Great coffee, chill bohemian vibe, and surprisingly friendly staff for this part of the world. The unique juxtaposition of the chill coffeeshop atmosphere with a serious love of music makes this one of the cooler coffee shops you'll find around this area, and the food is nothing to turn your nose up at, either. They have a modest menu of great quality coffees, made to near-perfection, and a menu boasting of both healthy and not-so-healthy bagels and pastries, which are all equally delicious, (yes, the healthy ones, too). They have decadent toffee cheesecakes and big vegan cookies made with oats and coconut, chewy brownies and high-quality chocolates. Pick your poison, they all pair perfectly with their java. Check out their social media pages, as I hear they usually hold special events that you don't want to miss if you're ever in the area. So, take a chill pill and enjoy. read more

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Very cute coffee shop hidden in exmouth market. I walked from kings cross station and needed a place to grab some drinks and rest. I ordered ice latte with oat milk, which is pretty impressive as I didn't expect much anyway. It's quite "milky" but since it's plant based, it doesn't make my stomach suffer from digesting the drink (like I usually have to). I like the ratio of coffee and milk in my latte, the drink tastes creamy but neither of the flavor is overpowering. Overall it is a chill, warm, and cozy local cafe. It's also a good spot for 2-3 people to sit down and chat on weekend afternoon! read more

Brill - Books, Mags, Music & Video Near Me - London, XGL

One rainy Saturday I sat in a cafe in Angel complaining about the lack of a good bagel place on Twitter. Instantly I got replies, Brill in Exmouth Market, go now! So I searched it out. A cosy little record shop, that with music sales decreasing must have thought 'we need something else'. At the back is a tiny coffee area, where the lovely staff whip up the best flat white I've had, maybe ever. And fresh bagels. Bagels with cream cheese, peanut butter, hummus, rocket etc. Okay they won't fill the New York bagel hole in my heart any time soon but they are a good substitute in London. Brill is a place that is made for you to come and chill. Magazines, free wi-fi, racks of CDs to flip through. The staff couldn't be nicer. It has that cool coffee shop vibe that you don't get in London anymore. Frankly this place whoops Starbucks/Costa ass and I hope that this is the first of many visits. read more

Brill - Order the flat white! - Books, Mags, Music & Video Near Me - London, XGL

I saw this on Qype and decided to head down this morning for a client meeting. What a lovely charming place! BRILL is basically a tiny CD shop (I didn't really look at the titles for my sins) with a collection of stools and little tables as well as a kind of bench at the back for laptop users (Some were plugged in so I guess they allow power, etc). The cafe part is at the back and the food selection is small but perfect to be honest. I had a toasted cream cheese bagel (PERFECT) and a perfect Flat White. The entire experience was spot on - the staff really friendly and the vibe totally relaxed. The music was a little loud for a meeting but we didn't seem to mind. My friend loved the coffee and ended up having three! Highly recommended and I'm looking forward to going back. read more

Brill - Books, Mags, Music & Video Near Me - London, XGL

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Long live Brill. The best coffee, lovingly made. The coconut macaroons are unbelievable (and I didn't think I'd ever say that about a macaroon, which is essentially just a little mound of coconut, so god knows what they put in them). The man behind the counter, who I can only assume is Jeremy Brill himself, is great and always puts enough marmite on my bagel. This is also the only place I've found where you can buy a cream cheese and marmite bagel; it's heaven. Oh, and they sell music. Working 3 doors away has probably turned most of my insides INTO bagel. They're brick lane bagel shop bagels. Nuff said. read more

I stayed over Exmouth Market for a week on the first leg of my honeymoon. Each morning we'd troll the Market for breakfast. We didn't head into Brill until the last day, because my husband was less-than-enthused about their "bready" menu. I so wish we'd gone sooner! Months later my mouth still waters at the thought of the perfect cappuccino and mind-bending avocado and dukkah brick lane bagel, and my bread-averse, carnivorous husband agrees. I've even tried to recreate the bagel, but I can't get anything in California that even casts a shadow on the bagel, nor can I get the dukkah right. Obsessed. When I'm in London next, I'll go as far out of my way as possible to secure another! A+. read more

Just what I needed. A cozy place with bohemian feel great music and free wifi and hot tea and coffees. Locals coming in all the time having chats with the barristas. read more

