Looking for a great hangout spot to drink with buddies, or your next late night adventure destination? Here are the best bars in Eugene Oregon, based on exactly what you're looking for!
Oh, and one important note – this is Oregon we're talking about: The craft beer craze reaches its apex here, so many of the top bars in Eugene are actually breweries, or at least more "pub" than "bar." If that's not your style, well, you may have a tough time finding a good watering hole. Luckily, Eugene is less of a beer town than Portland or Bend, and there are more traditional bars for the huge influx of college students. We tried to include a little bit of everything in our list, but you'll notice a definite craft beer theme nonetheless.
Also, regarding those college kids: There are a lot of them in the popular bars, which can get pretty crowded. That's just Eugene (home of the Oregon Ducks) life. If you don't like the college scene, try for some of the less popular bars away from downtown – there's a better chance of peace and quiet.
B2 (pronounced B-Squared) is the epitome of what makes a fun and engaging bar experience in Eugene. Sure they specialize in wine, but they also have a full bar, big screen TVs, and regular events every few days that include contests, quizzes, and music performances. Food tends to be lighter than typical pub fare, with lots of hummus, salads, and paninis to choose from.
B2 Wine Bar & Grill
2794 Shadowview
Eugene, OR 97408
Bier Stein is an innovative pub that thankfully trots much closer to the edge of being a traditional bar. With weekend hours that end at midnight to plenty of live events, this is a happening place perfect for going out with friends (as long as you can get a table!). Events happen around the year, focusing mostly on old-world beer festivals like Starkbierzeit – or at least made-up equivalents that are still a great reason to gather around for a hearty drink.
Because the Stein isn't a brewery, it's tap list is able to draw from many different breweries across the state, making it ideal for bringing new friends or people who have…well, let's call it different tastes. From Atlas Cider to eclectic breweries such as Ex Novo and Heater Allen, there's something for everyone.
Bier Stein
1591 Willamette St.
Eugene, OR 97401
You wanted a sports bar, you got one – right in the heart of the college campus, in a converted fraternity building. It doesn't get much more sports-oriented than that! While pizza is certainly the main dish and comes in all sorts of interesting Eugene creations (the veggie vortex, for example), Fathoms is a nearby full bar that's owned by the pizzeria, so you get the best of both worlds…at least if you're young enough. Older people may feel out of place...so it's good news that there's always an Oakway and South Eugene location!
790 E 14th Ave
Eugene, OR 97401
Why go traditional here? This is Eugene we're talking about – and the incredibly inventive Izakaya Meiji company, which combines whiskey tasting with Asian food elements. Not only will you learn a lot about whiskeys and whiskey cocktails, but you'll also find out interesting facts about sake and Japanese taphouses. You can't get this experience at any other bar.
Izakaya Meji Company
345 Van Buren St.
Eugene, OR 97402
16 Tons believes firmly in quantity, and with more than 700 options for beer, wine and ciders, there's going to be something for every one of your work buddies. If you feel like taking the party elsewhere, they also provide growler fills.
16 Tons Taphouse
265 E 13th Ave.
Eugene, OR 97402
Calling The Barn Light a dive bar doesn't really do it justice: It's more of a comment on dive bar aesthetics, and so perfectly in line with Eugene culture. So while the indoor space may make you feel like you are visiting a hole in the wall, there are lots of modern flourishes and fancy appetizers that hint at a lot of fun underneath.
924 Willamette St
Eugene, OR 97401
Falling Sky is actually divided into a brewery and the Pour House Delicatessen, but we'll include them both here because the two options are surprisingly nice to have. In addition to the interesting food combos for all palettes, Falling Sky is noteworthy for having a large indoor space to seat its guests (which cuts down on wait lines and greatly improves the experience) as well an extensive house cocktails menu with a lot of new experimentation. Falling Sky, like many brewpubs, regularly hooks up with local biking and racing (and even LTD) events, as well as musicians and other artists, so there's always something interesting happening.
Falling Sky
1334 Oak Alley
Eugene OR 97401
Are these brewpubs not elite enough or niche enough for your tastes? You owe it to yourself to try out Sam Bond's Garage, located in Whiteaker, where drinks and music are a regular, and interesting, combination: There's a show at 9 to 9:30 every day featuring local and traveling bands of all kinds, plus a number of weekly events like Bingo, Bluegrass jamming, and more.
