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    The Literary

    4.6 (58 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

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    Alanie N.

    I go to this place constantly and never got around to writing this review! Not only am I a book nerd and love that I can browse and have a little drink while I visit with friends, but their bistro part is such a great place! I love that it's a rotating menu depending on the season, there are always new options, both alcoholic and non alcoholic as well, which is great because I can take anyone and know that there are options for everyone! These is such a fun gem in Champaign and I highly recommend everyone comes here at least once when visiting!

    The most delicious pumpkin pancakes
    Kristin B.

    Came here for breakfast right when they opened and ordered their absolutely delicious pumpkin pancakes! My husband and I also tried their boozy coffee and enjoyed that as well. You order and grab a number, find a seat and then your food is brought out. I would recommend arriving early on a weekend, as spots definitely filled up quickly inside (there was also an outdoor area with tables, however it was mid-October and a bit chilly and windy). Service was friendly and I highly recommend those pancakes - I will return for those next time I'm in town

    Beautiful decor.
    Karey A.

    A great find while we were in town for baseball. Seating is limited because it's a busy place but we were able to sit at the bar. The salmon salad was light and wonderful with salmon cakes that reminded me of home. The dill sauce was delicious. My blackberry mimosa was the perfect size and refreshing. I grabbed a few cards and stickers while I was there in the cute gift section. Would highly recommend.

    Cocktail
    Kendra M.

    The Literary is EXACTLY what girls mean when they say they want to quit their job and open a bookstore coffee shop. The dream is perfectly executed here. On my weekend in Champaign, we came for morning coffee and back again for an evening drink. I also added about a dozen books to my tbr. This is a must-stop if you're in the area!

    Beekeeper Cocktail, a beer and a picture book
    Adriana T.

    Wonderful establishment! The perfect vibe for locals and visitors. Good book selection, gift selection, espresso/coffee options and cocktails/beer/wine. The perfect one stop shop for visiting our friends who live in the area. And for bringing an infant! They have high chairs, a real changing table in bathroom and so much seating. Definitely worth a visit! We ordered a beer and the Beekeeper cocktail. So delicious. The place is buzzing with people and the vibe is laidback and artsy. Street parking is ample and it's close to a lot of places to walk and enjoy before/after.

    Coffee And Vegan Blueberry Scone
    Steve A.

    Good place for coffee, scones, and books. It's a combination of bookstore and coffee shop. The Literary is a good fit for a college town. Lots of things to drink and eat. Of course there's also lots of things to read so check it out on a morning. After looking up places for coffee, we decided to come here. It sounded interesting. This was. For sure it's not a typical bookstore. Or coffee shop. Coffee is the main thing however. It's about $2.75 for a drip coffee, and they have non dairy milks. Also get some food. They have a few treats for vegans. It's about $4 for a scone. The Vegan Blueberry Scone was crunchy but not hard like some of these. Also has some breakfast sandwiches with bacon and eggs. There's both healthy and unhealthy food options. For sure also get a few books. If you like local authors you can find a lot of books in here. The prices for books are higher than usual but this is an independent book store and the prices are still okay for this kind of place.

    Salmon cake salad
    Leyang Z.

    Have been there for several times since they opened for brunch/lunch. A pretty good place to have such indeed. The vibe was perhaps the best of it. Inside, you sit in the ocean of books, outside, you sit among flowers and trees. The bookstore offers mainly healthy American brunch stuff. Things like carol oatmeal, taco, salmon cake salad etc. are also quite creative. The food was in general of medium serving size . I often need to have one entrée and one side to get full. It was a bit pricey during summertime but more reasonable for their new menu since September 2023 (the serving size was also larger). Will try more dishes recently -- what can be better than sitting in the warm fall sunshine in a relaxing afternoon enjoying some delicious meal!

    Cup of cheer
    Katie M.

    Delicious coffee and a great brunch. We came during the winter their holiday coffees are so good! Sweet and warm and cheerful. They have a great selection of books and couches it's the perfect place to destress. I had the salmon salad and my friend had the French toast. The salad was filling and delicious the dill cream sauce was very tasty. The french toast looked like it would be very sweet but was actually on the savory side. Would definitely come back again, to have a cocktail and read a book.

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    2 months ago

    Handled grad weekend crowds very well. Staff very pleasant unlike a lot of college places. Food was excellent.

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    7 months ago

    Amazing food, wonderful atmosphere. Cozy tables. Great Bloody Mary. Interesting concept. Would love to see larger capacity tables.

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    1 year ago

    Tasty lunch in an inviting atmosphere. Friendly, welcoming staff. Add book shopping and it's an outstanding visit!

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    2 years ago

    Food was really tasty and the coffee was awesome The people were friendly definitely will be back

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    Review Highlights - The Literary

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    Sun Singer Wine and Spirits

    Sun Singer Wine and Spirits

    4.1
    (226 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    We stopped into Sun Singer for a lunch break during a business trip, and it ended up being one of…read morethe highlights of our time in the area. It's a wonderfully unique space--part wine and spirits shop, part lively daytime dining room--with a steady flow of customers browsing bottles alongside a full bar and tables occupied by ladies who lunch and retirees enjoying a relaxed weekday afternoon. It is a surprisingly chic space for Champaign. The dining room was busy enough that there would have been a wait for a table, but we were perfectly happy at the bar. Our bartender was very friendly and welcoming, even while clearly managing a high volume of guests in what felt like a short-staffed moment. Despite that, service remained warm and attentive. We shared the traditional fondue, which was generously portioned and stayed hot for an impressively long time thanks to their setup--ideal for lingering over conversation. We both enjoyed wine pairings, and I especially loved the Winter Warmer Knob Creek cider: cozy, well-balanced, and a standout choice, particularly for anyone who appreciates Knob Creek. Sun Singer has an excellent atmosphere--social, distinctive, and effortlessly inviting. I very much look forward to returning the next time we're back in the area.

    Excellent food and service. Great atmosphere and dining…read moreexperience. I recommend for business lunch or a special date.

    Photos
    Sun Singer Wine and Spirits
    Chargrilled oysters
    Chargrilled oysters
    Sun Singer Wine and Spirits

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    The Literary - bookstores - Updated July 2026

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