This entire building is art. There's no describing it unless you go inside. It's a remodeled church turned cafe with tons of space for hanging out on couches, playing board games, sitting and reading, etc. There's a children's corner for playing (but it's not at all loud). Whoever designed the interior is a creative genius: the paint and the decorations are gorgeous. The food is excellent, too, with generous portions: soups, salads, sandwiches, pizza, and so many amazing pastries and pies. Excellent coffee selection. A treasure house that you must see to believe.
Review Source:I just wanted to say that I gasped and gawked when I first walked in the double doors and and observer said, "First time here?" with a knowing smile. Â The food (best biscuits and gravy) is so, so, so good. Â
This is a bit of a divergence, but for those who care about such things...my boyfriend luuuurves the bathroom. Â
(This doesn't warrant any star demerits but a suggestion for to-go cups is cardboard rather than styrofoam.)
I normally love beans but it seems they have had a change in staff and today I had an awful experience. The barista was rude to begin with and I had ordered the pangea panini sandwich. I specifically stressed that I'm a vegetarian wanted the sandwich without meat. The sandwich arrived and the first concern - there were stickers on the sliced pears. I decided it wasn't a big deal and bit in to the sandwich anyways to find that there was in fact meat. To those of you who are also vegetarians you'll know this is a BIG DEAL. When I brought the sandwich back the barista didn't even apologize. She scowled and asked whether I wanted a new sandwich or money back. I was too nauseous to eat so I chose to just get my money back. She returned a couple of minutes later and again without apologizing just slapped the money on the table. I'm disappointed with the way this was handled and want to urge the management to talk to their staff about this.
Review Source:This cafe in a converted church is unique and cozy. It is fun to just walk in and look around at the architectural details and decorations. The main dining area is open, with a high ceiling, stained glass windows, and diverse seating areas, some separated by screens or different floor levels. I love to visit and imagine that I live there.
Whimsical touches, such as an old bathtub used as a drink cooler, abound. I love to poke around and climb up the stairs to the balcony. I'm not really sure if I'm supposed to do that, but I like high places and secret hiding spaces. The red bathroom is fun, too.
There are fun things for kids to play with, such as toys and dress-up costumes, although keeping the little ones from getting their fingers into everything is a constant job.
The coffee and food are good, but the real attraction is the place itself. Desserts are yummy. Live music on Sundays (?) adds a nice touch. This is a great destination for when you want to sit back and enjoy something different.
Paradise found, on a trip back from one of our favorite b & b's we needed some caffeine, this place more than fit the bill. The charm of this place, from the venue itself to the live music to the food, this place is pretty freaking awesome! As far as coffee shops go, this is what it is all about! Perfect vibe, awesoem voffee and amazing food!
Review Source:This place is SO cute - it's a church converted into a coffee joint - they have some cute things to sell, such as keychains, stationery, little toys, jewelry, etc. Â I love the clawfoot bathtub filled with ice, containing some of the beverages they sell. Â The place itself is spacious, with large tables, random pieces of tables and shabby chic sofas and chairs to relax, chit-chat, study, and/or do work. Â I tried their Iced Chai drink, and it was the right amount of spice - delicious-tasting icy slushee drink. Â They also have pastries available, like croissants, lemon bars, muffins, and rice krispie drinks; I've heard that their entrees are good, too. Â There are metered parking up along the Potomac St, and this place is located in a very quite historic town of Brunswick.
Review Source:Stumbled in here while biking the C&O and had an unbelievable experience. We spent the day biking through sleet and rain and were exhausted by the time we got to Brunswick. Stopped in for some chili and hot cocoa and it was delicious. One of the staff noticed our plight, and because there was no place to stay in town, offered us a ride to Harper's Ferry. INCREDIBLY NICE AND GENUINE PEOPLE. If that gesture isn't enough to win your business, the place was also has an awesome design (old church), great food, and drinks too.
Review Source:Stopped by today during a Sunday drive to pick up a cup of coffee to go and ended up sitting around for about an hour just because this place is so freakin' cool.
We're probably going to stop back in for breakfast next weekend because I'm a sucker for sausage gravy and biscuits and the food that I saw coming out of the kitchen looked pretty good. I'd also love to stop back by when they have a band.
This little Gem of a place surprised me when i first walked in. it's a BEAUTIFUL atmosphere!! Â i would probably give three stars based upon the mood and ambiance alone.....
I've been here three times now. Â After the first visit, I've gone out of my way to return. Â I consider the deserts to be delicious and the coffee 'just right'
I want to give this place a two star; however, the manager/owner needs to take note of this review; BIG TIME. Â I think this place is incredibly over-rated. Â I just don't get it.
