A polished contemporary Greek restaurant with striking design, warm hospitality and imaginative dishes, but high prices and recurring reports of temperature, seasoning and service-timing problems make the weekday lunch set menu the safer value.
Cylla delivers strong food quality and attentive service anchored by its striking interior design, yet inconsistent execution across mains and occasional service timing issues prevent a higher grade. Diners consistently praise flavour and presentation, though temperature and seasoning lapses recur, while value perception splits sharply between lunch and evening pricing.
Cylla is a polished central Birmingham destination where the room often makes the first impression: contemporary, elegant and carefully detailed, with warm hosts and a lively Greek sensibility. Guests describe feeling welcomed from the door, though the mood can change sharply when music rises for later-night or themed programming. The memorable version of Cylla feels celebratory rather than casual—a place for birthdays, anniversaries and a glass of Greek wine. The cooking is contemporary Greek: familiar ideas are reworked with ingredients such as trahana, Cretan cheese, yuzu, truffle and smoked egg yolk. Starters are the safest territory, particularly the lamb baklava, grilled octopus, aubergine dip and fish carpaccio; the menu is imaginative, not a plain taverna. Reviews are encouraging but not unanimous, with recurring reports of cold or overcooked food, heavy seasoning and uneven value on the evening menu. The weekday set lunch is the clearest route to a more comfortable bill, at £29.95 for two courses or £34.95 for three. Families can manage the restaurant, but it is not built around children. There is no supplied children’s menu; familiar choices such as chicken, pasta, potatoes, bread, sorbet and ice cream exist, while many dishes lean adventurous, from beef tartare and fish carpaccio to trahana and modern Greek combinations. For picky eaters, choose the lunch period and order simple sides or chicken, and avoid assuming that the celebratory evening atmosphere will stay quiet.
Area vibe: Entertainment and commercial corridor with bars, theatres and restaurants.
Safety: Generally busy with good evening footfall though pockets can be noisy and lively late at night.
What's nearby: Near Broad Street, the ICC/Barclaycard Arena area, New Street station and numerous bars and restaurants.
The strongest bets range from lamb baklava and grilled octopus to stone bass and a notably better-value weekday set lunch.
Expect an expensive, celebratory evening with creative food, possible service delays, and music that can become too loud for easy conversation.
Cylla combines an elegant, welcoming room with a celebratory Greek energy that can turn loud later in the evening.