Brill - Books, Mags, Music & Video Near Me - London, XGL

I like their coffee and I'm picky. I like the staff. I like how they don't charge for soy. I like how they have Brick Lane bagels and a great selection of sweets from various suppliers. I like how they have 30 different types of x-mites :) One of the two best places for coffees imho in the competitive exmouth market scene. Very cosy they surely have lots of regulars. Brill :) read more

Brill is, well, bill - in a word that is. Not quite a music store but certainly a coffee shop, Brill serves up a pretty decent cup-o-joe. I've been hearing about this place for ages and walked past it many time but since I have limited myself to two cups of coffee a day, by the time I wander down here for lunch, I've normally reached my limit. Not on this day though. I walked in and got a brownie and a coffee. Wow, now this is a brownie: Soft on the inside with a slight thin crust that crumbles in your mouth. It has none of this nut nonsense in it, just a fantastic chocolate slice. The coffee was pretty good, but nothing stand out about it. I did approve of their vegware cups though. It's also nice to note that they do take cards over a fiver and they have free wifi and a small seating area. I was a little disappointed that there was no real collection of vinyl to rummage through but, you can't have everything. read more

Awesome idea, awesome place. A wall is given over to music (mostly CDs but some vinyl) with the rest devoted to coffee and snacks. I have walked past here several times en route to another purveyor of caffeine focused products but decided to call in today. I was pleased I did because the coffee was fine and the cakes were scrumptious - the lemon cake, in particular is recommended. This would be enough to get a recommendation. However, if you add free WiFi, outdoor seating in the sun and a limited but interesting music selection to browse through you have a winner. Brill is brill, simple as that. read more

Recently I was at a gig nearby and walked down Exmouth Market. I knew that there are some nice spots, but I didn't know that there is also an excellent and tiny coffee shop! I don't know if Brill is more music or more coffee shop, but whatever it is, it's a great place to sit down. The staff is friendly, the cheddar cheese bagel delicious and the coffee great. Oh, and the raspberry and chocolate brownie, or whatever they are, are also recommended. Brill is a nice and light place that you will like if you like a good coffee. read more

Definitely one if the Finley coffee places on exmouth market, is it a Cafe or a CD shop ...how knows? :) coffee is very nice and also the crenels cheese and salmon bagel is awesome. For membership cards they use little hand made drawings of animals and characters which is a nice personal touch. :) (photo included) read more

Brill - Loyalty card at brill - Books, Mags, Music & Video Near Me - London, XGL

Perfect place to have a delicious lunch (eat in and take away)! Brill, it's a real British-rock cafe. You can ask for specific songs to listen to and discuss the choice with the owner. You can also choose between a very good bagel, a tasty salad or something sweet. Everything I tried was delicious. Plus the service is amazing! There is a great atmosphere! It's hard to choose among all the possibilities at the Exmouth Market but Brill is definitly a good pick! read more

Though it is very small, Brill has everything I need- records, magazines, coffee and cakes. I don't know why there aren't more places like this around London. I know of a few places in Soho and there is obviously Rough Trade in Brick Lane, but I can't understand why places like this haven't shot up in every neighbourhood. Brill is a perfect combination of shop and cafe and even has free wifi, so is an excellent place to sit, enjoy a coffee and do some work. read more

Brill - Books, Mags, Music & Video Near Me - London, XGL

Welcome relief for coffee and a quick Wi-Fi fix whilst doing research at the nearby London Metropolitan Archives and Society of Genealogists. read more

Brill - Books, Mags, Music & Video Near Me - London, XGL

I want to give this joint more stars because the vibe was good but the £5 avocado, feta and dukkah toast took ages to make and was super underwhelming :( It looked real goooood and I was super excited but was lacking seasoning despite the added dukkah. The staff are friendly but the bagels and toasts take ages. On the up side you've got music to browse while you wait. read more

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It was extremely wise for Brill to switch from just a CD shop to a CD shop/internet cafe. It's a mellow lil place with a nice feel to it .. and as good as most nearby for a cup of coffee. I recommend shopping or getting your coffee and bagels here if only to ensure it doesn't suffer the same fate as Metropolitan Books a few doors down (it closed a few months back). Oh yeah, free WiFi is brilliant and sadly uncommon on this street! read more

Nice little place to chill out in and pick up your emails on their very good free wifi. Like others here, I liked the selection of music & you were certainly made to feel you could just hang out, read the papers and chat with your mates. The bagels and brownies were also pretty good. Wish there were more places like this in London. read more