This place and the decor was gorgeous. Â Loved all the stained glass windows. Â The service was fine, although forgettable.
We came here for Sunday brunch.  At 10am, they weren't serving it, which we could have seen on the website ahead of time, which is our fault.  The chef apparently doesn't get there till 11am, however we could still order off their breakfast menu, but  they only had "easy eggs" and "no frying pan."  No thanks to microwaved non-farm fresh eggs.  I expected far more for a well reviewed restaurant in an area dotted with farms. Â
I ordered the biscuits with sausage gravy.  I should have asked for my money back.  It tasted exactly like cream of mushroom soup (the  condensed kind) with bits of sausage in it.  I'm almost certain it was that soup because it was way over salted.  I can't stress enough how disappointed I was.  It was gross.  I asked the employee how it was made and he said "I don't know, our owner/manager brings it in."  Also, the biscuits didn't taste very flavorful and the butter was bland Sysco.
I tried the coffee and quiche, which came with greens. Â The coffee perfectly good and the quiche was meh... good taste of mushrooms, however, it was the last slice in the cooler fridge and it tasted like it might have been made on a Monday or Tuesday.
I'd happily come back for coffee and to relax, as its a gorgeous comfortable spot, however, if you expect fresh or good quality food, I can't give you my vote of confidence. Â I would never order food here again. Â This is the second one star review I have done in my 90 something reviews on yelp thus far.
What a gem we happened to come across.. Thanks to Yelp! Â
We were driving home, tired from a long day in Virginia and needed coffee. Â Beans in the Belfry happened to be on our way home. Â It was a Saturday afternoon ~ 5 p.m. and there was barely a hush in the quiet town of Brunswick when we parked in front of the coffee shop. Â There were a few people in the coffee shop at that time.
As you can see from the photos, the building is a beautiful old church converted into a coffee shop. Â Stained glass cast colorful light on an array of shabby chic furniture (sofas and tables) to lounge on or quietly work on a laptop as you enjoyed coffee. Â Even the bathroom was gorgeous.
The iced coffee we had was bold and strong. Â Service was friendly. Â
We walked around and discovered that they offer music on weekend nights and Sunday brunch. Â They serve alcohol as well. Â We will return. Â I wish we lived close-by.
Couldn't give it a five star yet b/c of my limited experience but may revise once I go back.
An amazing little coffee/food spot. The service was absolutely wonderful and the food was great. If you are coming up the trail and need a place to grab some coffee and rest your tired legs this is the place to do it. The barista recommended the turkey panini and it was excellent. Don't miss this on your trip through.
Review Source:My wife and I went here the other day, as we are always looking for a nice coffeehouse to spend some time in.  This place is a wonderful idea, has a wonderful feel, and the food I had was very good.  It's cozy, yet spacious.  My only negative experience was that  the place isn't just old in a good way - it seems dirty.  There is a small stage set up as a kid's area, which is very nice, but the floor is a very old, stained carpet.  I had the mixed feelings of enjoying letting my 2 year old son play there and worrying about how dirty it was.  Overall, I mostly love the place, but feel a slight hesitation when I think about it.
Review Source:I'd been wanting to check this place out for a while and can't believe I put it off for so long. Â I was missing out on so much! Â A friend and I went for the first time to open mic night tonight. Â We expected it to be like most open mic nights everywhere else where a lot of the entertainment comes from watching people perform badly. Â Not here. Â There is a enormous amount of talent in this area. Â We were amazed by some of the seriously moving performances, as well as some that made me fight the urge to get up and start dancing. Â It included a man who I swear was Kenny Rodgers in hiding and another man who sounded EXACTLY like Roy Orbison. Â There was also a woman with a deep, raspy, perfectly-imperfect voice who performed in such a beautifully intense way it could bring someone to tears. Â
We were welcomed to join some delightful strangers at a table who we chatted with briefly between performers. Â Everyone seemed so friendly there. Â
I had the ginger-peach iced tea ($2.55 with free refills) and it was delicious, but not as good as my friend's tropical iced tea. Â
We didn't get a chance to order food since we chose to eat at a local BYOB taco house, but the food looked fantastic. It was mostly around $5-10 for a light dinner/full lunch. Â
Since there was only one person working as the barista/chef, the service was slow, though friendly, but the speed didn't matter because we were fully entertained while waiting. Â Everything else about this place makes up 100 times over for the slow service. Â
I highly recommend making the long drive out to Brunswick for this place, especially is there is live music playing.
Locals rave about it. Â I can see why. Â It's what a coffee/tea place should be. Â Cozy, friendly with good service, yummy food and kid friendly. Â A lot to ask for one little place, but it makes my list of places of I-will-drive-hours-to-enjoy.
