First latte I had from Cala was here and it was amazing. Brown sugar vanilla iced. This place has…read morebeen my fav go-to coffee shop since. Nice baristas and it's always pretty packed inside. I frequent both locations and will most likely frequent the new one in mountain brook as well!

3.5 but I'll round up just cause I think I got a lil unlucky…read more Came by here for some caffeine after the event at Salud in Birmingham. I was specifically super excited to try their seasonal matcha special, which was made with horchata (also from Salud!) and strawberries, if I recall correctly. Unfortunately, we walked in only to find they were out of the supplies needed to make the drink. :( I was caught off guard and didn't know what to order, but the barista recommended a latte with maple flavor so I went with that. The interior was clean and spacious and had a relaxed and calm but energetic feeling to it. Good place to hang out or work quietly. There's a self-service area to spruce up or fix your drink or grab lids or stir sticks. Service was nice and my drink came out quickly. It was pretty good but not really the "right" drink for me. I like my stuff on the sweet side and this was much more balanced and coffee-forward. That said, it held its own against my sugar-craving taste buds and I drank most of it, which is usually the hallmark of good brew, lol. I don't really blame them because I blanked on what to order and just went with what was suggested. It's probably a great suggestion for lots of other folks! Would be happy to come back and try a different beverage. Seems like a nice place overall. :)

Nice place, great coffee. The service is friendly & the food is great. The menu has a little of…read moreeverything. The pastry selection is excellent.

I've been here a few times now and have always had a great experience. I loved the Autumn latte…read morespecials they had and have enjoyed sitting outside in the cool autumn weather. Service is good!

I arrived right as they opened at 7 am on a Monday morning. It's a great little neighborhood coffee…read moreshop with amazing empanadas! Plenty of seating, both cushy chairs and benches as well as tables with chairs both inside and out. The cortado is perfect and the potato empanada is very tasty! I could have eaten 4 or 5 of them probably. The barista/server was super sweet and helpful. She made my day for sure.

The flavor and texture of the coffee were immaculate! The cold foam was especially rich and tasty…read more I'll definitely be coming back for a morning coffee after a long hike. :)

We were in town for a convention and found this coffee shop within walking distance! It's located…read moreright by the Westin which makes it super convenient and easy to get to. I tried the Lavender Basil latte and really liked it. It was a little weird seeing basil leaves in my coffee but it added a fresh twist. We also ordered a couple of their bagel sandwiches and both were solid. Nothing extraordinary but satisfying. The service was friendly and the space is bright and spacious. If I were a local, I wouldn't mind coming here to get some work done. Overall, a nice little coffee spot in a great location!

K & J's elegant pastries suggested I go to Santos coffee so I walked around the corner. I wasn't…read moresure what to order so I asked for suggestions so I Got a large iced caramel coffee. It was so good. I wish I wasn't in a hurry I really liked to have checked this place out a little longer. Really good vibe and the smell of coffee is so relaxing. I would definitely recommend this place and I definitely will be going back again. They have teas and other drinks I feel I need to try.

For Black History Month, I make an effort to visit a new black own establishment. This time I went…read moreto Alicia's Coffee which I've heard a lot about. I can say I was quite impressed! Upon arrival I was taken back by the aesthetic of a very nice coffee shop. Great seating, excellent service, inviting atmosphere, and overall a great look for Birmingham Civil Rights area! I had a latte and breakfast wrap which both were great. I also love it's apart of the historical AG Gaston hotel! I plan to go back for a tour.

I can't say enough good things about this place. The vibe is extremely welcoming. The service was…read moreamazing. She was so sweet and brought the drinks directly out to us. They have full menu with lots of drinks and food to try. I got an iced blueberry white chocolate mocha latte. It was delicious. We also got the mango berry smoothie. So fresh and delicious. After we got our drinks, we decided to walk around the small connected museum to learn more about the national monument. Not only did I leave satisfied with my drink but I also left more informed about my city.

I had a great first experience at Filter coffee today! Upon walking in, I was greeted by the…read moreemployee at the counter with a smile. When I went to the counter, I took a moment to look at the menu, and told him it was the first time in. He took the time to explain the signature flavors, the various ways to order a drink, and even explained the different notes of the coffee beans they offered. I ended up ordering a vanilla cardamom cappuccino to go. The barista brought the coffee to my table, which I found extremely personable and kind, even though they had multiple orders to make. The coffee had great notes of cardamom and vanilla without being overly sweet, which I really appreciated. Even though I got it to go, the drink stayed warm for quite some time, and was in a compostable container. In addition to this, all UAB students actually get 10% off, just make sure to show your Blazer ID. One thing I noticed for future visits is that the tables are quite small, so it may not be the best place to do work or study, especially not in group settings. While it was a pretty quiet space that could be good for studying, the seating is not the most conducive to studying. In addition to this, Filter Coffee is located at 5 points, which makes parking difficult, but that is not the company's fault, just something to note if someone decides to visit. Overall, I definitely see myself going back to Filter and highly recommend it to anyone if they around the 5 Points area for the friendly staff, great coffee, and a welcoming atmosphere.

Filter is a cozy shop specializing in new wave coffee. They were selling Onyx Coffee from the…read morecounter, which is a vote of confidence in my book. Any time I'm traveling, I like to try the cortado or an equivalent drink at a shop like this, and I'm happy to say Filter's would rank in the top 10, maybe top 5. The quality and freshness of the beans was obvious from the rich, thick crema on my drink and the milk was steamed just the way I like it. There's a fair amount of seating inside, charming decor, and my drink came out to me very quickly on a Wednesday morning around 8am.

Came in for brunch on a Sunday. Got there just before 11 and there was a bit of a wait, but it…read moremoved pretty fast. Service was friendly and quick, even though it was busy. Portions were generous and prices were decent. They were also great about accommodating gluten-free. I ordered the Farm Breakfast with bacon and gluten-free bread, it was filling and really tasty.

We arrived 1:45pm on a Thursday and it was empty except for another party. We easily found street…read moreparking outside the restaurant. I ordered the Banana Puddin' cold brew that was really good. They also serve pour over! Vanilla-Cinnamon French Toast came with 2 small bread slices - I liked that the portion was small and manageable. We also ordered the Quinoa & Black Bean Burger and the BE Hive Quinoa Bowl. They are great options for vegan / plant-based / vegetarian members in your party. The Biscuit Board comes with 4 mini biscuits and 4 different spreads, which was nice to share with the group. We all liked that the restaurant was quiet and bright and airy.

Really enjoyed this moment with coffee and a piece of quiche. Was greeted as soon as I came in an…read moreinformed what they had left. Good place. The coffee was hot, fresh and very flavorful.

Bandit Patisserie is serving up a slice of France right in the heart of downtown Birmingham. I love…read morethis bakery and the cozy vibe inside. My favorite pastry here is the almond croissant. It's soft and flakey and filled with almond filling. I enjoy their lattes, they are definitely not the sweetest so I'd recommend asking for extra syrup if you like yours sweet. They heat up your pastries and bring your food to you when it's ready. The perfect spot to study or catch up with a friend over drinks and a sweet treat!