Finally made it to Baba Java Coffee, and I wish I hadn't waited so long! I had the cappuccino and…read moremy friend got the latte, both delicious. The cappuccino was stronger than what I usually go for, but smooth, not bitter at all. The ambiance is really nice, mostly tables and chairs with one cozy area that has softer seating. A few people were working on laptops, so it seems like a good spot to post up for a bit. Parking was easy too. Will definitely be back!

Having opened in 2019, Baba Java entered the area's coffee shop scene at a time when coffee for…read moremost local residents was still associated with one single chain. This was the first location of Baba Java and has since expanded through the city. Ran my Omani entrepreneurs, this little coffee shop became quite popular over the years. The staff working here are mostly teenagers or college students, who are very attentive and professional despite their young age. The owner clearly picked out incredible folks to be here who make Baba Java feel both welcoming and well kept. The interior of the space is fairly basic coffee shop design, but admittedly, a little bit dated in 2026 and lacks the unique vibe of some other independent coffee shops. Window views facing the strip mall parking lot don't create much of an ambiance either. With that said, design is not the main thing to come here for. The coffee is excellent and priced very reasonably, offering a great value for an establishment of this sort. There is easy to access WiFi and an overall feeling of being welcomed. A solid little coffee shop that allows customers to support some local business owners instead of a big chain.

Coffee and food was delicious. The beans they use are perfect, very smooth! Their coffee DOESN'T…read morehave a weird sour taste like some other coffee shops do. Pastries and breakfast were very tasty 10/10!

Stopped in to grab some iced coffee before taking the kids to an event of a Saturday morning around…read more10am. Decided on the fall in a cup latte off the specialty menu. I ordered it half sweet, but it was still very sweet so I'm not sure if the real thing is super sweet or if they just forgot to half the sweetness for my order. So good. Kept this tired mama energized the whole day!

So, haven't patronized the downtown location; but, did use them for catering out eldest daughters'…read moreHHS graduation. The staff amazing. The food perfect - wonderfully balanced, seasoned and EATEN! I look forward to visiting them soon.

I like going to the Hoover library and reading or working and East 59 is in the back of the Plaza…read more I've tried it a couple of times and I would say their iced latte is pretty good. I would say it's not super strong coffee so usually i mostly taste the mocha or the milk I ask for, but it is good if you're just looking for a quick coffee and chill and read a book. I usually order iced drinks only so I can't speak to the hot drinks, but each time I've gotten coffee, I've been pleased. The staff is really friendly and helpful so that's a plus!

What a wonderful coffee shop! Excellent coffee, a welcoming atmosphere, and a place where you can…read moretruly feel the passion for quality. A special thank you to Lee Wideman, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at an event in Birmingham. He didn't recommend Baba Java because he works there--he recommended it because he genuinely believes in it. After visiting the very next day, I completely understood why. Great coffee is always worth it, and this place is absolutely worth a visit. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in Birmingham. Thank you, Lee, for the recommendation!

Disappointed in the discontinued entry of the fruit oriented popsicles. That was my main reason for…read morestopping at this shop. Didn't order any thing. Place is still well organized. Best wishes. They now have donuts.

Honey cinnamon latte & caramel latte. Breakfast plate &…read morebreakfast bowl. Always amazing!

I originally came here to try the blueberry cobbler cappuccino, but they were sold out, so I…read moreordered an iced honey cinnamon latte instead. The latte was good, and I'll definitely be back to try that specialty cappuccino. I also ventured out front to Huey Sandwich Shop, a food truck set up on a bed of turf with plenty of seating and a covered awning. Such a cute space! I, however, was anything but cute while eating my sandwich I don't want to speak too soon since this place is still new, but the hot Italian sandwich might be the best sandwich I've had in the Birmingham area so far. The bread, sautéed onions and peppers, and whatever sauce they put on it took it completely over the top. I also love that they're open for Saturday lunch! It's surprisingly hard to find good lunch spots around here on weekends. Can't wait to watch this business grow and flourish!

SO wanted to try Aden Cafe as he saw it on FB. It is located on Lakeshore right next to Mr.Wang's…read more The store has a cute sitting area in the corner and the employees (owners?) are nice. I was excited to try the baklava as they looked beautiful. However, while the flavor was very good, the texture was all wrong. An authentic baklava is supposed to be crispy, flaky, and crunchy, especially on the top layers. While it is heavily soaked in sweet syrup, it should never be soggy, mushy, or completely soft. Unfortunately, the ones we had tonight were indeed soggy and completely soft.

