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Beer garden at Mike and Molly's. Photo by James Kyung

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Mike 'n' Molly's »
Address: 105 N. Market St. Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 355-1236
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Located in downtown Champaign at 105 N. Market St., Mike ’n’ Molly’s is easily accessible yet out of sight from the blur of city traffic. The beer garden has a wooden fence and stage set up for local and traveling bands, and a large white painted square covers the outside wall of the bar for projecting locally made movies. Ivy grows along the entire opposite wall, giving the beer garden a picturesque quality and also hiding the speakers from view.

Open daily from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., this bar routinely hosts local and traveling acts. Normally, bands play shows at least once a weekend, if not both nights, and one other day of the week. Some upcoming shows include Da Vieira and the Vagabonds on July 10, a mix of folk and root and rock, and the Vipers in the beginning of August. Bands aren’t turned away based on genre, said Michael Murphy, owner of Mike ’n’ Molly’s, so the crowd depends on who plays. An indie rock band brings college students, while country, folk and jazz lead to an older crowd. However, other genres, such as surfer rock, draw audiences with an age range from 20s to 50s (you must be 21 to enter).

While the inside of the bar has a cozy, coffee shop feel to it, the outside provides a level of openness. The open air invites people to wander outside.

“The bar itself is a little enclosed, so there is space to go out and look at the stars. You won’t watch cars go by and then smell like exhaust,” Murphy said. Because the bar isn’t located on a busy street, bar-goers enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere.

Score:

Beer Selection — 5: This bar hosts a wide variety of light and dark beers to satisfy every customer.

Atmosphere — 3.5: A little too relaxed; this isn’t a bar for those wanting a wild night downtown.

Noise Level — 5: People can actually hear one another talk and have a conversation over the music, but concerts can get pretty noisy.

Ambience — 5: Away from busy traffic routes and surrounded by quiet customers, this beer garden is perfect for a relaxing summer night.

Service — 4: Eager to please, but the strength of your drinks varies by bartender.

Average — 4.5: Mike ’n’ Molly’s beer garden provides a great, secluded place for customers to unwind.