As you can imagine, this small-time band approach has earned Sam Bond's a reputation for being super casual and very, very fun. That means the college kid factor is usually quite strong here, so get used to the noise and crowds. To help you overcome, the business has an amazing, ever-changing menu that includes everything from a mashed potatoes appetizer to a portabella bacon sandwich.
Sam Bond's Garage
407 Blair Blvd
Eugene, OR 97402
Look, this is Eugene. You aren't going to find many outdoor areas, and they aren't going to get used very often. But if the sun is out and you really do feel like open-air drinking (or you just need to your vaping on), then the Duck Bar & Grill has exactly what you need. There are two patios, including a fully covered option, with plans for more renovation in the future.
The Duck Bar & Grill
1795 W 6th Ave.
Eugene, OR 97402
This handy little bar is connected to the Downtown Athletic Club, and it's no surprise that it's designed for…more discerning clientele. Fortunately prices, while notably higher, aren't astronomical, and the food plus the service is absolutely worth the price.
999 Willamette St.
Eugene, OR 97401
Was there an Old Max's Tavern? It honestly doesn't matter, because this is one of the best and most popular bars in town, end of story. Happy hours are an amazing four hours long from 4:00 to 8:00 pm (the bar closes at 2:00 am), and beer options tend to be cheaper for those who aren't big fans of the craft scene. There's also a rumor that the bar was the original inspiration for Moe's Tavern from the Simpsons (this will make lots of sense to any Simpson's fan out there).
One of the favorite features in the bar is the gigantic mug option, which gives you an extra-large, Homer-size portion of beer to make your way through. And if you're curious about their style, just take a visit to the Facebook page, which is… pretty self explanatory.
New Max's Tavern
550 E 13th Ave.
Eugene, OR 97401
Steelhead Brewery is one of those pub/brewery combinations (brewpub, in the nomenclature) that's amazing if you are a big craft beer fan…and is still completely enjoyable, even if you aren't, so don't feel bad about dragging significant others there. Whatever you do, try out some of their famous brews, including the Hopsaurus Rex (if available) and, for a different type of palette, their powerful homemade root beer.
Steelhead also exemplifies that other growing trend in Oregon breweries – interesting pub fusion food that's made with a lot more love than you would expect. Fish tacos with fresh steelhead are, of course, a perennial favorite, and ordering a unique pizza (like the Brewhaus special) is great for those who prefer to devour the hefty single-serve portions.
Steelhead Brewery
199 E 5th Ave #1
Eugene OR 97401
We could have gone a lot of different ways with this, but this restaurant/bar is actually part of a historical building that includes a railroad dining car – plus a focus on romantic atmosphere and interesting events in the jazz room. You really can't go wrong here, although making reservations may be a good idea.
Oregon Electric Station
27 E 5th Ave.
Eugene OR 97401
If you love juicing, then Green Plow will feel like a dream come true. This juice cart specializes in fresh, organic juice options, and is the brainchild of a couple that conducted fundraising specifically for creating an option for healthy, eco-friendly juices with plenty of customization.
Green Plow Juicery
2760 Friendly St.
Eugene, OR 97405
For a long time there wasn't much demand for a specifically LGBT-oriented bar in Eugene, but that began to change several years ago, eventually leading to the birth of The Wayward Lamb. From lip sync battles to live music events to movie screenings and fundraisers, this bar tries to do a little bit of everything – encouraging an active and long-term community. The menu specializes in unique sandwiches, and the bar includes a small club area in the back. Note: This pub is also called the Hammered Lamb, a name that was probably changed because it's already another bar name elsewhere - and now the spot may be referred to by either name.
The Wayward Lamb
150 Broadway
Eugene, OR 97401
This was an easy choice – Elk Horn has already won some awards for being one of the best new openings in Eugene, and is a must-stop for bar or pub fans. They've got a couple dozen beers and are experimenting with a new trend hitting the Northwest: Southern fusion food (plus, you know, some elk burgers). So far, the experiment is a tremendous success!
