Given its collegiate vibe, its attractive natural setting on the banks of the Willamette River (and a short drive to the stunning Oregon Coast in one direction and the Cascade Mountains in the other), and its long-standing popularity with free-spirited souls, creative creatures, leftist thinkers, eco-minded outdoor enthusiasts, locavores and hippies young and in the prime of their years. It is not at all surprising that the second largest city in the state, Eugene, has a highly visible and socially and politically active gay scene.
In fact, this city of roughly 160,000, which hosts a busy Eugene Gay Pride festival every August, is the most popular small town on the West Coast when it comes to LGBT travel.
Eugene is just a two-hour drive south of the state’s largest city, Portland, and makes a good base south for sightseeing in the Pinot Noir-acclaimed Willamette Valley. It’s easy to get to by car or train, and the city has a small regional airport with direct flights from Portland and other western cities, including Denver, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Best LGBTQ Hotspots in Eugene, Oregon
Considering its size and significant LGBT population, Eugene is to be expected to have at least a couple of gay bars, and there have indeed been several nightspots geared towards the community over the years. Until very recently, there were no gay bars in the city. This probably has something to do with the fact that the core of nightlife-minded Eugene residents are young people, many of them students or professors at the University of Oregon, and are quite inclined to drink and dance in bars and clubs. conventional. In this tolerant city, most of the establishments are very gay-friendly.
In this reasonably compact city, you’ll find a few different pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, all within a short drive or bike ride, with a thriving nightlife and food scene. These include the small commercial strip around the University of Oregon campus (along E. 13th Avenue, from the west side of the campus on Kincaid Street for several blocks west to around Willamette Street), downtown Eugene ( especially from about 8th Avenue south to 10th Avenue, from Charnelton Street to Pearl Street), the beautiful and renovated 5th Street Market and nearby blocks, and the more recently gentrified hipster hood known as Whiteaker (pronounced as “Whitaker”), which is centered along Blair Boulevard, just northwest of downtown, around West 4th Avenue).
Just wander around any of these areas, and you’re likely to find cozy spots to socialize, have cocktails or coffee, and eat some great (and generally reasonably priced) food.
Whiteaker has been transformed from a seldom-visited strip of industrial preoccupations and modest homes into a lively little district of cafes, bars, galleries and restaurants haunted by nonconformists. A good time to visit the area is during one of the Art Walks last Friday, during which various galleries and shops stay open late and sometimes host receptions.
One of the top drinking destinations is the home of Oregon’s increasingly acclaimed craft brewery Ninkasi (272 Van Buren St., 541-344-2739), which features a pleasant indoor tasting room and large seating area. outdoors which is also served with food carts (featured cart changes daily). This stellar brewery known for its hop IPAs and much-loved oatmeal “Oatis” is also a constant mix of seasonal specialties – one of the best places to people-watch and socialize in town.
The other culinary “must-do” in Whiteaker is Izakaya Meiji (345 Van Buren St., 541-505-8804), a dark and seductive late-night food and drink vendor whose motto reads: “Where East Meets Country & Western. » What is this all about? The bar specializes in Asian and Southern inspired beverages (from Woodford Reserve Bourbon Mint Juleps to Shochu-infused Meiji Mule. There is also an extensive list of American, Irish, Canadian and Japanese whiskeys, plus a cuisine that serves some of the best Japanese restaurants in Oregon.
Consider the salty jellyfish with chili oil and shoyu, fried rice ( cya-han) with mushrooms and peas, chicken thigh skewers, curried udon noodles, and the trademark Meiji burger with teriyaki coleslaw.
Java lovers should try Wandering Goat Coffee (268 Madison St.; 541-344-5161) for a cup of high-quality, single-origin espresso – they roast their own fair trade beans here. Other worthy dining and drinking spots in Whiteaker include the funky, hippie-happy New Day Bakery and World Cafe (449 Blair Blvd., 541-485-1377), whose breakfast burritos are a great way to start any Eugene morning; cool live music venue Sam Bond’s Garage (407 Blair Blvd .; 541-431-6603), which hosts some great concerts; and the in-house restaurant Papa’s Soul Food Kitchen and BBQ (400 Blair Blvd., 541-342-7500), which can be counted on for everything from pulled pork and roast sandwiches to jambalaya to New Orleans-style cocktails. Live bands most Fridays and Saturdays.
A longtime downtown favorite with LGBT people is Cowfish (62 W Broadway, 541-683-6319), a diverse downtown dance hall that occasionally hosts drag shows and other events favored by the gay community. Another downtown bar that has earned a huge following in the gay community, as well as among almost all fans of good coffee (they served Portland’s Stumptown brand), tea, creative cocktails, Oregon beers, and Well conceived pub food is the Barn Light. (924 Willamette St., 458-205-8914), a cozy and welcoming downtown location with a convenient central location.
Surrounding the retail and dining complex known as 5th Street Market, there are several great options for pastimes, including the romantic and stylish exclusive French Bistro Marché (296 E. 5th Ave., 541-342-3612), featuring seasonal local ingredients, an excellent old world and Oregon and Washington wine list, and cozy, sophisticated decor that is elegant and understated. By the way, if you’re looking for a fun excuse to spend the night (or a full weekend) in Eugene, consider the stylish and contemporary Inn at the 5th (205 E.
6th Ave., 541-743-4099), a decidedly elegant but unpretentious boutique hotel with 70 rooms. It’s across the courtyard from Marché and other great market dining options, and there’s also an attached spa.
The options around the University of Oregon are more geared towards students and locals – it’s a laid-back scene around here. The cozy new New Max’s Tavern (550 E. 13th Ave., 541-349-8986) is a collegiate dive legend – nothing terribly exciting, but nice and convenient if you want a waterhole near the U of O. The Glenwood ( 1340 Alder St., 541-687-0355; also in South Eugene at 2588 Willamette St., 541-687-8201) is a longtime favorite for breakfast, lunch and dinner among everyone from students to artists and hippies. It’s only open for 9, so it doesn’t qualify as a late-night hangout, but it’s a great option for a healthy and reasonably priced dinner (lots of veggie options), and beer and wine are served.
If you’re looking for a student-minded coffee option, head to the aforementioned Marché’s excellent coffee branch located inside the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art on the U or O campus (1470 Johnson La., 541-346-6440).
Eugene LGBT Resources
There may not be much gay-specific nightlife in Eugene, but you will find plenty of general LGBTQ information about the city, as well as other tips for visiting this progressive community. Try taking a look at the Queer Eugene website, which has tons of links and news on upcoming events, and also visit the University of Oregon LGBT resource site, the site of the excellent alternative newspaper Eugene Weekly, and the Portland queer publication. , PQ Monthly. Additionally, the region’s visiting organization, Eugene, Cascades & Coast Tourism, produces a comprehensive travel site in the area with its own page dedicated to LGBT visitors.
