The Rose Bowl Tavern, established in 1948, is a music venue, honky tonk, dive bar, watering hole and gathering place in downtown Urbana, Illinois. With a cozy no frills environment, lots of seating, dim lighting, live music (or some other fun event) everyday, and a great bar, there is something for everyone!
Live music and events
From country to jazz to blues to rock to hiphop to bluegrass to experimental noise to songwriter circles to punk throwdowns to goth DJ nights to acoustic open jams and trivia and comedy and bingo and so on and so forth and you name it…. We are proud to feature national and regional touring artists as well as our amazing local performers in all genres and styles. Stop by and expect the unexpected, or check out our events calendar to learn more and plan your night out.
The Bar
12 draft beer taps, a top notch whiskey and tequila selection, a seasonal cocktail menu of special treats, THEE locally infamous watermelon shot, a healthy choice of all the staple American beers and boozes, and a decent selection of non-alcoholic options including craft CBD seltzers & sodas, drip coffee and a small selection of teas. Check out the full menu here. There is almost always a seat available at the bar, the booths, or a table to accommodate you and your party. The Rose Bowl, with its dimly lit, watering hole, 21st century honky-tonk vibe is a great place to have a drink.
What else to know?
We do not have food, but you are welcome to bring take out. We highly recommend any of the nearby restaurants in downtown Urbana, they are all delicious! We do have free popcorn (while supplies last) and some other packaged bar snacks for sale.
Most concerts and events are FREE with no cover charge. While we encourage guests to tip the artists via cash in the bucket, on your bar tab or with digital payments, it is not required. Please note that some concerts do have a cover charge and/or tickets for sale. Please check our events calendar for details.
Parking
Yes! There is a city parking lot adjacent to the bar on the northside, additionally, there is lots of street parking available in downtown Urbana, as well as a very large parking garage one block east and one block south at the corner of Broadway and Main st. City parking paid meters are enforced M-F 8am – 5pm, and is free on Saturdays and Sundays.
The outdoor patio!
May through October The Rose Bowl Tavern features an outdoor patio with a big tent, tons of seating, and an outdoor stage for events. Nothing changes about the bar, the seating, or the vibe and scene in general, it’s just outside