A bar I spend a lot of time at. There is a great selection of beers, with 25 on draft plus a selection of bottles. There are the normal ones, but then more interesting drafts such as Bells, Warsteiner, Spaten, Summit, etc. The burgers are great, but the fries vary in quality-- when they're good, they're really good... but othertimes not so much. There is soup and chili in the winter, and the Irish Nachos are a U of I staple. Usually is busy Wednesday thru Saturday, with Thursday being the best specials ($2 Import drafts and bottles, $2 Bacardi Singles, $4 Jim/Svedka Doubles, $6.75 Killians & Honey Brown pitchers). If you want a table on those nights, you need to get their early. Sometimes the jukebox leads to very questionable music. read more

Murphy's Pub really is a great college bar. It tends to have a rather diverse mix of people, isn't usually overly loud and a great value. The drink specials are quite good and the choices on tap are plentiful. Food is good for bar food, definitely get the Irish nachos sometime. There really isn't anything Irish about them, but they are delicious. read more

Murphy's is the dive bar that we all kind of grew up on. Sitting right in the middle of campustown, it's a hard place to miss, whether it's the big-on-wood exterior, the fantastically long lines to get in every Thurs/Fri/Sat night, or the plentiful logo mugs the average Illini will obtain, it's just the place to be. Few places outside of college campuses will you find $1 pints, or $3 you-call-its, $4 pitchers. Much lower key than Legends, Murphy's has the unique feel of being open to anyone willing to take a step out of their dorm rooms You can't call your bar-hop night a barcrawl if you don't stop here. The food is good, the drinks cheap, and the people are always merry in Murphy's. I will miss every night I've remembered, or forgotten here. read more

Murphy's has always been my favorite bar on-campus and somewhere I have gone consistently as my first bar choice. It's a very chill bar but at the same time can be crazy fun with some great music and good company. The jukebox there is always a fun way to get the night going and they always have a huge selection of songs to choose from. Also, it's the place to be these days on Thursday nights, as the lines can get insanely long and have up to 30-40 min wait times depending on the night. So my advice to you would be to arrive around 9pm-9:30pm to avoid any lines, cause as soon as 10 o'clock rolls around, you'll be waiting a little bit to get in. The specials are always nice, with the $7 killians on Thursday and $2 Pints for Bluemoon, how could you go wrong? Also, with the new area that opened up, the wait for drinks has gone down to much shorter. Love the new space and the addition of the air-hockey table in the basement as well. In addition, the food is delicious! Best burgers and fries on campustown. The double-cheeseburger deal on Wednesdays (i think, might have to check on this) is amaziiinnnng. Overall, this bar is chill and fun at the same time. It's not as chill as Legends (granted Legends may have more seating) but I don't think you'll get the same experience when comparing the bars. read more

Murphy is a great place to hang out. I usually have beers with friends and the music is always great and upbeat. The decorations and the insides of the bar are very good. I have started going there often and it is one of the best bars in the green street. read more

A couple of friends and I decided to take a spur of the moment trip to Urbana to meet our parent campus and get to know the university. It was a sunday and we wanted to catch the NFL games so, naturally, we went up to a bar. Murphy's was our 3rd choice (after the other 2 bars were either closed or not showing any games). The place was empty (not surprising coming from a college town where all they care about is Saturday Football) except for a couple of old guys talking to themselves. They had a lot of TVs and only one game on, when we asked them to switch it they couldn't because they didn't own the football package -strike one- Despite the place being deserted our server never took our order and we had to go up to the bar to have them take it. There is some controversy about this, as some bars will have you do that in the early evening but I've been to bars in the middle of nowhere at the same time where this wasn't the case. Either way, that was a bit annoying, so strike two. Strike three came along when after ordering we had to pick up our own food at the kitchen. At that point we gave up on good expectations and simply sat down to watch the game. The good news is their food is amazing. My friend and I are no fans of fries either but man they were awesome! And their bean burger was gigantic and extremely good according to my friend, while I had the steak sandwich and that was absolutely perfect. In any case, chances are the place is legit on Saturday Game Day, but it's up to you if you want to try it out. read more

One of the 2 best bars on campus (the other being Legend's). This place is always low key and not one of the crazy loud bars all the underclassmen go to. You can usually find a place to sit down and the tables have years of writing carved into them. read more

