5th Street Public Market alone is a reason to visit Eugene, Oregon. This open-air market is right in downtown Eugene and has a ton of restaurants, shops, and hotels all in one place. And we’re not talking just national chains or high street stores, but a lot of small local businesses all in one place.
With so many places under one roof, it can be difficult to choose where to visit or know if there’s something that you’d like. To help, I’ve outlined all the best things to do in 5th Street Public Market whether you prefer to eat, drink, shop, or all three!
This article is sponsored by Obie Companies, the owner of 5th Street Public Market. All opinions are my own and only experiences I truly loved were included. Thank you for supporting the brands that make content like this possible!
About 5th Street Public Market
5th Street Public Market is a pet-friendly retail and dining destination in Eugene, Oregon, an artsy college town about 1 hour and 45 minutes south of Portland in lower Willamette Valley wine country. The market takes up multiple city blocks and has stores, wineries, breweries, and restaurants scattered around an indoor-outdoor space. There are also office buildings and lofts, meaning you’ll find a ton of locals.
The historic market includes a building that used to serve as a poultry house where people came to purchase protein. It’s owned by Obie Companies, a locally-owned hospitality group that was founded in 1976. Its founder, Brian Obie, was a founding partner and investor in the 5th Street Public Market and acquired sole ownership in 1985.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first went to 5th Street Public Market. I was concerned it’d be touristy and full of mediocre food, but boy was I proven wrong. The market has such a good vibe with both visitors and locals alike. There’s often music or events, plus a ton of seating great for people watching.
ne of the unexpected things I absolutely loved was staying at the 5th Street Public Market hotels. It was such an unexpected treat to be able to pop back into the room to drop off bags or rest. I never do this when I travel because I’m always trying to maximize time, but staying at the market makes it so easy!
However, if you decide to stay elsewhere, there is free parking that makes it easy to spend the day at 5th Street Public Market.
5th Street Public Market Must Do’s
Here is everything to eat, see, and do when visiting 5th Street Public Market. Make sure to check its calendar of events before you go to see if there are any cool happenings when you’ll be there!
Best Places to Eat at 5th Street Public Market
I was blown away by how good the food is at 5th Street Public Market. Here are the places that really stood out. To help you know what to expect cost wise, I rated each spots’ prices from $ – $$$ with $$$ being the most expensive.
Marché
website | directions | cuisine: French | best for: a fancy meal | prices: $$$
Marché is the fine dining restaurant in all of Eugene. However, it’s not too stuffy so you can easily pop in between shopping for happy hour or brunch. If you can only make it to one restaurant in 5th Street Public Market, make sure Marché is it (and remember to make a reservation)!
This was our favorite meal during our trip to Eugene. Everything we had was excellent and the service was exceptional. I mean, I was bringing plates to the window for better lighting and they were gracious about the scene I was causing. 😂
The menu changes regularly to match what’s in season, but two standout dishes are the smoked salmon beignets and nettle crepe. If either of these items are on the menu when you go, make sure to get them!
The salmon beignets are so, so, so good. The salmon is smoked so it reminded me of a ham croquette. They also had the perfect fluffy texture that reminded me of a savory version of funnel cake.
The crepe was so fluffy and the most beautiful vibrant green color thanks to the nettles. It was served with some of the most flavorful gruyere cheese I’ve ever had and was stuffed full of morels, asparagus, and peas. It tasted like spring and everything a French restaurant should embody: excellent ingredients and a healthy dose of butter.
Drunken Fish
website | directions | cuisine: seafood | best for: fish and chips | prices: $
Drunken Fish is inside the market’s indoor food hall called 5th Street Eateries & Bar. It looks more like a bar since you order at a bar counter full of booze on the back shelf, but it serves a menu fitting of the fish shacks you’d see at the beach.
Everything we got here was exceptional. The fish in the fish and chips is super crunchy and perfectly seasoned because they actually salt the fish, not just the batter. I recommend swapping the tots for the French fries because this is the only place I’ve ever seen that option, but really it should become a thing.
We also loved the fried calamari and clam chowder. A local told us their crab and fish cakes are the must gets here, but they were sold out when we went. This is a good sign, so get them!
Another small detail I loved about this place is that they provided agave straws. I’ve never heard of these eco alternatives but absolutely loved the fact that they don’t disintegrate like paper straws!
Provisions Market Hall
website | directions | cuisine: American | best for: pizza | prices: $
Provisions Market Hall is a large cafe and store on the bottom floor of 5th Street Public Market. You order at the counter and grab a number to bring to your table outside.
