Being a genuinely nice person must be a mandatory characteristic to get hired at CIA Cafè. I have celiac disease and while they are by no means a dedicated facility, they always have gluten free options for baked goods and sandwiches and try their best to avoid cross contamination. It's always a pleasure to stop in for a quick coffee and treat. The atmosphere is really charming, I don't frequently stay in to enjoy my food/drink but when I do, I really enjoy the space and the community feeling they have curated. read more

It's a neighborhood gem. The coffee is always solid. Bagels are good and pretty chewy. I recommend their lattes, I always have fun picking out a specialty one to try. The staff is friendly and the place is typically pretty busy. I like the outdoor and indoor seating, lots of natural lights with the window and location. read more

CIA Cafe - Egg and cheese - Coffee & Tea Near Me - South Portland, Maine

This is a great little neighborhood, locally owned and operated breakfast and lunch spot that serves really great sammies and cultivates a really effortlessly chill vibe. I come in a lot for the breakfast sandwiches which I consider to be the best in town. That said their lunch sandwiches are also top-notch. The have great coffee, comfortable seating, and wifi - all I need to get some work done while I've grabbing sustenance. read more

My husband and I came in here on our stop after visiting the lighthouse near by. We meant to go to the place across the street.... But this one was busier and pulled us in with a menu that had more options. We ordered a chipotle sandwich added bacon and a Downeaster. They were both delicious and filling! We ordered a cold brew as well which was tasty and the hibiscus lemonade which was so good. Definitely check them out :) read more

CIA Cafe - The Chipotle Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - South Portland, Maine

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I got a beautiful breakfast sandwich with tons of veggies, yummy sauce and on a homemade English muffin, delicious! The people are very friendly and accommodating as well. This place is a gem. read more

I usually order the Casco Bay club. It's bacon, avacado cheese cooked on a griddle. I think it's the best sandwich there. Along with the bright and cheery ambiance the service is very good. They also have so many adorable hand made crafts. Great place to eat but they usually close at 4pm. read more

Great ambience. Good place to meet new friends. Wonderful staff. Tasty food. Did I miss anything? read more

Favorite local haunt in South Portland. Amazing staff & owners, great breakfast sandwiches, and we love the art & goods displays that support local artists and makers! Iced tea is bangin', get the raspberry cream cheese croissant for a little sweet treat too. read more

Service and food were excellent. Wonderful people skills. A great neighborhood haunt.

Great food and drinks. Rude rude rude barista. So rude. I thought people in Maine were friendly. Pass this one.

It's been a crazy month with social distancing and when you are craving a breakfast sandwich. Great to see they were open for pick up. The menu is on line and easy to navigate. Placed the order over the phone and in less then 15 minutes we were able to walk in, pay and enjoy. The Saco was incredible and so delicious. Just what we needed to start our morning. I was also surprised to see so yummy baked goods as well. Next time. It was great to support local and to have such a yummy sandwich. Maybe the same next week. Thank you. read more

CIA Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - South Portland, Maine

Awesome breakfast sandwiches and pastries. The service was friendly and fun. Also an interesting selection of art for sale.

We've been coming to CIA for a few years and love it! Their breakfast sandwiches are always delicious and the service is even better. The manager, Bobby, is such a kind person and always interacts with customers in a joyful and friendly way even when they are slammed and he is juggling several tasks at once. CIA is a SoPo staple and I encourage you to throw a few extra bucks on your tip when you visit to make sure they are here for years to come! read more

Best oat milk latte I've ever had. Friendly staff, excellent breakfast sandwiches. Love this place!

