Guidebook for Champaign

Craig
Guidebook for Champaign

Arts & Culture

A great place to see films the chains don't show. They serve wine and beer, as well as soft drinks and snacks.
24 locals recommend
The Art Theater
126 W Church St
24 locals recommend
A great place to see films the chains don't show. They serve wine and beer, as well as soft drinks and snacks.
Just around the corner, the Virginia is a vintage vaudeville palace that hosts music, stage, and classic film. Lots of period deco and a huge balcony -- a step back in time.
21 locals recommend
Virginia Theatre
203 W Park Ave
21 locals recommend
Just around the corner, the Virginia is a vintage vaudeville palace that hosts music, stage, and classic film. Lots of period deco and a huge balcony -- a step back in time.
Live music for those younger than we are.
Highdive
51 E Main St
Live music for those younger than we are.
Excellent, eclectic music, cheap drinks, always fun. Lots of great jazz. It's over in Urbana, so you'll have to drive or take the bus.
The Iron Post
120 S Race St
Excellent, eclectic music, cheap drinks, always fun. Lots of great jazz. It's over in Urbana, so you'll have to drive or take the bus.
Music, theater, more. Always something going on.
24 locals recommend
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
500 S Goodwin Ave
24 locals recommend
Music, theater, more. Always something going on.

Everything Else

Just a short block away, West Side Park is the place for greenery and gardens. Lots of shows and festivals in the summer months.
16 locals recommend
West Side Park
400 W University Ave
16 locals recommend
Just a short block away, West Side Park is the place for greenery and gardens. Lots of shows and festivals in the summer months.
Kids get lost here for hours.
12 locals recommend
Orpheum Children's Science Museum
346 N Neil St
12 locals recommend
Kids get lost here for hours.
Our favorite massage therapist, oh so good. Just down the street.
Cheryl Louviere ~ Santé Massage
44 E Main St
Our favorite massage therapist, oh so good. Just down the street.
Milak is the best taxi driver in town. Send him a text at (217) 693-2468. If he can't get right to you, he'll send someone you can count on.
Black Cab & Limo
Milak is the best taxi driver in town. Send him a text at (217) 693-2468. If he can't get right to you, he'll send someone you can count on.
The quintessential neighborhood bar, it's been here for more decades than we have.
18 locals recommend
Esquire Lounge
106 N Walnut St
18 locals recommend
The quintessential neighborhood bar, it's been here for more decades than we have.