This is my favorite bar on campus. It is a solid pub where they serve cheap and delicious beer. The food is decent, but not that great. That said, the specials on Tuesday and Wednesday offer a pretty good value ($5 for 1/2 lb burger + fries). What could really improve this place is better music. The jukebox is too susceptible to people with bad music tastes. Also, the tables can be kind of sticky, but thats par with the course. read more

Out of the bars on campus, I'd have to say Murphy's is higher up on the list as they're a good place to stop by day or night. During the day, you can come here and they have these kickass big, savory, juicy burgers (a different burger and fries special each day) that are really yummy and filling so if you haven't already, try making it out here at least once for lunch. You go in and order at the bar, and then walk to the back where they prepare your order to pick it up. There's usually no cover here at night (with the exception of special occasions such as Unofficial, Mom's/Dad's weekend, etc.) and have good, knowledgeable bartenders. There's a wide selection of beers - over 25 I believe? - and they make a kickass Amaretto Sour (my fav next to Irish Car Bombs, btw, so you should buy me one if you see me out at the bars ever ^__~, they're like a Starburst in a glass!). Like all the other bars, this place gets quite crowded on weekends and as everyone else here has commented on, the jukebox is loud and, at $1 a song, gets heavy use/abuse. Some of the stuff that comes out of that thing... I don't know, man... =P The specials here are also pretty sweet - yay for logo glass night. Overall, it's just a great campus bar to frequent anytime. read more

This is the best bar on campus. If you're looking to have a conversation with friends and/or potential dates, Murphy's is for you. The bartenders are friendly, the food is always made to order, and the pub is the cleanest on campus. read more

I've been to UIUC several times but my most recent visit there was the first time my friends and I found ourselves at Murphy's. We wanted to do some bar hopping and ended up here after being at Brother's which was a nice change of scenery. It's a dark (but not dingy) Irish pub kind of place which is definitely something different than what I'm used to drinking at. Really nice if you're trying to get away from all the craziness of the typical college bars. We sat at the bar for a bit before moving over to one of the high tops. Lots of space in this place, even on a Saturday night. Great atmosphere, and really appreciated the fact that my friends and I could have a conversation without having to scream over everyone. Bar tenders were super cool and friendly. Awesome service and good prices for whatever domestics were on tap. I can't attest to the food since we came strictly to drink, but maybe the next time we're back we'll try something. read more

Ok seriously, this place serves some of the best tasting Guiness on tap that I've had thus far! (And this coming from a beer lover who hits irish bars in Chicago). It's really fresh! My college buddies and I returned to this old college hotspot to reminisce on old times. We used to come for Mug Night on Wednesdays so this place brings back great memories.It's been 8 years since I've been here, so I was really surprised when the food and beer was actually better than I remembered! First of all, I already mentioned their beer on tap. it's quality and fresh! and low cost. Secondly, their burgers still rock in an awesome way! I had their Turkey burger while my friends had the regular cheeseburgers. Man oh man these burgers are juicy and seculent. The turkey burger is well flavored and succulent. We basically scarfed down our meals including the yummy fries. Another good thing is that they also expanded this place - it used to be way too crowded but they added a whole other section to this place. They have a nice layout with table sizes that comfortably accomodate anywhere from 4 to parties in the teens. I love their spacious bench seat tables. If you're visiting U of I, definitely hit up this place! It's a cherished favorite. read more

The manager, Jacob (I think that's his name), is very unprofessional & rude. We had a large group with several people in wheelchairs & went up to the bar to ask if they could open the side room for us because there wasn't enough room. Jacob assumed we were trying to cut everyone ordering drinks in line & wouldn't even be mature enough to look at us. He continued to ignore us & other workers even came up to us later & apologized on his behalf. If you hate your job that much, then quit. read more

Ah, Murphy's. Yes, it's dark. Yes, there's one shade of wood throughout 90% of the bar. Yes, everything is covered in graffiti and old beer. And yes, it makes for a fun atmosphere. I'm looking at this pub through a tint of great memories, admittedly. I did, however, visit again this past February and can say that it remains the same. The beer specials are still great. The food is still ordered and picked up the same way. I can't say much about the food as I didn't ever have much, but Murphy's wasn't about the food to me. It was beer and long talks with friends and the occasional awkward run-in with my students. It was all good and nothing much has changed. read more

