The Rose Bowl is an icon in the dive bar, history of Urbana. The Rose Bowl is one of the few places that still offers regular live music. They have a good selection of beers and whiskeys, and a great interesting crowd for people watching. There is convenient parking, and it's a not to be missed place if you want to experience the real dive bar culture of Urbana - champaign Illinois.
Pat McClard
Great music every day of the month!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
ACM
I lived in small mountain towns in Colorado for a long time and this is the closest thing I have found East of Denver that matches the quality of that vibe. Having live music every single night of the year, as feasible, is incredible and rare. Tonight, they had three people that had never played together and it was one of the best sets of music I've ever seen. They didn't know each other and it was so fun to watch them figure each other out and when they hit that perfect note it was magic. I feel privileged to have seen it.I recommend grabbing some dinner to-go and support your local artists. You never know what you'll see and I have never had a bad time.TIP! THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WE NEED TO SUPPORTParking: You'll figure it out.Wheelchair accessibility: Every single person I have met there is so incredibly kind that we will help you get wherever you need to go.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rose Bowl-Aritas
Jonathan Martin
How fun. Loved the spot, the music was great. We could spend a lot of time nearby too. We'll be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Rob Krumm
The historic Rose Bowl Tavern is the premier live music venue in Champaign-Urbana. With music everyday, the Rose Bowl serves up good music and excellent drinks in a welcoming atmosphere. Except for terrific popcorn, the Rose Bowl doesn't serve food but there are plenty of nearby take-out options and people are welcomed to bring food. During the summer months (April thru Oct.), the Rose Bowl crew sets up a big tent outdoors and the music happens everyday outside and the late-night inside. Long associated with country music, just about every and all genres are part of a diverse music schedule. Great music, good company, and an excellent drink menu...that's a perfect recipe for a day or evening of fun at the Rose Bowl.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Feifei Li
It's a bar that's not deserted but not noisy either. There are many old men and old ladies in the bar. The guy at the bar will patiently explain to me the differences between different cocktails in detail. There will be a show after 5pm, so remember to have some change ready for tipping.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
James Coyle
Fantastic spot. Great music every night from talented regional artists. Next time I am in town I will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
John Jacob
I had the worst experience here. I’m from Canada and decided to visit my friend in Illinois. We decided to go to this bar on Nov 17 12am, and ordered a drink. The bar tender asked us for our IDs so we both gave her ours. She saw my Canadian driver license, and told me that she cannot accept it. She said she needed another form of ID and so I gave her my Nexus card instead (Alternative to a passport) in which I used all the time to cross US borders for work and travel. She looked through my Nexus card, and said she cannot allow it. She said that the expiration date is November 2022 on the back of the card but it said “fecha de expedicion” which means expedition date. I told her many times that it meant expedition date and even showed her the expiration date on the front of the card being Nov 2027. She still said she cannot accept it and was very rude about it. I remember her telling me “ Forget it I cannot serve you honey” then kicked us out. As a visitor from Canada, I will never come back or suggest this bar to anyone!! I’ve used my license and nexus at other places and they were fine with it
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
C Jay
Super cool little hole in the wall venue. Tons of free concerts, comedy nights, open mics etc. Pulls in solid bands for payed concerts as well. Nice to have a few blocks away!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Rose Krupka
Great music, great people, a staple of the Urbana live music scene
Went here for the first time last week for the Halfway to Halloween party they put on and had a wonderful time. The fire spinners , the burlesque show, costume contest, old b&w movies playing all night. What a great time. Great people, fantastic drinks at decent prices, everything was top notch.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Phil Leotardo
What a step back in time, you feel like you're at a western tavern in Nevada in the 70s. Don't change a thing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael Davis
We went to the Rose Bowl to see some music and we were not disappointed. The concert was in a tent in the parking lot. The atmosphere was comfortable and relaxed. Several picnic tables were available, we took advantage and brought in some food from a nearby restaurant. The staff was really helpful, the drinks were reasonably priced, parking was easy and the facilities were clean. I would love to go again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael Griffin
The picture is just me and my soul mate. We visit the Rose Bowl purely for the music. They give up and coming and even established locals a great place to display their talent. It's one of the hottest music venues around.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4
Therese Davis
Saw a show that was outdoors, really fun! Super nice people work there, nice beer selection, old-style bar that's been there for a while!
