what to do in Bend, OR
IT’S ABOUT DARN TIME I MADE THIS POST.
Bend, Oregon is my absolute favorite long weekend getaway. I think this is the best brewery town in the country and I don’t think I will ever get tired of doing the Bend Ale Trail challenge! I have a major goal of having a vacation home there.
This post is all the places you need to go and things you need to know about traveling to Bend, OR.
LODGING
We usually stay at an AirBnb when we visit Bend. Something that I love about the town is that it is very walkable. Because of the closeness of multiple breweries, restaurants, and shops I suggest staying in a place that is close to the heart of the town. You will need to drive or Uber to some of the farther locations but there are a TON of great spots within walking distance of each other. Get your steps in and walk off some of those calories you’ve been drinking!
We have also stayed at Riverhouse on the Deschutes and enjoyed our stay! The rooms are large and the river flows right through the property. There is a bar and restaurant with an amazing riverfront patio with firepits. The breakfast we had at their restaurant, Currents at the Riverhouse, was probably the best breakfast I have ever had at a hotel.
While I haven’t stayed here yet, McMeniman’s at Old St. Francis School is the coolest hotel in Bend. There are multiple bars (including one or more secret ones!), a cigar bar, a fabulous restaurant, a soaking pool, and movie theater. YES, that is ALL on one property and it is right next to downtown!
LET’S EAT
If you’re like me, you plan vacations around delicious places to eat. The great thing about Bend is that almost all of the breweries also have AMAZING food. I have one MUST VISIT spot for brunch that is not in the brewery category (we will get to those later).
The Victorian Cafe has legendary brunch food and cocktails. Anywhere with a variety of Eggs Benedict options has my heart! Their sweet breakfast options like speciality French toast are also to die for. You need to have one of their giant mimosas or Bloody Marys to get the full experience!
BREWERIES (there are a lot!)
Bend is H E A V E N for craft beer lovers! Below are the ones that we have been to and what sets them apart. My boyfriend Casey and I are proud finishers of the Bend Ale Trail and visited 10 breweries on their list in a weekend trip. Whether you stop at one or all, you need to visit breweries in Bend.
10 Barrel Brewing Co. - There are multiple 10 Barrel locations around the country and two in Bend. We go to the one on Galveston and love the mix of indoor and outdoor seating. This is one of the best places to get a flight in Bend! So many tasters!
Bend Brewing Company - This brewery has an awesome outdoor space in the summer! It is right on the river and in the heart of downtown. You can get your drinks from the outdoor bar space and relax on the grass or play corn hole. The restaurant is a great spot for a snack too!
Boneyard Beer - Okay, the food here is TOP NOTCH. The beer is great too but the food is unique and fun and delish! They also have a sparkling CBD drink if you’re into that! A really unique place with a cool atmosphere - biker gang meets craft beer.
Deschutes Brewery - A staple in Bend, the Deschutes Brewery tasting room and downtown restaurant are both great stops for a trip. The tasting room offers free flights and there is a ton of merch if you’re looking for a souvenir. The pub has a lot of seating but it definitely a favorite and usually pretty busy during tourist season.
GoodLife Brewing Company - Our favorite outdoor space in Bend! Goodlife is a little farther away from downtown but still walkable. The outdoor space is set up to purchase drinks outside, play yard games, and a sometimes there is a food truck. It is also connected to a distillery if you want to make another stop!
Immersion Brewing - This is silly, but the bathrooms here are cool! The beer is good, the nachos are good, and it is right next to all of the stores in Old Mill District.
Silver Moon Brewing - A relaxed brewery with some really great beer choices! We were there on a Sunday or Monday so there wasn’t much going on but we saw that they had trivia and other themed nights throughout the week! They have some really interesting speciality brews and I loved the cranberry one I got.
Sunriver Brewing - We always stop here after brunch at The Victorian Cafe. It is never busy when we go, usually around 11 AM and the service is always wonderful. It is a cool place that actually stays cool in the Summer and is a must-stop in the Galveston neighborhood.
Worthy Brewing - This is usually our first stop on our way into Bend because it is farther away than the rest of the breweries. This place has a hop garden you can explore, an OBSERVATORY, and some of the best pizza ever.
There are even more but these are the ones we have been to!
BONUS - DISTILLERIES, CIDERIES, AND WINERIES
Yes, there is seriously still more goodness.
Avid Cider Co. - The best cider BY FAR! The Pom-Cherry is my favorite! The tasting room is very relaxed and has some old school arcade games.
Crater Lake Distilling - I love the mini cocktails at Crater Lake! The downtown tasting room feels upscale and cool and you will get some high quality spirits!
Naked Winery - I’ve been to this winery tasting room multiple times and always love getting a flight! This room is in Old Mill District so you can stop in for a sip and then go shopping!
MORE TO DO
Yes, there is more to do in Bend than drink… but the drinking is unparalleled.
Also look into floating the river, shopping at Old Mill District, hiking, skiing Mt. Bachelor, fly fishing, or seeing a show at the amphitheater.
Hope this helps you plan out your trip to Bend! If you have any more questions, leave them in the comments!
Now I am missing this wonderful place even more than usual!