Food and coffee looked and smelled amazing! Unfortunately they do not accept cash and I drove all the way across town for this, very disappointed to walk out empty handed. I wish they mentioned it online. read more

How have I never finished this review? I swear it's because every time I start to write it I fall asleep because I have the 'itis. Let's start here: I make pedicure appointments based on the hours at CIA cafe, why? Because we drive an hour to the nail joint and have to time it right that we get A TUNA MELT AND A VERMAINER for lunch before pedis. Idc what you say, this is HANDS DOWN THE BEST TUNA FISH SANDWICH IN THE GREAT STATE OF MAINE. Dear CIA, please never ever ever ever change your recipe. IF YOU DO, please don't. But if you do, please give me the original recipe. Sis always gets the Vermainer, which is delicious, too- but I will never not get the tuna. I just realized this whole review is dedicated to tuna. I'm ok with it. So. They do have other stuff. You'll have to go there to try it yourself because I'll never be able to comment on other stuff. Sorry, it's a personal choice I've made to not stray from THE TUNA FISH SANDWICH. Also, I only have a picture of the Vermainer because somehow I don't have the self control to take a picture of the tuna melt before I eat the whole freakin' thing. And I'm not even sorry. read more

CIA Cafe - Vermainer - Coffee & Tea Near Me - South Portland, Maine

Great vibe, AMAZING coffee and sandwiches. Their breakfast sandwiches are delicious and easily customizable and their avocado turkey BLT is definitely my favorite! Their matcha is the best in the area! read more

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This place is a gem. Smiles from each customer sitting outside told us everything we needed to know. When we entered, the staff greeted us like old friends. Being from the south, my boyfriend naively asked if they served sweet tea. On the spot, the owner threw one together and poured one for himself as well. They cheers'd and enjoyed the taste of home. Better yet, the food was delicious, and we sat for a half hour just enjoying the community. We talked about travel and on our way out, he gifted us some of the best freshly baked goods. What was supposed to be just a quick stop, ended up as one of the best experiences on our Maine vacation. read more

Had a yummy turkey sandwich. Server was really friendly and ready to joke around with my partner...nice coffee cafe vibe and they sell some cute cards too. read more

Great owner and staff. Huge fan of the Matcha lattes. Egg white croissant sandwich is wicked good.

This is such a cute and cozy coffee house! Although, they offer so much more in terms of art, jewelry, and clothing...you indeed have all your favorites in breakfast and lunch options in addition to your favorite coffee house drinks. It's nestled conveniently in the Knightsville neighborhood. Such a beautiful, inviting atmosphere with welcoming and friendly staff. A true gem! read more

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Really amazing food, coffee, and atmosphere! The people working there are also so friendly. Make sure to try the holiday special drinks, they're super good! read more

this restaurant/coffee shop has been there for several years and obviously has a very large and loyal following but when it comes to ordering something other than a beverage, efficiency is lacking I ordered after my friend-my order was completely separate from his and made after his, but they put my order in his bag and we were not told both sandwiches were in one bag I waited there for several minutes after his order was given to him (which as it turned out was unnecessary) clear communication was the issue along with courtesy and kindness We went check to see if the second sandwich was ready after several minutes and the person who took our order did say "I'm sorry both sandwiches are in the bag" I would never have written this post, except that, to add insult to injury as we left we were snarkily told that we should've checked in the bag to see there were two sandwiches (but we had no reason to do that) so what we had was a mistake compounded by rudeness I think in the end what they need is a slightly more efficient and polished operation read more

Just read the news article about CIA So Po not taking cash.... The owner is quoted that this is not an issue. I would argue that maybe you are not aware of any issues. The general theme of the article is that staff wants nothing to do with patrons and cash BUT they do accept cash tips in a jar that they go through once at the end of the day so they aren't too afraid of the germs from that cash..... #thingsthatmakeyougohmmm P.S. coffee is just ok and service is questionable. read more

CIA cafe is a staple to the Knightville neighborhood. They have something for everything! Lots of tables to sit and enjoy your latte and sandwich. The breakfast sandwiches are hearty and deliciouss. My favorite lunch sandwich is the tuna sandwich. The tuna salad is mixed with dill-it's awesome! There is a nice selection of sweets as well. The reason I love CIA so much is the art covering all the walls-all for sale! They feature a handful of local artists ( pottery, jewelry, prints and more). read more

