Dog Bar Jim: The Coffee Shop

By far and away, the BEST espresso drinks I have had in Maine. Fantastic food as well. Small and eclectic. You might have to stand in line, but I promise it's worth the wait!

If George RR Martin's creation of Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, New Mexico was transformed into a coffee shop, it would become Dog Bar Jim. This place is great. It's quirky, artsy, energetic and has authentic community vibes. It's rightfully popular with the locals and you can tell the staff has a big care factor. The menu options are awesome and the coffee is top quality. We travel full time and always try to find the best local coffee shops; this was a fun stop on our way through the area. Highly recommend.

We were lucky enough to discover this little gem coffee shop on the way up to Acadia from Portland. It has great food, service, and atmosphere. Between 4 of us in our group, we tried both the brewed coffee and espresso drinks and all were great. We also had breakfast sandwiches and pastries and those were wonderful also. Their everything bagel sandwiches had seasoning on both sides which I loved. The person behind the counter, who may have been the owner, was super friendly. We highly recommend this coffee shop!

Unassuming little coffee bar you could easily miss if you don’t have sharp eyes. Friendly service and clearly a neighborhood fav. Absolutely delicious scone with chamomile and white chocolate and other ingredients I forgot. Chai latte was good. Worth a stop for sure.

If you are ever in the Brunswick area, you have to go to Dog Bar Jim! Especially on a Friday night— Jack and I had the BEST burgers ever, like it was insane. A super special spot with even better decor. The staff was also super kind and inviting. Michael was our server and just the best! Will absolutely be coming back.

Top-tier breakfast spot. Wait at the counter to get awesome sandwiches/prepared drinks, or do quick self check-out on the side for drip coffee and premade burritos/sandwiches (which are amazing). Workers are great. Vibes are high.

I arrived at 12:59 and the baristo was still happy to serve me. Will have to stop again on the way south - I can see why the reviews are so strong!

Am I in Red Hook? Heaven? Love this place so much. Their savory sandwiches are an excellent addition to the wonderful pastry and bagel offerings. Coffee is spectacular. I appreciate the space they create and share. Looking forward to trying a Golden Demise evening meal.

This is an unassuming off the beaten path establishment and well worth a stop in if you don't mind a 10-20 min wait to order. There is no real menu displayed for food stuffs (except a hand written sign up front) but breakfast sandwiches are offered . We ordered 2 breakfast sandwiches, 1 egg with cheese and meat, the eggs cooked as requested. My understanding is the meat changes daily so we got one bacon and another with the meat of the day (a Mexican steak which was fantastically flavorful). Both were served on a brioche bun. I heard hash browns and other add ons are possible so be sure to listen and ask. There is also a display case with fresh baked goods which went fast! The barista had his hands full with coffee orders, but he was so friendly and entertaining, treating each customer like he or she was the only one there. The iced tea was a delicious blend,the breakfast sandwiches were so satisfying, and the walnut iced cake (or was it pecan?) was to die for! Quirky, casual and and welcoming atmosphere. Outdoor seating available. We walked here, but on street parking and clean restroom.

This coffee shop has raised the standard so high that most other coffee shops can't live up. Ben makes everyone feel right at home while whipping up fantastic lattes and breakfast. I only wish we lived closer so we could check in each week!

Best breakfast sandwich I've ever had and I've had so many. This was a special Monday sandwich with egg, brisket, cheese, hash brown and chili crisp ketchup. Nicest, most chill guy running the place. A total "bro". The food is immaculate. The Bombon had great flavors and high quality. Personally wasn't my type of flavors but I still enjoyed it. My girlfriend got an Iced caramel latte that was well made, just the right amount of sweet. If you are in the area, you must come here. If you don't, you are making a mistake and missing out for the rest of your life.

DBJ has been my stop either to or from vacation every year and it's never let me down. If I moved to Brunswick, it would be for this place, and I would probably never do groceries or cook for myself again. Long live Dirty Larry's, long live the creative hand pies, flawless pastries, and cold cold drinks, and hopefully I'll time an ethereal burger night some day. This is the platonic and romantic ideal of what a proper coffeehouse art space sandwich joint ice cream haus should be and I am so glad we exist at the same time.

