There’s a small storefront on 25th Street North in Birmingham where the pastries don’t last long. Most mornings, the croissants are gone before most people have finished their first cup of coffee. If you’ve been lucky enough to snag one, you already know why. And if you haven’t, consider this your sign to set an early alarm.

Last Call Baking Co. was recently named the best bakery in Alabama by Tasting Table, which recognized it among the absolute best bakeries in every state. It’s a distinction that will surprise exactly no one who has ever stood at that long counter, scanning the yellow signs marking the day’s offerings, hoping whatever caught their eye on Instagram that morning hasn’t already sold out.

The bakery was founded in 2020 by Chef Chanah Willis, who built a devoted following around what Tasting Table describes as a wonderfully creative selection of sweet and savory bakes: flaky croissants, morning buns, coffee twists, and a now-legendary olive oil cake that has taken on a life of its own. The croissant dough alone is the result of a meticulous three-day fermentation and lamination process, and the difference is unmistakable from the first bite.

Willis described the butter croissant simply and definitively: “My final love will always be our butter croissant. She is the lifeblood of Last Call, and I am on a constant drive to understand her better and make her better. It is my absolute favorite.” And they weren’t wrong. The butter is the star—layers so delicate and rich they demand your full attention.

In 2024, Willis was named a James Beard Award Semifinalist for Emerging Chef, a recognition that felt long overdue to anyone already in the know. Willis has since sold the bakery to pursue a culinary career in New York City, but Last Call Baking Co. carries on: same address, same early sellouts, same loyal following that has made it one of Birmingham’s most beloved spots since the day it opened.

Last Call Baking Co. is located at 213 25th Street North, Suite A in Birmingham, and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. until noon, or until sold out, whichever comes first. We highly recommend you arrive early.

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