Saturn Birmingham

As a touring artist this is my favorite venue in the country. I tip my hat to Brian Teasley, Daniel Farris and Charlie Smith for making a dream venue come true.
The staff was wonderful to me and my crew. The accommodations upstairs are well beyond anything you could expect on tour. If you’re booked there, rent the upstairs, because there is no hotel in town that compares to it at any price.

This place is a no as far as coffee, venue and my staff experience goes.
Let’s start with the price of iced coffee here… $ 4.50. Literally more expensive than almost every place that I’ve been to in New York City… or well… anywhere in the country. Iced Coffee should top out at $ 3.75… and after going to Continental Bakery and Chez Lulu as well as Urban Standard in Birmingham alone, this place isn’t even in the same ballpark of quality.
Just for more comparison… the new trend is Nitro iced coffee in bigger city coffee shops… it’s «Cold-​brew coffee infused with nitrogen gas is released through a pressurized valve with tiny holes. As high pressure forces the cold brew past a disc, it creates a creamy, stout-​like effect.» …And that is rarely higher than $ 4.00 AND typically comes with some sort of cookie or mini biscotti.
For my money… which is less everywhere else, the coffee here is «meh.»

What you pay for here is a theme park atmosphere for kids, which, as fas as I can tell, is just a bunch of old computer motherboards, board games and fancied up ikea tables.
What really set off the entire place for me was that the barista was a douche. I asked if they had a frequent coffee buyer punch card and he scoffed at me, said «yeah, but not right now.»
People, this is Birmingham, Alabama… not Williamsburg Brooklyn or Portland… you can’t get away with the uppity coffee snob barista at what amounts to an awful, overpriced Chuck-​E-​Cheese of coffee shops. Swing and a miss.
Maybe the shows here are good?
With the attitude I got from behind the counter, I can’t wait to get a par-​for-​the-​course negative response from management on here.

NOTE: This review is for the Saturn Bar «Cereal Adventure Party»
As a frequent visitor, but non-​resident of Birmingham, I have often heard of Saturn Bar but never attended a concert/​event/​night out here. I am, however, glad that my fist visit was during the day so that I could get a good look at the place!
I’ll break it down into sections here (+ are good points, — are bad points)
ATMOSPHERE
+ Fun, themed space — pay attention to the details here– props to the designer– you clearly had a lot of fun!
+ A good amount of seating, in various forms and various sizes to accommodate a variety of groups
+ Tall ceilings make for a nice, roomy feel (none of that 8′ ceiling claustrophobia)
+ The bathrooms are decent (THIS IS IMPORTANT, I promise you!)
+ The board games are great– I just don’t find enjoyment in the «bar scene» anymore, and having something to do/​play with my friend group is good incentive to visit
ACCESSIBILITY
— No private lot, so you’ll have to find street parking
+ Great street-​side appeal– it’s as cool-​looking on the outside as it is on the inside
EVENT («Cereal Adventure Party»)
+ There was something magical about a bunch of adults eating kids cereal out of brightly-​colored plastic bowls
+ The variety of cereals was amazing! They had options I didn’t even know still existed: Cookie Crisp, French Toast Crunch, Waffle Crisp, Cap’n Crunch, Cap’n Crunch Berries, Cap’n Crunch Peanut Butter, Reese’s Puffs, Fruity Pebbles, Cocoa Puffs, Lucky Charms, Kix, etc., etc.
+ POP TARTS!
— They were playing cartoons, but there was no sound or subtitles
PEOPLE
+ Quick at cleaning up and keeping up appearances
+ They make a darn good cappuccino
— Not terribly friendly (but it was Sunday morning, so I’ll let that go)
Overall, a wonderful morning!
I can’t wait to go back to Saturn for one of their events!

Satellite is a great place to catch up on work while having delicious coffee. Free wifi and ample parking. There are lots of seats and power outlets.

I think they need a bit more furniture, it was «packed» when I got there but that’s just a lack of seating. Service was great, fast. The place plays great music. Cool atmosphere, but just wish there was a lot more seating.
Clean bathrooms.
Wouldn’t bring the kids, far too much concrete for any loud shriek. Plus it’s a bar anyway.
I had the coffee soda! This is a new thing for me– delicious! Soda with a shot of coffee and vanilla sweetener. I haven’t seen this anywhere else, and don’t know why more people don’t do it. Great twist on two old favorites and standards.

