The Literary
122 N Neil St, Urbana, IL
Crema's Take
“This intimate Urbana spot doubles as a curated bookshop where literary-minded regulars linger over thoughtfully made coffee and conversation, creating the kind of gathering place that actually enforces a no-laptops-during-rush-hours policy to protect the community vibe. The kitchen shines with creative brunch options like tofu scrambles and generous vegan selections alongside their signature NYC bagel, though consistency issues with certain dishes suggest they're still refining their kitchen standards. It's the kind of place where your barista likely knows what you're reading and the local meteorologist knows your usual order.”
What to expect
Classic coffee drinks done right. A slow-sit spot, good for meetings. Full breakfast and light food on the menu. Open late.
Google Reviews
I visited The Literary for dinner and really enjoyed the overall experience. It’s a unique concept that combines a bookstore with a vegan restaurant, along with curated displays of books and small items throughout the space. The layout is creative and well-balanced, with…
One of my favorite places to eat downtown! The hashbrowns are so good - cannot not get them. I really really love the seating choice variety - small tables, counter top, outside - whatever your vibe is, they got it. Coffee is good too - they have good options for basic drinks…
I finally got around to getting over to the literary and I was not disappointed. The space is small and busy, so I appreciated their signs that requested no working/studying during their busy hours. The food was absolutely amazing on all fronts. Highly recommend the poutine.…
While my NYC bagel dish was good, we both got food poisoning from the tomato soup and grilled cheese dish. I’m assuming the cheese was bad because it was disgusting. This place needs better standards, it’s disappointing because this would otherwise be a cute cafe.
This is just a 10 star spot. They've got an awesome selection of books for their available space. The staff definitely knows what's going on in the literary world. They've got new releases, classics, BookTok hits, YA series, picture books, and literally everything in between. I…
I FINALLY got to try an item off the brunch menu at the super cool The Literary. It's a hot spot where our local WCIA Meteorologist and his wife like to visit often. Sometimes it's simply called The Lit. Heard of it? . I took my friend to a belated birthday brunch outing in…
Crema Reviews
You might also like
Good Judys Espresso & Bagel Bar
★ 4.6 (127)
Good Judys strikes that perfect balance between a quick caffeine pit stop and a…
Caffe Paradiso
★ 4.4 (599)
This cozy University of Illinois-area café has earned its reputation as a…
Lazy Daisy Diner & Cafe
★ 4.4 (181)
Lazy Daisy Diner & Cafe brings playful creativity to Urbana's coffee scene with…
Arlon's Sweets and Eats
★ 4.7 (19)
Arlon's Sweets and Eats in Urbana is a vibrant spot where the rotating drink…