Coffee was good but I waited 10 min (it wasn't busy) And finally asked the gal who took my order if she had my pour over...she acted annoyed and gave me my coffee without even a nod. Typically a smile and or a "sorry about that" is customary. Good Coffee ...Poor Service read more

I had a breakfast meeting here this morning. Very solid bacon egg & cheese on homemade English muffin with 3 choices of hot sauce. I ordered the dark roast coffee and it was strong and bold as I like it. Great overall vibe. The art is for real, as in pieces I would love to have in my home. I actually sipped my coffee and just walked around admiring the oil paintings. If I lived closer, I would get my coffee here everyday instead of Starbucks. See attached art photos - I had trouble getting enough light but enjoy. read more

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I used to love coming to this cafe for great sandwiches, cute gifts, and meet colleagues. Decided to swing in today for lunch to go. I waited for one other person to order in front of me. There are only a few other people here. I have proceeded to wait over 20 minutes while 6 young women hang around the sandwich station chatting. Love the food, generally, but this service has been terrible. read more

Great coffee shop that serve a wonderful breakfast!!! The service is nice and they sell art, so if you're in South Portland and looking for art to hang on your wall, stop here while getting a cup of Joes. Been coming here for a few years and it's like being on that show Cheers, sometimes you wanna go where everyone knows your name. Anyway you won't be disappointed:) read more

love CIA. ENGLISH MUFFINS ARE SO D*MN GOOD!!!! Iced coffee is reasonably priced along with everything else. Seriously the English muffins are a must-get. Their sandwiches are a little slow, but only because they actually cook the egg like at home (you can call and place your sandwich order before hand if you're trying to get breakfast before work). The art is entertaining and fun to look at that personally I've never bought any because it is expensive but I definitely would buy some as a nice gift for someone. it's all done by local artists which is awesome and CIA does a great job of supporting the community. read more

CIA Cafe - doesn't look very impressive but so so good - Coffee & Tea Near Me - South Portland, Maine

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Not your typical coffee shop - not that I'm a pro at these things by any means. I mean, I came here and ordered a hot chocolate with some cookies. So I can definitely tell you about that. The cookies are delicious :) Hot chocolate was nice - I like mine richer, but the cookies mmmm. Melty chocolatey gooeyness with each bite. I was also told their brownies are delicious, but I haven't tried them personally. I like the concept of the cafe. It's very trendy and seems like the hip place to go. I appreciate the art work and the couches they have set up to sit and talk. You can definitely have a pleasant conversation with some strangers. Try it out for yourself. Don't order to go, just take 10 minutes to sit and chill and see who talks to you. read more

Hands down my favorite coffee shop(and more) in the Portland/South Portland area!! This is truly a gem! The food is excellent, the owners and staff are the friendliest and the atmosphere is relaxed and kid-friendly as well. Not to mention the art installations rotates regularly and there is always something exciting to look at. All the baked goods and the ice cream I have tried here (that's tons!!!) have been delicious but I cannot complement the SoPo Breakfast sandwich enough. I get it all the time and it is always consistently great! The bread lightly toasted, the egg has a great consistency and all the ingredients are very fresh. I love to pair the SoPo Breakfast Sandwich with their Chai Latte! read more

CIA Cafe - Always a great way to start the day! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - South Portland, Maine

Driving past this place, it was packed! I don't normally past by this area and was looking for a brunch place to eat and this placed seemed so popular. Walking in, the blonde woman (didn't get to catch her name) welcomed us in and went over the menu with us since it was our first time there. The menu had a lot of variety and everything sounded good at a VERY reasonable price. The coffee came quick and they even found us a table. There were so many people there we were about to sit with some new faces but the customers were just as friendly! We waited probably only 5-10 minutes for our food and it looked too good to eat and tasted so homemade! Definitely coming back. read more

CIA Cafe - Tuna salad on multigrain bread with lettuce and an iced coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - South Portland, Maine