I went for the first time yesterday. Â I could tell my kids were happy when they easily flopped on the comfy cushions on one of the benches. Â For moms, it's totally kid friendly. Â They have a dress up/costume trunk for the kids to play in. Â There's even a football helmet that has the logo for Beans in the Belfry. Â There's a cute dollhouse for kids to play with too and my 2 year old loved that. Â The live music was enjoyable and my kids chatted up the musician afterwards. Â And he was friendly and didn't mind their questions. Â So that's cool in my book.
The tea! Â I'm not a coffee drinker, so I can't vouch for the coffee but the tea I loved. Â They serve Mighty Leaf's brand and I had the Pear Caramel, loose leaf. Â Yum! Â Even stood on its own without cream and sugar.
The food! Â I asked the barista guy what would be a good choice of food for a first timer. Â He suggested the Molten Lava Cake a la mode. Â And he was right. Â Decadent and perfect. Â But I have a feeling any of the food choices they offered, I would have been pleased with.
The decor is quirky chic. Â A purple porcelain bath tub is loaded with ice that keeps the soda. Â Green walls with purple ceiling. Â Old pictures and books everywhere. Â And the perfect reading chairs and sofas. Â You look around and see the stained glass windows and realize it all fits as it should be.
I asked my kids can we go back. Â All 3 said yes. Â
Beans in the Belfry people, can you make this a franchise????
I love this place. I was in the area for the weekend and looked on trusty ol' Yelp for advice on where to go and what to do. Beans in the Belfry came up in the list and I noticed that it was a cafe in what used to be a church. I thought the concept sounded interesting and wanted to give it a try. Well, it turns out we drove right by it on our way to Harper's Ferry, so we stopped in for my coffee fix and some sandwiches to take with us on our hike. I was amazed by the place as soon as we walked in. It is perfectly decorated - cozy and welcoming. The owners were there and they just couldn't have been nicer. When we told them we were going to hike near Harper's Ferry, the owner told us the bugs had been really bad lately and asked if we had bug spray. When we said we didn't bring any, she went out to her car and brought back hers, and told just just to leave it behind the shop when we got back. Well, we used it and gave it right back, but I almost wish we had taken it with us so that we would have had an excuse to come back later.
On top of all that, the sandwiches were excellent and we enjoyed our bug-free hike. And I got so wrapped up in looking around the shop and talking to the owners that I forgot to order my coffee - so you know it HAD to be good. Do yourself a favor and check it out!
This place is so unexpected in old Brunswick - but how welcome they are by locals for sure - and all the people who know about it from the canal hiker/bikers to tourists in general.
I have a favorite - the Roma Pannini, and have been known to drive from Frederick, MD to Brunswick just because I have the taste of that sandwich and have to have it.
Atmosphere is great- can sit for hours and read, study, or internet surf, and no one bothers you. Â Besides, the coffee is as good as it comes.
Watch out for the parking tickets, it is easy to lose track of time, and a pain to go to the police station to pay the fine.
Sometimes it's nice to take a drive outside of the city and cruise beyond the x-burbs. Â We may fail to remember that what lays outside of the hills of DC is not the Earth's edge, but a trove of relics of past wars, industrialization and subtle ways of life. Â
Beans in the Belfry is located in Brunswick, Maryland.  It's housed by a 100 year-old church that's a stone's throw from the local MARC station, (and slightly more than a stone's throw from Harper's Ferry, WV).  This cafe offers a full range of non-alcoholic drinks, sweet tidbits, vegetarian & gluten free fare, a delightful twice-weekly British tea service and  jazz brunch on Sundays! Â
This place was my saving grace last spring. Â The natural light pouring through the stained glass windows, softly-lit lamps sparsely present, comfortable seating and medium-dark sea green walls has provided me on a few occasions with a calming atmosphere to read and write. Â (It's a great place to do this on Sunday afternoons.) Â
Similar to the American Bison, the locally owned American coffee shop is  a dying breed.  Beans in the Belfry is the golden buffalo.
When there is a McStarbucks on every corner, this is what we lose.
I wish coffee houses like this were the norm, not the pleasant and memorable exception.
Live music, great clientele (makes for spectacular people watching), good coffee, good food and dessert, and a really interesting atmosphere ...
What's not to like?
Must see if you are passing through, shame on you if you're local and not a regular.
"I wish we had a place like this near us." - Mrs. Chris D.
So what if it feels like you traveled to a land called Honahlee the moment you step through the doors. So what if it's likely to be patronized by people who appear to live on the fringe on society. So what if you're likely to see a role playing game unfolding at the table next to you. All these things are a sign you're not in your neighborhood McStarCaribou and that's a good thing unless you thrive in uniformity.
