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.

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

I got the Raspberry Beret cocktail and BBQ Dog. You know it's good when the worst part of my meal…read morewas I had to lick my fingers. The BBQ Dog was so delish and fulfilled my dog cravings. The bacon and crispy onion on top were everything I needed. My cocktail was so good I sipped it for a good 20 minutes. *validates parking

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!

Discovered Zydeco Kitchen from a local that gave us the best dinner recommendation! We immediately…read moreswitched our dinner reservation to this spot, and I'm so glad that we did. I wasn't expecting to find southern comfort food in Bend, OR, but Zydeco is truly exceptional! My partner and I arrived early and started with drinks at the bar. Hostesses were kind enough to seat us as soon as a table became available, which was well ahead of our reservation time. Our server was a little odd, but quirky isn't necessarily a bad thing. Just a little strange when they ask whether you're ready for the goodies. Our goodies included the bone marrow as an appetizer and for entrees, the jambalaya and redfish. My partner loved the bone marrow, but it was a little too much for me. I wasn't a fan of the texture, but the presentation was nice. The showstopper for me was the jambalaya. I've never had something so tasty that kept me coming back for more! It wasn't overwhelmingly spicy and it had a good mix of seafood and sausage. Highly recommend Zydeco if you're looking to dine out in downtown Bend!

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!

We were a party of 12 looking for a place with appetizers on Friday at 4PM. The Lady Bird manager…read moreScott managed to fit us in! The service was great and the food was perfect. We are very appreciative of Scott's efforts to seat us.

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.

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

Classy place but also laid back and relaxed. Wasn't overly loud so we could carry on a conversation…read morewithout a problem (which isn't the case at another bar around the corner). Good drinks and appetizers. Nice staff.