The parents are in town and you want to show them your home away from home. Maybe you take them to your favorite brunch place, Glenwood. Or the independent movie theater, the Bijou Metro. Or maybe you take them to your favorite spot at the river.

As you gather your list together of places to take your parents, you might not be thinking about those that were likely so integral to your time here: the bars. After all. There’s a good chance you spent a fair amount of time in college dancing at Cowfish, closing Max’s or getting Petron shots at Starlight.

So let’s be frank. Where do you take your parents when you want them to try your favorite whiskey ginger? Here are some suggestions for when parents are in town and they want to have a little fun, too. Because, you know, they’re humans and all that.

The Horsehead: Though it might get a bit rowdy if you go on a weekend night, this is the best bar in Eugene for food. If you’re from the South, you’ve hit the jackpot with their assortment of comfort foods: mac and cheese, fried okra, jalapeno hush puppies and cornbread. The fries are crispy yet soft; the fish cod sandwich is better than a burger and the gumbo is all flavors and spice. Plus, this is the kind of place you take your parents to really get a feel for the eclectic Eugene natives —  not just the students. Be warned, though: their drinks are as stiff as they get.

Izakaya Meiji: Though not just a bar, this Japanese restaurant has some of the best cocktails in town. They go beyond your standard “lemon drop” to include drinks of a more intricate, global variety. There’s a vast list of liqueurs and spirits to choose from, and their signature cocktails use ingredients like bamboo leaf salt and sweetened beet puree. The restaurant also specializes in unique appetizers — from sushi to Japanese pork and beans. And think about walking there since it’s located in the historic Whiteaker neighborhood, you can show your parents the brilliant yard artwork of your fellow Eugenians on the way.

Max’s: This is the kind of place you bring your parents if you really want to give them a taste of “college” life. Show them the popcorn you love to munch on that goes so perfectly with your IPA or tell them the story of how you perfected your darts skills while playing there almost every Friday night. They’re sure to be impressed. Tell them about how old Max’s is, and get the bartenders to tell their favorite stories of working at the place. If you are there on a Wednesday night, there’s a good chance you’ll hear some live music — probably some Neil Young tunes. If I have to advise against anything, though, it would be this: Spare them from the closing crowds.