If it seems like there’s nowhere to go on a Friday night in Eugene, take another look.
Most of the typical college bars in town, such as Taylor’s, Rennie’s Landing and BiagiO’s, seem to have worn out their appeal, and groans of boredom can be heard as groups migrate from one to another. But there’s no need to solicit the same dives week after week.
A virtual oasis of unsung watering holes, Eugene contains a number of unique, out of the way establishments offering a variety of specialty libations and hearty pub fare.
A few blocks east of Hayward Field on Agate Street and 19th Avenue is the erroneously named East 19th St. Cafe, a branch of the McMenamin brothers’ tree of pubs, restaurants, breweries and wineries. Home of the renowned Terminator Stout and Hammer Head ale, 19th St. Cafe carries a mouth-watering selection of McAles and wines, as well as guest taps from Deschutes Brewery and Widmer Bros. Food choices run the gamut from vegetarian sandwiches, burritos and pastas to more traditional burgers and appetizers. 19th St. Cafe is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sundays from noon to midnight.
Take a short jaunt down to 13th Avenue, and make your way west to Cafe Soriah, a bar and cafe specializing in Mediterranean, international and Northwest delicacies. Patio seating is available, but the stylish decor and alluring liqueur selections could cause one to spend a little too much time at the bar. Specially blended coffee drinks and a smashingly good Cosmopolitan make Cafe Soriah, between Lincoln and Lawrence streets, a pleasant spot to spend a few hours. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., when the restaurant closes until dinner at 5 p.m. and serves meals until 10 p.m., with drinks served until 2 a.m.
A few of the good drinking destinations require a little travel, so if plans include more than a few beverages, it’s advisable to call a cab or designate a sober driver. The Lava Lounge, a gem hidden out West 11th Avenue, on the corner of Chambers Street, is a delightfully unknown place to taste exotic drink concoctions and sample some of Eugene’s best international cuisine. Attached to the Ring of Fire restaurant, the Lava Lounge follows the Pacific Rim theme with tropical beverages including liquor-soaked fruit blends and the Volcano, a fiery rum drink for two (or three) served in a large bowl mixed with orange, pineapple and guava juices. Be sure to check out the appetizer selection, which includes tasty spring rolls and chicken satays smothered in peanut sauce. The Lava Lounge is open and serves a full dinner menu Sunday through Thursday from noon to midnight, Friday and Saturday until 1 a.m.
The Highlands, formerly The Relief Pitcher, is situated atop 40th Avenue and Donald Street, inside the Edgewood Shopping Center. Like its sister bar, the Wetlands, the Highlands attracts pool sharks and amateurs with eight pool tables and a juke box sure to please music lovers across the board. Offering one of the best beer selections in town, the bars runs more than 40 taps from small Northwest brewers to larger domestic suppliers. The food menu doesn’t get much more standard, with hamburgers, fries and grilled cheese-style eating, but at reasonable prices. The Highlands opens at 11 a.m. and stays up until 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Sundays.