The Rose Bowl is an icon in the dive bar, history of Urbana. The Rose Bowl is one of the few places that still offers regular live music. They have a good selection of beers and whiskeys, and a great interesting crowd for people watching. There is convenient parking, and it's a not to be missed place if you want to experience the real dive bar culture of Urbana - champaign Illinois.
Great music every day of the month!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
I lived in small mountain towns in Colorado for a long time and this is the closest thing I have found East of Denver that matches the quality of that vibe. Having live music every single night of the year, as feasible, is incredible and rare. Tonight, they had three people that had never played together and it was one of the best sets of music I've ever seen. They didn't know each other and it was so fun to watch them figure each other out and when they hit that perfect note it was magic. I feel privileged to have seen it.I recommend grabbing some dinner to-go and support your local artists. You never know what you'll see and I have never had a bad time.TIP! THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WE NEED TO SUPPORTParking: You'll figure it out.Wheelchair accessibility: Every single person I have met there is so incredibly kind that we will help you get wherever you need to go.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rose Bowl-Aritas
How fun. Loved the spot, the music was great. We could spend a lot of time nearby too. We'll be back.
Atmosphere: 5
The historic Rose Bowl Tavern is the premier live music venue in Champaign-Urbana. With music everyday, the Rose Bowl serves up good music and excellent drinks in a welcoming atmosphere. Except for terrific popcorn, the Rose Bowl doesn't serve food but there are plenty of nearby take-out options and people are welcomed to bring food. During the summer months (April thru Oct.), the Rose Bowl crew sets up a big tent outdoors and the music happens everyday outside and the late-night inside. Long associated with country music, just about every and all genres are part of a diverse music schedule. Great music, good company, and an excellent drink menu...that's a perfect recipe for a day or evening of fun at the Rose Bowl.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
It's a bar that's not deserted but not noisy either. There are many old men and old ladies in the bar. The guy at the bar will patiently explain to me the differences between different cocktails in detail. There will be a show after 5pm, so remember to have some change ready for tipping.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fantastic spot. Great music every night from talented regional artists. Next time I am in town I will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
I had the worst experience here. I’m from Canada and decided to visit my friend in Illinois. We decided to go to this bar on Nov 17 12am, and ordered a drink. The bar tender asked us for our IDs so we both gave her ours. She saw my Canadian driver license, and told me that she cannot accept it. She said she needed another form of ID and so I gave her my Nexus card instead (Alternative to a passport) in which I used all the time to cross US borders for work and travel. She looked through my Nexus card, and said she cannot allow it. She said that the expiration date is November 2022 on the back of the card but it said “fecha de expedicion” which means expedition date. I told her many times that it meant expedition date and even showed her the expiration date on the front of the card being Nov 2027. She still said she cannot accept it and was very rude about it. I remember her telling me “ Forget it I cannot serve you honey” then kicked us out. As a visitor from Canada, I will never come back or suggest this bar to anyone!! I’ve used my license and nexus at other places and they were fine with it
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Super cool little hole in the wall venue. Tons of free concerts, comedy nights, open mics etc. Pulls in solid bands for payed concerts as well. Nice to have a few blocks away!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Great music, great people, a staple of the Urbana live music scene
Restaurantji Recommends
Went here for the first time last week for the Halfway to Halloween party they put on and had a wonderful time. The fire spinners , the burlesque show, costume contest, old b&w movies playing all night. What a great time. Great people, fantastic drinks at decent prices, everything was top notch.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What a step back in time, you feel like you're at a western tavern in Nevada in the 70s. Don't change a thing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We went to the Rose Bowl to see some music and we were not disappointed. The concert was in a tent in the parking lot. The atmosphere was comfortable and relaxed. Several picnic tables were available, we took advantage and brought in some food from a nearby restaurant. The staff was really helpful, the drinks were reasonably priced, parking was easy and the facilities were clean. I would love to go again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The picture is just me and my soul mate. We visit the Rose Bowl purely for the music. They give up and coming and even established locals a great place to display their talent. It's one of the hottest music venues around.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4
Saw a show that was outdoors, really fun! Super nice people work there, nice beer selection, old-style bar that's been there for a while!
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5