While there are a ton of menu options here that change regularly, the two must-get items are the pizza and chocolate chip cookie. The slices are huge and, albeit a touch greasy, super flavorful and addictive. I almost didn’t get the chocolate chip cookie, but the cashier steered me toward it and I’m so happy they did. It’s the perfect chewy consistency with huge chocolate chip chunks and sea salt.
This spot is also good for breakfast or a quick drink given its extensive coffee menu and homemade items like granola, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches. If it’s on the menu, get the strawberry lemonade spritz! It has real strawberry puree and is so refreshing.
Magpie Coffee Shop
website | directions | cuisine: bakery | best for: breakfast and pie | prices: $
This coffee shop gets crowded. It’s famous for biscuit sandwiches, but I was blown away by the cinnamon bun and banana cream pie. The cinnamon bun was large, served warm, and not too sweet, which I loved. And the banana cream pie…wowzas. I typically hate banana cream pie but Magpie’s is more custardy than creamy. It has whole banana slices and flecks of vanilla bean, which helps it taste like real bananas rather than that typical artificial banana flavor. And the best part is it’s a mini pie so you can eat it in one go!
NorthWest Burgers
website | directions | cuisine: American | best for: burgers | prices: $
NorthWest Burgers is smack dab in the middle of 5th Street Public Market so it’s perfect for people watching. In fact, there was a performer when we were there and I loved watching these sweet old ladies dance and a little boy stare mesmerized at the singer.
Everything here is cooked from scratch. The burgers are made with local whole chuck steak that they grind every morning. All of the dressings and sauces are homemade…even the ketchup! You’ll find interesting gourmet burgers such as the “bork” patty made with bacon. There’s also a veggie burger option.
Get whatever burger catches your eye. The most important part is making sure you get the beer-battered fries. They are crunchy, salty, and extremely addictive. We were SO full, but couldn’t stop whimpering as we shoved more fries into our mouth. They make them with beer cleared from their taps and they are pretty much a revelation.
If you like beer, get the 3-Way IPA from Fort George Brewing out of Astoria, Oregon if available. I don’t usually like IPAs, but this one was citrusy, bright, and not too hoppy.
Café Yumm!
website | directions | cuisine: healthy | best for: bowls | prices: $
Cafe Yumm! is a healthy eatery that started right in 5th Street Public Market. It’s so popular that it was able to grown to have locations in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington. In fact, you can find them right in downtown Seattle on 7th Avenue!
The menu is healthy leaning with a lot of bowls, salads, and vegetarian or vegan options. My favorite dish is the Hot and Jazzy Bowl with southwest chicken. It has jasmine rice, organic red beans, jalapeño sesame salsa, Yumm! Sauce®, shredded cheddar, diced tomatoes, fresh avocado slices, sour cream, black olives, and cilantro. It was really flavorful and addictive, perfect for a lighter lunch option.
Mai’s Juice Cafe
website | directions | cuisine: healthy | best for: juices and smoothies | prices: $
Mai’s is another restaurant inside the 5th Street Eateries & Bar food hall. Owner Elizabeth makes excellent juices, smoothies, and bowls using mostly organic local ingredients. She spent the majority of her career in the medical field, but as a single mom she wanted to provide a happy and healthy life for her daughters. So she became a certified health coach and opened Mai’s, named with the initials of her three daughters Michelle, Adrienne, and Isabelle.
Elizabeth created the menu with her youngest daughter, Isabelle. You’ll find menu items named after each daughter highlighting their favorite flavors. My favorite was the Spring Forward smoothie with raspberry, strawberry, banana, pineapple, and mint. I’ve never had mint in a smoothie and this one got me questioning why. It added such a satisfying, herbaceous freshness to the sweetness from the fruit.
Best Places for a Drink at 5th Street Public Market
There are quite a few wineries, breweries, and coffee shops in 5th Street Public Market. You can easily spend the day wine tasting some of the best Willamette Valley wineries without even leaving the market! If you need to choose just a few though, here are my favorite spots to grab a drink.
Alesong
website | directions | best for: Belgian-style beers | prices: $
Alesong was founded in 2015 by brothers Brian and Doug Coombs and veteran brewer, Matt Van Wyk. Since I’m a Belgian and farmhouse ale gal, I was intrigued when I found out they focus on wild Belgian-style and sour beers. My decision to visit was sealed when I learned they won the small brewery of the year award at the Oregon Beer Awards.
All of Alesong’s beers are matured in barrels and then blended to create complex and unique flavors akin to what old-world Lambic blenders and winemakers would create. They’re even sometimes fermented with fresh fruit and herbs to add more depth. You’ll find flavors ranging from tart and fruity to rich and malty. Get a tasting flight to sample a bunch of their beers and find your favorite.