The employees are pleasant. The food is good. The coffee is better. The wifi is free. Grab a table, sip your favorite drink and stop rushing all over the damn place. Sometimes the best things in life are when you aren't really doing anything at all... and Beans seems to encourage that without really trying.
The best coffee-shop in Maryland, why are you so far away from where I live?
Located in a former church, it's amazingly well decorated with light flowing though the stained glass windows onto various couches and chairs.
We arrived on Sunday to find a 3-piece group playing songs with pep but, not so loud as to aggravate a hangover.
What a treat. Â A perfect light lunch (panini and salad) in a beautiful setting. Â A 7-piece group was playing random old-time fiddle-folk tunes in the corner of the huge space but we had no problem hearing each other. Â Newspapers were available for browsing free. Â A delightful place. Â And the panini was really good - clearly made from scratch.
Review Source:This is a great little gem in the town of Brunswick, MD. Â Beans in the Belfry is a church turned coffee shop, complete with a little Net Cafe located in the choir loft. Â Cushy chairs, sofas, sushions, and some original pews make up a rag-tag and eclectic mix of customer seating.
Sunday's are devoted to Jazz Brunch, but honestly, you can probably find live musicians soulfully filling the place with bluegrass, jazz, and other musical genera on just about any night of the week.
Their coffee / tea selection is good, definitely equal (if not better) than your generic Starbucks Big Box coffee shop. Â And there is always a bunch of assorted pastries in the case. Â However, the best part of Beans is that they have real food! Â Their home-made paninis, soups, and quiche is to die for!! Â Personally, I recommend the Lorraine Quiche and the Chicken Tortilla soup.
Wifi is free here, so even if you have to get a little last minute work done while you unwind it's no charge to you.
oh my gawd.. i came here for a meeting and ordered the mocha and breakfast croissant. Â i didn't expect a huge dollop of whip cream with chocolate swirls on top of my yummy mocha or the flaky croissant with yummy bacon and eggs. Â Not to mention, the awesome interior with stained glass, high ceilings and all sorts of knick-knacks that makes this place one of a kind. Â If you're in the area, then it's a great place to stop by and warm up. =) Â Since my future meetings will most likely be held there again, I'd definitely come back for sure.
Review Source:This is our second stop on the way to Cow Capers at South Mountain Creamery after Leesburg, where we spent about 1.5 hours at the outlets.
So, we're on the road, I think headed NW and we stop by Brunswick, MD. Â It's a small, sleepy little town that's a stop on the MARC train to Union Station. Â We've been here several times since 2000, the year we took a driving trip for antiques. Â In the Washington Post's Style section, a writer highlighted Brunswick as a place for antiques, slightly-used, and really-used furniture. Â In those days, we were a little strapped for cash and were willing to drive the 50 miles to see what we could find.
Last fall, coincidentally on another trip to South Mountain Creamery, we decided to drive through Brunswick. Â At that time, we walked along Potomac Street, the main thoroughfare, from one end to the other. Â It only took 15 minutes (and that's with a 3 year old!) and at the far end away from our car, we noticed this small church that had been converted into a shop.
We enter and it was like stepping into this Alice in Wonderland world, where the church had been turned into a coffeehouse that served great drinks, sandwiches, quiche, soup, and desserts. Â The walls are painted in a muted color that highlighted the beauty of the light shining through many stained-glass windows. Â It's a dazzling, comforting effect. Â
Last October, it was a Sunday afternoon when we happened upon Beans in the Belfry. Â It was somewhat filled with families and everyone was just hanging out, eating brunch and drinking fun non-alcoholic drinks. Â It's a menage of serviceable tables and comfy, shopworn couches. Â What was most fun for us and Max was this corner where kids could hang out, playing with a dollhouse and other, assorted toys. Â All we got were drinks and those were pretty good.
This time around, we got there shortly after 1pm and we were the only customers for most of the hour we spent at Beans in the Belfry. Â It was a really wonderful hour. Â We had a leisurely lunch of sandwiches, soup, quiche, and pie. Â My husband and I were seated at one of the sofas while Max was alternately zooming his matchbox cars over all the tables, discovering the many nooks and crannies, and playing with the dollhouse.
The food, as we'd suspected last fall, was really good and comforting. Â I had french onion soup and a slice of quiche. Â My husband and Max both had sandwiches and pie a la mode. Â It was a very satisfying meal and atmosphere.
Like many places I write about, I don't recommend a special trip. Â That's not why I yelp. Â I like to write about places that are accidental discoveries, which make the specific experience magical and highly personal.
So, if you ever find yourself in Western Maryland and within a couple of miles of Brunswick, make the detour. Â It'll make you feel good afterwards.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
