Everyone’s done the campus bar crawl. Start at Rennie’s, migrate to Taylor’s and get sick of it before heading to Webfoot. Head to Fathom’s afterward for a slice of pizza before closing out Max’s. But for those who truly want to experience the best of the Eugene bar scene, we’ve got quite the list for you. And what better way to experience it than to do like Simon Pegg and Co. in The World’s End and hit them all, one after the other, in what we’re calling Eugene’s “Golden Mile.”
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Here’s the order:
Start at The Bier Stein and order a beer. You have one hour from the time you do so until you’re due at Falling Sky. Repeat and head on down to Olive Street and Broadway — or, as the area is better known, the Barmuda Triangle. We’ve laid out the three best bars to visit in the area, but feel free to wander to Cowfish, Luckey’s, Davis or the newly opened Sidelines, which replaced John Henry’s this year. Then end the night at one of the two bars farthest on the crawl, either Max’s or the Jackalope Lounge. Start as early as you’d like, but the goal here is to close out at one of these seven locations. And you know what’s just as much fun as heading out for a night of drinks with your buds? Doing it responsibly. Make sure you grab a bite at one of these fine establishments and grab a glass of water between drinks, too. @@google checked names@@
Bier Stein — (1591 Willamette St.) @@google checked name & address@@
This is the perfect place to start your journey through Eugene’s finest spirits establishments. The menu is fantastic — try the Pizzannini, which is exactly what it sounds like ($9.95) — and the staff is incredibly helpful in guiding you toward the best of what the bar has to offer. Upon entering, you’ll notice the enormous refrigerator full of craft beers and a board that describes each of the 30 beers on tap at any given time. It’s even available online if you want to plan your trip in advance. @@beer stein website@@
Those who visited The Bier Stein at its old digs on 11th Avenue may remember how cramped and crowded it could get. Although that’s sometimes the case here on Willamette, there’s much more floor space and you can almost always find a table, even on the busiest nights.
Falling Sky Brewing — (1334 Oak Alley)
Just a few blocks away from The Bier Stein sits Falling Sky, a small brewing outfit tucked into Oak Alley near 13th Avenue. If you didn’t grab a bite at the Stein, there’s plenty here to get your arteries nice and clogged. The poutine, a semi-french fry concoction topped with vegetarian gravy and garlic mozzarella cheese curds, is perfect for a couple of friends, albeit a bit spendy at $9. But, hey, regular fries will only run about $5 at this establishment.
Brews range in alcohol level from the 3 percent to just over 8 percent. The Walk on the Mild Side has the lowest alcohol content while the Doublespeak Belgian Dark Strong and Wet Earth Winter Ale are among the strongest the place has to offer. @@falling sky website@@
Jameson’s — (115 W Broadway)
Once you’ve crossed 13th Avenue and headed on north, you’ll be sticking around downtown for awhile. Jameson’s should be your first stop on this part of the trip. There are admittedly fewer beers on tap here, but the bartenders are more than happy to whip up a Jack and Coke for you, which you’re not going to find at the Bier Stein or Falling Sky. Jameson’s offers both ample standing room and a couple of booths in addition to three indoor seating areas and a patio for the smokers in your group.
It’s also the first of two spots on this list that house a pool table for you to pass the time. Not a fan of billiards? The wait for the pool table might not do much to sway that opinion. @@google check@@
Starlight Lounge — (830 Olive St.)
After you leave Jameson’s, walk half a block north and you’ll find yourself at the Starlight Lounge. You can’t miss it: The stone lions guarding the entrance are a dead giveaway. Like Jameson’s, this is an excellent place to lounge around. With plenty of cushy couches in the main seating area and a bevy of armchairs and love seats near the entrance, there’s no shortage of places to rest your posterior as you get nice and chummy with the folks who agreed to accompany you on this tour of Eugene’s finest pubs and bars.
You’ll often find yourself humming along to a wide array of music — depending on who’s bar tending, you’ll relive the glory of the ‘90s or bounce to some classic hip hop — and if you make it here between the hours of 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., one shot of Patron will run you $3. Not too shabby. @@google check@@
The Horsehead Bar — (99 W. Broadway)
Grab a Pabst and play some pool. It’s practically a ritual for plenty of folks who visit one of downtown Eugene’s most amiable bars. And for good reason. The outdoor seating area is an excellent place to mingle and the three pool tables in the back provide a great way to pass the time. As the evening nears its end, it might also be a good idea to grab an order of bacon cheese fries — a half order will run you $6.75 and a full one goes for $3 more. The kitchen is also operational until the bar closes, so you’ll never find yourself trying to sweet talk any of the bartenders into firing up an order of chicken wings for you ala Chris Farley in “Tommy Boy.” @@horsehead website@@
And now that you’ve covered much of what Olive Street has to offer north of Broadway, you have a choice: Keep on this side of town or head toward campus to close out one of the most storied bars in town? Here’s how to do both:
The Jackalope Lounge — (453 Willamette St.)
Because of its distance from both the University of Oregon campus and the downtown area, The Jackalope Lounge is a place too few students discover until it’s too late. It’s probably the most homey spot on this list — even though there are 11 TVs scattered throughout the establishment dedicated to any and every sport you’re following — and if you’re looking for a relatively quiet end to your evening, make a point of having this be your last stop of the night.
Jackalope is about as far detached from the campus and downtown bars that you’re used to. The music plays at a reasonable level and you’d best keep the YOLOs to a minimum. As with plenty of other establishments on this list, the lounge has a lengthy menu and, best of all, plenty of its items can be ordered to-go for a 50-cent surcharge. @@jackalope website@@
New Max’s Tavern — (550 E. 13th Ave.)
Of course, if you’re looking to end your evening in what has scientifically been proven to be the closest any UO student has ever come to experiencing what it’s like to be in a sardine tin, you’ll want to head to Max’s. Or, you know, if you’re looking for some semblance of familiarity after you’ve thoroughly explored downtown Eugene. Despite how cramped it gets in here, the bartenders are among the friendliest you’ll ever meet and the free popcorn nearly makes up for the 10 minutes you’ll have to wait to get in should you arrive after 1 a.m.
The real charm of closing out Max’s, as plenty of you know, is the camaraderie you feel with your fellow bar flies when you’re belting out Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” or Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” at the top of your lungs after final call. And when it comes to affordability, you can’t beat a lipo — it’s what the bartenders call a concoction that’s half PBR and half espresso stout. @@google check@@