Follow the alley. Trust me…read more You know those places you stumble into and immediately think, "Yep...this is my kind of spot"? That was San Simón for me. At first, walking down the alley in downtown Bend, I honestly was not sure what we were about to find. Then we started seeing little fire pit pods, heated huts, glowing candles, and people tucked away having cocktails. It instantly felt cool without trying too hard. Walking into San Simón felt like stepping into some funky speakeasy hidden in plain sight. Dark lighting, moody atmosphere, David Bowie playing in the background, wild artwork on the walls that makes you stop and stare for a second. Just a great vibe all around. The kind of place where you sit down and immediately relax into the evening. The cocktails were excellent. Not overdone, not syrupy, just really balanced and well made. One of our favorites was the "Some Positive Feedback," which came with this sugar rim that looked awesome and added just enough sweetness without overpowering the drink. Bright citrus flavor, refreshing, smooth, and dangerously easy to drink. Then we asked the bartender if they could just make us something off the cuff. We said vodka, lemon and lime forward, not too sweet, maybe a little spice. They absolutely nailed it. Crisp, refreshing, layered citrus flavor with just enough heat on the back end to keep it interesting. Honestly one of those cocktails where everybody at the table takes a sip and immediately goes, "Oh wow." As a bourbon guy, I was also pleasantly surprised with the whiskey selection. The bartender recommended Stafford's Reserve, an Oregon bourbon, and I am glad I listened. Smooth, approachable, a little sweet up front with some spice on the finish. Easy sipping bourbon that fit the whole vibe of the place perfectly. What really made the night though was the staff. Everybody was friendly in that genuine way where you feel welcomed instead of "served." By the end of the night it honestly felt like we had been there before, even though it was our first visit. The outdoor setup deserves some love too. Bend cooled down at night, but the fire pits and heaters kept everything comfortable. We could have easily stayed another couple hours just hanging out. Pricing felt fair for the quality of drinks and atmosphere. This is not a dive bar pretending to be fancy. It is a genuinely cool cocktail spot that knows exactly what it is. If you are in Bend and enjoy craft cocktails, bourbon, cool music, quirky atmosphere, and places with personality, go find San Simón. Half the fun is finding it tucked down the alley in the first place.

The drinks are consistently great, always made with care. The atmosphere is a fun alternative vibe…read more When it gets busy, it gets busy--but that's why it's nice to visit on the slower days for even more attentive service, just like anywhere else. Thanks so much to the San Simon staff for all the wonderful experiences!

I went with a group of friends. The place is so super cute. I love the bazillion plants. I don't…read moredrink so I got the papa don't peach. I was torn between that and the only other mocktail, the great gazoo. The peach one tastes like literally nothing. And the gazoo had flavor but wasn't good (the person who ordered it agreed). Also the bamboo straws crack if you try to stir your drink at all and become unusable. My other friend got the lamb dish and it was good.

Cool spot. Didn't have to wait too long. Cool mix of interesting flavors. Service was good. All the…read morefood options looked pretty weird so didn't end up ordering any.

First day of my work trip arriving in town. The hotel highly recommended visiting here. Sunday 7pm…read moreis quiet but I'm not upset. Bartender was friendly and knew his mixology well! I didn't order food but I'm sure it's delish! My drink was yummy and the decor is rustic and modern. I liked that the place felt clean too.

I've loved Velvet for years, at least the idea and aesthetic of it. Really well curated interior…read morewith a great ambiance. The owner is the only person I've felt good vibes from. The rest of the team, especially recently, have unfortunately always had frankly unwelcoming, bored, avoidant, unenthusiastic, dead expression attitudes no matter the time or stress level. I've even been in when zero customers were in the entire building and based on the sole interactions with the bar, or lack thereof, the magic gets leached away from the place. Without the bartenders, it's just an empty building after all. A welcoming attitude or some conversation is the warm hearth that brings cold travelers back over and over again; people remember how they feel. Then again, even when the place is packed with people, I don't feel any warmth or connection from anyone here. Maybe it's a sign of the times, maybe it's Bend in general. I'll keep trying and coming back nonetheless.

The restaurant looks nice and has a good vibe but that's all it has going for it. We can hear a…read morewhile back and the food was great but they changed the menu and it's horrible. I ordered the chicken and fries. The chicken is super dry with no flavor and tastes like it's fried in old dirty oil. Also the beer options are seriously lacking. Whatever they were doing years back they need to return to. The baked mac and pulled pork sando they used to serve was out of this world.

