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    Cala Coffee Downtown

    4.6 (34 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Cala Coffee Downtown Photos

    CALA COFFEE DOWNTOWN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for working

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    Recommended Reviews - Cala Coffee Downtown

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    Renee H.

    My son recommended this spot to meet. There is sufficient parking on both sides of the street, in addition to the parking lot right beside the coffee shop. However, please note that this parking lot is a PAID parking lot 24/7. There are signs saying as much, but wanted to reiterate it as it could be an expensive lesson to learn. I arrived at the coffee shop about 9am when there was only one other customer there. As the morning progressed, it became quite busy, with most of the seating taken. I typically get the dark roast drip but they only had light or medium today. Their medium roast was still delicious. Lots of students and folks with their dogs stopping in. The vibe here is great. Perfect place to catch up with a friend or get some work done.

    Matcha late
    Westyn R.

    Always love going to Cala. There's more than enough seating. I especially love the bar seating. The natural sunlight and funky lighting is perfect for a chill afternoon drink. I usually go for coffee but I got a matcha this time and it was great. The staff is superb and always amazing at this location. Downtown also has more coffee options plus wine if you're into that!

    Captain's Cold Foam Latte and Matcha
    Tara R.

    First time coming to this location and love what they have done with the space. The natural light from the large windows mixed with the stylish decor make it a perfect place for grabbing a coffee with friends or getting some work done. I was greeted by the friendly staff upon walking in and given suggestions on what to order. I went with one of their summer specials, the captain's cold foam latte, and my husband got a matcha latte. We both agreed they weren't our favorite drinks from Cala but we just wanted to try something new. You can tell Cala tells about the quality of their coffee. They also have a good selection of pastries, the one I got was really good!

    Found it!!
    John D.

    Had great experiences every time. The cold brew is fantastic, it's very hard to find a good roaster, and sometimes even more difficult to find a good roaster that makes a good cold brew. These guys have it covered. Plus , one afternoon I ran a little short on time for my walk over from the hotel arriving about 3 minutes after closing time. Hesitantly, I tapped on the glass (I really needed a coffee). The barista came over and let me in for a cold brew! Made my day.

    Pastries
    Britt J.

    Super friendly, great coffee & great pastries. Would I be back? Heck yeah! I set here for 5 hours working and the time flew by. They remained busy and steady throughout the day. I can't wait to try another pastry.

    Scott M.

    New coffee spot occupying the space formerly held by Revelator. Happy to report that they are maintaining the vibe and the quality of the previous tenant, (which I loved). Come here for top notch caffienated beverages, delightful baked goods, and an easygoing, calm vibe that's perfect for those just waking up as well as for those who are wide awake and looking to get some work done.

    Honey cinnamon latte + almond croissant
    Amy S.

    Beautiful coffee location in downtown Birmingham! Friendly barista, and our coffees were perfectly balanced. We enjoyed the last almond croissant while enjoying the art deco building through the window. They were pretty busy inside with people working on laptops and meetings.

    Katrina G.

    Located downtown with street parking. My family and I decided to go here for chocolate chai tea lattes, iced of course lol. Staff was friendly, not too busy on a Saturday morning I believe they had just opened. Inside was decorated nicely and very clean. We decided to take our drinks to go but I would definitely visit this location again.

    Russell G.

    This appears new. Nice environment. They have pastries. We went to try the chai tee and we tried the chocolate chai latte tea and it was great. the waitresses there greet you coming in and tell you they appreciated your visit on the way out. I recommend this business. Drop by and make a purchase.

    Alice K.

    Love the atmosphere, felt very welcoming and cozy. Barista recommended the maple sea salt latte, I was not sure what to expect but it was perfect, not too sweet. The area is very spacious and there are plenty of outlets for work. A variety of sizes in workspace. Many other beverage options for those who don't want to go for coffee. I look forward to returning for their ladybird tacos and a pastry.

    Chai Latte, Grinchy Matcha, Cappuccino
    JJ C.

    Atmosphere: Cala Coffee's Downtown location is surprisingly spacious and has a beautiful interior. We went on a cloudy day, and the soft, dim light made the entire cafe feel nice and cozy. Service: Our barista was friendly and happily provided us with recommendations. Our drinks also came out quickly! Food: We ordered a Grinchy Matcha Latte, a Chai Latte, and a Cappuccino. The Grinchy Matcha, which is a matcha latte with cinnamon and peppermint syrups, was a pleasant surprise! It tasted mainly like peppermint with hints of matcha. It was very sweet but satisfying. The Chai Latte wasn't too sweet and had a warm hint of spice to it. Lastly, the Cappuccino was fresh, frothy, and the espresso tasted nice. Overall: We've previously checked out Cala Coffee's Cahaba Heights location and were instant fans. The Downtown location, though not as convenient in terms of parking, was just as lovely and had great quality drinks. We'd love to come back in the future and try their other seasonal drinks!

    Retail shelf. Natural wine.  Candles

    Nicest barista. Absolutely fantastic Americano. Super caring and considerate people. Helped us with everything we needed! Great coffee.

    matcha latte with strawberry, chocolate croissant, almond croissant :)
    Azka A.

    Such a lovely coffee shop in downtown!! Caught up with one of my best friends here and couldn't believe how late to the game I've been for Cala. I'm not a big matcha girl but this latte with the added strawberry was super good. I'm also not the biggest pastry fan but the croissant was perfectly buttery and flakey, and not at all too sweet! The baristas were just as lovely as the food and had a smile on their faces the entire time we were in the cafe. It was very clean and mainly occupied by people studying/working...will definitely be coming back to do the same once the upcoming semester starts!

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    5 months ago

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    11 days ago

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    2 years ago

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    Josh C.

