroccote. I recommend 👌

Excellent service from Rahi and Madina at the Harborne outlet Would recommend Aubergine Cheese Manakeesh

Nice place to go and eat Middle-Eastern type lunch in Harborne. They ran out of some options by lunchtime already but the menu had a lot of choice! Baked goods and baklava looked very nice as well. Meat is halal.

An amazing find. The food was fantastic and not overly expensive. Our waitress Israa was very attentive and kind. Definitely coming back.

Fantastic flavours! And it's not just the food that's amazing, the herbal and fruit juices are just as delicious.

Edit: Morning staff is ruder Evening staff is much nicer and accomodating

i want to give big hug to Esraa and Rani for the wonderful service, that made our meal something special

thank you Esraa and Rani for the great day

Thank you Esraa and Rani for the great food and service

Damascena is a great spot for brunch, offering a cozy and welcoming atmosphere with a Middle Eastern flair. While the food wasn’t quite on par with other locations in the franchise, it was still satisfying. We tried the foul, shawarma, and za'atar flatbread—each had a nice balance of flavors, though they didn’t stand out as much as expected. The highlight of the meal, however, was the selection of hot drinks. They were rich, flavorful, and perfectly brewed, complementing the meal wonderfully. Despite the food being slightly less impressive than anticipated, the overall experience was enjoyable, and we look forward to returning for another visit.

Amazing food, shwarma was incredible. Great service, very kind and attentive, we were served by Israa who was lovely. Thanks all.

Great food and drinks. I go in every time I'm in town. Handy for the Oxfam bookshop over the road.

Just a lovely place to eat good food. Welcome break while shopping excellent choice of teas and coffees, food and cakes.

Great food and a great service from Salma this morning. 💯

Nour provided an excellent experience and a great atmosphere. Made our visit more special

Nour was an outstanding, offering warm, attentive service throughout my visit. He served the coffee perfectly, with great attention to detail and impeccable timing. His friendly demeanor and professionalism made the experience truly enjoyable, turning a simple coffee break into something special.

Had a wonderful experience at Damascena in Harborne with amazing Turkish coffee and excellent service. A special thanks to Nour for being so kind and friendly!

Food tastes good with ok portions. Service can be slow but overall is acceptable. Prices are high though, 4 stars for this.

AMAZING service from Muhammad Noor, Madina and Rahi, they made sure everything was good and provided us with amazing services! The food was so delicious as well, will definitely visit again!

Parece que el lugar ha bajado mucho. Visitado durante el fin de semana, el lugar estaba casi vacío y sin embargo el servicio no era genial. Esperamos más de 20 minutos y al final tuvimos que pedir a alguien que tomara nuestro pedido. La comida tardó otros 40 minutos en llegar y no estaba a la altura de los estándares habituales que conocíamos antes. No estoy seguro de si la cocina estaba priorizando las entregas, pero en general no se sentía como si nos cuidaron en absoluto. Triste pero no volverá.

I ordered second time from Deliverro the quality was so bad and pricy, wasted money and time, also one time my friend and I went there for lunch, the Atmosfer was so bad waitress behaviour were streng, restaurant wasn't clean and quality of food was low, we didn't eat our food and just left.

Excellent value for money, good quality food and drink.

Excellent food and drinks, very good value for money.

Never fails to impress. Yerba Mate with milk is the go-to drink - BUT it is now off the menu! Gutted. The saffron latte is a good replacement.

Harborne. The staff need training.in customer care!!! I queued at the counter for some takeaway pastries and told an assistant what i wanted. She then vanished and as I stood there another assistant served a couple behind me. I quite mildly told this assistant i had given my order but was left. Not a word of apology - he justt said what do you want then? He served me on silence and i left. Terrible - I accept that the first assistant just forgot- I have always worked customer facing and consequently I understand and I always speak courteously but this attitude was awful. I was dismissed. Do you teach your staff to own problems? If not you should. DAMASCENA PLEASE ANSWER THIS REVIEW.

From reception to orders to everything..it was just perfect

A pleasant atmosphere and delicious food and drink

this kind of menu u going to find been going there for about 1 year straight now every weather loveliest place to be there

Everything is excellent specially the stuff member namely Israa who is polit and helpful.

The best food in birmingham thank you❤️❤️

Amazing service from Rahi & Nour..

My recent visit to Damascena Restaurant was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with a welcoming atmosphere. Every staff member we encountered was incredibly friendly and attentive. A special mention goes to Sedra, one of the staff members, who made our dining experience even more delightful. She went above and beyond to ensure that everything was perfect for us, particularly with the drinks. Sedra was incredibly thoughtful, demonstrating a level of care and attentiveness that truly stands out. The service was truly amazing!