Remember how I mentioned my love of the nitro pour via Guinness @ 41^st right next door? Satellite keeps Guinness on draft as well, and their pours are not too bad either. I frequent this place mostly for cappuccinos, which I’ve learned how to correctly place my order based on personal preferences: super dry, pour steamed milk instead of using spoon. I’m sure there’s a more concise lingo for this, but I just learned this yesterday.

Best new place in Birmingham. Coffee is amazing, goodies are tasty. Just wish they would serve coffee past 7. They have lovely craft cocktails on one side and serve local craft beer on the concert side.
They also book some amazing acts and are a great venue for shows. Fun atmosphere makes it a great bar or a good place to sit and do some work during the day.

Live music, café, and bar all rolled into one futuristic venue! Birmingham has secretly been wanting a place like this for years, or maybe that was just me.
The microchip wallpaper around the bar adds artistic flare to the Satellite. From the ‘Escape Latch’ and rocket trashcans to the bright orange interior and multi-​color lighting, the Satellite feels far from normal – and you know what? – that’s ok with me!
I had delicious fresh cup of joe while I was there, and could have easily been tempted to indulge further, but I was consumed by the aesthetic appeal of the place more than the brews themselves. With your choice of board or video games, outside seating w/​heating lamps (rocket ship themed of course!), and great bathrooms, I’ve never felt both more at home and out of this world than at Satellite.
It’s a must experience for yourself kinda place!

Saturn/​Satellite is a futuristic, space themed coffee shop attached directly to a music venue. Even if you don’t like coffee, it’s worth it just to see the space décor. They also have a patio with «space» heaters. The coffee was similar to Octane with less flavor, but rich nonetheless. The pastries were just okay, they didn’t taste fresh. They have a ton of seating, including several couches, and board games for if you just want to hangout. Definitely one of a kind.

Saturn & Satellite are the saviors of this part of town! In the morning, you can stop by Satellite and get a cup of delicious Stumptown coffee and a pastry or quiche. Hang out & get some work done in their free wifi while enjoying the quality music selection they are known to play. If you’re not working, you can play board games or video games or just enjoy conversation on their side patio. Hang out through lunch & order a sandwich too. Most of all, don’t forget to hop in the vintage photo booth!
In the evening, come on back to Saturn and enjoy a show! They have a wide variety of bands performing almost nightly in this stellar venue. The stage & sound are exceptional. The drink menu is curated by one of Birmingham’s finest bartenders/​mixologist & I promise it does not disappoint! So get on over there & take advantage of this unique treasure in Avondale.

I have been here three times and each time it exceeds my expectations.
The staff are top notch. Even in a crowed house the bartenders bring their A-​game. No waiting for a drink and it is perfect (their house drinks are damned tasty…).For a bar and music venue the place is impeccably clean… something I am clearly not used to.
The only question I am left with is… why the hell wasn’t this place here when I lived in Birmingham? :)
I will definitely stop in for a drink every time I am in town regardless of who is playing.

Hmm, yeah I guess.
It ain’t no Bottletree, that’s for sure.
I went for a show. I appreciate the multi-​stall bathrooms in the ladies. The little elevated standing platform areas are a cool idea, if you can get the space before the show. Having the coffee shop bar AND a bar inside the venue is great. No body likes waiting eons for booze bags.
I’m sure it’s a cool place to hang. I didn’t fully take in all the gamey things and I didn’t try any coffee. I went to see Beach House and the music was so INSANELY loud I thought for sure I was going to have nightmares (because that’s murder music, in case you didn’t know). So. I don’t know if Saturn just has insane speakers and it’s always that loud in there or it was just that night. Be prepared to be blasted. Maybe I’m too old and grouchy for shows :\

Saturn is a fun establishment. They put on great music shows and have awesome décor. My favorite part of Saturn though is their sister coffee bar, satellite. Satellite boasts coffee and a full bar. They have a cartoon/​cereal brunch on most Tuesdays. By the bathrooms you can find video games and multiple kinds of old school systems. They even have a photo booth. The only thing I wish was different was that they served some type of food or something more substantial than pastries. That being said, their beverages are super yummy, and the cereal brunch is worth the morning sugar rush. Oh, and my hubby thinks they have the best cappuccino in town!