Pfeiffer Winery
website | directions | best for: Oregon wine | prices: $$
There are a few wineries in 5th Street Public Market, but Pfeiffer is my favorite of the ones we tried. It makes about 1,500 cases a year and you can only get their wine at their tasting room or winery outside Eugene. If you can’t make it to their locations, you can at least try their grapes at King Estate because Pfeiffer sells them to the Willamette winery behemoth.
I’m usually more of a red wine person, but I loved Pfeiffer Winery’s rosé and chardonnay. The rosé was bright and acidic with a bold berry finish that added sweetness, yet it has no added sugar. And the chardonnay wasn’t oaky or buttery, but rather crisp and refreshing just the way I like them.
They’re one of the best Eugene, OR wineries because their wine was chosen by the Obamas to serve at their inauguration dinner!
J. Scott Cellars
website | directions | best for: Oregon wine | prices: $$
J. Scott was our other favorite winery at 5th Street Public Market. Winemaker Jonathan Oberlander makes beautiful wines, many of which regularly earn more than 90 points. He started his wine label while still the assistant winemaker at nearby Silvan Ridge Winery before breaking out on his own.
Unlike Pfeiffer Winery, J. Scott doesn’t grow its own grapes. Instead grapes are sourced from vineyards around the Pacific Northwest. J.Scott is another winery where I love the white wines. The sauvignon blanc is one of its most famous, and I understand why! It’s crisp and dry with a creamy meringue note.
Allan’s Coffee & Tea
website | directions | best for: mochas | prices: $
Allan’s Coffee has been an Oregon staple since the 70s. Allan had a printing and advertising business, but started roasting coffee in his Ashland, Oregon apartment after discovering the cafe culture in Europe and wondering why it wasn’t a thing in America. He’s grown his business to multiple locations in southern and central Oregon, and even expanded to start making syrups after discovering his grandfather’s Italian soda recipes from the 1920s. Today Allan’s works with Oregon Tilth, Fair Trade, and Kosher to certify its products are either organic, kosher safe, or Fair Trade (or all three!).
Head to the Allan’s location inside the 5th Street Eateries & Bar to try some coffee drinks using homemade syrups and coffee. The drip coffee I ordered was a touch too dark roast for me, but the Mexican Mocha was exceptional. It wasn’t overly sweet and tasted a touch spicy like Mexican chocolate should. Make sure this drink is part of your order!
Best Shops at 5th Street Public Market
The best thing to do at 5th Street Public Market is to just wander and pop into shops that interest you. But if you’re short on time, here are my top picks for the best shops inside 5th Street Public Market.
Pedego Electric Bikes
website | directions | best for: bike rentals | prices: $$-$$$
If you’re on the market for an electric bike, Pedego is a great place to try them out. But the best part is you can rent bikes for the day to ride around Eugene!
I’d always been intimidated by electric bikes. I wouldn’t try them because I thought I’d look silly trying to figure out how to turn them on, but owner Mike took us into the parking lot and taught us everything we needed to know about electric bikes. They’re so simple to use and makes biking actually enjoyable. This was hands down one of the best things we did during our trip to Eugene and it’s all thanks to 5th Street Public Market!
Swahili Modern
website | directions | best for: African-made gifts | prices: $$
Swahili Modern works directly with artists from 14 different African countries and imports their beautiful work to its Eugene warehouse. You’ll find woven baskets, jewelry, sculptures made out of recycled materials, and modern mud cloth blankets and pillows. I love the pieces here so much I purchased a basket and pillow (and promptly tried to hide my pillow from Dan considering we have too many at home haha).
The Basic Botanist
website | directions | best for: plants | prices: $$
If you’re a plant parent, you’ll want to stop here. It has a ton of cute plant babies, planters, hangers, and baubles.
Made in Oregon
website | directions | best for: Oregon-made gifts | prices: $-$$
If you love shopping Pacific Northwest food gifts and locally made souvenirs, you’ll love the Made in Oregon store. It has Oregon-made treats, condiments, wine, soaps, clothes, and more.
Euphoria Chocolate Company
website | directions | best for: handmade chocolates | prices: $
Euphoria makes excellent truffles and confections using Oregon ingredients whenever possible. I loved the Kona coffee truffles. They’re huge with a soft chocolate interior. A little kid actually ran up and grabbed it while I was taking photos, so you know it looks good too!
Marley’s Monsters
website | directions | best for: eco-friendly products | prices: $
I was pleasantly surprised to see Marley’s Monsters in 5th Street Public Market because I feature a lot of its reusable home products in my Pacific Northwest gifts guide. If you’re into living an eco-friendly lifestyle, definitely stop at this place! I have its reusable napkins and love them!
