9 Coolest Cocktail Bars in Bend

Disclosure: I may earn a small commission on links at no cost to you.

Only a few hours from my home in Portland, Bend is one of my favorite long weekend getaways. I love spending the day on the hiking trails, then coming back to town for dinner and drinks. I’ve been visiting for over ten years now, and have had the chance to try out many a post-hike libation. Here are the best cocktail bars in Bend, Oregon. I chose the list based on cocktail quality and ambiance. The order is fairly arbitrary. If you go to any of these spots, you’ll be in good hands.

Flamingo Room

Great for: Lifting your mood

If Victorian conservatories had cocktail bars, they would look like the Flamingo Room. It’s a place where, if you saw Colonel Mustard carrying a candlestick, you’d want to keep your distance. During the day, skylights illuminate the canopy of spider plants and philodendrons hanging from the ceiling. At night, it’s candle-lit and intimate. Cut flowers in mason jars decorate the tables. The cocktail list offers creative boozy and NA options that, matching the decor, lean into the fruit and flowers, like A History of Violets: orange gin, Lillet, crème de violette, lemon. The wine list is small but strong. The food is eclectic small plates: vegan empanadas, seafood conservas, etc. Visit from 4-6 PM for great happy hour specials. I got the featured cocktail, an excellent Old Fashioned, for a pre-2020 price.

Address: 70 SW Century Dr. #130, Bend, Oregon 

The Stihl

Great for: Unwinding after a long day

The Stihl Whiskey Bar is a Bend cocktail bar OG. The atmosphere is friendly and casual, a blend of neighborhood bar and hunting lodge, with none of the stuffiness that sometimes accompanies a great whiskey selection. And it is a great selection. The Stihl has over 400 whiskeys. My go-to cocktail order is an Old Fashioned, and they make the best one in Bend. If you’re not a whiskey drinker, try out the Cartel Special with tequila, mezcal, and chocolate bitters, or the Pear to the People: pear vodka, elderflower, lemon, and Champagne float. NA options are limited, but the blackberry lemonade is made with fresh blackberry puree. The wine and beer are serviceable, but not the point here. Unlike many of Bend’s cocktail bars, you can get a filling dinner. The food menu has burgers, fries, bowls, salads, and snacks.

Address: 550 NW Franklin Ave #118, Bend, OR 97701

San Simón

Great for: An excuse to wear that outfit that’s been sitting in the closet

At San Simón, you feel at home as soon as you enter. The sophisticated yet laidback interior is candle-lit and moody. Behind the bar is exposed brick. The cozy tables invite dates to lean in close. The long bar welcomes solo visitors to come and relax. On a night when I was out by myself, I fell into an easy conversation with someone a couple of barstools over. The food menu features snacks and charcuterie, but it's more of a happy-hour or late-night spot than a dinner destination. The specialty cocktails are the star of the show here, delivering creativity, quality, and clever names. Example: The “What’s Goin Down” Episode of That’s My Mama (cucumber vodka, ginger, rosemary, lime, prosecco).

Address: 845 NW Tin Pan Alley, Bend, OR 97703

Minnie’s

Great for: Impressing a date

Although one of Bend’s newest bars, Minnie’s feels timeless. This cocktail bar in the lobby of the Westman Hotel is named for the first female mail carrier west of the Mississippi. The space was once a post office, and the 1930s features add much to the charm. In an alcove next to the bar, a fireplace crackles in front of midnight teal sofas. I’ve heard it gets crowded, but my friends and I had the place nearly to ourselves on a chilly Tuesday night. We arrived a little before last call, which, at least on Tuesday, is 9 PM. In the mood to stay out without drinking more, I ordered one of the NA cocktails, which was surprisingly good. The light lemon flavor was refreshing and not overly sweet. After trying my friend’s Agave Pencillin, I can also confirm that honey and ginger are lovely additions to tequila. The food menu has snacks, but Minnie’s isn’t a dinner spot. Come for happy hour or when you want to close down a bar and still make it to bed by midnight.

Address: 777 NW Wall St, Bend, OR 97703

Bar RBC

Great for: A classy night out

Bar RBC occupies a fantastic space in downtown Bend. Downstairs is a sleek bar counter. Upstairs, exposed brick surrounds dimly lit nooks on the lofted second floor. If you’re familiar with Old Bend, it’s the former location of the Dogwood cocktail bar. I’ll admit that returning after the remodel was a little jarring. The painting of animals partying by the bonfire is gone, replaced by monochromatic decor. More modern, less romantic. Still, it’s a great space with excellent cocktails. I ordered the Quixote, a blend of bourbon, two sherries, and grapefruit. I can never resist ordering a drink with amontillado because of the Poe story. Fortunato didn’t die for a martini (I mentioned the brick walls?). I’d call it the best cocktail I had on the Bend bar crawl. Complex, fruity, and caramely, yet not too sweet. Besides cocktails, there’s a great wine list, beer, and a couple of solid NA options. On the tapas menus, I’d say the must-order is the grilled flatbread with truffle cheese and watercress.

