J DUB

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.

I'll preface by stating that this establishment is a bar with a food truck lot. It is not the…read moreDogwood downtown cocktail bar that is the subject of the prior hundreds of reviews. The owners closed up shop downtown and created this new place on 2nd Street in Bend's Central District. It's now called Dogwood at the Pine Shed. Why Yelp won't create a new, distinct page for the Pine Shed is beyond me. That said, the Pine Shed is a fine place for drinks and food truck fare. The open, spacious 'shed' has plenty of varied seating surrounding a nice bar with quite a few tables outside on the patio. Mobility-challenged folks have choices too. For those worried about 2nd Street's reputation for sketchiness, don't be. Revitalization efforts by the city have transformed the area. At times of good weather, with the big doors open, the Pine Shed is quite a nice spot to relax. Cocktails were the raison d'etre for the former incarnation of Dogwood and that emphasis transfers here to the Pine Shed. I particularly like their versions of a margarita but the other cocktails are uniformly good too. The beer tap offerings are not so spectacular, however, with only four (and a cider). On one visit shortly after they opened for business, two beer taps were tapped out, which can be chalked up to growing pains. In any case, the Pine Shed can't be seriously regarded as a tap house in the style of the many others in Bend (On Tap, River's Place, Crosscut, The Lot, The Podski, Midtown Yacht Club, etc.). Come for the cocktails. They do offer low ABV and zero ABV drinks. At present, the food truck choices are abundant and pretty decent. Being trucks/carts, and thus mobile and prone to relocating themselves, I'll not list them here. Best to check the Pine Shed's webpage for current offerings and then go to the relevant Yelp page for reviews. Parking is street only, no parking lot. The city has completed construction on 2nd Street so there are more spots available than before.

Funky Cold Modena non-alcoholic cocktail

Tiny beer with Tequila shot

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The Bar

Flamingo Room

4.7(43 reviews)

1.1 mi

Great crowd of people all ages. Very welcoming and even when they are busy. I want to go more to…read morethis one.

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.

Bar

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Deschutes Brewery Bend Public House

4.1(1.7k reviews)

Pulled up to the bar tonight for a nice beer while I read my kindle. Molly, the bartender who…read moreserved me, was soooo kind and awesome. Best bartender in Bend.

Excellent beer, wonderful food, and great service. Deschutes is a triple-threat! Next time we are…read morein Bend, you will find us here.

10oz bachelor bitter

Mac & Cheese with brisket and Cesar Caesar Salad - Large

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Red Nitro Beer

The Cellar

4.6(41 reviews)

Was very pleasantly surprised by this place. Was a welcoming atmosphere and the cottage pie along…read morewith mushy peas was really good. The person next to me got the sausage rolls which smelled fantastic so will be getting next time. Beer was all pretty tasty as well assuming you are looking for more chill beers and not super hopped.

As a Brit in America, we do love trying to find 'British' places for a good pint, and in this case,…read morebloody good sausage rolls. Atmosphere was chill. It is located literally in a Cellar type spot downstairs. Staff were friendly and surprisingly knowledgable on British pies and mushy peas. Yup, they have proper mushy peas! The sausage rolls were delicious and homemade. Plus, they had HP sauce to dip.

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River Pig Saloon

3.8(264 reviews)

0.5 mi

I only stopped in a for a drink but it was really good. The vibe was also chill. Good music, lots…read moreof TVs with sports on and it was decorated so cute for Halloween. I can't comment on the food but it looked like pretty standard bar food. Worth checking out if you find yourself in the area.

So me and my partner were looking for some late night eats and some drinks near our Airbnb and…read moreRiver Pig Saloon came up. The pictures looked promising and the reviews seemed positive and great. Let me tell you something, this bar is very special and a gem! Our "waiter", Gus, who we thought looked a lot like Zach Bryan () was a delight; so nice and welcoming and attentive. As for the food, we ordered the nachos with pulled pork, the jalapeño poppers, and the bison burger. Honestly hands down the best bar food we have had in a long time!! The nachos were plenty to share and that Smokey pulled pork, was a great addition. The jalapeño poppers were immaculate, smoky, and surprisingly the peppers weren't that hot! And the bison burger, my oh my, it was cooked to perfection and dressed up exquisitely. We are from LA, and we just loved the vibes, the customer service and the food! We will miss this place but hopefully we will be back again!! Until next time.

City of Dreams Hazy IPA - Draught

Stagg!

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Pick saloon inside

Velvet

4.4(169 reviews)

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.

Great GiClee art prints on the wall in the upstairs lounge.

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View from the top in the upstairs lounge.

The Astro Lounge

3.5(107 reviews)

0.0 mi

There appears to be a serious violence problem with some of the staff at the Astro Lounge. One or…read moretwo of the bouncers nearly killed two people last week by kicking already unconscious individuals lying on the ground hard in the head a few times. Instead of using their certified de-escalation skills to safely break up a fight, my friends and I had to rip these people away and call 911. It's really concerning.

food is bad. service is terrible. ambience leaves a lot to be desired. The place is pretty dirty…read moretoo.

Astro Lounge, Bend Oregon

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Broom Closet

4.6(50 reviews)

0.2 mi

We were staying the night at McMenamins in Bend while traveling from California to Washington, and…read moreone of the highlights of our stay was hunting down the speakeasy bar, The Broom Closet. Half the fun is searching the property for it--and don't worry, I won't spoil where we found it! Once inside, it truly felt like a hidden gem. The space is cozy and intimate, with comfortable places to sit and a full bar that feels tucked away from the rest of the property. It was especially festive during the holidays, with Christmas drink specials adding to the charm. I ordered the NA Merry Cherry, which was gingery, slightly spicy, and super refreshing--a great non-alcoholic option. My wife had The Countess and said it was absolutely delicious. Between the atmosphere, the drinks, and the fun of discovering it, The Broom Closet was a total win. If you're ever staying at McMenamins Bend, make sure you take the time to search for The Broom Closet--it's well worth the adventure!

Such a cool little addition to the Old Saint Francis hotel. We were staying at the hotel and…read moreencouraged to explore and go find the Broom Closet. Once we did find it, we enjoyed a cocktail and sitting in a quiet nook. It's definitely not a large space or a loud space, but something more to be savored and enjoyed. The bartender was extremely kind and engaging. Even if you aren't staying at the hotel, I would highly recommend coming to check this place out.

Passport

Ceiling made out of broom party with quotes

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San Simon

4.7(107 reviews)

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!

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.

Gin Gimlet

Bourbon

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San Simon in Tin Pan Alley

WildWood

4.6(43 reviews)

0.6 mi

Food is fantastic, the bartender is always lovely, and such a mellow and cool vibe to spend a lunch…read moreor evening in.

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.