Are you planning a trip to Bend and looking for the best spots to hit while you are visiting? Or did you recently move to the area and want to explore the land? This list is perfect for you! It is stacked with Rachel Gray’s top recommendations along with a custom made google map for easy access, pinned with all the top spots + more.
* please note: these are personal recommendations and not an updated events blog. you can find all upcoming events on Visit Bend .
Birds Eye view of Bend, Oregon. Photo taken by Glyeb Ewing of Bend, Oregon
Drinks + Eats
Coffee
Sparrow Bakery - Two Words: Ocean Roll --- Order it - its a cardamon inspired croissant “cinnamon roll”. They also make great breakfast and lunch items along with yummy coffee.
Backporch Coffee - great coffee shop for delicious coffee and lots of tables to meet with people or to work.
Looney Bean Coffee - Located downtown Bend on the riverside. Great spot to grab coffee and sit outside by the river. The Bees Knees is my favorite Coffee to order and they have Sparrow Bakery goods here (highly recommend the bagels)
Thump Coffee - Located downtown Bend, small hole-in-the-wall spot. Great coffee and tea options. The atmosphere is quant. There are two new locations as well, one in North West Crossing.
Dudley’s Bookshop Cafe - Located downtown Bend, great coffee inside a book shop. Go in to read a book and sip on a beverage. Highly recommend the house made Macadamia Nut Chai Tea.
Kevista Coffee - Newly added coffee shop with a cute and cozy atmosphere and has some swings as chairs, very fun.
Spoken Moto - Awesome place to hang out for either coffee or beer. Outside seating with a couple food truck options. New location coming the summer.
Breakfast
Jacksons Corner - Located in Bend’s Historic District, serving brunch and dinner. The food is fresh & amazing with a cute atmosphere. I always get the Cardamon Sea Salt Latte and the Junkin (vegetarian brunch item).
The Lemon Tree - Incredible option for breakfast + lunch, located downtown. Arrive early to ensure a table, enjoy a drink in the waiting area if you have to wait for a table. Highly recommend this place, great place to enjoy a Sunday morning.
Chow - Amazing food located on the westside of Bend. It is located in an older house, giving it more of the Portland feeling. It has local goods which makes it a staple on my list of places to try.
McKays Cottage - Another cute cottage breakfast place with incredible local food. It is first come, first serve but they allow you to order a drink while you wait for your table.
Victorian Cafe - Laid back breakfast spot in a Victorian inspired building with fine foods, tasty Spanish coffees, and large bloody marys!
Lunch
Pho + Viet Cafe - This is hands down the best pho in town, the atmosphere is welcoming and the service is fast. Big recommendation for the calamari as a starter dish and the chicken pho is my go to order!
Lifty’s - New spot in Bend with great bites and fun activities such as corn hole and sand volleyball.
Spork - A vibrant restaurant featuring Mexican eats, Asian fusion plates and crafted cocktails. This place is such a blast to visit because the foods are insanely crafty.
Parrilla - The best fish tacos in town, hands down. I also love to order the fish burrito, but overall... get the fish!
El Sancho - Best place in town to get street tacos and crafty margaritas. Two locations, both great
Planker Sandwiches - I love getting a sandwich from this local spot, they make yummy panini’s and other hot sandwiches, along with deli style sandwiches.
Food Carts
The Lot - Food carts with variety of options located near downtown Bend, great seating area with coverage, heated seats and heaters for cold days. Central brew station to order drinks while you hang out.
The Yacht Club - Food carts and a central brew station with a variety of carts, located Northeast side of town.
Podolski Food Carts - Located across the street from the Box Factory - perfect place to grab a drink and a variety of foods. #1 recommended food to order: Vegan Crunch Wrap
Dinner
Zydeco Kitchen & Cocktail - One of the high class locations in downtown Bend. great place to grab dinner then walk around downtown for a bit of dessert or a drink.
900 Wall - Another high class dinner place for happy hour or dinner. Need to make dinner reservations to ensure a table, it is a hot spot in Bend.
Ariana Restaurant - Located near downtown, make reservations. Great dinner place inside of a cozy cottage.
Wild Rose - Amazing Thai food, highly desired location, make reservations. Located downtown Bend.
Brother John’s - Two locations, one by 10 barrel on the Westside and one located Downtown Bend, high quality brewery inspired foods and a wide variety of local beers.
Brickhouse - located downtown Bend is a 5 star steakhouse with some of the best food in town.
Bos Taurus - Another top tier Steakhouse with the best steak cuts, unique cocktails and local wines. There is a high demand for a table, it is recommended to make a reservation.
The Jackalope Grill - Located downtown Bend has romantic ambiance and a beautiful outdoor seating area. New American foods including steaks and seafood. Reservations recommended.
Breweries, Cocktails + Late night bites
Crux - Great brewery for drinks with firepits and an open yard for dogs, kids, and hanging out with friends to play corn hole. I highly recommend going at sunset and watching the sunset from the outside wall on the bench.
Worthy Brewing Co - Located on the east side of town with a beautiful patio area and a telescope upstairs with a bar area, it is not always open though - call ahead of time to get a schedule.