This is my favorite of all the campus bars hands down. Every Thursday night during the school year, a club I'm in takes over the basement (pool tables, darts and all) to hang out in. I can't even count all the great memories I've made there. Unfortunately, on Friday and Saturday nights the lines build up pretty fast, so it's best to get in before it gets packed. In terms of food/drink, great fries, great specials on drinks. ($2 Woodchuck Thursdays!) read more

When visiting Illinois, one of the places I really like to go is Murphy's. The first reason for this is because of the food. They have all the pub food you could possibly want and for a very affordable price. My real favorite part about the Murphy's is the atmosphere, there are tons of tables to sit up or pool tables and other games if you want to hang out with a group of people. It is also a good place to go with family because you don't get as many college kids as you do at some of the other bars. There are plenty of Tv's if you are trying to watch a game, and it is right in the middle of all the other good restaurants/bars. Murphy's is really a great place to go to especially if you are looking for a chill atmosphere. Oh.... and get the Nachos!!! read more

So that no one may be further misled, Murphy's can only be truly appreciated though the lens of a college student. The place caters to the average college-aged individual who is content to fraternize with his or her colleagues over inexpensive alcoholic beverages and greasy diner food. While classier than the average campus-town bar, Murphy's by no means rivals the sophistication of the surrounding bars of downtown Champaign and Urbana. Classically, Murphy's tends to be more popular among the graduate and older undergraduate students, but that doesn't deter alumni and non-student patrons from frequenting. The beer selection outmatches any other bar on the University of Illinois campus and it is a bargain cost-wise compared to the non-campus bars. Food is typically served until 11 p.m. each night, with one of the most popular dishes being the "Irish Nachos" - essentially a whole plate of waffle fries decked with nacho toppings that you'll need a friend or two to finish. A host of burgers and other fried foods are also available with various specials throughout the week. I have nothing but the fondest memories of Murphy's Pub. There's nothing ritzy about it, but if you're open to having (or reliving!) a fun yet relaxing college night, Murphy's is the place for you! read more

Murphy's is on definitely on the chiller/more mature side of the U of I bar spectrum, but is still a great time and buzzing at night. The Irish Nachos are the star of the show, but everything else on the menu is solid and inexpensive. Nothing super unique but a nice place to grab a pitcher and compared to other bars on campus you're less likely to be thrown up on. read more

You can't beat the party and a bun for only a dollar on Monday's. But the only reason I'm refraining from 5 stars is because the burgers were less pub grilled and more backyard grilled. Only candaments were cheese which was extra. 4/5. read more

Date of Original Review: 09/11/2014 *Based off of visits from August 2012 - May 2014 Murphy's Pub is an awesome place to be any day or night of the week. The food and drink selections are great and fairly priced. The pub has several billiards tables, a jukebox, and a small outdoor smoking area with several tables and chairs. One of the greatest things about Murphy's Pub, other than the lively, fun and friendly bartenders, is that it offers several fun weekly events such as free bingo and trivia for prizes. read more

This is usually where I'm at if I go out to the bars, it seems to have the least amount of crappy people (you know what I'm talking about if you've been to any big state "party school") and not too expensive drinks. Can get very very crowded and absolutely NOTHING Irish about it. Irish nachos seemed to be waffle fries with nachos topping on them, what the fuck like? However, they were delicious. Their burgers made me real sick once but I got over it. If I'm going to a campus bar, Murphy's is my first choice. Plus they have lots of seating for us lazies. read more

My favorite C-U bar. Nice place - on campus, but without a heavy Illini feel. I first started going because I was underage and they didn't card way back when, but kept going after I was legal because it's a good spot to eat and talk. They cook excellent burgers and fries, and the teriyaki chicken sandwich is divine. Many beers on tap and knowledgable bartenders. read more

We came in after our last day of exams the night before we all went home for winter break. This was my first time in Murphy's and I've got to say it was pretty sweet for a campus bar. It's like an Irish-style pub, lots of dark furniture and seating areas. The inside is pretty big, there's a few different rooms and even a downstairs that we didn't get a chance to check out. We shot a few games of pool and were able to have decent conversation due to the music being at an actually reasonable volume. They had several drink specials, I was able to get a Harp for $2.50 and McGillicudy shots were only $2 also. I'll have to come back when the Guinness is on special (if it ever is). The only thing I wasn't too happy about was the service. It was quite slow. It seemed like they were a little understaffed. Our bartender was good once he got around to us, but perhaps the place was a little more crowded than usual? Either way, a good time and I'll definitely be back. read more

