The Lit is such a cute spot for brunch! I've really enjoyed the brunch breakfast burger and the hash brown is crispy. Big fan of the kimchi dip! read more

The Literary - Brunch Burger - Bookstores Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

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The entire reason for my trip! I have been eye balling this place for almost two years. The places is so freaking cute. Books and goodies galore. What amazed me the most was how good the food was! Mind blown!! They were extremely busy but the wait wasn't all that long and I got to browse before and after eating. Such a cute spot with friendly and diverse staff! read more

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My favorite brunch spot/wine bar in town. Staff is so friendly and sweet. They've the most creative events i feel like going to every single one of them. The best part though is the consistently great food. I've never had mediocre food here, they do such a great job. Drinks are amazing too. From the Gilmore Girls themed cocktails to the hot chocolate flights, they're all so good!! Also, kind of them to do SNAP meals during that difficult time. Hope they maintain all these nice things. read more

The Literary - Lit Hash - Bookstores Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

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Had a nice, hot and flavorful flatbread and Diet Coke here after work, able to knock out a few tasks on my lap top while I waited. I love the combo of bookstore and cafe that makes hearty meals, not just scones and tarts, although those can be fun, too. It was a bit too loud, crowded, and busy for me. I prefer a bit more space and less noise, but I can see how this place appeals to folks who like things a bit livelier. Really fun selection of books. Wish I had more time to browse. I will be back, with headphones so I can focus better. Found street parking. Place is clean, inviting, welcoming. Had a good time. read more

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! read more

The Literary - Bookstores Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

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 read more

The Literary - The most delicious pumpkin pancakes - Bookstores Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

Delightful cafe to meet a friend for a coffee. It is set in a bookstore with modern decor, and it serves a well-prepared variety of espresso drinks. As a cafe -- a place for coffee and pastries, for talk or work -- this could be a four star review. The kitchen also serves breakfast and lunch menus, which only merit three stars. However, the food is revealing of trends in CU restaurants generally so I will say a few words about it. The menu resembles those of trendy brunch places like one might find in large cities. Many of its ingredients are fresh and freshly prepared. We ordered the Pacific Coast Toast and a simple salad among other items. The mix of plant items like arugula and sprouts were lively and crisp. Moreover, the kitchen sources many ingredients from local shops, including the bagels and pastries. However, the menu's virtues serve also to highlight its shortcomings. The fresh ingredients contrast sharply with the ones that are not. The bread that the PCT was served on, was store bought and anonymously bland. The Japanese seasoning was dry and lacked punch, even though it was thickly layered. And unfortunately, the bagels come from a local shop who seems content to make freezer-ready bagels. Each plate reveals the push and pull that the kitchen must feel. It wishes at once to draw a cosmopolitan clientele, and also to keep costs down. It wants to be a local hub for various kinds of foods, but the local sources are themselves uneven. Juggling all of these priorities and challenges with the diverse mix of CU restaurant-goers is no doubt a challenge. But if you just order coffee (and a pastry sourced from BakeLab), you will be pleased. read more

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

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. read more

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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! read more

The Literary - Cocktail - Bookstores Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

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Really cute spot in downtown Champaign to grab a coffee or bite to eat. Brunch is served on the weekend and gets pretty crowded so there may be a bit of a wait to find a seat. Try one of their creative coffee drinks or even a fun brunch cocktail! read more

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

um, what happened to that amazing jack fruit sandwich? i am not sure I forgive the decision to rotate it off the menu! The other breakfast sandwich is good though and there are lovely vegan treats so I will continue to dine at The Lit whenever I can. Also, the chai latte is delicious! and thank you for offering mocktails! read more

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. read more

The Literary - Beekeeper Cocktail, a beer and a picture book - Bookstores Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

