28 Best Cafes in Birmingham

“Ashley Mac’s Kitchen is a Birmingham favorite for a reason—it delivers comforting, Southern-inspired food that feels homemade but polished. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is bright, welcoming, and relaxed, making it an easy choice for lunch with friends, a quick solo meal, or picking up dinner to take home.

The menu is packed with reliable crowd-pleasers. The chicken salad is a standout—fresh, flavorful, and perfectly balanced—while the poppyseed chicken remains a signature dish that keeps people coming back. Salads are crisp and generously portioned, and the sandwich options are hearty without feeling heavy. One of Ashley Mac’s biggest strengths is its grab-and-go market, offering fresh and frozen meals that are ideal for busy nights when you still want something that tastes homemade.“

“The first time there today got a Philly cheesesteak and I’m gonna tell you. It was really good. The bowtie pasta is good now I gotta try the calzone highly recommend. Love the atmosphere.“

“My favorite local restaurant- delicious food, atmosphere and staff exceptional, and also fun to shop for unique gifts.“

“The food is always fresh and delicious, the Reuben is my favorite!!! Great people and wonderful service!“

“Love this place! Amazingly fresh and delicious!“

“East 59 Cafe in Lee Branch is my favorite spot for a coffee, lunch or even alone time. I have had several birthday parties held here and will continue to go to them. Thank you always for the kindness shown to my son, daughter and I. All the best!“

“This is one of the hidden gems in town! Always fantastic food and I eat here at least twice a week. The service is outstanding and always friendly. Sue the hostess that works the door is amazing. She remembered my name by the second visit and always greets me with a smile?. The entire staff is unbelievable and you feel like you are eating lunch with best friends. Highly recommend!!!“

“I had the opportunity to patronize Slide Cafe this past weekend. It was Valentine's Day weekend, so I expected a longer wait time. I decided to order on-line to help minimize the wait. My order was placed 10:26 and would be ready by 10:41 a.m. The email stated to come to the pickup counter once my order was ready. I arrived at 10:40 and looked for a pick-up station but I didn't see that area to directly go to. I found an "order here" area with individual kiosks that allowed for ordering prior to sitting. I walked near the bar and was greeted, asked did I have a to-go order and my food was bagged and ready as promised. Service and speed were on point. The previous location was smaller, so I was excited to see the newer location. The popularity of the business has grown in the Birmingham community so it's grand to see the business elevate upward as well! The decor was amazingly designed, with black and white colors with an accent of yellow. This instantly created a warming spirit from within. There was ample seating, some located near the window which I loved. The remaining seating areas were spaced out great and even had a seating in a separate section that could host a wedding party, baby shower or birthday celebration. The restaurant offers a different ordering vibe, as mentioned earlier with the kiosks. There was a host present to assist with menu explanations, suggestions and order processes. I think this is smart, to prevent people from ordering errors and skipped bills, allowing the customer to be directly in charge of what the kitchen sees. There are plenty of options like, sauce on the side, omit and add items during ordering. There are some menu items that are specifically crafted by the chef so no modifications can be made to these items. However, so many items are available that something that may be wanted may be purchase a la carte. The kitchen receives the order electronically and the guest is given a number to place on their table. There are servers to bring the food to the table as well. The owners are the final point of expediting, which is brilliantly done. They provide the final quality control before the meal reaches the guest. This remains me of Gordon Ramsey service because if it doesn't meet Chef Racquel's standards, it's not going out! With a name like Slide Cafe, the menu does include different brunch or lunch slider options, like steak and eggs (steak=brisket), chicken & waffle slider and break-fast slide with bacon and Conecuh sausage! How about a burger, grilled chicken or crab cake slider if breakfast is not on your mind. Omelets, breakfast platters (small or large), seafood options like shrimp or salmon and grits, pork chop & gravy, signature hash skillets topped with various house-made sauces and vegan options as well! Bottled soda, tea and lemonade were available as well as a full bar for mimosas and mixed drinks. They even have a soul food menu on the weekend with whole fried okra, lamb chops, jerk oxtails and more. I think that is perfect to take home if you come to dine in for brunch! Now, let's take about the food. I ordered the Catfish and grits, Chicken and Gravy slider w/ a fried egg and cheese and a House Lemonade. My total was less than $30, which I feel is ok with the amount of food provide. The slider was packaged in a Styrofoam container. The Catfish & Grits were accented nicely with parsley garnish is a plastic meal-prep container, perfect to reuse for something else. The slider, yes, amazing any day. They are called sliders, but they really are sandwiches! The chicken breast was seasoned in and out, fried beautifully, crispy and juicy. The biscuit was definitely homemade and moist, fluffy, yet firm to hold everything together. I ordered the gravy on the side, which came in a 4-6-ounce bowl and used a dunking action to indulge. The gravy is homemade, rich and peppery. 10/10! The lemonade was not just powered Country Time lemonade. There was a real tangy and not overly sweetness to it. I drink some of it down and adde“

