Café Brera has a reputation for having the best coffee on the Wharf which, before I go any further, is true. There are three branches, the main one in Cabot Place, another on the mezzanine in Jubilee Place, and one outside at Westferry Circus. However, a few things you should know about Brera before you give them your custom. (1) Brera has the worst, rudest service of any coffee shop in London… by a mile. The staff at Brera seem to think you owe them something in addition to your money (fealty perhaps). As a result, some of the experiences I’ve had there include: trying to fob me off with a coffee someone had sent back 5mins previously (I saw it happen from the back of the queue); NEVER listening when I ask for an americano with HOT milk (including just this morning trying to tell me that I said “cold” not “hot” and refusing to make me another - no queue, no reason just plain rude); trying to tell me an americano with hot milk was a latte (I kid you not). When they are very busy not paying full attention may be just about excusable, but empty or busy seems to make no difference, they’re just not interested in your custom. The exception is the Jubilee Place branch, where the requirement to hire people with borderline personality disorder seems to have been waived. (2) Hygiene. Yes, okay, having food piled up on the counter looks pretty but there are flies everywhere. Flies wander over the pastries, over the sandwiches in the display cabinets (which aren’t covered); flies settle on the cakes and biscuits. Honestly, I’ve never been to Brera in Cabot or Westferry and not seen flies on the food. No one seems to give a damn. Never eat in Brera in the summer. (3) food quality. Most of the vegetables and herbs I’ve seen staff stuff into sandwiches looks like several days old. I give it two stars because it DOES manage to have the best coffee on the Wharf, but add all the above to the inevitable queue at lunch time and it’s just not worth it.

Terrible service. Staff is rude and unhelpful. I was having coffee when a member of staff came and rudely told me to get up because they needed a table for the lunch customers.

When I said that I'd only been there 20 minutes and it was terrible manners to order customers to vacate seats, they switched the wireless internet off (which I was using at the time).

I havent actually seen staff as poor quality as this in resteraunts. The coffee itself is quite grainy and has a fairly harsh flavor to it.

The cakes are overpriced and not really as good as other coffee shops. The pizza was quite nice however.

There is another Brera at Canary Riverside where I've been once - that is much better. Alternatively, just go to Leon or Starbucks. Much nicer.

The service at Cafe Brera in Canary Wharf is the most surly, uncooperative, dismissive and abrasive I think I have ever received in a london restaurant! The food & wine may be good, but this is ruined by the shockingly poor service.

Cafe Brera can get very busy at lunch times (as we found out yesterday), but a little wait in the queue is definitely worth it. It's a trully authentic Italian coffee house - you don't really get coffee like this in the UK so if you are partial to a little of the bean I can recommend Cafe Brera.


The food is good too, I had a pannini and it was better than average; my companion had what she described as 'sensational' soup with very good bread. So, if you're peckish, Cafe Brera's pretty good for the belly too. All in all, a very positive experience.

Cafe Brera is a good cafe in a really nice little spot. The staff are lovely and I go into Cafe Brera quite a lot.