Alabama Locals Love This Beloved Cafe Recognized For Its Outstanding Bakery And Fresh Treats
Flour hangs in the air before dawn, and the first trays slide into the oven while most of the street is still asleep. An Alabama cafe keeps that early habit, and the whole town seems to run a little better because of it.
Biscuits come out tall and golden, split open and ready for butter. Cinnamon rolls arrive glazed and soft in the center.
Fruit hand pies crowd the pastry case beside pecan tarts and lemon bars. Loaves of bread cool on racks near the register, crackling as the crust sets.
Locals stop in on the way to work and leave with a warm box for the office. Weekend mornings bring a line out the door, and the best items vanish before noon.
Coffee gets poured fresh while conversations drift between tables. Regulars order the same favorites each visit and rarely walk out empty-handed.
This cafe has earned a loyal following one early morning at a time, and recognition for its bakery only confirmed what locals already knew.
A Bakery Born In An Apartment Kitchen
Plenty of people picked up a hobby in 2020. Chanah Willis picked up a rolling pin and accidentally built one of the most talked-about bakeries in Alabama.
After losing a job during the pandemic, Willis started baking out of an apartment. The first treats were things that could be packaged safely, like baked donuts, tarts, and scones.
Funny enough, many of them turned out to be gluten-free and vegan without that ever being the plan.
Word spread fast. Soon the goodies were showing up wholesale at coffee shops around Birmingham.
That meant plenty of locals tasted the work before they even knew the bakery’s name.
In November 2022, the business finally got a real home with a retail shop. Then in early 2024, Willis was named a James Beard Award semifinalist for Emerging Chef.
That is a huge deal in the food world, and it put a big spotlight on this small team.
The story took another turn in 2025. Willis sold the bakery to Jimmy Truong, the founder of June Coffee, which sits right next door.
Coffee and croissants as neighbors and now partners is a match that just makes sense.
From a cramped apartment oven to a downtown storefront, the journey is pretty inspiring. You can find this little success story at 213 25th St N Ste a, Birmingham, AL 35203.
Croissants Worth Setting An Alarm For
Three days. That is how long it takes to make one batch of croissants at Last Call Baking Company.
The dough goes through fermentation and lamination, which is a fancy word for folding butter into dough over and over. The result can have up to 120 thin layers.
Picture a buttery book with way more pages than your math homework.
The plain butter croissant is the heart of the whole operation. It is the item the bakers care about most, and you can tell.
The outside shatters when you bite it, and the inside stays soft and rich.
If plain is not your style, there are other choices. The chocolate croissant uses high-quality chocolate that melts into those layers.
The almond version brings a sweet, nutty filling that feels like a dessert pretending to be breakfast.
Then there is the ham and cheese croissant. Savory fans tend to claim this one as their personal treasure.
It works great if you want something more filling before a busy day.
Here is a smart tip. Croissants are the most popular thing in the case, so they disappear early.
If you have your heart set on one specific flavor, show up close to opening time.
A friendly warning, though. Crumbs will end up on your shirt.
That is just part of the deal.
The Gochujang Twist And Other Wild Ideas
Most bakeries stick to cinnamon and sugar. Last Call decided chili paste belonged in pastry too, and somehow it works.
The gochujang twist is the poster child for this bold thinking. Gochujang is a Korean red pepper paste that is sweet, salty, and a little spicy.
Wrapped in flaky dough, it gives you a gentle kick that sneaks up on you.
That twist is just the beginning. Over time, the bakery has rolled out kimchi togarashi pop-tarts.
There have also been ramen rice crispy treats topped with bonito flakes and sesame oil.
Yes, you read that right. Fish flakes on a rice crispy treat.
It sounds like a dare, but the salty and sweet mix has won over plenty of curious eaters.
Earl Grey boba milk bread buns have also made appearances. Other flavors like black sesame, miso butter, pistachio, and apricot pop up in the lineup.
You do not often see those ingredients in a Southern bakery case.
So how should you handle all these choices? Try one classic and one wild card.
That way you get comfort and adventure in the same paper bag.
Even if spicy food scares you, the twist is worth one bite. Worst case, you have a funny story.
Best case, you find a new favorite snack.
Kouign Amann And The Caramel Crunch
Say it with me. Kwee-n ah-MAHN. Now you can order it without panicking at the counter.
The kouign-amann is a French pastry from the Brittany region. The name roughly means butter cake, which is a very honest name.
At Last Call, it comes with a crispy caramel dome and a sprinkle of sea salt.
Think of it as a croissant that went to the beach and came back with a sugar tan. The outside crackles like the top of a creme brulee.