Address: 147 NW Minnesota Ave, Bend, OR 97701

Broom Closet Bar

Great for: Lovers of a quest

The Broom Closet is one of Bend’s best bars and worst-kept secrets. Finding it involves just enough of a quest to make you feel like you’ve earned your drink. Once you get there, you may have to wait. The small space is popular and fills up quickly despite the low-profile entrance. The speakeasy is in the attic of the Art House at McMenamins St. Francis School. Head upstairs to the door labeled Broom Closet. It’s next to the row of brooms that look more like they belong to a witch than a custodian. Inside is a snug bar under a vaulted ceiling with rich wood paneling. I’ve found the cocktails at different McMenamins locations to be a little hit or miss, sometimes letting the ambiance do the heavy lifting. Those in the Broom Closet are a hit. I would have been happy with my Old Fashioned at some boring, normal bar. Drinking it in a secret attic was a great bonus.

Address: 700 NW Bond St, Bend, OR 97703

Dogwood at the Pine Shed

Great for: Groups of friends with high standards in cocktails

Once in the middle of downtown Bend, the Dogwood is now a block or two east of US-97. Since I’d loved the old location, I went to the new one feeling, well, nervous would be overstating it, but with a trepidation of visiting a favorite place while knowing it has changed. It is very different now. I don’t mean bad, just a different experience. Much of the original decor remains, though in an open and airy converted garage rather than an intimate hideaway. Outside are food carts and twinkle lights, or at least there would be on days warmer than the frigid March evening I visited. The drinks have the same great quality that made the wait so long to get into the old location. I’ll concede the capacity is better now. My toddy made with pear brandy was the perfect antidote to the early spring chill.

Address: 821 NE 2nd St, Bend, OR 97701

Velvet

Great for: Grabbing a drink after a show at the Tower Theater

I’d say the best way to describe Velvet Lounge is a bar where mason jar drinks come with big cubes. If they’re serious about anything, it’s about being laidback. The cozy space in downtown Bend feels like equal parts cocktail bar, woodsy cabin, and college house party. When the bar has live music, you’ll squeeze past the musicians crammed in by the door when you enter. The communal couch downstairs is good for a large group or meeting new people. Prices at Velvet are among the most reasonable of Bend’s cocktail bars. The happy hour menu has a couple of $8 cocktails and $5 beer. The specialty cocktails rotate. In winter, I enjoyed seeing a warm drinks section on the menu. If you have at least four people, a strong sense of adventure, and a designated driver, Velvet offers group cocktails, an order that starts with 750 mL of alcohol and ends with a “self-service barrel” at your table.

Address: 805 NW Wall St, Bend, OR 97703

Washington Dining and Cocktails

Great for: Post-hike happy hour

Unlike most of the best cocktail bars in Bend, Washington Dining and Cocktails is on the edge of town rather than the center. The food and drinks are good, but the patio is what makes it special. The bar is in the Summit West neighborhood, close to some of Bend’s best hiking and biking trails. After a day at Shevlin Park or Riley Ranch, it feels like paradise to relax on the patio with drinks and snacks. Umbrellas shade the tables on hot days. Heaters and fire pits warm them when it’s chilly. You get free popcorn when you’re seated. There’s a full food menu offering sandwiches, salads, pasta, and burgers. The drink menu has unique spins on classic cocktails, like my blood orange margarita. The wine options are also strong. It’s a place you can order Txakoli from the glass list. A happy hour menu offers snacks, discounts on specialty cocktails, and $5 beer.

Address: 900 Northwest Mount Washington Drive, Bend, OR 97703

Where to stay in Bend

When I visit Bend, I like to stay in or near downtown, so that I can walk to restaurants and bars at the end of the day. Here are some great stays to check out.

• McMenamins Old St. Francis has all the quirky charm of McMenamins properties. Besides the onsite cocktail bar, the Broom Closet, check out the pub, brewery, soaking pool, and movie theater.

• If you’re traveling on a budget, the Bunk + Brew Hostel has reasonably priced rooms in downtown Bend. You get a free beer when you check in. The property has a sauna, beer garden, and food carts.

• The Element Hotel has clean and comfortable rooms within an easy walking distance of downtown Bend. It has a free continental breakfast, indoor pool, and hot tub.

• For a deluxe stay, the Oxford Hotel is a boutique hotel in downtown Bend. Some rooms have balconies and views of the Cascade Mountains.

Best cocktail bars in Bend, the summary:

1. Flamingo Room

2. The Stihl Whiskey Bar

3. San Simón

4. Minnie’s

5. Bar RBC

6. Broom Closet Bar

7. Dogwood at the Pine Shed

8. Velvet Lounge

9. Washington Dining and Cocktails

Enjoy your night out in Bend!

With love,

Emma

Explore nearby

Check out the best wine bars in Bend.

Find the best things to do in Bend.

Check out the best short hikes near Bend.