I recently stayed here as I was driving back from Spokane to California. I'm actually sad to say that I only had one night here as I really loved the vibe of the place and would have loved to spend more time at the hotel.
I knew of the McMenamins line of hotels due to a friend who had taken me to their Edgefield property when I was visiting. They had described the place as an adult Disneyland and that's a pretty good description for it. It had so many things going on above and beyond the hotel itself. So, when I saw that there was a McMenamins in Bend, OR I decided to try it out.
It was a little hard to figure out where the main entrance was as I arrived in town when it was dark out. I managed to find a parking spot quickly, but I noticed as the evening went on it was packed with cars. The hotel is located on a corner toward the end of the downtown area and it's an easy, well lit walk to shops and restaurants. But, there are so many options to eat and drink at the hotel that you don't need to leave if you don't want to.
The main part of the hotel where you check in has a rustic look to it. I hadn't made reservations as I was trying to see how far I could get toward home before stopping. It was a Sunday night and thankfully they had an opening. The two people at the front desk were very nice and helpful and I was able to get a room in the main building. As a solo, female traveler I felt very safe and comfortable not only in the hotel but in the town as well. I also found out that not only do they accept dogs, but they accept large dogs. And the bartender I spoke with said the town is very dog friendly. Although my dog wasn't with me on this trip I would love to return with him.
My room was a decent size. It had a lot of different lighting options so it could have been very bright in there if I preferred or I could keep it more dimly lit. They make their own coffee, so they had four packets of coffee out (two with caffeine and two decaffeinated), a small coffee maker and some cream and sugars. I happened to get a room that was ADA compliant, so the bathroom was huge with a large walk/roll in shower. It was a lot of white tile and it was spotless. I was so tired and the room was so comfortable I would have been happy just staying in all evening.
The grounds have several bars, a hidden speakeasy, a movie theater and a restaurant. So, if you decided to stay at the hotel then you would have plenty to keep you occupied. The patios had tons of heaters, so it was still pleasant to sit outside on a cold night.
I was right next to the lobby, so I was a little worried it would be loud and it wasn't. I was also right next to where they set out a coffee station in the morning, which was convenient. The bed was comfortable and I couldn't have asked for more. I definitely plan on returning and staying longer, so I can take advantage of all the amenities they have to offer. read more