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.

Always an amazing time at Cellar 65. Always our go to date night. Always impressed. Love the vibe,…read morethe drinks, and the food.

So first of all....how fun to sneak around a corner and find a little place to walk into!? I must…read moresay though, it was difficult to find the front door! Once we did, it was a cute little cubby down under another restaurant. It felt like going into a speakeasy. Kind of fun! We ordered the Ricotta & Romesco and the Burrata to share. The Ricotta was nothing yo write home about. Kind of plain with crusty baguette. However the shaved fennel was seasoned deliciously and I could've eaten a mountain of that. The Burrata was fantastic. Creamy, garlicky, the tomatoes were perfect and the arugula added a nice pepper to everything. We went to Cellar specifically because they had Mocktails on the menu and the one my friend wanted they didn't have the ingredients for. That was disappointing, but she ordered the Summertime and she said it was "nice", but "nothing special". I had a glass of La Griveliere and I would describe it the same way. Ha. Lastly, we ordered the Death by Chocolate and the Sticky Date Pudding. They were both dry and very blasé. Kind of a bummer way to end your meal. All and all, it was a cute little spot, but I don't know that I will return. To me, it was all to run of the mill for me to spend my money on.

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.

Food and atmosphere were amazing! The local beer I had was awesome! Our server Taylor, did an…read moreexcellent job on checking on us and accommodating our requests! I would love to come back.

Our youngest son got married in Bend, 7 years ago, and I'm doing an event in Redmond, so we decided…read moreto stay here and also, we're doing a pilgrimage on St. Francis' 800th Anniversary. Staying right across the street from the church, this was an easy decision! While we never actually sat down for a meal here, we did have a couple of take out orders. The first was a hamburger for dinner. The burger was delicious once I got back to our room to eat it. It was an extremely busy Friday night and I was warned that there would be quite a wait. Actually, it was only a half hour. Customer service was excellent. The second was a Denver Omelette and hash browned potatoes that we shared for breakfast the next morning. It was a delicious meal. Again, service was excellent. I even declined an offer to have the meal delivered to our room Negatives: 1. There was no fridge or microwave in the room. I was awaken about 4:00am, I thought my husband was taking a shower, I felt him, so I know it wasn't him. It must have been a loud fan! 2. We couldn't look outside the windows, we have our drapes closed all of our stay, the outside seats for the restaurant were right outside, and it can get noisy during Happy Hour. 3. The sink is too small, none of the glass shelves are fit for my Waterpik. Positives: 1. The pillows were perfect. The TV channels were right on my show. 2. The temperature of the room was good, no drafts. 3. The night light also goes on, when all the lights are off. That's a bonus, because we always forget to bring our night light. 4. I love the colors, decor, ceiling fan light of the room. 5. In the morning, Fresh coffee was available on a table right outside our door. If I wasn't reading on the back of their menu, I would not have known or heard about their St. Francis Turkish style bath. If we have more time in the day & night, we could have done some tours around the building in and out. There's always a next time!

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!

Dogwood is a must visit when in Bend. Missing their old location downtown but they sure brought the…read morevibes bigger and better to the shed. Taking over a whole corner block, the shed offers indoor/outdoor seating with an antique flare, rustic yet funky. Huge wrap around bar and little random nook seating. They host multiple food trucks and live music on the weekends. You won't be disappointed especially with a one of their incredible craft cocktail in hand.

First of all- I just moved here and I keep hearing this is "the bad part of town" and no, it's not…read more We passed one unhoused person who was just minding his own business. Don't be afraid to come here! Lots of food truck options which is cool. My friend and I each got zero proof cocktails. She got the sweet hemptation and liked it so much she got a second one. I got the funky cold Modena which was tart and tasty. And we got to see Miz Cracker from RuPaul's Drag Race!! So fun! The drag show was high energy and a great time.

Wow-what an excellent experience! From our server Jesse who took great care of us to the unique…read moreflavors..chef's kiss-muuuwah! Seared Foie Gras - Sparrow brioche, berry spread, toasted pistachio, 15yr balsamic... was on a fluffy brioche with a berry jam that made for an unexpected mix of sweet and salty. The ahi tuna tostada had a creamy sauce the made me wanna change my order and fill up on these..soo guuuud. Seared Albacore Crudo - Yuzu calamansi ponzu, shiso, scallions, crispy garlic, togarashi, pumpkin seed oil. It was a fresh and citrusy flavor with a spicy aftertaste. Such an explosion of flavors. Seared Diver Scallops - Snap peas, summer squash, black pearl mushrooms, red coconut curry, sunflower sprouts. The scallops were large and juicy with a curry sauce that was similar to Thai curry. Ambience is eclectic with a vibrant hip vibe. A definite treat night!

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!