The Abbey: Craft Coffee & Cocktails

The Abbey is part coffee shop, part cocktail bar, part restaurant, and it works because Connor and his co-founders built it around the idea of a really good dinner party. House-made mixers, specialty lattes, and a menu that doesn't close at a certain hour mean you can roll in for an espresso at 8 a.m. or a smoke-infused cocktail at 8 p.m. The room draws regulars, college professors on Sunday jazz brunches, and travelers cutting through Brunswick who suddenly don't want to leave.

• Roll a Cocktail: pick your spirit and vibe, bartender builds something unique.
• Blueberry Cobbler Latte and other house-made specialty drinks.
• Beef tartare, scallops, deviled eggs, small plates worth returning for.
• Open all day, all menu available whenever you want it.

Start with the deviled eggs and beef tartare if you're eating. Order a Blueberry Cobbler Latte if you're coming for coffee, it's smooth and strong enough to impress. The scallops are a regular's standard. If you're in the cocktail mood, ask the bartender to roll you something based on your spirit preference and whether you want sweet, herbal, or bright notes.

Understated and warm. The piano and stained glass add character without being fussy. Natural light floods in, seating ranges from couches to tables, and it's easy to stay longer than you planned.

The kitchen runs the whole show. Beef tartare, scallops, deviled eggs, house-cured meats. The Blueberry Cobbler Latte stops people mid-commute. Cocktails come with house-made syrups and infusions, order the "Roll a Cocktail" option and the bartender builds something custom based on your spirit and flavor picks. Coffee drinkers, cocktail nerds, and people who just want good food and conversation all belong here.

Regulars have been coming since opening day, stopping by weekly for lunch and early happy hour. One recent visitor called it "a true treat" during a workday. Sunday jazz brunches draw a Bowdoin professor and students. People passing through on the way to Portland end up sitting down and discovering why it won a James Beard award for Best New Bar.