Punch! officially opened in downtown Champaign yesterday, and I stopped by with my spouse to check it out.
It’s connected to the lobby of Hyatt Place, but there is an entrance from the street. There’s a lounge-like area with booths and small tables with comfy looking chairs, then also ample seating at the bar, which is where we settled in. It had a dark and cozy vibe, with a subtle Ernest Hemingway theme, which I think is probably easily overlooked, but the menu utilizes his quotes on each page, and you can spot some of his books on the shelving above the bar.
They’ve got a decent selection of wine and beer, including a few local beers on tap, but the cocktail menu is definitely the most robust. There are several classics and seasonals to choose from.
I’ve become a fan of the aviation recently, so I decided to give that a try, and my spouse went with a seasonal drink, The Firecracker, which involved tequila, strawberry, lime, and habenero. Both were good.
There’s also a snacks menu that we didn’t try because we were headed to dinner.
Seems like this could be a nice place to meet up for a drink after work or as a first stop for the evening.
Photos by Julie McClure