Such a gorgeous place to go to! The interior of this place with the wood is very cool…read more Popped in for lunch and was not disappointed. The falafels were home made. Fresh, delicious, authentic. Not the greasy and dry ones you can get. The tzatziki /yoghurt dressing was just as fresh and delicious. We met the guy that owns the place, along with his daughter who worked there. So friendly to chat with. Turns out he's also the chef there and he was the one who makes the falafels from scratch. A must try!!! Also had the Buddha bowl with chicken. Fresh and delicious also. 10/10

From the decor and atmosphere to the unique cocktails and attentive service, Dear Irene is one of…read moreBend's best restaurants. They offer a fixed menu with great starters, salads, and entrees. We ordered the scallops which were full of buttery deliciousness, the chicken which was cooked to perfection with crunchy breading on the outside, and a creamy polenta dish. You can't go wrong but be sure to order one of the salads. Our favorite was the baratta and citrus salad with olives and pine nuts. It has all the textures and sweet-salty goodness you could want. As for cocktails, our favorite was the pear and side piece drinks. The presentation is beautiful and they really are one of a kind. We'll be back!

I randomly stepped inside this place noticing the pretty decor and classy interior. The service was…read moreexceptional from start to finish. I was served by a tall male bartender who was incredibly personable--we talked quite a bit, and honestly, I'd go back just for that experience alone. That said, the drinks he crafted and the food that came out of the kitchen gave me plenty more reasons to return. I ended up ordering an impressive amount of food, and by the time I hit my fifth large course, he joked that he'd have to pinch himself if I actually finished it. I couldn't help it--everything was that good. He also pointed me toward the owner, who clearly knows exactly what he's doing in the kitchen and carries himself with confidence and intention. Every aspect of this place felt immersive, like stepping into a classy, well-directed film. The atmosphere, the food, the service--it all came together seamlessly.

We've never had anything but an exceptional meal at Zydeco in nine years here. Staff is always…read moreextremely professional and kind. The food is consistently delicious and always fresh. And the ambience is just lovely. If you're looking for something of a romantic dinner in Bend, I would say this should be near the top of your list. In the summer, they have the fun rooftop bar, which is really cool too. Just make sure you get an umbrella. It can be hot!

For reasons unrelated to restaurant quality or reputation, we'd avoided Zydeco. Recently, however,…read morealong with a couple friends, we decided to give it a shot. Verdict: Zydeco is an outstanding restaurant in virtually every way. No negatives to report. The place is popular - arriving just before opening on a weekday, there was a line to get in. Reservations are definitely a good idea here. Our early arrival in line allowed us to choose a good table in the back, where it wouldn't be too hectic. That too was a good idea as the place gets loud with conversation when it fills up. Music wasn't loud, just the people. The menu isn't huge but there are quite a few, varied choices. Given the meal was a bit of a splurge for us, I essentially ignored the prices, which are not trivial by any means. Fine dining entails spending money. Zydeco has a ton of reviews and as the menu apparently doesn't change, I'll just say everything we ordered was great. Cocktails too. The Bramble Down is exquisite. Service was top tier as well. Timely, attentive, professional without being stiff. The capstone to our experience involved the bill. We actually had a gift card from 2017 - nine years ago. While it certainly didn't cover the whole bill, or even half, it was a nice way to defray costs. Unfortunately, when the server ran the gift card, it showed no balance. Not sure why but perhaps over the years, the card had been erased by stray EMF. Despite that and given we provided the card receipt, the restaurant honored the card for the full amount anyway. Well done. Highly recommended.

Lady Bird is easily one of my favorite spots. The Happy Hour is absolutely the way to go, and the…read morefood is outstanding. The Fluff Head mushroom pizza is incredible--perfectly cooked with amazing flavor, and one of the best mushroom pizzas I've had. The burrata with peaches is another must-order. The combination of creamy burrata and sweet, fresh peaches is simple but unforgettable. The atmosphere is welcoming, the service is always great, and every visit has been consistently excellent. I can't recommend Lady Bird enough. I'll definitely be back.

Father's Day dinner courtesy of my sons, so I was predisposed to be appreciative…read more As it turns out the establishment is truly excellent regardless of the occasion. We each had a couple of fabulous, well put together cocktails, some appetizers, and our respective entrees. I had the pork chop which was, quite simply, one of the best things I have ever eaten. Marvelously tasty pork with mashed potatoes and a delicious mix of corn, sashimi peppers and spiced nuts. Outrageously good. One slight issue with the server being a little bit petulant when my older son was asking for a particular drink of his own choosing. In an establishment like this, the staff should not get irritated when requests are made by customers. But - other than that one really very slight issue - it was an outstanding experience.

Pretty good whiskey bar quite a big menu and something for everyone I wish they had a speakeasy in…read moreRedmond

Charming eclectic retro vibe. Fast service, great creative drinks. Don't shy away from the featured…read moreagave/tequila drink - it was wonderful. We didn't nt eat but food looked good. Great drop in cocktail spot.