What a charming bakery/coffee shop in a super cute almost European nook in town. If you're…read morevisiting, I definitely recommend taking a drive to this area. Progressive area - Seems to be... There wasn't line when we got there but the crowd usually follows us for some reason so by the time we left there was standing room only and a line out the door. The bakery items were very fresh and tasty. I loved the Swedish gingerbread cookies - light and crisp. The lemon bar was delicious. They also have sandwiches that liked really good. Coffee - I got a vanilla latte extra sweet (no lavender) and my daughter said it was one of the best. I thought it was pretty good. I would go again when back in Birmingham!

I love Chez Lu lu, but get no pleasant feelings about the bakery…read more I love many good things they make, but they seem to get so much pleasure in making us jump through so many hoops Here too early, here too late, minimum orders, maximum orders. You must see the love in my eyes, why not be a little kinder and appreciate that we love what you proffer. We are not the enemy, we celebrate you. I'll keep trying, especially to just acquire a slice or three of coconut cake, I can't eat the whole thing.

I was eating at a nearby restaurant and saw that this place was still open so I decided to drive…read moreacross the street to get me half a dozen breakup cookies. If you haven't had one before you definitely need to get some. It's the chocolate chip cookies, but they're salted. It gives them a different flavor. You can go inside and get something to go or eat it there because they do have tables for people to sit at. We came here on Mother's Day around 5 PM on a Sunday and it wasn't really busy. I will definitely be back.

Updating my review from six years ago (teary eyed face). I have so many good memories from hanging…read moreout with my friends here in high school. This was the spot we would all come to to do homework. It's still got that same warmth and charm. I came in on a Wednesday morning to sit and do some work. I ordered a cappuccino, bran muffin, and a breakup cookie to take home. The cappuccino is just as expected. Served at the perfect temp, great flavor. The bran muffin, which was my attempt to be healthy, was really a delicious stand-out. I would definitely get that again. And, of course, the breakup cookies are some of the best cookies in town. They bake all of the baked goods in-house, I believe, which gets a round of applause from me. A lot of the recipes are still the same ones I remember from 7 years ago. One thing I noticed that's even BETTER than I remember was the books and gift selection. A lot of the books caught my eye. It's a great curation of fiction, non, memoirs, birding books, children's, etc. They also carry the Village Apothecary candles, which are made locally and have some packaging I really love. Church Street is one of the Birmingham staples. I hope they're open for a million more years. They do what they do exceptionally well.

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.

Like food, there are things you eat or drink that you remember, which stays with you because of how…read moregood it was, and those become the baseline for the bar future things should meet in order to be held to that same standard of quality. I've had good coffee, great coffee, exceptional coffee, mediocre coffee, and questionable things called "coffee". O'Henry's on Highlands is a standard small coffee shop inside, nice ambience, cute. Staff is friendly for the most part. Has usual stuff like food/pastries, etc. While all nice, the one thing I've never liked was their coffee. It's standard tasting, basic B level, and when i'm in the area and have to have a coffee right now, I end up ordering a flavored coffee there, because it masks the lack of flavor of their actual coffee, which is what I really wanted in the first place. If you are an average Joe and just want a cup of coffee and there happens to be coffee shop you're parked next to, O'Henry's will do the job. But if you're looking for a great cup of coffee or even a good cup of coffee, don't bother coming there, because you won't find it, sadly. Scale of one to ten- Shop itself: 8, Coffee: 3-4

Awesome coffee shop. The Highland Park neighborhood is one of my favorite spots to hang out in…read moreBirmingham. Beautiful tree-lined streets, lots of doggos. Minimal indoor seating, probably about 10 chairs here, and a few more tables out on the sidewalk. I tried the conecuh cheddar biscuit. They heated it for me. It was wonderfully moist and flavorful. If you're a fan of conecuh like me, it's delicious. Also tried the blueberry muffin and it was very moist, good flavor, but light on the blueberries. I want to try the morning glory muffin next time. The coffee here is great by my non-snob, bean-uneducated standards. I had a honey cinnamon latte, as recommended by the wonderful two baristas. They were great to talk to, told me their favs, cracked some jokes, and I left giggling. Hehehe. Something about this place makes me feel like I'm Zooey Deschanel in a twee coat on a rainy day in Portland.