Will Leather Goods
website | directions | best for: leather gifts | prices: $$$
Will Leather Goods is the place to go if you love high quality, high style leather items. You’ll find purses, belts, bags, wallets, and more. You can even get your purchase personalized right in the store!
Pendleton Woolen Mills
website | directions | best for: blankets and clothes | prices: $$-$$$
I’ve always loved Pendleton’s wool blankets, but I had no idea it made clothing, too. You can browse jackets, shirts, bedding, and more at its store in 5th Street Public Market.
Karin Clarke Gallery
website | directions | best for: art | prices: $$$
I’m always on the hunt for Pacific Northwest artists, so I loved exploring the Karin Clarke Gallery in 5th Street Public Market. You’ll find original wall art from Oregon artists at all sizes and price points.
Provisions Market Hall
website | directions | best for: foodie gifts | prices: $$
Surprise, Provisions Market Hall is on this list again! Besides its food hall, there’s also a retail side of the store with kitchen goods home cooks will love.
Where to Stay at 5th Street Public Market
I have a whole post dedicated to the best boutique hotels in Eugene, Oregon, but I’ll let you in on a secret. The two best ones are located in 5th Street Public Market!
The Inn at the 5th
website | directions | best for: luxury and comfort | prices: ~$250/night | pet friendly
The Inn at the 5th will whisk you away to Paris. Most of the rooms in this luxury boutique hotel have balconies adorned with flower boxes and bistro tables. Our room was overlooking the 5th Street Public Market tower and Alesong’s patio below. I loved enjoying coffee perched from above while watching the brewery get ready for the day.
Each room also has a super comfortable bed, spa bathroom, robes, air conditioning, and free wifi. The hotel allows pets and also offers unlimited free water and snacks in the lobby. They also have valet parking as part of your reservation fees so you don’t have to think about your car for the duration of your trip.
If you like comfortable, spa-like accommodations with warm staff that greets you upon entering, The Inn at the 5th is the perfect hotel for you in the market.
The Gordon Hotel
website | directions | best for: inspired, artsy vibes | prices: ~$185/night | pet friendly
The other option for staying at 5th Street Public Market is The Gordon Hotel. While it has similar amenities to The Inn at the 5th like valet, free water and snacks, complimentary wifi, and pet-friendly rooms, The Gordon has a totally different vibe.
It’s artsy and has incredible art installations throughout the hotel. The lighting is made of hundreds of mason jars and even has a Where’s Waldo hidden in the ceiling! You can make your own art at the art bar filled with paint, pencils, and more, or admire the art lining each floor as if you were in an art gallery.
The rooms are styled as if you live in a cool Brooklyn loft. They are filled with natural light and are mostly minimal, but with pops of color from the rug, pillows, and some art. You even get sweatshirt robes to unwind after a long day exploring the market.
Things to Do Near 5th Street Public Market
You may never want to leave 5th Street Public Market, but if you do it’s centrally located in downtown Eugene for easy access to more fun things to do in Eugene, Oregon. I’ll leave these here just in case you need convincing 5th Street Public Market and Eugene are worth a visit.
Lane County Farmers Market
website | directions | best for: produce and foodie gifts
Eugene’s farmers market is right outside 5th Street Public Market on Saturdays. It’s much bigger than I expected it to be, taking up about 2 city blocks with farmers and artisans selling produce, salts, honeys, jams, candies, and more. If you stay in 5th Street Public Market, you can drop off your purchases in the room before heading back out!
Alton Baker Park
website | directions | best for: walking and biking
This 373-acre park runs right along the Willamette River and is only a few blocks from the 5th Street Public Market. It’s made up of two areas, the more developed Alton Baker Park and the more wild Whilamut Natural Area.
We took our electric bikes and rode the paved paths the whole length of the park multiple times. We crossed bridges, saw a ton of Great Blue Herons, and even stopped in the rose garden to enjoy the pretty flower beds.
Eugene murals
Just a few blocks from 5th Street Public Market you’ll find gorgeous murals dotting downtown Eugene Buildings. Here’s a map of all the murals you can explore either by foot or bike.
More to do in Oregon
Eugene is perfectly located for exploring even more of Oregon. Here are some ideas.
- Best Wineries and Restaurants in Willamette Valley
- What to Do on the Oregon Coast Besides Cannon Beach
- Things to Do in Oregon Besides Drink Wine
- The Perfect Itinerary for Exploring Portland
- Glamping in Oregon Wine Country
Overwhelmed by all the options? Let me plan a custom trip for you!
