Urban Standard

I love everything about this. It’s one of my favorite coffee shops (and just place in general) to go in Birmingham. The coffee AND the food are delicious! My favorite drink is the Iced Mocha Coffee and I love their cupcakes (strawberry especially) and their doughnut creations.
You should definitely give this place a try!

Pros: Good flavor on the black coffee and my wifes vanilla froth was great. Nice atmosphere.
Cons: The blueberry scone was almost totally purple throughout with a hard wet flour aftertaste. Kind of like and instant mix.
The heat sleeves for the cups kept sliding down no matter how much you push it up. The cups were too slick to add any grip.
$ 9 for two cups of coffee and a weird scone was on the high side.

Great hospitality, super nice interior design, really kind staff… So happy with this choice. Not to mention my soup was DELICIOUS, YUMMY!

Great drop Counter Culture coffee. Also got a small creamy tomato soup and it was delicious! The vibe is so calm and relaxed. I like my coffee shops to be eclectic and homey. This definitely is. So fun and warming.

Ate here for the first time this past week. I went on a Monday morning so there weren’t too many people there. It’s a great place to bring a book or your laptop to and get some reading/​work done. Very cool atmosphere and decorations too. The coffee is amazing. I ate breakfast there, and had the egg and cheese croissant add bacon. It was a pretty big croissant, I wasn’t able to finish the whole thing. A good, hearty breakfast

Great coffee. Great sandwiches. Amazing cupcakes.
Not sure if I need to say anything else but here goes–
Urban standard has a unique character to it, they have some artwork displayed all year round, but its always more fun around the time of the first Thursday Art-​walk. Their coffees and chai lattes taste great, and their sandwiches and paninis can make for a yummy lunch or evening meal. And you haven’t tried their infamous cupcakes, do yourself a favor and try the red velvet cupcakes here, at least once.
They also have some cool events like improv comedy shows and serve beer/​wine!

First time here and popped in on a Saturday. Very comfortable and cozy atmosphere. Lots of people hanging out enjoying coffee and studying. We had the chicken panini, Cuban and the espresso mini cakes. All were very good. Service was very attentive and helpful. Definitely will return.

Wish this were nearer to my house. Good coffee, pretty good food. Love the atmosphere.
I was not a fan of their cupcakes. The two times I had them, they were dry.

Best cup of coffee I had in a long time, and the Reuben sandwich was delicious, too.
Next time I visit Birmingham I will head there for one of the scrumptious looking cupcakes. Thanks for the excellent service.

Cool local place. Good quality coffee and a small section of pastries. They also have soup and sandwhiches.
I had a vanilla latte that was good and a really good almond danish.
If I lived here this would be my coffee house.

This is a great find after a mile walk from Sheraton Downtown. Friendly staff that actually stops to talk one on one. Fresh and great tasting coffee and worth the walk.

1. They don’t have breakfast after 11 and would simply not sell us a biscuit.
2. I had grilled cheese and tomato soup. Both were good but not great. The grilled cheese bread wasn’t toasted on both sides so it got really soggy.
3. My friend didn’t really love his sandwich.
4. The cookies are amazing and their lattes are great! I would definitely come back for a coffee and a snack! Their syrups are al made in house!

Great coffee shop. Part of me wants to make it a three because the coffee is good, not fantastic. But given the fact that simple competence has become a major turn-​on for me of late (Due to its increasing rarity), that deserves something.
Good coffee, good food, and decent wi-​fi, with counter help that might be just a tad friendlier. I’m not talking hug the customers or anything. Just a thanks for my patronage.

Came here with my host and roommate, this café and eatery seems like a wonderful lunch spot, it’s very modern and trendy with a delightful selection of unique pastries. The drinks are very expertly brewed and the food on their brunch menu was great. I loved my omelette and I also ordered their biscuits which were great (but I assume would be 10 times better with their gravy hopefully next time!). My roommate had their grits and thoroughly enjoyed that as well.
The service was hit or miss. We came by twice, the girl at the register wasn’t too friendly but the servers were great.
I also love the hours. This New Yorker likes to relax at cafes and the hours here are perfect.

