Sips, Bites, & Autumn Nights: Fall Food in the Champaign-Urbana Area
When the leaves crisp up and the fields turn gold, CU answers with warm, local comfort food. Graze your way through fall, from latte to last call.
START YOUR DAY
A twist on your typical fall beverage, the Caramel Apple Butter Latte is a seasonal staple at Mad Goat Coffee. With hints of apple and caramel, the coffee isn't too sweet, isn't too bitter. Pair it with oat milk—or order it as a steamer (without espresso) for those lazier mornings.
If it’s pumpkin spice you’re after, look no further than Hopscotch Bakery + Market. Made with real pumpkin and turmeric, their take on the PSL ups the sophistication. You can also find incredible seasonal lattes at Whisk Coffee and Wine Bar in Mahomet (come back in the evening for their amazing take on an espresso martini).
FARM-FRESH PLATES & LOCAL FLAVOR
Surrounded by rich farmland, Champaign-Urbana shines when it sticks close to the soil. Get right on the farm this fall at Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery This goat farmstead creates award-winning cheeses alongside goat’s milk gelato. Their onsite restaurant, Caprae, builds brunches and dinners around ingredients from their property and neighboring farms. Just off the Kickapoo Rail Trail in St. Joseph, Chef Ryan Rogiers refreshes The Wheelhouse’s menu each season. You’ll wow your palate with the freshest of flavors (oh, and the best cheese curds ever).
At Maize Mexican Grill, owner Armando Sandoval recalls his roots from his family farm in Mexico by sourcing local corn to create their freshly made tortillas and chips. The Space, an innovative eatery in downtown Champaign, brings bold flavors and local flair together on every plate. Their commitment to local sourcing shines in their always-changing, always delicious menu, and their special ticketed dinners are a MUST.
TREATS THAT TASTE LIKE OCTOBER
We can't talk fall comfort items without discussing the donuts and fritters at Curtis Orchard & Pumpkin Patch. Apples, cinnamon, sugary glaze…go get some before they run out for the day!
And how about the joys of an Art Mart pumpkin cookie! Topped with a sweet, delicious icing, these are a favorite seasonal treat. Make sure to grab one for yourself or a pack to get you through those moments when you have to have something sweet, like, NOW.
RAISE A GLASS
Riggs Beer Company in Urbana keeps it classic—German-style beers brewed with just four ingredients and a serious commitment to grain from their own family farm. If you’re looking for award-winning, experimental flavors, Triptych Brewing in Savoy will do you right. You’ll have to try their Oktoberfest-inspired Märzen—and definitely keep an eye out for their limited barrel-aged releases.
Prefer bubbles without the buzz? Head to Cloud Mountain Kombucha’s tap room for bright, seasonal flavors—provided by local ingredients—that pair perfectly with sweater weather, including Raspberry Sage, Autumn Mary, and Wizard Smoke.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
Need help planning your delicious detour to the Champaign-Urbana area? Check out our Experience Guide, or contact us for more information! Don’t forget to book your stay at our area hotels, located conveniently throughout the community.