Stopped in here for the first time this morning with my husband. We decided to order some breakfast and coffee drinks and dine in. I ordered a hot chai latte, he got an iced caramel latte - both were fantastic! He ordered the not-so-nyc breakfast sandwich, and I got the regular breakfast with a side of fruit. We were both thrilled with our meals, and the fruit was plated well, and all was fresh. We will definitely return to this cozy library/cafe! read more

I was sitting and waiting for my food and they took so long so I took out my laptop to check some emails and the lady with stick was so rude she literally rushed over and told me there are no laptops allowed at the tables!!! While they took for ever to bring my food!! The lady also kept giving me looks whole the other staff where totally find with me having my laptop out! It took only one person of your staff to ruin my experience!!!! read more

I'm from out of town & I love trying local cafes. The inside was so cozy, lots of students studying. The chia vanilla latte was so strong in flavor. Def recommend. Sad I missed breakfast because the options look great! read more

Lovely space and lovely service. Had their burger with hashbrowns and everything on my plate was great down to the side salad. Really great Matcha and really creative spin with the floral toppings. I can't wait to come back and explore the menu a little bit more. Make sure to find their silverware cart because service does not include them. read more

This place is absolutely adorable! How does it get any better than a bookstore x coffee shop? There is tons of seatings of all different types, including some sofa seating. Theres a good selection of books. While it's not the largest bookstore in the world, I think the selection was good and it seems like they have something for everyone. I didn't eat here or have a coffee but I would 100% if I ever happen to come back. read more

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. read more

The Literary - Coffee And Vegan Blueberry Scone - Bookstores Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

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! read more

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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. read more

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The cute little gem that this city desperately needed. Quality nutmilk Capp, thoughtful cocktails, great ambiance and a cute little menu. And it's a book store with lots of little hidden treasures. read more

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Great new spot in downtown Champaign. Thoughtfully curated selection of books for all ages and if you can't find a book, they'll order it for you! Check their calendar for events. We especially like the children's story time on the weekends. They partnered with Hopscotch Bakery to provide breakfast items/small plates, baked goods, coffee and tea. Come evening, there's desserts and a wine bar. The vibe is relaxing and cozy.... and works perfectly as the neighborhood hangout to study or just unwind. It's refreshing to have a place where both adults and children (read: our toddler) can enjoy. Food: We tried the breakfast sandwiches and they were filling and well made. A little pricey ($15 each with tip), but worth a splurge because why not treat yourself? Love option to have tater tots or fresh fruit as a side. Lunch small plates included quiche, sandwiches and a couple of salads but we didn't get a chance to try that menu yet. All the more reason to return soon! read more

So excited to find another study spot! The latte here is also great! I love the foam on the top which is really soft and profound. People here are also very kind and friendly. The environment is its unique style in Champaign! read more

The Literary - Bookstores Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

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

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

This was the second time I've been here and it's been a delightful experience both times. The atmosphere inside is extremely pleasant and relaxed with casual seating and bookshelves adorning the walls all around. The breakfast/brunch centric menu seems to change every once in a while but the deliciousness remains. I ordered the pumpkin French toast and a rosemary mocha to go along with it. The mocha was sweet with a wonderful but not too overpowering smell of rosemary with every sip. The French toast was far better than I could have hoped. The challah bread used with the spiced caramel, apple slices and pepita was sublime and left me wanting more. I came here with my sister from out of town and I couldn't imagine a better place in Champaign to have a light breakfast to just reminisce and relax. read more

The Literary - Pumpkin French toast - Bookstores Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

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I have always been fond of Hopscotch bakery, so when I heard that there is another location (a book cafe) that opened up in downtown Champaign, I was thrilled! I came in for brunch during graduation weekend when they were having their graduation menu special! I do not correctly remember the name of the dish, but one of them was a breakfast platter with the best toast, bacon, sweet potatoes, and cheesy butter! The platter was well-balanced and everything tasted so fresh! I also got the strawberry lemon ricotta waffle, which was very delicious! I liked how light and fluffy it was--as I am a fan of soft-chewy waffles. The service was great and I love the whole vibe of the place. I will definitely be coming back, maybe for books next time! read more