Food Scene

Just out the back, Farren's has everything from healthy diving to pub fare. A likely place to run into other people from the building.
19 locals recommend
Farren's Pub & Eatery
117 N Walnut St
19 locals recommend
Just out the back, Farren's has everything from healthy diving to pub fare. A likely place to run into other people from the building.
Our own microbrewery, right within the building. You can buy growlers of beer that keep in the fridge for several days.
24 locals recommend
DESTIHL Restaurant & Brew Works
301 N Neil St
24 locals recommend
Our own microbrewery, right within the building. You can buy growlers of beer that keep in the fridge for several days.
Spectacular Asian fusion food from an amazing chef, right within the building. Do not leave town without trying this!
11 locals recommend
Miga
301 N Neil St
11 locals recommend
Spectacular Asian fusion food from an amazing chef, right within the building. Do not leave town without trying this!
Just across the street. Source of locavore food, a favorite for drinks or dinner. Also, lunch, Sunday brunch. Sidewalk seating.
38 locals recommend
Big Grove Tavern
1 E Main St
38 locals recommend
Just across the street. Source of locavore food, a favorite for drinks or dinner. Also, lunch, Sunday brunch. Sidewalk seating.
Sushi, Asian food. Sidewalk tables. Good lunch buffet.
23 locals recommend
Kofusion
30 E Main St
23 locals recommend
Sushi, Asian food. Sidewalk tables. Good lunch buffet.
Japanese restaurant with excellent sushi. Family-run, definitely a favorite.
6 locals recommend
Sushi Kame
39 E Green St
6 locals recommend
Japanese restaurant with excellent sushi. Family-run, definitely a favorite.
Longtime favorite for dining, brunch. A Latin-inspired menu.
11 locals recommend
Radio Maria
119 N Walnut St
11 locals recommend
Longtime favorite for dining, brunch. A Latin-inspired menu.
Just a little piece of Berkeley. Excellent coffee and food. A local favorite.
21 locals recommend
Café Kopi
109 N Walnut St
21 locals recommend
Just a little piece of Berkeley. Excellent coffee and food. A local favorite.
Lots of sandwiches, crepes, omelets, etc. And of course a good place to buy bread, bagels, and so on.
19 locals recommend
Pekara Bakery & Bistro
516 East John Street
19 locals recommend
Lots of sandwiches, crepes, omelets, etc. And of course a good place to buy bread, bagels, and so on.
When you need good coffee, an excellent alternative to Cafe Kopi.
11 locals recommend
Aroma Cafe
6 Taylor St
11 locals recommend
When you need good coffee, an excellent alternative to Cafe Kopi.
Open 24 hours. Friendly staff. Good, inexpensive diner food. A nice place for eggs and 'browns.
6 locals recommend
Merry Ann's Diner (Downtown)
1 E Main St
6 locals recommend
Open 24 hours. Friendly staff. Good, inexpensive diner food. A nice place for eggs and 'browns.
An Irish pub, right within the building.
Dublin's Pub
301 N Neil St
An Irish pub, right within the building.
Mongolian BarBQ, right within M2.
301 Mongolia
301 N Neil St
Mongolian BarBQ, right within M2.
In Campustown, but worth the trip. Small and intimate, expect a wait to be seated. But if you really like sashimi, you'll be blown away!
11 locals recommend
Sakanaya
403 E Green St
11 locals recommend
In Campustown, but worth the trip. Small and intimate, expect a wait to be seated. But if you really like sashimi, you'll be blown away!
Known for their gourmet sliders and the whiskey selection.
32 locals recommend
Seven Saints
32 E Chester St
32 locals recommend
Known for their gourmet sliders and the whiskey selection.
Consistently good Italian restaurant. Sidewalk seating in summer. Great place to take a date.
13 locals recommend
Nando Milano
204 N Neil St
13 locals recommend
Consistently good Italian restaurant. Sidewalk seating in summer. Great place to take a date.
Authentic Neapolitan pizza cooked in handmade wood-fired ovens imported from Italy. Pizzas made in the open from quality imported ingredients. Sidewalk seating. No takeout because like real Neapolitan pizza, it needs to be eaten right out of the oven. Restaurant has a cult following of foodies from around the world. Don't miss it!
7 locals recommend
Pizzeria Antica
10 E Chester St
7 locals recommend
Authentic Neapolitan pizza cooked in handmade wood-fired ovens imported from Italy. Pizzas made in the open from quality imported ingredients. Sidewalk seating. No takeout because like real Neapolitan pizza, it needs to be eaten right out of the oven. Restaurant has a cult following of foodies from around the world. Don't miss it!

Drinks & Nightlife

Great place to go in the warm months for outdoor drinks and food. Music year around.
17 locals recommend
Cowboy Monkey
6 Taylor St
17 locals recommend
Great place to go in the warm months for outdoor drinks and food. Music year around.
When you want a beer, you can't go wrong here.
33 locals recommend
The Blind Pig Brewery
120 N Neil St
33 locals recommend
When you want a beer, you can't go wrong here.
New in town, but already a local favorite.
9 locals recommend
Quality Beer
110 N Neil St
9 locals recommend
New in town, but already a local favorite.
A tequila bar with a broad variety of gourmet tacos.
6 locals recommend
Wedge Bar
415 North Neil Street
6 locals recommend
A tequila bar with a broad variety of gourmet tacos.
Beer garden with live music.
Mike N Molly's
105 N Market St
Beer garden with live music.
Craft beers, cocktails, rooftop seating.
20 locals recommend
Barrelhouse 34
34 E Main St
20 locals recommend
Craft beers, cocktails, rooftop seating.

Getting Around

7 locals recommend
Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD)
1101 E University Ave
7 locals recommend
9 locals recommend
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
1212 N Prospect Ave
9 locals recommend
11 locals recommend
Willard Airport
11 Airport Rd
11 locals recommend

Parks & Nature

For when you just need to get out of town. Nice gardens, trails, near super-cute town of Monticello.
32 locals recommend
Allerton Park & Retreat Center
515 Old Timber Rd
32 locals recommend
For when you just need to get out of town. Nice gardens, trails, near super-cute town of Monticello.

Essentials

The closest full-service grocery store.
9 locals recommend
County Market
331 E Stoughton St
9 locals recommend
The closest full-service grocery store.