How to Have a European Experience in Eugene this Summer
Dreaming of Europe? Eating chocolate that’s as much a feast for the eyes as the tastebuds. Smelling the scent of French baguettes wafting through the air. Gathering in plazas at café tables – sipping vino and letting a lazy afternoon slip into a summer night…
We may not be back in Europe this summer just yet, but we can have a bit of Europe in Eugene.
The 5th Street Public Market, with its collection of enchanting local shops, restaurants, tasting rooms, and two boutique hotels, is centered around a communal courtyard. While it hasn’t been a gathering place for centuries (this is Oregon, after all), The Market has beckoned friends and family for decades and is a cornerstone of Eugene’s identity and community. Here’s how to make the most of the market at its peak of activity and freshness in the most European way possible.
Build a Gourmet Picnic
The 5th Street Public Market welcomes the Lane County Farmers Market from April 3 to mid-November, every Saturday between 9am - 3pm. Browse and shop locally grown and produced foods from over 60 vendors to create a picnic of your favorite summer foods. To round out your selections, head to Provisions Market Hall for items from pastries and breads to house charcuterie, artisan cheeses, and sandwiches. Finally, stop into Euphoria Chocolate Company to pick up something sweet: their European-inspired small-batch chocolates use ingredients like Oregon hazelnut butter and fresh locally sourced cream.
Book a Balcony Room
The sophisticated Inn at the 5th’s Balcony King rooms are worth the splurge. With a European-style patio and fully furnished sitting area, it’s an ideal place to enjoy a cup of coffee or glass of wine while overlooking the market’s hustle and bustle. Pro tip: book a Balcony King above the Alesong Brewing & Blending terrace, because on Friday nights from 5-7 p.m., you can enjoy live music from the privacy of your own patio.
Tour the City by Bike
Europeans have perfected bike culture, but Eugene with its 46 miles of shared-use paths, nearly 200 miles of on-street bicycle lanes, and 71 miles of bikeways/neighborhood greenways is a dream to navigate on two wheels. Pedego Electric Bikes in the market can get you sorted with sales or rentals, while both Inn at the 5th and The Gordon hotels offer complimentary cruiser bikes for their guests to use.
Raise a Glass
For centuries, wine has been deeply rooted in European culture, but despite that head start, Oregon is regarded as one of the premier Pinot-producing regions in the world. Channel your inner oenophile with wine tastings at one (or all) of the five tastings rooms located in the 5th Street Public Market. Terra Pacem’s Pinot Noir is bigger and bolder than most, making it an excellent pairing with the winery’s duck liver pate on the snack menu.
Cheers to Eugene and the market in summer. And cheers to the return of travel.