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.

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.

Very wonderful happy hour; and...the best espresso martinis in town!!…read more Went back for dinner; delightful 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.

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!

My cousin told me about this place, and so I decided to have dinner here. She did not do me…read morewrong..... The ambience is amazing. It's in an old school, and they did a wonderful job of just making the place Absolutely beautiful. They have a full bar, with lots of beers and craft cocktails. I retired from drinking a long time ago, so I just had a soda. My server was Cassie, and she was very friendly and helpful...... I was there at 5 PM on a Tuesday, and they were already very busy. They can get extremely busy, so patience is definitely a virtue here. I decided to go with the jR's jumbo deluxe burger. Bacon, cheddar, and a fried egg. The burger also comes with. lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles & secret sauce. Instead of french fries, I asked for the Cajun tots. The food comes, and dear lord, that burger was big. I almost had to unhinge my jaw to eat it. I asked for the burger, medium, and that's how it came. Just the right amount of pink. The burger was a good quality, burger, tender, and with the good quality, bacon and cheese, it was rich. The veggies provided a nice "pop" of freshness, that cut the richness a bit. It was an amazing burger. The egg was done perfectly, with that beautiful yolk, just oozing down into the burger. I had asked if the Cajun tots were spicy, and told, "not really." They were delicious, but they were a bit spicy. Toward the top end of what I care for in spice. They came with a very nice peppercorn ranch that helped cut the spice. I wasn't going to have dessert, until I saw the "mystery dessert" on the menu. Intrigued, I asked Cassie what it was, and she said it was a peanut butter hopscotch pie. OK... how could I turn that down??? I put my order in. As I mentioned, the place was very busy, and 15 minutes later I still didn't have my dessert. I needed to get going, so At that point, I just asked them to take it off my meal. They not only took it off my check, they gave me a slice in a to go box anyway. That was very nice. They didn't have to do that The peanut butter and chocolate played very well together, the peanut butter was creamy, I loved the little "crunchies on top", and it also came with a chocolate syrup to drizzle over the pie. Just a totally amazing meal. For all I got, and for the high-quality, the price was extremely reasonable. I would definitely come back. Thanks.

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.

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.