The Best Of Eugene 2019-2020

Welcome to our annual readers poll of your favorite things

It’s the one and only Best of Eugene — no, seriously, there are imitators but Eugene Weekly’s got the original reader-survey “Best of” in this town. Every year we ask you to tell us about your favorite things in the area, and for some categories it’s clear that the more things change, the more things stay the same. Other places you voters shake it up a bit. Either way, we celebrate longtime winners and those new to the top three.

We also asked you readers to tell us what’s best about EW, and because we are journalists who fancy ourselves thick-skinned, we also asked you what’s the worst. Truth be told, for some EW writers it’s a badge of honor to wind up with some worst votes — if you aren’t pissing people off, you aren’t shaking things up.

We were unsurprised to find out your favorite thing about EW is that we are free. We are pretty thrilled about that, too. 

The fact that many of you hate the weed ads that are a part of what pay for this free paper also cracks us up. But readers are nothing if not mercurial — for a lot of you those same ads for the devil’s lettuce is one of your fave things about EW.  

Among the worst things about EW are:

Only published weekly, it still exists, only on Thursdays, far too left, too liberal, mild progressive bias, sometimes a little too alternative, not enough puppies and at least you guys are trying.

And among the best are:

Free, local and independent, the calendar, letters to the editor, elevates voices of marginalized communities, free news with snark every week, left leaning, liberal slant, the pet issue, and that you are here at all.

Our takeaway: We are here, we are free, and we’re with you on the puppies. 

Click here for Arts & Letters winners!

Click here for Do Gooders Winners!

Click here for Eats and Drinks winners!

Click here for In Your Business winners!

Best Musical Instrument Store

Best Drag Queen

Best Actor/Actress

Best Photographer

Best Journalist

Best DJ Radio

Best Singer-Songwriter

Best Local Theater Company

Best DJ Music

Best Local Band

Best Event Venue

Best Animal Advocates

Best Local Politician

Best Outdoor Recreation Space

Best Program for the Homeless

Best Teacher/Professor

Best Thing About Eugene

Best Local Rabblerouser

Best Nonprofit

Best Server

Best Meal Over $25

Best Local Beer

Best Thai

Best Burger

Best Happy Hour 

Best Bartender

Best Kombucha

Best Meal under $8

Best Distillery

Best Latin American Food

Best Comfort Food

Best Hangover Breakfast

Best Bakery

Best Bar

Best Pizza

Best Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt

Best Chinese Food

Best Desserts

Best Vegetarian/Vegan

Best Local Food Market

Best Restaurant

Best Italian Food

Best Food Cart

Best Sushi

Best Local Wine

Best Coffee Roaster

Best New Restaurant

Best Cocktails 

Best Place to Get Fit

Best Secondhand Store

Best Hair Stylist

Best Yoga

Best Outdoor Store

Best Artist

Best Budtender

Best Health Care Worker

Best Category We Should Have Included and Who Should Win

Best Bodyworker

Best Barbecue

Best Body Mod Business

Best Lawyer

Best Cannabis Dispensary

Best Veterinarian

Best Indie Bookstore

Staff Picks