Immaculate Vibes

Look, if there’s one thing that Bendites love, it’s a patio in the summer with a happy doggo, a microbrew and some delectable cuisine. In fact, patios have become so synonymous with the Central Oregon experience that you’d be hard pressed to find a spot without one that doesn’t offer some combination of good beer, great food and a lovely view. There are so many to choose from that you first have to decide what vibe you’re after before picking the patio.

For example:

OG Patio- Pine Tavern: A Downtown Bend staple since its inception in 1936, Pine Tavern’s back patio looks out on the still and serene Mirror Pond. Watching the sun set on Mirror Pond while enjoying their Wild Alaskan Fish and Chips and sipping a Boss Rambler lager is one of my favorite local pastimes. There’s a reason why the Pine Tavern survives all.

This entire area of Downtown is filled with great patios from the expansive calm of Bend Brewing Company’s riverside view, to Sen’s luxurious overlook and the extremely dog-friendly backyard vibes of Looney Bean. It’s hard not to be happy when looking out on the splendiferousness of Mirror Pond.

Hidden Patio- La Mesita: Out in the Old Farm District on Knott Road sits an unassuming taqueria food truck near Farmer Brown’s farmers market. Serving fresh seafood, tender birria and one of the best horchatas I’ve ever had, La Mesita is worth the trip just for the food, but there’s another piece of magic waiting for those who go. Sitting under the umbrellas in their small patio, in the middle of working farmland and looking out at an astonishing view of the Cascade Mountains, feels like a re-connection to the type of town Bend used to be before all the people and buildings. Such peaceful vibes.

Romantic Patio: Jackalope Grill – I feel like Jackalope Grill has been undergoing a renaissance lately under the guidance of owner Laura Bliss and new chef Josh Podwils. While the ambience is immaculate, the new menu is to die for with an herb-crusted bone marrow I can’t stop thinking about and a flawless Duck Confit. But on a romantic level… the open-air garden patio feels like a snapshot of perfection, creating a timeless and achingly lovely ambience. Sitting in that patio, one can’t help but think that maybe life is but a dream.

Food Truck Patio- Bevel Brewing & the Food Carts at 9th Street Village: A lot goes into choosing which food truck spot to frequent. There are so many locally that you could go to a different one every day of the week and still miss out on several. If you want to escape the crowded madness of The Podski or the bustle of On Tap, might I suggest the trucks at Bevel Brewing. First of all: Bevel’s beer is perfection, but their patio has plenty of shade, space for everyone and there are lovingly cultivated flowers and plants everywhere. It reminds me of Old Bend in a way that I’m always looking for. Plus, with the amazing Reuben slider from Nosh, the unbelievable veggie egg rolls from IndoDaddy, the nostalgic collard greens from Little Red Kitchen and the Quesabirria from Tacos El Nava… there’s no downside here.

I asked the Bend Foodies community what some of their favorite patios were and received a wide breadth of answers: Lots of votes for Currents (one hell of a view of the Deschutes), the wide-ranging vista view at Monkless and GoodLife Brewery (for being spacious, plus kiddo and doggo friendly).

Monkless Belgium Ales Credit: Jared Rasic

Here are a few more of my favorite answers:

“JDub! Their doggy menu is just genius.”- Kina King

“I honestly don’t know of a better view of the sunset during the summer than Bend Brewing. The river with the sunsets we’ve been getting this summer have been like nothing I’ve seen before.”- Peyton White

“I’m a dive bar girl… Westside Tavern has the best people, car watching (patio’s perfect) and friendly people if you come before 9pm. (Established in 1934)- Michelle Tager McCarthy

Tell us your favorite patio and enjoy the summer!

This article appears in Source Weekly July 31, 2025.