Highest-rated cafes in Birmingham, according to Yelp
From the first coffee houses in the Ottoman Empire to Boston's London Coffee House, cafes have always been an egalitarian place to gather, sip, and share ideas, many of which have changed the world.
During the Enlightenment, cafes would regularly entertain the likes of Voltaire, Rousseau, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Isaac Newton. Later, Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre would spend hours in cafes, pondering their works and holding court alongside other intellectuals.
Needless to say, coffee and cafes beget some revolutionary ideas; sipping a cup may even be a political act. When settlers dumped tea into the Boston Harbor to send a message to the British empire, tea became a British loyalist's drink, and coffee became a popular substitute. Unsurprisingly, Boston's London Coffee House opened in 1689, was soon renamed the American Coffee House. Later on in Philadelphia, Merchant Coffee House, also known as the City Tavern, would host the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Paul Revere, as well as witness an early reading of the Declaration of Independence.
Many other coffee shops steeped in history abound in the United States, including New York City's Caffe Reggio. Founded in 1927, it was the first to serve cappuccino in the country, as well as one of the first to use a La Pavoni espresso machine. New Orleans' Cafe du Monde, founded in 1862, is a fixture in the French Quarter for its coffee and beignets.
Whether it's for a cup of Joe, a heady conversation, or simply a place to start the day, cafes have become part of our personal landmarks, so where have others gone to find their refuge or perhaps their perfect dose of caffeine? Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated cafes in Birmingham using data from Yelp. Rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Keep reading to see if your favorite spot made the list.
#17. Edgar's Bakery and Cafe
- Rating: 3.5/5 (171 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 3407 Colonnade Pkwy Ste 1700 Birmingham, AL 35243
- Categories: Bakeries, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Green Acres Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (47 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 1705 4th Ave N Birmingham, AL 35203
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Chez Lulu
- Rating: 4.0/5 (144 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 1911 Cahaba Rd Birmingham, AL 35223
- Categories: French, Bakeries, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#14. First Watch
- Rating: 4.0/5 (157 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 700 Montgomery Hwy Ste 188 Vestavia Hills, AL 35216
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes, American (Traditional)
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Another Broken Egg Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (459 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 2418 Montevallo Rd Mountain Brook, AL 35223
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes, American (Traditional)
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Cafe Crispy
- Rating: 4.0/5 (11 reviews)
- Address: 401 19th St S Birmingham, AL 35233
- Categories: Chicken Wings, Bubble Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Frothy Monkey
- Rating: 4.0/5 (78 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 2320 Second Ave N Birmingham, AL 35203
- Categories: Cafes, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Gilchrist
- Rating: 4.0/5 (29 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 2805 Cahaba Rd Birmingham, AL 35223
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Ranelli's Deli & Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (46 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 1225 20th St S Birmingham, AL 35205
- Categories: Delis, Italian, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Ruth's Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (29 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 4012 24th St N Birmingham, AL 35207
- Categories: Soul Food, Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Ashley Mac's
- Rating: 4.5/5 (19 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 3147 Green Valley Rd Birmingham, AL 35243
- Categories: Desserts, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Ashley Mac's - Homewood
- Rating: 4.5/5 (29 reviews)
- Address: 1831 28th Ave S Homewood, AL 35209
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Filter - Coffee Parlor
- Rating: 4.5/5 (77 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 1927 11th Ave S Birmingham, AL 35205
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#4. General
- Rating: 4.5/5 (12 reviews)
- Address: 3818 Clairmont Ave Birmingham, AL 35222
- Categories: Gift Shops, Cafes, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Blueroot Co
- Rating: 4.5/5 (17 reviews)
- Address: 2829 2nd Ave S Birmingham, AL 35233
- Categories: Salad, Gluten-Free, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Panache by Domestique Coffee
- Rating: 4.5/5 (23 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 1024 20th St S Birmingham, AL 35205
- Categories: Cafes, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Gatos and Beans
- Rating: 4.5/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 4348 3rd Ct S Birmingham, AL 35222
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