    Thank you for the kind words and support!

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    2 months ago

    10/10 coffee shop with the nicest employees. Coffee is great all the lattes and stuff also great snack collection and tacos

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    Josh C.

    Thank you for the kind words and support!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    Josh C.

    Thanks, Scott!

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    1 year ago

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    7 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    Josh C.

    Thanks for coming!

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    2 years ago

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    Josh C.

    Thank you!!

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    2 years ago

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    6 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    Josh C.

    Thank you!!

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    1 year ago

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    Josh C.

    Thanks, Ben!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Nice, clean establishment...servers are friendly and the latte was perfect but while the taco was tasty it is way undersized for the price.

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    2 years ago

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    Josh C.

    Thank you!

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    2 years ago

    What an amazing coffee place right downtown! Love their freshly roasted coffee and the baristas were great, too! :)

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    Josh C.

    Thanks, Mike!

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Coffee is mediocre and if u walk in anywhere close to closing they act like they can't make your coffee. I'll stick to santos and Saturn.

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    Josh C.

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    2 years ago

    Cala offers a really great coffee collection and ambiance. Whenever I'm in Birmingham, I always drop by.

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    1 year ago

    Such a great vibe. Service was very friendly. Would recommend sitting at the bar. Lots of people studying or meeting up.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Cute coffee shop with tables for studying. Coffee is great, staff is nice! They host cool events too like improve nights and serve alcohol.

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    2 years ago

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    Ask the Community - Cala Coffee Downtown

    Review Highlights - Cala Coffee Downtown

    I thought the matcha and basil lavender were both good, but nothing spectacular.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Grounds

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    4.7(15 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    I like the feel of this coffee shop, the menu was not very big but I think that is a positive I did…read morean iced latte with Sugar free vanilla and lavendar, with macadamia milk. (They only offer milk based milk options) The coffee itself had a good taste I do think I would have preferred just a regular iced coffee with the flavor but I know that for next time. I did enjoy being able to look at the offerings of the connected store (Basic.) they had many unique things for sell including clothing, shoes and various books. Tyler was great with helping make my selection of drink and I loved how patient he was with assisting on the order. The feel of the space was very comfortable and welcoming to creatives. I love the location and how it is in walking distance to so many things. Thankfully I was able to find a parking spot across the street and didn't have to pay to park. Basic. is the store sharing the space and it is nice to be able to browse their inventory while waiting for your drinks. They have some things that I have not seen anywhere else if I had to compare it to another store I would compare it to Earth Bound. Everything seemed to be environmentally conscious which is always nice to see.

    Every time I go to a new coffee shop in Birmingham I think: "wow! This is my favorite coffee shop…read moreyet!" Grounds did NOT disappoint and I have no idea why it took me so long to come here. It's located right along 2nd Ave amongst all of the restaurant hubbub. Street parking, but if you're willing to take a stroll for a couple blocks, it's easy. This is one of the busier coffee shops in town, I would advise against seeking silence here. It's a shared space with "basic," a vintage clothing and art retailer which has awesome things made by local people. The people that worked there were so friendly. I came because I had to get that crème brûlée latte. It did not disappoint. One of the most delicious coffee drinks I've had in a long time. It tasted like a hug, perfectly caramel sweet, and fun to drink. It's not often that coffee gets turned into an interactive experience. The pastries looks great. The couch in the front window looked like an awesome spot to post up with some buddies. There were plenty of tables and chairs to work at. I will most certainly be back.

    Photos
    Grounds
    Grounds
    Grounds

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    The Red Cat - Breakfast bowl

    The Red Cat

    4.3(233 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    Are you a cat lover? If so, you'll appreciate the playful vibe of this coffee shop -- even though…read morethere aren't actual cats roaming around, the café leans into a fun feline theme with lattes named after different cat breeds. Meow! We ordered the Abyssinian Latte with vanilla and cinnamon, and it was absolutely the bomb -- warm, smooth, and perfectly balanced without being overly sweet. The space itself is incredibly cozy and inviting. Colorful furniture, eclectic paintings, and musical instruments hanging on the walls give it a creative, artsy feel -- like they actually get used by a local band after hours. It has that relaxed coffeehouse charm where you could totally imagine Phoebe Buffay singing "Smelly Cat," yet it's also calm enough to have a real conversation or get a bit of work done on a laptop. Parking is street parking only, but we didn't have too much trouble finding a spot. They offer pastries and I noticed they also serve breakfast items, though we stopped in just for coffee this time. The shop was fairly full, which is always a good sign, but there were plenty of small tables that comfortably seat two to four people, so it never felt cramped. The baristas were super friendly and welcoming, adding to the overall positive vibe. My partner and I ended up lingering longer than planned while we talked through our day's plans -- always a sign of a great coffee spot. Warm atmosphere, delicious drinks, and kind staff make this an easy five-star experience. I'll definitely be back to try more of their cat-themed creations!

    I've been to the Railroad location before, but I was in the area and decided to try Red Cat…read moreCoffeehouse. Street parking was pretty easy to find, which was a plus. The space had a lot of people inside--many working or meeting up--so it had a lively, productive vibe. I ordered the superfood smoothie, which tasted good once I got it, but it did take a little while to come out. After ordering, I sat down for a minute before stepping out to the restroom, and it still wasn't ready for a bit when I returned. Overall, still a good experience and a nice spot to hang out, but the wait time was a bit longer than expected.

    Photos
    The Red Cat - Pastries

    Pastries

    The Red Cat - Breakfast bowl

    Breakfast bowl

    The Red Cat - 07/09/25

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    07/09/25

    Cala Coffee Downtown - coffee - Updated May 2026

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