Located in the expanded 5th Street Public Market – the cultural cornerstone of Eugene, Oregon – The Gordon opened March 2021. The stylish, 82-room lifestyle property is the third hotel in Obie Hospitality’s portfolio of unique accommodations (joining Inn at the 5th in Eugene and Inn at 500 Capitol in Boise).
Here are 5 reasons to book The Gordon hotel in Eugene, Oregon.
1. Art + Design is at the forefront
Inspired by Gordon Obie – a Eugene artist/businessman and father of Brian Obie – The Gordon Hotel is centered around art in a new way for travelers to experience first-hand.
Its lobby Art Bar offers guests a chance to create their own masterpiece and is stocked with supplies like pencils and watercolors, along with an industrial sink for cleaning up after fits of inspiration.
More than 160 pieces of local art from 84 different artists adorn the hotel’s walls, along with 75 additional pieces created by employees of Obie Hospitality (many of which were created during pre-Covid “paint parties” hosted by Brian Obie, an avid artist himself, or in a studio set up for individual painting/creation).
In partnership with Eugene-based Harmonic Laboratory, an award-winning art collective, the lobby includes a large-format digital art installation called the Great Wall. The changing content spans two floors and 21 television screens and will frequently serve as a showcase for art students from the nearby University of Oregon. Live music, artists in action/residence, and other artistic pop-up events in the lobby are part of the hotel’s ongoing programming.
The hotel offers a unique chance to connect with artists and makers with perks like local beer/wine/ice cream at check in, ongoing lobby programming, cruiser bikes for exploring, tasting maps for navigating the market’s plethora of winery/brewery options, and an “art bar” for empowering guests’ own creations.
2. Fresh, local cuisine with 2 great restaurants
The Gordon will include two new restaurants by Portland Restaurateur Mark Byrum, who grew up in neighboring Springfield.
Opening later in the spring, The Gordon Tavern on the ground floor will serve classic American comfort food with a Pacific Northwest flair, while Carlita’s Rooftop on the hotel’s seventh floor will offer a tasty mix of Mexican small plates infused with locally sourced ingredients, paired with an incredible view.
Opening later in 2021, Byrum has plans for a speakeasy-style den with cocktails and small plates accessed via a hidden entrance. Byrum operates seven restaurants and a catering company, but this is his first venture outside of Portland.
3. 5th Street Public Market – a New Experience
The Gordon Hotel is part of the 5th Street Public Market Expansion, just west of the original 5th Street Public Market which has been a fixture in the community for more than 30 years. In addition to the hotel, the recently constructed expansion features the Gordon Lofts with 127 apartments and a three-story Market Building, with just-opened Nike on the ground floor and a co-working office space known as The District Coworking & Flex Office on the top two floors.
All three buildings are connected by the Market Alley, a 200-foot-long glass-covered walkway teeming with shops, food, and “Maker’s Row,” where artisans and entrepreneurs can gain exposure while giving visitors fun and interactive pop-up experiences.
While Eugene is the gateway to the acclaimed Southern Willamette Valley wine region, many wineries are introducing tasting rooms downtown. Four tasting rooms are now located within the market, including the new Pfeiffer Winery and Terra Pacem on Maker’s Row. Alesong Brewing, which specializes in barrel-aged, farmhouse-style ales, recently opened a new taproom at the original market along with an always-busy patio.
Every Saturday and Sunday this spring, the market turns “open-air” with additional art displays and maker’s pop-ups. The result is an outdoor-focused vibrancy rarely seen in these difficult times, with the promise for even more activity to come.
4. Pet friendly, free booze, ice cream and bikes
The Gordon is pet-friendly and offers complimentary local beer/wine at check-in. Look for sampler-size Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream at the front desk this summer as a third treat option. A fleet of complimentary cruiser bikes will debut later this spring.
5. The end of Zoom meetings
The property features 3,700 square feet of flexible meeting space, including a spacious ballroom, break-out rooms, and an integrated outdoor terrace on the second floor that is committed to meetings and events. A dedicated on-site meeting concierge will service events.
Rates at The Gordon start at $185 per night. To book, visit the website.
Ready to travel again? We’re living for the new Samsonite luggage! Check it out here.
More stories:
10 best luxury resorts in the world – ranked by Travelbinger
Is the Cardinal the best Kimpton hotel in America? We investigate
This Florida resort has a secret bungalow right on the beach
Travelbinger is proud to be a publisher with Google News and Apple News.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Please do! I’m a one-man team for this website, so any help is sincerely appreciated.
Travelbinger is now on YouTube! Subscribe here for exclusive travel tips and advice from founder Jimmy Im. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Jimmy Im has traveled to 113 countries, stayed in over 600 hotels and has flown a million airmiles. He lives in New York City.