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.

It's a great place to grab some beer and food. The staff are friendly and the vibes are always laid…read moreback.

Food was meh, service was half friendly but lackluster and half, well... rude. Had pulled pork…read moresandwich with Mac salad. Pork was a bit salty, but ok. Mac was unseasoned and dry. When the busser came to clear the plates, she asked how everything was. I said good except the Mac was not great (and was basically untouched). Her disdainful reply, looking at it, was "well, that's a lot of pepper." The pepper wasn't the problem, and being snide to a customer who hadn't complained or asked for anything despite my disappointment in the dish was unnecessary and rude. On the plus side, the beer was good and what I expect from Deschutes. Given that there are a bunch of brewery restaurants within a few blocks, I would have expected more flavorful food and absolutely a better experience with the staff.

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.

I've traveled this country from Alaska to Key West and I can now say with absolute confidence that…read morethe Founding Fathers were unknowingly fighting for the right to drink a beer at the River Pig Saloon. This place feels simultaneously old and new. It's both nostalgic and comfortable-- the staff are friendly and professional. The drinks are cold and delicious. The food is made with love and it shows up on the plate and with every bite. God bless Oregon. God bless the River Pig. Stoked to have heard about this place on the 6 Ranch Podcast.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!