I am so glad I tried House Eleven this morning-- it is now ranked #1 on my downtown Birmingham…read morecoffee tour. The building was hard to spot at first, but nearby parking was easy to find. The building is a renovated house and offers an abundance of indoor and outdoor seating. It's a coffee shop by day, and after 4pm, it turns into a 21+ bar and venue that restricts laptop use. The barista was super friendly, and it was obvious they were a pro because the espresso was dialed in. Aside from your usual espresso based drinks, they offer tea and seasonal drinks, like strawberry matcha, as well as pastries. I do feel like it's a bit overpriced and outdated to charge $1 for alt milk, but that seems to be the norm in Birmingham. All in all, I'm impressed with the type of atmosphere that House Eleven is delivering to 1st Avenue North and would definitely go back to try other drinks.

Love this shop. They brew local June coffee. Setup in a converted old house the seating are in 3…read moredifferent "rooms" with a huge outdoor patio. The staff was friendly and helpful. The espresso was dialed. Perfect spot for a coffee and conversations with a dear friend!

If I could eat an actual establishment, it would be this one…read more Just look at this place. I literally walked in and audibly gasped. It is like a magical French bakery/general store, tucked away like a secret garden. Am I in south France or Birmingham? HARD TO TELL I don't know if I enjoyed the treats more or all the visual delights. The treats were just amazing. I brought my husband and all of my kids so we got a nice sampling of goodies from the cases. It was all perfection. Cookies were crispy on the edges, appropriately soft in the middle. The almond cake was buttery and sweet, but not too sweet. Muffins were excellent. The food is so well done. The ambiance here? Extraordinary. Every corner, every ceiling tile, every display has been so thoughtfully curated. This place was such a treat for my eyes and my imagination. I could sit for hours and just enjoy all the clever ways furniture is used. My kids played in the little play area- even that was done so beautifully! The store had such a wide selection of cute tea towels and little gifts. If you want to surprise someone with a beautiful little happy, or birthday gift, or Mother's Day gift, there's plenty to choose from here! I rarely buy things from little stores like this, but I purchased several gifts for girlfriends and my mom and an apron for myself. It's easy to get caught up!

The General is such a cute niche coffee spot off of Clairmont Ave S. I would compare the atmosphere…read moreto that of The Continental Bakery in English Village. More of a simple southern antique style. Baristas were extremely helpful and patient as I pondered my order! I ended up ordering a delicious warm breakfast sandwich and a cold brew to drink with it! SOO delicious!! I am a sucker for a good breakfast and coffee! The menu was large and well diverse: they even had a cortado on the menu which I cant get at all coffee shops!   I am surprised not more people know about the place. I had never heard of it until I was scrolling through highly rated coffee shops on Yelp! The space inside is large and can seat lots of people! For being in Birmingham this surprised me; I feel like most coffee shops here are fairly small.    I also appreciated how relaxed and welcoming the environment felt. It would be such a great spot for studying, meeting a friend, or even having a casual work meeting. The music wasn't too loud, and everything felt clean and well-kept. Overall, I would definitely come back and recommend The General to anyone looking for a cozy, charming coffee shop with great food and even better service.

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.

Strenuous work today. At the end I wanted some good good. So the question what is my good good? My…read moregood good for today had to be the lemon custard ice cream. Yes I doubled up. I deserved it. That is a cone to eat and a cup to go. Perfect fix for a three class workout day on a super hot Birmingham day.

Closing in on the end of another year. I'm happy to report , I FINALLY made it to Crestwood…read morePharmacy and Soda Fountain! It was soooooo worth the anticipation. The location is right next to a bookstore. I even accidentally walked into the bookstore! lol Apparently, this happens all the time. This is literally is some of the best ice cream in town. IMO. The lemon custard is so creamy and so balanced. I couldn't shut up about it. One scoop is a good amount of ice cream. I really enjoyed it very much! The quality is top tier. Very much! Friendly staff. If you are looking for yummy ice cream dreams in a nostalgic setting, come here and thank me later.....Oh and don't accidentally walk into the wrong store!