The Literary - Bookstores Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

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I loved this place! We were in town for a wedding and had quite a bit of time to kill and I spent a lot of it here! Purchased a book, a "fancy lemonade" and found an adorable corner to read for awhile. Highly recommend. read more

The Literary - Every corner is cute - Bookstores Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

Beautiful space! Great book selection, very nice accessories, even a bar and food. There were no seats available mid-day Saturday, as there seemed to be a book club meeting. read more

What more could you ask for? This place has it going on. Coffees, drinks, great bites, books, art. Friendly staff, great decor, welcoming space. You just felt good when you're there! Really nice for shopping and/or hanging out. Parking usually pretty easy. read more

I love the vibe inside! The food is so good, especially the strawberry ube croissant and the dill dip. You can't go wrong with any of the coffee! read more

Love this spot! The Literary is a bookstore/coffee shop! The atmosphere is very modern and instagram friendly! They have a wide variety of books and book genres from fiction, YA, memoirs, female empowerment, self-help, children's books, etc. And just like any small business they have tons of cute Knick knacks book related and not like charming key chains, book marks, personal library markers, greeting cards, etc. The staff there is well verse on their inventory and can lead you to a great book recommendation quickly! The cafe, Hopscotch Bakery, is also incredible! I had one of their breakfast sandwiches with sausage, egg, cheese, whipped herb cream cheese and served on a brioche bun. It was quite delicious and very filling. The sandwich came with a side of fruit or tater tots and you should definitely go for the tots. They were fresh and crispy with a nice seasoning on them! The coffee was wonderful as well. They have a variety of drinks from the standard coffee menu to different cold brew flavor and teas. The shop is open from 8am-8pm. They also serve alcohol for those night time perusers that come in the evening. Simply put, they have built a great environment for book lovers! It's a great place to meet up with an old friend or get some work done over the weekend. 10/10 would recommend! read more

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The Literary is a very fun place to shop for books and grab a drink. I love the vibe and seating sections. The Literary also hosts really fun events. I loved it when they had drinks named and based on books read more

Delicious food and coffee, indoor & outdoor seating, and adorable bookshop. Lots of space inside and outside. read more

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Very busy on the weekend but with good reason - everything we ate was great. Salmon salad and the creamy tomato bisque were both delicious, and the earl grey latte was one of the best I've ever had. Go early, but it's well worth the wait. read more

The Lit has very good food (multiple excellent vegetarian and vegan options), interesting drinks, and wonderful atmosphere. My only complaint is that it is so busy all the time, but rightfully so! read more

Oh my GOSH! Could this place be any cooler??? Books, coffee, food, and booze -- the perfect combination. I was really impressed with the wide selection of books for all ages, of all genres. There are lots of recommendation cards from employees to help you choose a great book. I went in on a Saturday morning and they had a story time for children, which was so cute. I had a breakfast sandwich with veggie sausage and a chai latte. Prices were a little steep (my total was $20) but it's worth it. The breakfast sandwich was excellent! I really hope this place is here to stay! read more

The Literary - Bookstores Near Me - Champaign, Illinois

A bookstore like this does not exist in the Champaign/Urbana community- it's a welcoming/inclusive space with great environment. There's basically 3 parts- bookstore with some seating/tables, small cafe, and on other side wine/beer bar. If you're looking for a relaxing spot to have caffeinated beverage after buying a book- this is a great option and thrilled this place opened. Staff is also very friendly. One disclaimer: I haven't eaten here. For anyone that posted a negative review related to food - I think they're missing point. I'm sure there are better food options around that are cheaper, but sure these are same people that complain about ordering a steak from Red Lobster - you're missing the point. This is a great independent bookstore! Get out of the house, bring a friend, and catch up over some coffee or wine/beer. read more