I initially found this place through a buzzfeed article where it was mentioned. I stopped in for lunch after a hike, and it was exactly what I wanted.
I got the chicken salad sandwich, with the sweet potato/​Apple salad as my side. Definitely did not disappoint, and I liked the cranberries in the sandwich. Service was quick, knowledgeable & very good. The girl at the counter greeted me with a smile, which is always nice!
I loved the ambiance of the whole place, and the décor. It was eclectic, with out trying too hard. I liked that you could sit at a long table by yourself, and was definitely very inviting. Great place to stop in for a quick lunch, or to linger for some coffee & study.

Really charming (and very hipster) coffeeshop in downtown Birmingham! The décor is very cool and charming, lots of seating (all though most of it was taken on a Saturday afternoon), and great coffee! We didn’t try any food, but what passed by our table looked tasty! I really enjoyed taking a break from touristing around Birmingham to read by book and enjoy a coffee at Urban Standard! Seems like a very popular spot in Birmingham!

Great location: you’re in the city w/​great historic buildings, old brick, tall celings, diverse patrons, and ample parking (most weekend mornings)
Décor: very creative, eclectic, tv (projected on wall), enjoyable to look at during wait and while eating
Service: mediocre wait, no worse than Panera, they’ll call your name for drinks (coffee, tea, etc.), deliver your meal and cleanup after you when done eating (tip them if possible)
Food: Good, light & fresh (no heavy feeling when done), really good coffee and tea (so many options), biscuits are pretty decent as are the cheese grits
Ideal for: Saturday AM breakfast, coffee or tea during or before doing work (communal seating in middle & a few outlets), people watching (ample windows & bistro sidewalk seating), or to go items.

The hype is bigger than what they can live up to, I believe… I was in Birmingham just for one day for business and stopped at this place to get some lunch. I liked that they offered a vegan option, and I also liked the kind of hipsterish atmosphere but the people in there weren’t too friendly. I thought everyone in the south is super friendly?! Well maybe these cool waiters/​baristas are from Colorado because there was not one smile on their faces.
The vegan noodle bowl was good though. If you’re looking for a cool spot, you found it but it’s not too cozy and no warm atmosphere

This is such a great spot downtown. I usually make a weekly stop for something yummy!
The coffee is pretty delicious. They pull tasty, strong espresso shots. The brew coffee is great too. They also offer great local beers, wines, sodas and sparkling waters!
Their food is 100% where it’s at! I haven’t had anything there that I didn’t like. I’m a certified fatty so I’m going to rank all my favorite things:
1. Peach cupcake– oh my god.
2. Pimento BLT– there pimento is almost smokey!
3. Everything bagel– there is so much everythings on it!
4. Bacon egg biscuit thing– can’t remember what it is but damn it is good k?
5. Coconut doughnut– it was probably season. I did lick the plate.
The service is always great. Jessica is the nicest and my favorite. She is also so helpful, funny, and has become our favorite part of Urban standard.
The wifi is strong too! Bring you laptop and set up shop for breakfast and hang around until lunch!

This is the type of establishment that excites me. The modern, yet pastoral coffeehouse provides the cozy atmosphere we all want from a coffee shop without sofas and ambient instrumentals. The rustic brick walls, high ceilings and even classic stadium seating spread throughout the business are at the forefront before discovering what’s hidden between the nooks and crannies.
They serve Counter Culture Coffee. This might not mean much to you, but Counter Culture has a special place in my heart. As soon as my girlfriend and I had our first sips of the blend, we shared a smile that felt like home. The fruitiness of the brew presents itself in a satisfying way on the tongue.
Now the food was downright righteous. My eyes locked on «red eye gravy» and my mouth began to water. The dish was served with I believe locally grown sausage. Every ingredient complimented each other perfectly. But the kicker of course was certainly the red eye gravy. I’m grinning from ear to ear as I type. Talk about comfort food heaven.
The huge space housed all types of people: Locals, businessmen, hippies and lingering tourists. The service was great and they also deliver dishes to the table. When we finished, another runner came over to take our plates. As he left, he sent me a compliment on my band shirt (the key to my heart). Urban Standard lives up to my unreachably high standard for coffee shops. I think I’ll book a trip to Birmingham just so I can return here.