Search
Log-in

Bend, Oregon: Fun in the High Desert

Bend

Photo Credit: Byron Roe Photography

Bend is a mecca for artisan breweries, creative local cuisine and stunning scenery. This picturesque destination sits in Central Oregon’s high desert country – east of the Cascades near Mt. Bachelor and not far from the Three Sisters Mountains. With lots of sunshine and cooler nights, it’s often referred to as “San Diego North.”

Stay

The Oxford Hotel is Bend’s hip boutique hotel known for its green, sustainable operation. It’s located in the midst of historic downtown. The 59 spacious suites have sleek, modern furniture (including recycled glass vanities shaped to resemble a river) and earth tone colors. Kitchens vary in size, but all have fresh coffee for the French Press. A work station is equipped with a variety of electrical accoutrements. The Oxford Hotel offers complimentary Wi-Fi, bikes as well as Jacuzzi, sauna, steam and fitness facility.

Jackson's Corner
Photo Credit: Bo Links

The hotel is serious about the environment: building materials are sustainable; the hotel uses 100% renewable energy; bedding is all natural (includes a pillow menu) and they provide organic Dani toiletries. For electronic cars, they have both charging stations and electric vehicle chargers.

lauren debell
Photo Credit: Lauren Debell

Shop

Downtown Bend is clean, easy city to navigate and filled with restaurants, wine tasting venues, breweries, art galleries, boutiques and bakeries. On Wednesdays from June to October, the Farmer's Market sets up by the river.

A magnet for people watching, the Old Mill District sits right next to the Deschutes River. It's an upscale setting to indulge your craving for shopping (think clothing, kitchenware, even fly fishing) and food and wine.

Drink

The Wine Shop and Tasting Bar is a fun downtown spot to explore international wines (more than 30 by the glass, 600 retail) and top Belgian and unique European style beers (16 tap handles). Try the 2012 Philips Creek Oregon Pinot Noir and the German Bitsburger Pilsner with a charcuterie plate loaded with triple cream brie and manchego cheeses.

bo links
Photo Credit: Bo Links

Crux Fermentation Project is one of Bend's more than 30 craft breweries. Transformed from a former AAMCO transmission garage, it's now a trendy brewery and tasting room and restaurant. Usually there are 20 small batch brews available per week like the balanced and creative Cruxarillo, Banished Red, Hop Coder. They even make baguettes using spent grain from the Pilsner (served with cheeses and cured meats, bacon wrapped figs and Tough Love bacon jam).

Well Traveled Fork
Photo Credit: Munroe Photography

Eat

For the inside skinny on Bend's latest culinary secrets, join The Well Traveled Fork for a tour (one of many they offer in addition to classes). At Savory Spice in the Old Mill District discover over 400 products to liven up your cooking. At the Broken Top Bottle Shop find wine, beer and comfort food. Downtown at Bontà, indulge in an endless assortment of gelato (like lemon bourbon pecan) then taste olive oils and vinegars at the specialty food store Navidi's.

Oxford Hotel
Photo Credit: Bo Links

Jackson's Corner, located in a converted ice house, is a treasured hangout known for their passion for all things local and sustainable (food and building materials). Savor items like thick, rich split pea soup (with ham), the tasty Thai salad with grilled prawns and the Havana sandwich oozing with caramelized onions, barbeque sauce, mozzarella and loaded with pork.

Wine Shop
Photo Credit: Bo Links

900 Wall is hot dinner spot within walking distance of the hotel. With its European spin on American cuisine, the two-level restaurant offers an array of small dishes and larger plates like luscious "peel and eat" wild shrimp (heads still on) and creamy risotto with wild mushrooms and porcini butter. The 900 Wall Burger is a crowd pleaser: Sustainably raised beef with bacon and aioli. Try Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley like these 2013s: The "Reserve" from Willamette Valley Vineyards and the other from Ken Wright Cellars.

Anthony's Homeport in the Old Mill District has a spacious dining room with open kitchen, and floor to ceiling windows that offer great views of the Deschutes River and the mountains. With a focus on the Pacific Northwest, most of the food and wine is from Oregon and Washington and what seafood does come from Alaska is sustainable. Savor the rich, creamy clam chowder, Hawaiian ahi nachos, plump, juicy Penn Cove mussels, and moist, flakey Wild Neah Bay king salmon. The meal paired well with the 2012 Firesteed Cellars Pinot Noir. 

Patty Burness

I travel the world as a culinary and wine tourism specialist and bring the best of a destination up close and personal to readers. ...(Read More)

Related Articles

Around the web