Great local coffee shop stopping on the way home to Boston. Ben replied, "Sometimes we all have to go back to Massachusetts." It's a cozy, funky shop with 90s decor and a local favorite. Ben, the owner, was amazing, humorous, and a fantastic conversationalist. There was a decent line, and overhearing the conversations at the counter, it seems like he knows everyone and everyone knows him. They've been open for 4 years and hopefully will continue to grow. I was really looking forward to the delicious breakfast sandwiches pictured, but they are only available on the weekends. I probably wouldn't have stopped here if I knew that in advance, but I'm glad I did anyways. I ordered one of the best Chai Lattes ever, along with a bagel and shmear. My friend ordered a latte and a turnover. Fantastic service, drinks, and food. Highly recommended. Ambience: 5/5 Food: 5/5 Drinks: 5/5 Dog Bar Jim: 5/5 P.S. In Fall '22 they are currently hiring. Thank you Ben + team!

Excellent americano and breakfast burrito! Friendly locals. Great coffee house ambiance.

Delicious breakfast sandwich, and quick, friendly service! The ambience inside is relaxed and cozy.

Fun interior, great murals outside, and a fantastic iced Americano! I would have loved to have spent more time here, but I just dashed in to grab coffee for the road. The barista was really friendly and the crew worked efficiently together. If I'm ever in Brunswick again, I will happily visit.

We enjoyed delicious muffins, tea, and coffees from this great neighborhood coffee shop. Highly recommend this sweet little place!

I asked a local couple "if one was looking for a delicious cup of coffee where would one go?" Dog Bar Jim was the answer and they were right! I go simple usually these days and got a medium drip-the Guatemalan was the ticket. Flavorful, Hot (hard to find recently) and delicious. Highly recommend and will be coming back everyday of my visit! A big thank you to the locals for this excellent recommendation

We have been visiting Maine for a week searching without success for some great brewed coffee. Thanks to a tip from a local we headed out to Dog Bar Jim. It was worth the drive. Finally we found some great tasting fresh and hot coffee! The bagel sandwiches were really good too. This funky little converted rustic house coffee shop business is thriving for a reason ... because it excels where it counts, service, coffee and food.

Stopped in Brunswick briefly on our way to Portland and omg, this place made us wish we booked an Airbnb here instead! From a Kali Ma statue to random framed pictures of Bill Murray, or Christmas lights and New Orleans beads, there's no shortage of freaking cool things to look at. Then, last but not least theres some BOMB coffee and even more stellar service to rave about. Tried one of the house specials, the cafe bonbon. OMG, it tasted like a coconut Vietnamese coffee. Did not expect that but loved it. Now I understand why a coffee shop on such a sleepy quiet street had a long line out the door. While we waited, couldn't help but overhear the hilarious conversations between the owner and customers; almost felt as if there was no wait, everyone was treated like friends and family, both locals and tourist passers by alike! Bonus: there's a nice outdoor patio in the back.

No doubt the coffee is excellent and the baked good are yummy. My favorite part though is the friendly staff. I come here often. It can get busy in the morning but definitely worth the wait.

Funky decor, I love the use of old photos in the bathroom which was very clean. The my double meat included breakfast sandwich was overflowing with flavor and golden perfectly fried eggs which in the words of the owner, "napkins napkins napkins my friend! You outdid yourself" If you were a stranger when you walked in the barista who I believe is the owner Ben makes you feel like a good friend! Amazing how fast waiting in line becomes fun and interesting listening to him interact with even the shyest of tourists! Try one of the signature drinks you won't be disappointed.

had one of the best breakfast sandwiches ever here! the ingredients used are either local or organic and you can taste it! the guy running the spot is super friendly and inviting. will definitely be back next time i'm in the area.

One man band it seems but He is working hard and quick enough. Place is small which sucks, not enough places to sit. Had the specialty bon something. Can't recall name. But it had sweet and condensed coconut milk and iced. It was delicious and different. Really enjoyed it even though it's sweet. Kind of like a Vietnamese coffee. Had the vanilla oat latte and also very good and not sweet which was nice. Tried an espresso shot by itself. Very smooth with a hint of bitter but not bad. Tried the raspberry scone thing and it was ok. Ethiopia drip father enjoyed. Sign says most everything is organic or non gmo which is awesome to get good quality. Would go again for sure.