10 Barrel - Locations on the west and east side, provide a great outdoor seating with fire pits. Great place to find good beer and dogs (pet friendly).
Box Factory - Large building holding multiple companies, located between Downtown and Old Mill. This facility has the following:
Immersion Brewing - Great beer and food
Atlas Cider House
Brown Owl - place to grab beer, food from food carts and also rent out scooters
River Pig - brewery with a fun atmosphere and fire pits outside
Bledsoe Family Winery - Locally owned by Drew Bledsoe and Family, amazing wine and cute place to enjoy a glass of wine - everyone that works there is great too!
Fix and Repeat - Vegan inspired cafe with fresh juices, smoothies, coffee and delicious bites!
Miyagi Ramen
Broken Top and No Name Lake || Photo taken by Glyeb Ewing
Hikes and Trails
Easy Hikes + Close to Bend
Tumalo Falls - 14 mile drive outside of town, able to park and walk up to the viewing of the falls. Small walk to the top of the waterfall on the left side. Extra hiking trails miles back, with multiple views, roughly 10 waterfalls along the way.
Dillon Falls - easy flat land hike to waterfall. Option for further hiking along the riverside.
Deschutes River Trail - smaller 3 mile trail starting at the River Bend Park. Walk past the park, along the river. The halfway point is a bridge to bring you across the river and head back down the other side of the river.
Pilot Butte - This is the butte in the middle of town, great for a 360 viewing of the town and the mountain range. You can hike or drive the butte, always a great spot for a sunrise or sunset.
Sawyer Park Trail - Located in town on the North end. Easy trail to walk along the river or a beautiful park to visit for a picnic or cup of coffee.
Mild Hikes + Further Outside of Bend
Smith Rock - Located past Redmond, OR, a hike up a massive rock to get a 360 view of the mountain range and landscape. This hike is not shaded and called misery ridge for a reason, but the viewing is awesome. Best to hike it in the early morning or late evening for a sunrise or sunset. It also is great for rock climbing and bouldering throughout the base of the rock.
Green Lakes Trail - Located 30 minutes outside of Bend up the Cascade Lakes Highway. Roughly a 9 mile round trip hike that is intermediate. This hike leads to the beautiful Green Lake, best hiked during the day, advised to pack a snack and maybe a lunch to enjoy while sitting at the lake.
Tumalo Mountain Trail - Located 20 miles outside of Bend, a moderate 3.8 mile hike which is slightly steep but a straight shot to the top. The views are amazing at the top viewing point of the mountains Broken Top and Bachelor.
Extreme Hikes
Three Sisters - Best known hike is the South Sisters Trail that is 11.6 mile hike, averaging 8-9 hours to hike. It is recommended to hike during the summer and to start early in the morning.
Three Sisters Loop via the Green Lake Trail #17 - This is the longest trail to hike in the Three Sisters Wilderness. The hike is 47.5 miles long, averaging 20-21 hours to complete.
Mt. Bachelor - best mountain in Oregon to shred powder or a great hike to hit during the summer. It has great views and is a great way to meet new people. Fun Fact: when I went to college, a lot of the students attending only chose the college because it was close to Bachelor and they used financial aid to purchase their season pass because its worth it.
Broken Top and No Name Lake - It is about a 5.5 mile hike round trip to No Name Lake with views of Broken Top. It is a 13 mile hike up Broken Top averaging 11-12 hours to hike. The best time to hike Broken Top is April - November
Broken Top and No Name Lake at the forefront and the Three Sisters behind it. Photo taken by Glyeb Ewing
Activities
Downtown - Strolling around downtown is a great way to spend the day. Lots of locally owned boutiques, amazing food, and art galleries. Check online to see the schedule for events happening downtown.
Old Mill - Located along the river, this is an excellent place to walk around, grab a coffee at the Sisters Coffee Company, shop at both Name Brand and local boutiques, and eat at one of the many restaurants along the strip. Check online for upcoming events located at Old Mill and at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater.
The Ale Trail - Take a tour to all the breweries in town and collect digital stamps via the Ale Trail app.
Float the River - This is the best summer activity for hot days, lazy days, or when you find yourself free for a couple hours. I love getting a group together, some refreshments, and tying everyone’s floaties together as we coast down the river. Key points: Sun Country Tours is an easy way to rent tubes and there is a shuttle that travels from the end of the float back to the top; where your cars would be parked OR you can take two cars with friends and park a car at the end of the river float at Drake Park and be your own shuttle back to the start.
Golf - Bend is a great spot for golf in the summer as well. There are a variety of courses from high dessert to rolling greens. check out the google maps for all of my top recommendations. I personally love golfing at Pronghorn and Tetherow!
First Friday Art Walk - Every first Friday of the month downtown Bend hosts an art walk that includes local art displays throughout the town and wine/ beer tasting along with live music. It is always a blast meeting with friends or finding new communities to connect with.
Hot air balloon ride - great way to see central Oregon for all its glories and also cross something off your bucket list, because be real... it’s on there. Check out Big Sky Balloon Co to schedule a ride.