Love Brill! Not only do they have good coffee and snacks, but those bagels were looking pretty tempting. Free wifi and a few outlets hiding out behind a table. The staff were very friendly- with each other and all the customers- which was alternately really charming and slightly distracting. The small space combined with the hustle and bustle makes this less than perfect (but still quite good) for studying, but a great place to go for lunch. The music wall is, like the cafe, tiny but quality. Mostly CDs, some vinyl, with everything from the new M. Ward and Alabama Shakes albums to Bob Dylan, the Clash, and Thelonius Monk. read more

This place has a wonderful feel to it - it is the sort of place you will find local artists, writers - they give the place a genuine bohemian air. And as has already been mentioned - the coffee is really great. I make a point of calling in when I'm in the Exmouth market area (which is worth a visit, generally) read more

Brill - Books, Mags, Music & Video Near Me - London, XGL

Brill rules. Great knowledgeable staff. Proper, excellent music which you might expect from a cafe/music store, comes along with nice outdoor seating, on the Exmouth Market promenade, shared with chilled clientele. Good coffee, I tend to sit here and have a short espresso - if greedy I'll have a marmite toasted bagel. They make a flat white or latte if thats your fancy and it might as well be since you've made it here. Excellent for accessibility too - if you're rolling a wheelchair you'll have no problems here - a few disabled customers come in and are welcomed, which is brilliant. Good people make good coffee, one of life's golden rules. read more

Having just moved our office up here, I am new convert to the wonderful ways for Brill. Starting life as Clerkenwell Music back in the 90's it has converted to a mini-music shop come coffee joint with free wifi, local artists on the wall, and, more importantly, AWESOME coffee. I can wholeheartedly recommend Brill for good coffee and all my work colleagues would agree, as we are now obliged to call ahead and see if anyone requires a special cup of joe! If you aren't a convert already, you will be soon. read more

Having relocated offices to Clerkenwell Green, I was rather spoilt for choice for good coffee places around here. Clerkenwell Kitchen, Curved Angel and Modern Pantry are all a stones throw away, but it was only when venturing up to Exmouth Market did I find possibly the best flat white in London. Great little shop that seems to cater to the 'arty' and 'trendy' types around this area, yet doesn't come across as pretentious at all. In fact, it seems rather homely inside and would is the kind of place you could take clients to or just go and chill out in. They have a great but modest selection of rock & pop, jazz, soul, blues and reggae music, staff are friendly and as a bonus they do Vegemite bagels. As an Australian, this makes the place extra brilliant. read more

Coffee, music, bagels. The best of all three! Make sure you stop in at least 3 times a week for maximum happiness!

This is an electric coffee shop, meaning that they have more than just coffee. You can buy a magazine, some grocery, maybe some music and then sit down with you finds and chill. I bought a book and chilled with a latte since we were well ahead of schedule. Limited seating but we managed. Good customer service and fair prices. read more

Brill is a cute little coffeeshop on Exmouth Market. It really is tiny, but it plays good music (and sell used and new CDs). The coffees and hot chocolates are excellent and the small food selection is also very nice. It has a lot of regulars and I miss being one too... read more

Good coffee, good pastry, good atmosphere, friendly relaxed staff. Nothing wrong here.

Thanks to downloading, 'Clerkenwell Music' morphed into 'Brill' a couple years ago, adding coffee, bagels and wifi to the small but perfectly formed stock of CDs. Always popular with local writers and artists for the informed and passionate conversation about music, it's now a great cafe with some of the best coffee on the market and a good selection of cold drinks. Daily newspapers also on hand. read more

Great place to pick up a very decent coffee. The cakes on offer are also hard to resist. In the morning bagels are top of the list as well as the avocado on sour dough. Lovely staff and a nice place to people watch in exmouth market. read more

Great coffee, pretty good food, lots of atmosphere. Especially enjoyed spirited conversation behind the counter about the paucity of passion in contemporary music. This while playing Aretha, so money was where the mouth was. Free wifi. read more

terrific coffee and selection of toasts, bagels, and pastries. the staff is super friendly and it has a great vibe to study in. in addition, they've got an entire wall of CD's and vinyl for sale which is not something you see at every cafe. that being said, the music they play is also super great to study and chill to. overall brill is brilliant read more

This place is the shit. Full stop. Great coffee, great tunes, great energy.

Coffee is the best in London friendly staff, great if you want a coffee to what you'd expect in Melbourne