The line is always there, but it's worth it. Coffee is good especially we can bring our little boo dog inside. We'll come back again

Lovely little shop! Excellent coffee & the bagels are big and yummy! .. I just wish they had better hours. Only open 8-1. Most people have classes or work that start at 8am.. it'd be great to be able to swing in at 7 before work to start the day off right

Great hole in the wall coffee shop. The dude at the register was super friendly and efficient at the same time. Breakfast Sandy's were delicious. Highest recommendation

This place has a great vibe indescribable by words, and you got to see it. Everything is made in-house. The espresso machine brings the good old days to mind with the pneumatic levers that allow for the perfect brew. The variety of sandwiches and pastries is second to none. And, of course, the owner has the know-how and wit, and unwavering humor while helping you choose breakfast on the first day of the rest of your lives.

Great coffee, bagels and breakfast burritos. Super friendly, great people, clean bathroom and lots of amenities to take care of your coffee drinkin', bagel eatin' needs. Sorry, no pics of the place or food.

Dog Bar Jim's would get 10 stars from me! Eclectic, cool vibe. The line is usually out the door or close to it. There's never a rush for your order, the owner is one of friendliest baristas I've ever met. Food consists mostly of pastries and a couple of hot items. If you see that the Macacha Breakfast Burrito is available go ahead and get one with the green sauce. Words just do not do that amazing yumminess justice. The coffee is superb! Everything is local sourced either organic or non-gmo. I'll go back every time I'm in the area!

Stellar next level coffee! True coffee crafters. Not that below average brown water you might fall victim to. This is well thought through coffee made with great thought and care.

Best coffee in town without a doubt! Delicious food too -- great breakfast sandwiches and dinner options. The staff are great, Ben takes time to get to know regulars. Not a ton of seating, but has a great vibe and awesome ambiance. A real gem of Brunswick.

My husband and I are up here for vacation and one of my favorite things is trying local coffee shops and this one didn't disappoint. The coffee is so good and the owner is even better. Super friendly and you can tell he cares about his customers.

Awesome food and coffee, everything super fresh! The breakfast burrito with Filipino bacon, egg, cheese and a bit of rice was super delicious. The owner is a funny dude and enjoys chatting with his customers. The prices are very reasonable, too! $10 for a hearty breakfast is a deal.

I might not be qualified to leave a review since I am not a big coffee drinker, but I have heard lots of good things about this place so I decided to try it because I love supporting local businesses. My wife and I came here for bagels and I got an iced tea. First and foremost, the guy working behind the counter, who I am guessing is an owner, was fantastically friendly and efficient. Really welcoming and made you feel at home. The space is actually more spacious than it appears from the outside. The decor is eclectic and interesting... an old TV playing Seinfeld episodes. The bagels were good..... a little interesting... kind of like a mix between a bagel and an English muffin, but very tasty. For what it's worth, the house made iced tea was very good as well. We will definitely be back!

our family was visiting from california. i have a couple bougie coffee snobs in my family that are very particular about their coffees and chais. well here's the good news and the bad news. good news is this place had the best drinks in my family's opinion. bad news, sadly we found them on our last day of vacation. in the words of my daughter "why couldn't you have found this place on day one?" i ordered the everything bagel and herbed cream cheese. that cream cheese had a little kick to it and the dill in it made it mmmmmm delicious. it was a little crowded inside, so we sat on the back patio. it was quiet and quaint. what we loved and each of my family members mentioned was the time the women there took to answer any questions we had, and it seemed like we had a lot. quite a line was forming, but the girls there never seemed bothered or annoyed. they were kind and gracious with us. so overall, sad we didn't find them til the end of our trip. but sure glad we got to experience that Brunswick charm and kindness and amazing drinks and bagels (the blueberry scone was delish too). also, sadly i walked out and forgot to purchase a tee. my husband wanted one and i forgot. hopefully i can figure out a way to buy one and have it shipped. til next time Maine!!

Great sandwiches and nice, laid back vibe. The staff was very welcoming and helpful. Loved the decor too.

Best cappuccino and the egg sandwich was to die for! Worth the trip on our way to Camden from Portland

Just amazing staff, atmosphere, coffee and food. Can't go wrong with anything. Had the chai and a pork handmade pie before the trip out of Maine. Absolutely wonderful and Leslie answered every question in the book

I love the vibe and products at DBJ! The people who work there are down to earth and friendly and you can tell the ingredients are sourced with care. It's off the Main Street and is a nice place to hang, drinking a coffee or any of their other cool creative drinks, the food is also on point, and everything can easily be made to go. Get some!