Way above average coffee shop that showcases local art, has a cool feel and also happens to have good local baked goods and ice cream. Had a regular hot latte in a nice big ceramic mug- not too milky and delicious . Had a hot apple turnover made by CIA that also didn't disappoint. Owner is really nice. Will be back again! read more

$8.95 - for a sandwich that is supposed to get you really excited and is named after the nearby body of water. $8.95 - for a HOT sandwich by a locally run cafe. $8.95 - for some soggy lettuce, microwaved bacon, and soggy toast (that also tasted stale)... toasted on the outside, soggy because it was baked with the lettuce on the sandwich. Not to mention it took them 25 minutes to make it at 2:30pm. Granted business picked up a little while I was there, but with 3 staff members, that was embarrassing to have noticed it was taking a long time for something they started right when I ordered. There was no one behind me/came into order for a good 10 mins either. I can gripe because I have worked in a Sandwich Shop, a Coffee Shop and multiple Restaurants in the same type of atmosphere/location. This is not acceptable. It's my favorite local shop to bring clients and I even used a gift certificate that was given to me as a gift because people know I like to go there for Chai, buying local crafts/art for gifts and coffee dates/meetings. It was the first time I've ever tried the food however, and I'm just really heartbroken because they are supposed to be better. I'm giving this experience 2 Stars because the "Carved" Turkey Breast had a lot of flavor and the staff was still really helpful (they are usually, always kind and faster with their beverages/ice cream service). Someone just needs to put a little attention into their food service/production side. read more

CIA Cafe - This makes me really disappointed: $8.95 - for some soggy lettuce, microwaved bacon, and soggy toast (that also tasted stale). - Coffee & Tea Near Me - South Portland, Maine

Great coffee and great staff. They have great art and trinkets that make good gifts. The chicken salad is amazing!

Probably the best breakfast sandwich I've ever had. Prices are really fair. Service isn't bad. Five stars would recommend. read more

CIA Cafe - Sorry I didn't take a photo before I eat it but it was so good. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - South Portland, Maine

The male owner is SO rude to the customers and I have heard him be horrible to the staff (thus the high turnover rate). The food is poor in quality and takes forever to get once you order (I waited 18 minutes for a bagel and cream cheese). But that male owner is reason enough to go back. I live in the neighborhood, have a business in the area and have been supporting them for years but no more, I am done. And all my employees are too. CAN NOT AND WILL NOT RECOMMEND THEM TO ANYONE. Oh and they will not accept cash. Credit cards only- it's 2022, post pandemic, and that's absurd. read more

Great little spot to have a delicious breakfast sandwich and take advantage of the free wi-fi to get some work done. I spent 3 hrs there yesterday and never felt rushed, it was a very comfortable environment. The breakfast sandwich was amazing. I got The SoPo: Egg, Cheese, Arugula, Tomato & Sopo Sauce. It was delicious and I was literally full until dinner. Now that's a breakfast sandwich! If you are in Knightsville, stop in for the food, wi-fi and the little boutique area for some fun, unique items on sale. read more

CIA Cafe - The SoPo - Coffee & Tea Near Me - South Portland, Maine

SO...we were super hungry and near the mall and didn't want to eat at a chain restaurant. We also both wanted coffee. I wracked my brain and remembered that the CIA cafe was open on Sunday until 5 and heard they had great coffee and great food. We arrived at 4 ravenous and the 2 very nice kids working the counter, apologetically let us know that they stop serving food at 4 on Sundays and everything was put away. Ugh! I noticed a bagel behind the glass and asked if they could do a toasted bagel, which they were kind enough to open back up a bunch of containers to make for me. My son ordered a chai, which they were out of. We switched to an iced coffee. While the staff was super friendly and helpful, I had high hopes, arrived hungry and left disappointed. I still believe that there is good food and a great vibe at the CIA cafe, just don't come an hour before closing time and expect the full menu. read more