Earlier this month, we offered up our comprehensive guide to Eugene’s best restaurants, from the secret cocktail bar hidden above the city’s top omakase sushi counter to the breakfast burritos and bibimbap bowls at the city’s favorite hangover brunch spot.
But even with huge crowds expected at the stunning new Hayward Field for Oregon22, also known as the World Athletics Championships, from July 15-24, not everyone will have time to visit them all.
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Here, find our picks for the loveliest morning latte, the gooiest blueberry cream cheese brioche bun, some of the best Neapolitan pizza and Southern fried chicken found in Oregon and essential spots for a dress-up dinner or after-dinner drink.
A perfect 36-hour Eugene eating itinerary
I’ll usually stop by the great Noisette Pastry Kitchen for coffee and a brioche bun as soon as I get to town. Lunch options are tricky, but the lemongrass grilled chicken or tofu salad at Da Nang Vietnamese Eatery should provide enough fuel for a quick hike up nearby Skinner’s Butte. Or you can pay your respects at Toshi’s, one of Oregon’s first great ramen shops and makers of some expertly pan-friend gyoza. After a little early-afternoon wine tasting in Market Alley or a wild ale flight at Alesong, I’ll swing by Pizzeria DOP for a top-flight Neapolitan pizza when they open at 4 p.m., or try to be first in line for some skillet-fried chicken or Trinidadian doubles (appetite depending) at Yardy. Dinner could be bourbon-gingerade cocktails and sea urchin pasta at Izakaya Meiji, or fresh-shucked oysters and a burger at Party Bar. If there’s no race the next day, I’ll head to the upstairs bar at Akira, seek out some live music in the Whiteaker neighborhood, starting at Sam Bond’s Garage, or play some vintage arcade games at Blairally or Level Up (though it’s far more likely I’ll be headed to bed). After a morning jog on Pre’s Trail, I’ll grab an espresso drink from Tailored or Farmers Union, or just wait and grab a pourover and a yummy breakfast sandwich at Lion and Owl. Then it’s one last stop at Provisions Market Hall to pick up some goodies for the road.
Read more:
Where to eat, drink and be merry in Eugene
Eugene’s best breweries and tap houses
Things to do during breaks from the World Athletics Championships
— Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com @tdmrussell