Inside, the layers stay tender and buttery.
The salt matters more than you might expect. It keeps all that caramel from tasting too sweet.
Each bite bounces between sugary and savory in a really pleasant way.
This pastry is one of the most talked-about items in the whole shop. It is the kind of treat people mention by name when they recommend the bakery to friends.
A quick tip for eating it neatly. Hold it with a napkin, because the caramel can get sticky on warm days. Also, pair it with a plain coffee or milk so the flavors really shine.
If you have never tried one, Last Call is a great place to start. Fair warning, though.
Regular muffins might seem a little boring afterward.
Danishes Buns And Bars Galore
Croissants get the headlines, but the rest of the bakery case deserves its own fan club. The supporting cast here could easily star in its own show.
The berry Danish is a big hitter. Its bright fruit filling sits in a flaky pastry nest, and it has earned a reputation as one of the best things on the menu.
Tart, buttery, and pretty to look at, it checks every box.
Morning buns bring cozy cinnamon vibes. Coffee scrolls get hand-dipped in a coffee glaze, which is a clever way to combine breakfast and your morning drink.
There is also a chocolate cinnamon roll for anyone who refuses to choose between the two.
Bars are another strong category. Lemon bars balance sweet and sour, and berry oat bars add a crumbly, homey feel.
Blondies and cookies round things out for folks who like simple treats.
Then there is the olive oil cake. It might sound unusual, but olive oil makes cake moist and gives it a light fruity flavor.
Many people call it a must-try. Here is a practical idea. Bring a friend and split three or four items. You get to sample more flavors, and nobody has to fight over the last bite. Well, probably.
A Pink Door Under The Overpass
Some bakeries hide in fancy shopping centers. Last Call chose a spot under a graffiti-covered highway, and honestly, it suits the place perfectly.
The shop sits on a redeveloped block on the northern edge of downtown Birmingham. Cars rumble overhead on the expressway.
Meanwhile, down below, fresh pastries are coming out of the oven.
The entrance is easy to spot thanks to a dusty pink door. The logo has a neo-Gothic design, which looks a little bit like something from an old cathedral or a rock band poster.
It is a fun mix of tough and sweet.
Inside, the setup is simple and practical. There is an open layout, so you can watch bakers rolling dough and pulling trays.
A display counter and a short glass divider are all that separate the workers from the customers.
Watching the baking happen is half the fun. It is like a cooking show, except you get to eat the results. Kids especially love peeking at the action.
Seating is very limited, since the bakery works mostly as a to-go shop. The good news is that June Coffee is right next door for a drink.
Plan to grab your bag and wander, or find a nearby bench for a snack break.
Friends Made While Waiting In Line
Lines are usually annoying. At Last Call, the line has turned into a little social event of its own.
People strike up conversations while they wait. Strangers swap pastry tips and debate which croissant flavor is the best.
By the time you reach the counter, you might have a new buddy and a new favorite treat.
The bakery is proud of its strong community spirit. It is known as the only all-trans and all-queer bakery in Alabama.
That identity helps create a space where lots of different people feel welcome.
The staff tends to be warm and chatty. They clearly enjoy their work, and that energy rubs off on the folks waiting.
Fast service keeps things moving, even on busy mornings.
Here is some friendly advice. Be patient and kind to the team behind the counter.
If your favorite pastry sells out right before your turn, that is just bad luck, not anyone’s fault.
Also, this is a great place to bring visitors from out of town. Weekend crowds can feel like a mini festival.
If you would rather skip the buzz, weekday mornings tend to be a bit calmer.
Either way, the people make this bakery feel like a neighborhood living room. It just happens to smell like butter.
When It Is Gone It Is Gone
Here is the hard truth. Sleep in, and you might end up staring at an empty tray.
Last Call bakes a set amount each day, using a small team and fresh ingredients. Once the pastries sell out, that is it until tomorrow.
Many items vanish within a few hours, and some mornings the line can stretch for an hour.
This approach cuts down on waste, which is good for the planet. It also means everything you buy is fresh.
No day-old leftovers are hiding in the case. So how do you win the pastry game? Show up early, especially on weekends.
Ordering ahead can also save you from disappointment.
There is a backup plan for night owls too. Last Call supplies goodies to coffee shops around Birmingham, including June Coffee next door.
You might grab a croissant there even after the bakery runs low.
One more helpful note. Gluten-free choices are not usually on the menu right now, and some treats may contain nuts like peanut butter.
If you have allergies, ask the staff before you order.
The quality, the creative flavors, and the use of local ingredients keep people coming back again and again. Getting up early feels like a small price for a pastry this good. Your alarm clock will understand.