I guess you could call this hidden gem. Aden Cafe is nestled among the wildwood shopping center off…read moreof lakeshore parkway. Known for its middle eastern style offerings including Yemeni coffee and other kinds of coffee (hot or iced), pastries, crepes, and ice cream you will find it hard to find something you won't like. The place itself is a relaxed environment where you could study or catch up with friends. I tried the iced Aden latte (espresso, milk, pistachio and lavender) and it's the best coffee off of lakeshore. None of the flavors were overpowering the others. I also ordered a biscoff crepe and a sabaya. The sabaya was flaky and crispy, smothered in delicious honey. It wasn't the thickest sabaya but I enjoyed it! The biscoff crepe was so decadent. The crepe itself was soft and chewy, the perfect texture for such a delicious crepe. The fruit given with it also paired well with the drizzled sauce. I am looking forward to supporting this locally owned spot more often!

Why do most coffee shops in Alabama have to face a parking lot? Why the heck is everything another…read moreugly strip mall? What makes it even sadder in the case of Santos, is they tried to make the exterior a little more enjoyable by putting some nice tables and even a swing outside. Sadly, without any plants separating the area from the parking lot, the entire vibe of this coffee shop, both looking out from inside and sitting outside is not that great. But, vibe aside, let's talk about how it got here. Santos is a family owned small chain. The main owner, Wendy Madden, opened the first coffee shop in 1993 in Tuscaloosa and since expanded into Santos Coffee we know today. The establishment pays homage to Guatemalan saints and ancestral lands where coffee is sourced from, from family's original plantations. The beans are roasted in Birmingham after being imported from Guatemala. The coffee is absolutely excellent here. Seriously, a very tasty latte. Oddly, they do not have an option to get it in a mug, so there is no way to avoid the plastic coating and the flimsy paper cups. Also there wasn't even a design on top of the latte...but ok, maybe that's slightly picky to highlight. Thus, Santos as a whole is a good coffee shop for to go orders. With excellent coffee quality, this is where they really shine. With that said, the vibe and serving methods need work.

Super clean and the aesthetic I could spend hours here and work…read more The staff were really nice. They had good options for food and for drinks outside of coffee! Free water, which I love because it's self serve. Only thing I would change is the energy shot. It would amazing if they served an energy shot actually. I was expecting like a mini juice shot packed with vitamins and suppl

The Place are nice & clean . Stuff friendly Drink also so…read morerefreshing Would recommend!!!!

Inconsistent unfortunately. Also very pricey…read more First time I got a PSL and it was good. Second time I got a strawberry mojito and I was blown away even though I paid $7 for it. Next time I got the same thing and the mint was old and they made it in the same mixer as make the coffee in so I kept getting a coffee after taste. When I ordered the large they just put more ice in it and it costs close to $9. I started coming here after I got food poisoning from Charley's strawberry lemonade because the strawberries in it had gone bad and bacteria grew from them not washing their dispenser. Now it seems like this place may be taking the same short cuts with cleanliness and quality. But I'm paying double here. Not cool. Please ask employees to rinse mixers and not put in old limes and mint.

Caveat can get pretty busy, but they have lots of tables, as there is seating upstairs (main…read moreentrance level), downstairs, and outside. They have outlets at not all, but several tables, so it can be a nice place to bring your computer. Music isn't very loud, so not too distracting. Parking can be difficult sometimes - there are only a few spots behind the building and a few in the front. Other than that, there is street parking on the one way next to the building, or on 18th (main drag through downtown Homewood). They have a drive-thru, but it's a bit odd at first glance. You either enter from the one way street paralleling it or from the alley that runs behind the building. It looks like you're driving up onto the sidewalk! If the line of long, it might be a bit of a wait, so I wouldn't count on it if you're in a hurry. I always get an Iced Blueberry Vanilla latte, and it's ~$7. Their rotating seasonal menus have some pretty interesting combinations that I always like to try!

Had a really nice Saturday morning at Caveat Coffee sitting on the patio with an iced blueberry…read morevanilla latte -- such a good combo and not overly sweet. It really did taste like a blueberry muffin. The patio had a relaxed, cozy vibe that made it easy to just slow down and enjoy the morning. Only downside was parking. I had to circle the block twice before finding a spot, so just be prepared if you go during a busy weekend morning. Thankfully, they do have a drive-thru option which is a huge plus if you're short on time or don't want to deal with parking. Definitely still worth the stop for the coffee and atmosphere!!!

Hero has always been catered and I'm so glad I was able to stop in person to a location! Everything…read moreon the menu was so good!!! The staff were so kind and they were so attentive. If you dine in the food will be brought out to whatever table you choose. I love that it's self serve drinks because I sometimes have no clue what I want up until the last moment. The food also tastes super fresh! It's a comfort meal and makes me feel like everything is made from scratch! The avocado especially was ripe enough and it didn't come out brown. It's like they timed it just perfectly to open one for me. The bathrooms are so clean as well! And they keep this place so tidy overall! The patio on this specific location overlooks the traffic and they have made it so peaceful. This is a spot I can frequent!

I tried Hero for the first time. It was pretty good. Wish there are a few healthier options…read more The lady at the counter was very nice. The restaurant is very clean. Cute there is a TV with cartoons to watch during breakfast time.