Leaving campus offers a nice change of scene, and downtown Champaign and Urbana offer a variety of places to eat, hang out and shop.

The dining halls on campus offer many food choices, but if you’re like me and many that I know, the food can become a bit dull and redundant.

You need a change.

If you are living in Ikenberry Commons this year, then downtown Champaign is an easy 15-minute walk away. Or, if you’re like me on certain lazy days, you can catch the bus to the Illinois Terminal.

If you’re a student living in other University housing, the buses will be the quickest way to get to downtown Champaign. Getting there is easy. Downtown Champaign offers plenty of options with countless restaurants and cafes. For those of you who drink coffee, and many of you will soon be coffee-drinkers, you have quite a few cafes from which to choose. Cafe Kopi offers indoor and outdoor seating and plenty of space to do some homework while grabbing coffee and snacks.

Aroma Cafe and Pekara Bakery and Bistro are right next to each other on Neil Street and both offer similar drinks, sandwiches and breakfast options. Aroma, Kopi and Pekara are all similarly priced.

For those of you who are more into food than coffee, you have many choices. If you are able to make it downtown for breakfast, you need to check out Sam’s Cafe. Offering some of the best omelets and pancakes that I’ve ever had, and at prices students can afford, it’s really a great option.

For dinner you can pick between Seven Saints, Destihl and Big Grove Tavern. These places may not be cheap, but they are good places to take a date or that special someone out for a nice dinner. Big Grove Tavern offers a smaller menu than most other restaurants but makes up for it in terms of quality of their food.

If you are of legal drinking age, you will definitely need to visit some of the bars downtown. Offering a different scene than the on-campus bars, they provide an escape to sit outside under the lights and listen to live music, or play trivia games on certain nights in a relaxing environment. Destihl, The Blind Pig, Mike ’N Molly’s and Cowboy Monkey are all places you should check out with a group of friends for a fun and relaxing environment. Another good place to check out is Boltini Lounge. It is definitely not cheap and is 21-plus to enter, but the food and drinks are great. During the week, they hold different events that include Tarot card readings, palm readings, trivia games, as well as DJs.

Downtown Champaign also offers a great place to go and see a movie. The Art Theater Co-Op, owned by nearly 1,300 community members, shows a lot of independent films and has a really aesthetically pleasing environment. 

As for downtown Urbana, The Courier Cafe is a classic. It’s a great restaurant to check out for breakfast or dinner and their menu is simple but has delicious offerings. Black Dog Smoke & Ale House will be the best barbecue that you can possibly find in the area. It’s a small restaurant that is immensely popular, so be ready for a wait because everyone wants to eat here. Crane Alley is also an excellent choice if you’re a burger and beer lover. Offering the biggest selection of beer in the Champaign-Urbana area, this restaurant offers delicious burgers and sandwiches, too. They’re open seven days a week so you can stop by anytime for lunch or dinner. If you’re into organic food or need access to more specific food options to meet certain dietary needs or desires, then you will have to visit Strawberry Fields. It offers fresh produce from local vendors at fair prices and is a great place to stop by and shop if you’re in the downtown Urbana area. Common Ground Food Co-op is also a great stop for organic and vegan options. 

Zach is a senior in LAS. He can be reached at

[email protected].