Cia Cafe

My favorite local café! Amazing breakfast sandwiches and kind staff members. Love the option to call in orders ahead of time. This café has great coffee, sandwiches, baked goods, plus some retail items by artisans. 100% recommend!

We stayed in South Portland for a couple nights and came here for breakfast each morning. I believe it was the owner taking our order, he was incredibly kind and gave us recommendations for our trip. You can immediately tell this place is a favorite of the locals. The bagels were absolutely delicious, obviously hand made every morning. Coffee is perfect. Exactly what we wanted and needed for our mornings. I wish I had a place like this at home.

Big sign on register, we no longer take cash. Huge red flag right there because that's illegal. Cold brew coffee that looked like dish water and tasted about the same. Bagels weren't great, asked for toasted and they must have run it through on warp speed, by the time I got out to my vehicle it was as cold as the cream cheese. There are so many better shops in the Portland area, try one of them because they take cash and a tally sell coffee flavored coffee.

Cia is not your average cafe. The coffee is delicious and they offer tasty food options, but the staff is where the real magic lies. They have a team of amazing people who will absolutely brighten your day. Bobby, Kayla, and the rest of the staff are customer service driven and you feel it.

My boyfriend and I randomly dropped in one day before working one Saturday morning and we have come back every Saturday since then. The food is delicious, the coffee is perfect in my opinion, but most notably the service is 100/10!!! I could not recommend this place enough and I have told many friends about it. Such a cute cafe to have a little breakfast!

So glad we found this place!! From the moment we walked in the staff was attentive and friendly, breakfast sandwiches are out of this world and caramel lattes did not disappoint! The person taking orders made sure to greet everyone coming in and thank everyone leaving. Overall the place is a well oiled machine and you can tell their staff truly cares. 10 out of 10 and we will absolutely be back!

Love the breakfast, Coffee is great! Owner is helpful. We travel up from n.c. a couple times a year and always visit the store because we know it will be good ! They have homemade English muffins

Everything you want from a neighborhood coffee shop. Friendly service, good hot coffee, delicious breakfast sandwich. No pretense of "grande", if you know what I mean. Definitely stop by if you're visiting South Portland. Say Hi to Bobby!

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.

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 :)

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

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!

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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).

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

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

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.

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.

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:)

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.

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!

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.

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.

$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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

Love this place ! So are the sandwiches. The coffee is great the staff is wonderful . I love the art and the atmosphere.

Decent sandwiches and coffee but if you want to minimize you contact with people, there is no curbside service nor can you order drinks or pay over the phone to limit the time in the store with other customers who chose to be in public without a mask. On top of that the people up front wear mask but not in the kitchen ?? What ? So when they breathe on your food it's not an issue ?

CIA Cafe is a great spot for local art, good conversation, friendly faces (the owner is SO SWEET). The menu isn't varying, but sometimes that's OK. I come here with my little one after going to the park or before a grocery run. They don't mind having a toddler around, and they're all super helpful to a mama with her hands full. Their grilled cheesy capresey is yummy and the brewed iced tea is perfect. This is a wonderful place with genuine employees. I'm so happy to have a hub like this in the neighborhood!

"Did you just come in to just use the internet?...This is real estate, (talking about my table) it costs money ya know." Given, I've only spent only maybe a couple hundred dollars here and know the Male (who I think is an owner). My appearance is Fashion/GQ and working on a 17" MacBook Pro. Freshly shaven, great clear skin and a light sheen product in my hair, I'm assuming I dont' look homeless? Being I am a new (4 months here) local. I think that it's a tad rude, to approach customers this way. Owner or not. I get it, some maybe take "advantage" of your FREE WiFi. But I've been a supporter and very offended to be approached with such appalling attitude. Heck even starbucks doesn't approach the homeless who come in to use the restroom this way. I say this drinking a lite snack (hot chocolate and two 2 small fig newtons) sitting here planning on working the next couple hours. (meaning I was planning on getting my afternoon triple shot mocha at some point). (Please read "The Starbucks Experience" on good customer experience) (You have been nice before, perhaps you're just having a bad day) Reply to resolve and I'll remove the review as I have the best intention by posting this to see you grow as a business, and show you that offending customers isn't the best way to gain consistent customers.

Great little spot for fantastic coffee, awesome, locally made ice cream and a small giftware and art offering if you're in the mood for a little shopping. I especially liked the fact that they're one of the very few businesses I've seen in the country who actually leave a blue recycle bin out for you to drop-in all those plastic cups. Kudos to them for helping to keep landfills a little more clear and helping to put plastics back into recycling. Staff is friendly, restroom is impeccably clean... just nothing here not to love in this quickly up-and-coming Knightville neighborhood. This is a must-try, definitely on the Portland Yelp bucket list!