Best campus bar. Food can actually be quite good, especially the Kobe burger. The crispy, but greasy, fries have slowly grown on me. The beer selection is way better than any other bar on campus. They now have some Rogue ales, which are fantastic. Bar is homely, but at least it doesn't have a disease festering feel like certain other campus bars. Becomes increasingly less acceptable during weekends to the point where it actually is unsanitary and you can't hear anyone talking over the noise. The Jukebox churns out more and more horrifying music as people become intoxicated. If you go here stick with weekdays. On weekdays it's actually a pretty nice place to hang out with friends. read more

Don't get me wrong, I love going to Murphy's and the Irish Nachos are awesome. The only reason this review is 3 stars is the varying service I've received. Sometimes it's great and there aren't any problems. But if it's crowded things quickly go downhill from there. For example, the last time I was there, I ordered Irish Nachos without bacon (because I'm vegetarian). The order (which is just fries with cheese and nacho toppings) took an hour. Once I got my order, it had bacon on it but I didn't send it back because I was so sick of waiting. Regardless to say, it definitely ruined the night to spend an hour hungry and waiting on food and then having to pick all of the bacon off. read more

Good times with friends and cheap beers, and that's pretty much it. The food is not bad, but its just bar food, so u cant expect much. The Irish Nachos is good to order with two more people. The other appetizers are just ok (hmm, the spicy cheese bites are good, although small), but there's usually some food special everyday. Because of the regular coming, you develop certain bonds with the place, even if the place is not great. If this bar was located anywhere outside Campus, I dont think I would ever go there. However, the memories make the place and thats pretty much how Murphys survives. read more

This is my favorite meeting spot. I host everything from Geography Club to Bible Study at Murphy's and their daily deals are unbeatable. Monday nights from 5-9 is dollar Buds, burgers and fries. My goodness! It's like they know we are college students! Love their beer selection and wide variety of music. read more

Do Not Go there! They will kick you out for no apparent reason. Didn't even tell me why I got kicked out! What excellent business!

Aw Murphys, this was the first place I went to when I turned 19 and could get into the bars! Love this place, totally low-key bar where you just sit, have a few beers and talk with friends. "Older" crowd here too (compared to like Kams or Clybourne - is that still there?) They also have a juke box, I don't know how many times we loaded Madonna songs :) On my 21st bday we stayed til close, and they said on the PA "it's closing time, but we'll let the jukebox keep playing because it's not Madonna" Food is pretty good too, we'd go when the bacon cheeseburgers were on special - OMG so yummy and incredibly greasy. They also have loaded waffle fries that are awesome. read more

Murphy's is a great bar to go to if you just want to chill. I've been to a couple fun happy hours here (but how can a happy hour not be fun?) and I've had some of their deliciously fried, greasey appetizers, too. There are plenty of booths and tables to sit and play some cards (drinking may or may not accompany said card games...) Overall, it wouldn't be my first choice bar on the weekends, but maybe on a weekday. The crowd is less "Greek", which doesn't really matter to me, but it's nice to point out. read more

I've never visited Murphy's during prime douche time, so its rating remains high. I hope to never see it while extremely busy, because I'm 99% sure I'd hate it. I first went here the day after moving into town. I was undernourished and exhausted. Plus, we had to buy lunch for our two moving helpers. So, imagine my elation upon arriving and finding that I could get a bacon cheeseburger and fries for $5. We bought four big ass lunches for $20. And it was actually good! So satisfying was my first encounter with Murphy's. During the summer they have a great drink special every day. You buy a mug filled with beer for $4 (or $6....damn, all that beer wiped my memory clean) and then get refills of Bells Oberon, Sam Adams and a few others for $2 all night. Now that is a sexy drink special. The ladies bathroom has graffiti on the ceiling that says something about being in love with LBJ. Lyndon B. WAS a pretty man.... I guess.... :-/ read more