“I've had cats since 1989. Buckwheat and Porky are two of the best buddies I've ever had. I think the fact that they are so well socialized at the cafe is the key.“

“Overall good. The food was good. The person who took my order was nice. Only reason I gave it 4 stars, is because of the atmosphere. The bathroom definitely needs some adjustment. Usually in coffee shops, the bathroom is nice. This one needs some love. Our first time here. Thanks for the good food. 🥰“

“This is such a cool eclectic cafe and the food is out of this world good! My husband and I love coming here! We have been twice and love it so much! Highly recommend!!!“

“I ate here for lunch on my weekday lunch excursion to Birmingham's lovely zoo. It took me about 2.5 hours to tour the zoo and afterward I decided I should grab a bite to eat before I began the long drive home a few hours away.\n\nI found the interior to be large with plenty of space around to accomodate lots of patrons. There were very large and fun pictures of a few wild animals adorning the walls and toward the back where you enter from, was a condiment buffet of every enticing flavor-enhancer you could possible imagine. \n\nThe cashier was incredibly happy and helpful. I let her know that I am gluten-free due to health issues and asked her what she could recommend. We decided on the corn-breaded corn dog. It was HUGE! I was surprised by the wide variety of dining options offered here. From cold club sandwiches, to hot BBQ and salad, this place seemed to have it all. I will say however that I found out the hard way that the corn bread batter did have gluten flour in its breading but it tasted great so I was just a little uncomfortable afterward but no biggie! \n\nI highly recommend that you give the zoo lunch-in a try, I was very glad to have the option of a hot meal served with an enthusiastic smile before I headed home. Southern hospitality at its finest.“

“Fantastic cocktail bar! We had delicious drinks and food! The salt and vinegar chickpeas were fantastic! So was the Bahn Mi! We are visiting from out of town and the owner was so kind to tell us about the area and some entertaining stories about his life! He told us the history of the building as well! 10/10 recommend this place or cool vibes, unique cocktail, and delicious food!“

“This has become one of my favorite restaurants. The food is amazing and the staff is always so friendly. Even when busy this restaurant is always clean. I highly recommended this place.“

“Great service, with great variety.“

“Had such a lovely fellowship time with the saints“

“Yummy tea, good amount of options, and good and fast service. Only gave it a four star review because one of the teas was a bit too strong for my liking. They also put way too much ice in cup and too little of the drink. Would also appreciate a little more of the boba. Overall good boba tea place.“

“Great Place to eat“

“My favorite place to eat for a meat and two. Fresh veggies, meats and more. Consistent quality and service.?“

“Longtime family favorite! Ashley Mac's has been a part of our family meals for so long and is so well loved that my oldest son has asked if I'm going to send the poppyseed chicken with him when I send him meals and care packages for college! He's only in 10th grade, but he's already thinking about how he can make sure he doesn't miss out on poppyseed chicken night!“

“Good vibes in the area … ☮️“

“The absolute best deli sandwiches in town! Family owned since the early 70’s and I’m pretty sure none of the recipes have changed!! Try the Rich man’s Poboy (you can thank me later)!!“

“Food was good, but everything was cold. Really like the place the staff is excellent. Wish they would concentrate on making sure that the food arrives hot.“

“Awesome addition to the Crestwood neighborhood!“

“This coffee is located inside the Region's center downtown and open to the public. The ladies who run and manage the place are amazing and always have a smile on their faces. The coffee and treats are sweet. If you don't know what to choose, they are more than welcome to recommend a drink based on what you like. Keep up the good work ladies.“

“Food is good Fresh as well 10/10“

“Easy access on a corner, this small café is a hidden gem brimming with Southern hospitality. From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel like family, greeting us with warm smiles and genuine kindness. The food was just as memorable—homestyle classics cooked to perfection, with fresh ingredients and rich flavors that reminded me of a southern, home-cooked meal. Whether you’re stopping by for breakfast or an affordable lunch, this charming spot is the perfect place to relax and savor great food in a welcoming atmosphere. Highly recommend!“