Church Street Coffee & Books — Restaurant in Mountain Brook

Church Street Coffee & Books is far and away my favorite coffee shop in Birmingham. This cozy little coffee shop gives its guests the perfect environment to study for class, read a book, or enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend! The shop has a quiet atmosphere, so if you're looking to have a loud conversation or hanging out with a large group, you may want to take advantage of their outdoor seating patio. They have a choice selection of books available for purchase, many of which I've spent the entirety of my visit reading.

Their menu doesn't have a single item worth missing out on. Many people know about their signature "Breakup Cookie", but take it from me—their Kahlua Cake is to die for. If this review sends you their way, trust me, you don't want to miss out on a slice of this cake.

The shop is surrounded by many cool businesses, so if you want to spend time outside, try grabbing your coffee and taking a short walk down to Oak Street Garden Shop and browsing through the flowers.

Trust me, your first visit to Church Street Coffee & Books won't...

The most local of my local bookshops Church Street Coffee & Books happens to hold a special place in my heart. When we moved here five years ago, I was working from home (yes, pre-pandemic I worked from home, truly a woman ahead of her time) and had to spend many hours in this quaint shop because my internet was taking a while to get set up. In that time I met the owner, bought multiple cups of delicious caffeinated beverages, and hid from the winter cold while working for a week out of the shop. We didn't have a car at the time and Church Street was within walking distance so we ate lots of break-up cookies, and bought several well-loved children's books. Sometimes my daughter would fall asleep in the small decorated alcove of the children's section reading books while I worked. Even though we felt out of place in a new state, Church Street's owner and staff always made us feel welcome. Their book displays are perfection, the coffee is always hot, and they are known for helping to support a good cause which easily makes them my favorite spot in...

I spend 2-3 days a week working here and it has become my unofficial office. Coffee and tea are good and the snack options are great - handmade granola bar, veggie cup, and cookies (known for the breakup cookies, definitely worth it). I really like the 2 options of work space - downstairs which can get loud as there are usually tables of 3-4 people meeting for work, church group, etc. and upstairs which is quiet. There is also a small outdoor space that has a couple tables and a couple Adirondack chairs for when it is nice outside. The ONLY reason I gave it 4 stars over 5 is their internet is very spotty which can make working there frustrating at times. I will usually connect to the City's public Wifi if this is an issue which you can connect best to in the outdoor seating or the 2 comfortable...