When winter settles in, nothing beats a cute spot to sit, study, and relax that isn’t your dorm. UIUC has many awesome spots that welcome students during the winter months. Take a break from the cold and from your usual spots, and check out our guide to the best local businesses, restaurants, and cafes that offer a peaceful respite from the winter cold.
Located downtown Champaign, this charming cafe is eclectic and comforting, making it the perfect place to hang out and warm up during the winter. With more of a bohemian vibe, the inside is decorated to the 10’s, creating a fun atmosphere that compliments its amazing food and drinks. Their extensive coffee and tea menu will please even the pickiest of people with amazing pastries and bites to pair with it. On a cold winter night, one of their hearty soups will keep you warm while tasting delicious.
Nearby to campus, the Bread Company is a European-style cafe that makes you feel like you’re studying abroad. Not just another cafe, the Bread Company offers freshly baked bread, pastries, and a myriad of comforting European meals. The food is complemented by their ambiance of warm lighting and wooden furniture. If you’re craving an espresso, you will feel as relaxed and at home in this cozy cafe.
A pub-type restaurant with a homey feel, Seven Saints is an excellent bar and grill-type place where local students hang out, relax, and munch on its specialties – sliders and classic apps. If you’re feeling pretzels and cheese, cheese curds, and anything fried after a long day studying, you will find yourself right at home among the patrons and Seven Saints menu. If you’ve never been to Seven Saints, ask some upper-level students about it, and everyone will tell you the same thing: it’s the best restaurant year-round.
If you want to cozy up at a made-from-scratch restaurant, Maize Mexican Grill is open and ready to host you and your friends. They have two locations around Champaign, as well as a seasonal food truck you might be able to catch on the go. They are in the Top 10% of restaurants in Champaign and are worth checking out for a meal with margaritas. According to one of their rave reviews, “There’s no contest—Maize serves, hands down, the best Mexican food in town. It’s fresh, flavorful, and perfectly simple.”
If a good meal gets you cozied up, Pekara Bakery will be your best friend come wintertime. Freshly baked bread, comforting meals, and an intimate setting bring students and locals alike. Their website boasts that they “craft each meal to order using artisan bread, organic eggs, local produce, farmstead cheeses, and quality meats.” They also do French macarons and other desserts if you’re more in a sweet mood.
Another great spot located in downtown Champaign is Big Grove Tavern. A classic bar and tavern with a modern twist, you can find a booth with a beer or cocktail and be happy here. Their customers say they have awesome food, but they also have something many other taverns don’t- a beverage team! According to their website, “The beverage team at Big Grove wants to take the intriguing, odd, fun, and eccentric and make it accessible to everyone. This is a driving focus with a large craft cocktail selection, wine by the glass and bottle program, and regional craft beers.”
If coffee and tea are more your vibe, this place will be your best bet. The Courier Cafe is “famous for its delicious breakfasts and pleasant antique-like setting. The café is open every day for a choice of breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and is one of the few quality restaurants open in late evening hours”, which makes it a perfect spot for cozying up and hanging out, especially for a hungover Saturday or Sunday morning, the Courier Cafe will become your new best friend. Delivering hearty breakfasts, pastries, and coffee, we all know you will desperately need.
If your vibe is more cozy, the Espresso Royale has some of the best spots for relaxing. You can visit to get some work done, or not! Enjoy a cup of coffee with comfy seating, free wifi, and a central location. This popular spot is great for hanging out or doing academic endeavors. With multiple locations around campus, stop in, stop by, hang out, and relax.
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