Last night decided to go grab a drink. Had been to Satellite/​Saturn for coffee and the Sunday morning Cereal Fest (which you must go to if you haven’t yet… Free cereal and milk. pop tarts… and old fashion cartoons on Sunday morning. all for a $ 2 donation… just like when you were a kid), but had not really partaken of their bar scene. Well this blew me away. Amazing craft drinks… as good as any in town… and VERY reasonable prices… like only $ 7 for a high quality perfectly mixed drink. The bartenders could not be more helpful and nicer.
To top it off, they let you bring in food from the local restaurants. So we got on the phone, ordered a to go pizza and salad from Post Office Pies, and 20 mins later we were eating great pie and salad and drinking awesome drinks. And the atmosphere is cool and fun. Yup, this is my new go to watering hole. If you haven’t been you’re missing out.

Love me some Saturn. Was crestfallen when I heard Bottletree was shutting down. With that being said… Saturn is badass.
Buddy and I caught Patterson Hood right after they opened. Still working out a few kinks but superbly managed. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable not to mention a great local beer selection.
Now to the reason they are there… music. I love the mix of acts they offer and the PA system is second to none. The venue is what I would expect from the people involved. Top Shelf in all facets.

Saturn is/​was not a half-​hearted concept. Whomever thought of this place fully committed to their idea. When we walked up to this place the first thing it made me think of was NASA Space Center Houston. Surely this was not a bar/​coffee house? It felt more like a children’s attraction. Even the air ducts on the ceiling are painted like a NASA rocket and with restroom stalls labelled «Launch Pad». Episodes of «Get Smart» we’re playing on a projector screen for guest entertainment as well.
However, what is NOT childish or juvenile about this place are the drinks. I ordered their Whiskey Sour which was highly recommended, it was delicious. It has frothed egg whites, which reminded me of a Raymond’s Fizz. It was sweet but with right amount of bitters. I also ordered an Anvil Cloud, which my inexperienced self could only describe it as– an old fashioned but with tequila in it. I’m not giving the drinks justice in my descriptions, but they were SO GOOD! And I can’t leave out our bartender, I’ve never seen anyone make mixing drinks look like an art form, I wish I could remember her name because she was great.
Wish I could have tried the coffee, I wish something like this was in Dallas, TX. It’s a great mix of a Sci-​fi and good booze with a touch of whimsy.

Great atmosphere, coffee is amazing, they will go out of their way to make speciality cocktails for you, and their food looks amazing. Great service in a unique place! Definitely recommend

Wow. What a win. You’ve got to check this place out. They serve coffee, Baking Bandits pastries, as well as cocktails.
The décor is perfect, matching the space/​rocket theme the name evokes.
Satellite was superb, and I can’t wait to check out Saturn for a show.

I have been back several times. I love the place… its a bar/​coffee shop. Friday night I was there and it was about 8. A friend of mine ordered an espreso but they said they closed the coffee shop at 7pm. However, the times are not marked and if you call the number they do not diffrentiate seperate hours. Every drink that I have had is amazing except for the lighting forecast (it has bourbon, strawberry and champs). I did not care for this drink… however, anything else from the old fashions to the vodka drinks… they are amazing. Great bartenders and friendly staff with cool décor.

Saturn Birmingham is a welcomed addition to the Birmingham music scene and the Avondale area! I got an opportunity to attend the opening night event and had a great time checking the spot out. Mother Falcon, Dead Fingers and Helen of Coi played a great grand opening show! The sound quality in the venue was pretty darn awesome in my opinion and sounds superior to some of the venues around town of a similar size. Likewise, the décor and theme are pretty cool. It reminds me of a sterile space café with lots of metal touches, pops of color, funky artwork (some by Yellowhammer Creative from what I hear), and an overall vibe that made me think of Jack White’s Third Man Records office space in Nashville (i.e. eccentric, strange, yet awesome).
The venue’s only issues on opening night happened to include a bathroom malfunction that put the potties out of commission for the remainder of the evening and the bar ran out of booze. Overall, it was understandable that such a thing can occur on the first night of opening when you have a crowd of eager guests seeking to hear a free show and check out a quirky new music venue and coffee shop! Hopefully, the place works out the logistical kinks soon. I’ll definitely be back to go to some of the upcoming shows and also to get a taste of the Stumptown coffee that the baristas are serving up at the Satellite Café! If you haven’t already checked this place out, drop by soon!