The best bar on campus. Hands down. Their food is always tempting (typical pub food) but I usually come for the the beer and friends. The location is great and the atmosphere is better than the other campus bars. My one complaint is that they lack the depth and sophistication of the selections at other bars downtown. I don't mind my Blue Moon but somedays I want something a little more interesting than the usual suspects. If you are going to be around for awhile, learn about when the specials occur (Mug nights, half off bacon cheeseburgers, etc.). If you want to carry a casual meeting, this is a good location for lunch. The late afternoon and evening hours will be a little louder. read more

No one has a huge affinity to this place but this is where we end up most of the time. Pros -Fairly good specials -Relatively low amount of bros -Greasy ass delicious food Cons -Seating is terrible on the weekends after 8 -Dirty looking, but not necessarily dirty. Overall decent place to go, gets boring quick though since its a sit down bar, but too crowded to sit down a lot of times, and then its incredibly loud and hard to hold sit down conversations. Go there on a weeknight to get the optimal experience. read more

Ah, Murphys. The one place where townies, undergrads and graduate students actually mingle. The decor is kind of dingy, but in a really endearing sort of way. All the seats have names and years carved into them, and the walls are covered in beer memorabilia. The food is pretty good for Campustown; I like the burgers and fries. They're appropriately greasy, and when on special you can't beat the price. The chicken fingers leave something to be desired but, hey, it's not perfect. What you go to Murphys for is the beer. The draft list is surprisingly extensive, and while the selection of hard alcohol is weak (says the guy who's finished a whiskey passport at Seven Saints), the specials are fantastic (you can normally get a double of either Beam or Wild Turkey for $5 or less) and they have specialty pints for $2.50 on Thursdays. And it's not bad beer either. I normally get Fat Tire or Angry Orchard, but they even have some decent IPA's on tap (sayeth my beer snob friends). Murphy's is often crowded, and for graduate students, there's a very real risk of running into students, but it's my favorite place in Campustown and a really good bar overall. read more

I love watching drunk freshman share the plate of Irish Nachos, absolutely hilarious. Burgers are great, beers good enough for a campus bar. Exactly what you expect. read more

Best local bar in town. Their food is yummy (look at Hooked often), they always have great beer prices, and they have great service! I love the environment and the laid back atmosphere that encompasses this bar. Murphy's made grad school manageable, and I couldn't thank them anymore for that. read more

Me and my buddies decided to go to a calm sit down bar and decided on Murphys. There weren't a lot of people there and we thought it would be a nice place to get a few drinks. I was extremely wrong as we walk in and hand our IDs and are told they are fake and are confiscated by the door man. Us being the legal age and having real IDs confused we asked if we could have them back since they are our property of course the door man said no. We all freaked out tell them to call the police or we aren't leaving and they then said no and taunted us by saying "these are embarrassingly fake you guys are clowns" so we obviously stayed inside until the police came. Before the police showed up I had showed my FOID card and was told it was valid by the same door man and asked if I could get my ID back then and he then said "no it's extremely fake your not getting it back" me frustrated I walked back outside and waited for the police to show up. They had finally came and the manger I assumed walked over to them handed them our IDs and insisted that they were fake us all laughing waited to see what the police would say. After 5 minutes of the police looking at them we got them handed back to us and the manager just walked back in and didn't offer an apology I wasn't worried for an apology myself and friends but they time wasted of the police officers. Terrible staff thinks they are hot S*** never will go near this establishment ever again. Get some better door people or a scanner if your gonna mess up that bad. read more

With its scarred wood tables, friendly staff, blaring sports games, and dim lighting, Murphy's is a local institution. It's also where history graduate students tend to congregate once a week, huzzah. The beer/food specials are generally fantastic, and the grimy feel of the bar is palatable after a drink or two. One caveat: they have the nastiest--nastiest bathroom. It's hideous. Ugh. read more

What a shit hole! Came here for a drink and a burger and I never made it that far. It was almost 4 in the afternoon and I sat at a pub table. My sleeve got stuck to the table. A voice came from behind the bar that said. If you want drinks or food, you have to order at the bar as there were no waitresses. I got up and grabbed a couple menu's. Looked it over and said. Let's go, I've seen enough. I will only pass thru college towns from now on! read more

Dropped in on a Saturday afternoon and the place was empty. We sat at a table by the bar and the bartender said we have no servers so you have to order here. We looked at the menu and standard bar food nothing different than others. Being Saturday and plenty of college games on but just not happening here. Most likely a lively place later and could be decent to hang. Just did not work this time. read more