Now that I'm on this side of the bridge, I'm a frequent patron of Cia. And I'm SO happy they exist down in Knightville! Firstly - great coffee. I've had drip coffee, lattes, and hot cocoa. All my drinks have been great. Secondly - great food selection! Pastries from Standard, bagels from Union, breakfast sandwiches made to order.... SO good. Thirdly - an excellent atmosphere that supports local artists. And finally - really great customer service. I went in this weekend with two young men behind the counter and they were chipper, informative, and personable. Cia is my new jam, people. LOVE IT.

Cia Cafe is a nice little coffee and sandwiches shop. They sell a nice wide selection of coffee beverages. We had a cup of the medium roast and an iced chai (which was delicious). I had the Egg,Cheese and Ham breakfast sandwich on a English muffin and my wife enjoyed the Casco Bat club sandwich. Both sandwiches were great. Both came out hot and fresh. We are so happy we found this place and really enjoyed our visit.!!

I love this cute coffeeshop so much! Their coffee, food, and vibe is perfect. My only complaint is that hot food such as sandwiches take a long time here, and I would not order one if you are in a rush.

Good coffee, great food, clean and friendly environment. Left my laptop charger there overnight by mistake, but the staff held it behind the counter for me the next day.

This is easily one of the best coffee shops I've been too. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the staff was beyond friendly (pretty much at a level friendliness you'd find in Tennessee, without the accent). I had a single-origin pour-over Guatemalan coffee when I came here. It wasn't the best single-origin I've ever had in my life (I can be kind of a coffee snob), but it was definitely still well-done and worthy of purchasing again. The place was spacious and had ample room to either get some work done or to relax. The baked goods and ice cream are also worth checking out here as well. Plus, compared to downtown Portland coffee shops, finding close parking here was a breeze. The factor that made this place was the people; not just the staff, but the locals too. The staff members greeted every single person that walked in. In most cases, the staff already knew the customers walking in, so long conversations ensued. And all the locals that came in for coffee and/or ice cream were pleasant to talk to. I will definitely be back here in the future.

CIA cafe is the best! The lovely manager, Kate, served me after they were closed while I waited for an appointment next door. Very kind staff and really cool vibes! Highly recommend!

Coffee was good. Snacks, also good. The wifi was down when we arrived, problematic but the staff were quick to reset the router upon request. A minute later it was working great so the wife and I could stay productive. Looking forward to trying the ice cream.

This local cafe has a spectacular atmosphere in a great neighborhood. The owner gathers her goodies from local distributors, supporting MAINE business (YAY)!! When CIA first opened, it was 5 star quality. The service, the food, the art and the coffee- all contributed to the 5 star rating. Lately the customer service has gone downhill. The past two times I have visited, my order has been wrong and the customer service was poor. The owners unkind demeanor is taking away this cafe's charm

I work from coffee shops at least 2x/week and was psyched to see there was finally somewhere like this in this 'hood. I really want to like it more. So much potential but jury's still out for me. Service is pretty slow. WiFi is decent but could be better. Coffee is good. Haven't tried the food. Owner skating around on her roller-blades (or skates?) is super distracting. I'm truly cool with whatever people want to do - I just returned from 10 yrs in San Francisco, land of the weird - but she really seems to like putting on a little show. I like seeing other folks working there, but it doesn't quite have the dig in/set up shop and work for a cpl hours (while purchasing things) welcoming-ambiance quite yet. Perhaps they don't want this to happen as noted in a previous review (Lauren P's), which would be a real shame given their size and location market-share.

Not too bad. But when I went in I was being ignored for 5-8 minutes. They were chatting. Was a little disappoint they didn't have smoothies anymore. I saw signs in Hannaford and other places saying they had smoothies. I did get a blood orange iced tea and it was okay. Room for improvement though!

LOVE this place! Biased in the extreme! I love to meet up with friends, enjoy the sunny, warm and comfortable seating and coffee with ice cream in it. It isn't on the menu, I just started asking for it. Tell them Jessi sent you and I'm sure to get a smile next time I'm there. :) I even did a fair share of my Christmas shopping from local crafts-people here.

A cozy little place that serves good coffee and food. It's kept very clean too and to me gives a kind of bohemian vibe. They make their own bread which is delicious (try the pecan bread!) and the staff is friendly and helpful. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a quick cup of coffee with a sandwich or ice cream.