The Literary is a welcoming brunch restaurant in Champaign, Illinois, offering a quality dining experience for customers throughout the day.
Located at 122 N Neil St, this casual, cozy, and trendy destination is known for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, making it a convenient choice for everything from a relaxed morning meal to an enjoyable evening out.
Guests can choose from dine-in, delivery, outdoor seating, and on-site services, with counter service and comfortable seating available for a range of dining preferences. Solo diners are also welcome, making The Literary a comfortable place to enjoy a meal at your own pace.
The menu offers a broad selection of choices, including comfort food, healthy options, quick bites, and small plates. Guests can also enjoy coffee, tea, beer, cocktails, and other alcoholic beverages, along with highly regarded desserts.
The Literary is especially recognized for its great cocktails, great coffee, great dessert, and great tea selection, as well as its local specialty offerings. With fast service and a bar on site, it provides a well-rounded setting for a satisfying meal, a casual drink, or a leisurely brunch.
Accessibility and convenience are important parts of the experience. The Literary features a wheelchair-accessible car park, entrance, seating, and toilet, helping make the restaurant easier to access for more guests. Additional amenities include restrooms, Wi-Fi, and free Wi-Fi. Customers can pay with credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments.
Rated 4.60 out of 5 based on 514 reviews, The Literary has earned strong customer feedback for its inviting atmosphere, varied offerings, and dependable dining experience. To learn more or make an inquiry, call +1 217-954-1500.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at The Literary
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Hear from our valued guests
I FINALLY got to try an item off the brunch menu at the super cool The Literary. It's a hot spot where our local WCIA Meteorologist and his wife like to visit often. Sometimes it's simply called The Lit. Heard of it? . I took my friend to a belated birthday brunch outing in July. My friend needs an accessible entrance as well as accessible seating. The Lit has both. I found the perfect table for us inside! . Marcia had the Burrata Peach Caprese and Peach Blossom Iced Tea. And I settled for the Avocado Toast and the Pistachi-goat Shaken Espresso. We absolutely loved our meals! If you like books, cocktails and delicious unique food options, this gem is worth the drive, ya'll. They offer dishes for those who have some dietery restrictions. They have a Facebook page. Check it out!
What a spot! You know your sassy best friend who loves books and eclectic decor? It’s like you’re at their house, and you couldn’t be happier! Definitely a “must-come” for the Champaign/Urbana area. Ordered the bagel with herbed cream cheese (very dill-forward, perfect for a pickle lover like myself!) and fruit bowl with an iced chai latte. So tasty!
They have plenty of vegan & vegetarian options (even vegan desserts!). Cannot recommend enough. Last time I went I got the tofu banh mi but my favorite thing I’ve gotten here was the vegan grilled cheese flight (only available on the fall menu!).
Can’t love this place more! Great vibe, delicious food, excellent coffee, and incredibly friendly staff. This is the kind of place that makes you want to keep coming back.
I finally got around to getting over to the literary and I was not disappointed. The space is small and busy, so I appreciated their signs that requested no working/studying during their busy hours. The food was absolutely amazing on all fronts. Highly recommend the poutine. Where you get a table definitely impacts your experience and we were lucky enough to get one by a window. I will definitely be back!!!
Love this spot. My dog Goose and I go here all the time. The staff is nice and friendly, lots of great drink options, try the Somoa Mocha, it's a great blend of flavors and it's never too bitter or overly sweet. The pastry options are somewhat limited but I have yet to get tired of any of them. The berry filled croissant, and the strawberry ube croissants are the perfect mid morning snack to go with your coffee. The food menu is great, it offers lots of options for vegetarian/vegan and omnivores alike. If you are looking for new books they have a great selection, I've often found new things to read from categories I would not have expected. The Lit is definitely a staple of the downtown experience for Champaign.
A favourite place for coffee and a chat with friends, or a little ‘Aperitivo’. Super good energy and lovely people. The design and layout offers plenty of variety, so everybody can feel welcome. (Didn’t try the food yet, but it looks delicious).
One of my favorite places to eat downtown! The hashbrowns are so good - cannot not get them. I really really love the seating choice variety - small tables, counter top, outside - whatever your vibe is, they got it. Coffee is good too - they have good options for basic drinks and of course have some lovely themed drinks by season. It’s really nice to support a local bookstore as well - they also are a good place to stop for quick small gifts for friends or family!
My go to ‘happy place’ I can get a coffee, something yummy, something lighter to eat or even a drink if I wanted. They made it aesthetic and the hours are great. We need more places like this in a college town, I truly can’t think of another spot like this. They have gluten friendly alternatives too which is always appreciated.
I visited The Literary for dinner and really enjoyed the overall experience. It’s a unique concept that combines a bookstore with a vegan restaurant, along with curated displays of books and small items throughout the space. The layout is creative and well-balanced, with different seating areas and corners that make it feel inviting and easy to explore. The book displays in particular were organized, clean, and thoughtfully and creatively arranged. Service was casual and straightforward—you order at the cashier and they bring the food to your table. The staff were nice, though nothing particularly above and beyond. Wait times were reasonable, with a short line to order and food arriving in about 15 minutes, which felt efficient for dinner service. We ordered the Vegan Wings (Garlic Parmesan flavor) and the Chicka Chick’n Boom. The wings came in a half order of six for $8 and were flavorful, though slightly crisp at the edges. The Chicka Chick’n Boom for $14 was the highlight—the pita was light and fluffy and the vegan chicken was soft and well-seasoned. The fries were okay, though not as crispy as I would have liked and could have used a bit more seasoning. The noise level was pleasantly moderate even with a good crowd, making it easy to talk and enjoy the space. The overall atmosphere felt comfortable and not overwhelming at all. There is also outdoor seating available, which is a nice option. Parking and access were straightforward during our visit. Overall, this is a creative and enjoyable spot with a strong atmosphere and solid vegan options. I would definitely come back to try more of the menu, especially drinks, coffee, and dessert items I didn’t get to try this time.
Common questions about The Literary
The Literary is located at 122 N Neil St, Champaign, IL 61820, United States, Champaign, IL, United States.
You can reach The Literary by calling +1 217-954-1500.
The Literary has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 based on 514 customer reviews.
The Literary features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
The Literary features the following from the business: Identifies as women-owned.
The Literary features the following service options: Outdoor seating, On-site services, Dine-in, Delivery.
The Literary features the following highlights: Fast service, Great cocktails, Great coffee, Great dessert, Great tea selection, Serves local specialty.
The Literary features the following popular for: Breakfast, Solo dining.
The Literary features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Comfort food, Healthy options, Quick bite, Small plates, Spirits, Vegan options, Vegetarian options, Wine.
The Literary features the following dining options: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Counter service, Dessert, Seating.
The Literary features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom, Wi-Fi, Free Wi-Fi.
The Literary features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy, Trendy.
The Literary features the following crowd: Groups, Tourists, University students.
The Literary features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
The Literary features the following children: High chairs, Kids' menu.
The Literary features the following parking: Paid parking lot, Paid street parking, Somewhat difficult to find a space.
The Literary features the following pets: Dogs allowed outside.
Business Features
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