23 Best Restaurants in Southern Oregon, Oregon

A stylish setting and a taste of impressively authentic Spanish fare—these are the draws of this handsome tapas restaurant in downtown Medford's turn-of-the-20th-century "Goldy" building. Pass around plates of mussels in romesco sauce, apricot-braised-pork empanadas, chorizo-studded Andalusian paella, and lamb-sausage flatbread, while sampling selections from the lengthy beer and cocktail menus.

Set inside a stylishly adapted former gas station, this airy and contemporary café serves exceptional espresso and tea drinks, from cardamom-rose lattes to sweetly spicy chais. The pork belly egg sandwich makes a deliciously savory start to the day. 

This low-key favorite among foodies and locals lies just down the hill from Britt Gardens and serves sophisticated contemporary cuisine and a discerning selection of local and international wines. The menu changes regularly, but might feature salmon tartare with preserved lemon and furikake; or cider-brined pork chop with smoked-cheddar polenta and pomegranate pan sauce.

Set in a minimalist downtown space with bare floors, a vaulted painted-white timber ceiling, and bounteous floral arrangements, Hither serves as an inviting coffeehouse and café by day, featuring heavenly pastries and artfully composed egg dishes and tartines. Or at lunchtime enjoy an Italian sandwich (with Olympic Provisions meats) and a glass of natural wine on the pleasant side patio.

Sustainability is the name of the game at this lively breakfast and lunch café in downtown Grants Pass, with a cozy dining room of colorfully painted tables and mismatched chairs, and a large adjacent patio with picnic tables and lush landscaping. The kitchen sources from local farms and purveyors to create beer-battered fried chicken and waffles, kale Caesar salads, and line-caught-fish tacos with seasonal slaw and homemade salsa.

Book ahead several days—or even weeks for Friday and Saturday—for the chance to dine at this intimate prix-fixe restaurant that features the modern, farm-to-table culinary masterpieces of young and extraordinary chef-owner Josh Dorcak. Feasts generally of 6 to 10 courses are available, with the seats at the cozy and lively chef's counter the most desirable—wine and sake pairings are available. Recent plates have included cured trout with nasturtium and roe and local quail with preserved fruits. 

Inventive contemporary Korean food with locally sourced ingredients are the star at this intimate and romantic neighborhood bistro. Highlights include braised short rib–pork dumplings with scallion-soy-chili oil, and bibimbap with tofu, spinach, egg, and steelhead roe. 

This dapper, art-filled space lends a bit of urbane sophistication to downtown Grants Pass. In addition to pouring varietals from throughout the Umpqua and Rogue valleys, Twisted Cork carries wines from more than 120 wineries throughout the Northwest, along with a few from California, and it offers a menu of small plates ideal for sharing as well as creative and quite affordable larger plates, including pomegranate-cinnamon flank steak, ginger-glazed salmon, and wild-mushroom flatbread with butternut-mint hummus.

For an excellent, mid-priced alternative to Jacksonville's more upscale eateries, head to this roadhouse-style clapboard building six blocks northeast of the town's historic main drag. Authentic central Texas–style barbecue is served here: chargrilled red-hot sausage, slow-cooked pork ribs, and ½-pound burgers, plus a few steak and pasta dishes.

Although its name suggests evening cocktails, this stylish downtown storefront space is just as well regarded for its reliably tasty dinner fare—truffled veal meatloaf, burgers topped with Crater Lake blue cheese, and seared scallops with corn risotto are among the highlights. There's seating in a handful of comfy booths or at stools along the modern bar, where you can order one of the creative drinks—consider the lemon-basil martini.

Established by a couple of young graduates of Oregon Institute of Technology, this welcoming café on a hillside near campus serves a range of coffee drinks, bagels, salads, and bowls throughout the day. In the evening, Brevada transitions into a neighborhood pub, where you can sip local beer and wine, nosh on cheese and meat boards, and mingle with locals. 

This handsome downtown American bistro with exposed-brick walls, curving leather banquettes, and high ceilings serves reasonably priced breakfast and lunch fare daily, and somewhat more upscale dinners. Highlights include mango-mahi nachos, and Sicilian-style, rare-seared ahi tuna steak with olive tapenade; several more affordable sandwiches, burgers, and salads are available, too.

Casual and warmly decorated with shelves of cookbooks, pickled veggies, jams, and wine bottles, and with a few choice outdoor tables that you should definitely consider on a softly breezy summer day, this welcoming bistro is a perfect lunch or dinner stop after a tasting or two at a nearby winery. The kitchen specializes in creative takes on comfort fare, including homemade pastas, brioche-bun burgers with fingerling potatoes, and Alsatian-style pizzas with garlic bechamel sauce, smoked ham, and Swiss cheese.

A softly lit dining room, knowledgeable service, and artfully plated Pacific Northwestern and Mediterranean fare are the draw at this esteemed restaurant just outside downtown Medford. You might start with Spanish octopus with salsa verde, before graduating to a grilled duck breast with leg confit, cherries, faro, and kale.  

This highly popular, family-owned downtown restaurant is decorated with colorful artwork, much of it depicting its namesake sunflowers (or girasoles, in Spanish). The food is flavorful and fresh, featuring mostly Mexican-American classics, including seafood burritos, carne asada, and chile verde.  

This cute roadhouse-style building a few miles northwest of downtown Medford has made a name for itself serving absurdly large, decadently topped, and deliciously crafted burgers. Unusual toppings like huckleberry-marinated onions, candied pecans, and raspberry-chipotle sauce make for some strangely compelling flavor combinations; veggie burgers are offered, too. Although potentially a dinner option, keep in mind that Jaspers closes between 6 and 8 pm, depending on the night of week.

In a swanky yet soothing dining room off the lobby of the historic Ashland Springs Hotel, Larks pairs the freshest ingredients from local farms with great wines, artisanal chocolate desserts, and drinks, and features modern interpretations of classic comfort food, such as Southern fried chicken with bacon pan gravy. Dessert offerings include old-fashioned chocolate sundaes, s'mores, and a seasonal cheesecake selection.

The fair-trade, organic beans used in the espresso drinks at Noble Coffee Roasting, in the hip Railroad District, are among the best in town. The spacious, high-ceilinged dining room is a comfy and attractive place to socialize or get work done while you sip and munch.

This ornate Victorian house filled with antiques, chandeliers, and framed mirrors and artwork provides a grand setting for everything from a romantic dinner by the fireplace to a relaxed brunch or lunch with friends on the heated patio—you'll find both formal and casual spaces. The farm-to-table menu is similarly varied, with burgers, pizzas, pastas to more elaborately sauced steaks and seafood grills.

This upmarket neighborhood bistro and wine bar in a vintage former hotel anchors the up-and-coming Railroad District, on the north side of downtown, just a few blocks from Main Street and the Shakespeare theaters. Regulars appreciate the well-crafted cocktails and thoughtful wine list as much as the consistently tasty locally sourced American food, such as fig-and-horseradish salad with apples and blue cheese and grilled lamb T-bone with apricot-glazed carrots and avocado-yogurt sauce.

In this unassuming deli tucked into a small shopping center across the street from Southern Oregon University, you'll find some of the biggest and tastiest sandwiches in the state—they've been featured on TV's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Owner Melissa McMillan bases her menu on the Italian-style sandwiches of Chicago, where she's from, and unless you're absolutely starving, it's not a bad idea to order a half or share a whole with a friend. There are additional branches in Portland and Lebanon.