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After an exhausting day of classes, homework, work-study and intramurals at UIUC, you’re going to want a break from time to time. Why not drop by your favorite bar for a drink? With so many great choices near campus, finding the best bars can be just as hard as finding apartments near UIUC.
But don’t panic just yet, because Rent College Pads is here to help with that, too! Check out our list of bars you don’t want to miss during your time at Urbana-Champaign.
Not only is Joe’s Brewery in the heart of Campustown, it’s also one of the cheapest places to eat and drink around UIUC. In addition to great beers, you’ll find delicious burgers of all kinds on their menu. Come in on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for a very special deal: half-priced burgers! Who can argue with that?
Campustown has changed a lot in the past twenty years. Legends Bar & Grill? Not so much. Since their founding in 1998, Legends has faithfully served as the best place to watch an Illini game with friends. Here you’ll find great food, beer, drinks and cocktails… and, if you’re brave enough, you’ll ask about Riding the Rail on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Ever eat an Irish Nacho before? We didn’t think so. Murphy’s Pub has one of the most interesting menus in town, and they’ve got some of the best beer, too. Murphy’s Pub is unique in that it’s been providing great food and drinks to Illini since 1969. That’s just shy of 50 years of service! Make sure to stop by in 2019 for what we’re sure will be the anniversary of a lifetime.
Sometimes the “college scene” can wear a little thin. If you’re looking for a more atmospheric bar with high-quality beer and cocktails, check out Radio Maria. With a twenty year (and counting!) record of great business, you won’t be disappointed in what you find. While you’re enjoying yourself over a specialty cocktail, take in the scenery: most of it was made by one of Radio Maria’s owners, David Spears, who enjoys metalworking and creating fixture designs in his free time.
Seven Saints is a whiskey lover’s dream. They’ve got an incredible selection of specialty bourbons, as well as craft beers and great wines. As great as their spirit selection is, you’re going to want to check out their dinner menu, too! Seven Saints has all sorts of appetizers, including crab cakes, chick flautas and cheese curds, and their sandwich and combo platter options are equally varied. When you’re finished with dinner, treat yourself to their delicious desserts. After all, can you really pass up dessert when they’ve got something called the “Drunken Pecan Pie With Chocolate?”
Ali Bartmer
Chips and salsa aficionado, Ali Bartmer joined the Rent College Pads team in the fall of 2016 as the Operations Assistant and has since become a Content crafter. Cat mom of one, Ali prides herself in being a Bloody Mary connoisseur and with her Masters from Hogwarts there’s nothing Ali can’t do.