Such an awesome find a little off the beaten path. Coffee, pastries and service were all outstanding. Will definitely be back whenever we are in town.

Delicious coffee as expected and all the review did mention how good the baked goods were but I was not at all prepared for the LIFE CHANGING experience that was their Strawberry Allspice muffin. Great great local coffee shop highly recommended

Funky, small, coffee shop with great coffee. Friendly, welcoming and helpful workers.

Passing through on the way to Acadia. This is place is a gem. The coffee, baked goods and vibe was 10/10

Hippest coffee joint in the hood. Great brews, teas and treats. The owner is super friendly!

My favorite coffee shop in the world. Love the coffee especially and the bagels with chili crisp and the barristas. What happened to the one man running the whole thing?

Friendly peeps, delicious comestibles, funky space. What's not to love. We do bnbs close so we can walk in all weathers.

Best coffee in Brunswick. The owner Ben is one of the nicest people I've ever met and he's extremely passionate about coffee. The pastries are good, I had a bread pudding muffin recently that was delicious. I just love this place, it's a Brunswick gem.

Brewed coffees are quietly the best in town as are the barista drinks. Imaginative bakery items are always stellar. The fact that so many of us lined up down the street in all sorts of weather during the pandemic just to get our Dog Bar fix says it all. Come for fabulous coffee and stay for the personality, service and humor. If nothing else, catch an old Seinfeld rerun on the old tv!

Breakfast sandwich was super savory and loaded with saucy goodness. Staff so friendly, new favorite place!

This coffee shop is in a convenient location and on the way from home to work and back for me. The espresso drinks are well made and of a variety that you don't normally see these days. The brewed coffee is from freshly roasted beans and there are always light, medium and dark options. Baked goods are home made for the most part. The bagels come from a local place in South Portland, and can be had plain or with several schmears concocted in house. The smoked trout schmear is particularly fine, as is the jalapeno. Very tasty muffins too, with delicious flavor combinations. Though cozy, there area variety of seating options with privacy for conversation and free WiFi for laptops and tablets. Lingering over a refill is on the menu. I recommend any coffee lover come and experience Dog Bar Jim for what it is, a high quality, locally owned and operated coffee house with regulars who keep coming back for great drinks, a cool vibe and comfort.

THE best small coffee bar/bakery in town! The owner is not only genuine and friendly, he has a great imagination for different and delicious scones, muffins, breakfast sandwiches and burritos (depending on the day if the week), sweet rolls, buttery shortbread and hand pies. How about a bacon, egg and cheese on small waffles with spicy maple glaze? Mexican chocolate scones are a patron favorite available Tuesdays and Saturdays. The last hand pie we had was butternut squash, caramelized onions, Brie and (I think ricotta?). So good! On my first (of many) visit months ago when I asked the owner what was in his front case, he started to describe the sweet roll with a red wine glaze and I said he could stop there. Wow that was so interesting! Fresh coffee is excellent. So if you haven't been to this little neighborhood sport, go down there between 8am and 1pm Tuesday thru Saturday and try it! You will not be disappointed.

Super friendly and efficient service made us feel very welcome. Really excellent tea. Enjoy the smoked trout cream cheese on a bagel. Definitely making this a favorite place to return to!

Brunswick is a college town and this coffee shop is very near Boudin so it's frequented by nice college students and occasional old farts like us. We had the coffee Bombon, it was green, surprisingly, iced, had a sweet start with a really delicious espresso finish. Also tried a piece of honey cake which was very good. The Chef dude was very funny, we had a good time enjoying the atmosphere. We bought an interesting tee shirt and heard an interesting story and got introduced to the music of Danny ben-israel. We visited twice during our stay in Brunswick. Worth a try.

Pardon my language, but holy shit was this place great! It's a small space, but that provided the right amount of intimacy and coziness. I got a seaweed bagel with cream cheese, paired with a lovely americano. If a seaweed bagel sounds too bizarre, or perhaps grosses you out (as it initially did to me), no need to worry, it was splendid. Met the owner, too. I really gathered his passion for gourmet, craft coffee. A must!

This is the spot! He's great food and coffee. Best coffee in Maine! Handpies nice surprise!

What's great about this place is that if I'm with a tea drinker, they carry really good organic tea from a local company. Oh, and the sandwiches! And the muffins. Okay, everything.