Top 10 Places to Eat Out in Bend With Kids
Our picks for the top 10 best places to eat out in Bend, Oregon with kids!
If you are visiting Bend or you’re local parents who want inspiration for a night out, here’s our TOP 10 Places to Eat Out in Bend with Kids:
1.) On Tap
Why We Love: Easy parking with the large lot next door. Almost always a place to sit. Beer line moves fast. Plenty of room and lawn space for kids to play and interact. Food carts make it easy for everyone to get what they want. Kombucha, cider, and lots of rotating beers on tap.
Vibe: Casual, Chill, Fun
Seasonality: Summer or Winter. Lots of shaded outdoor seating in summer and tents with heaters in the winter.
Insider Tips: Bring a chair or blanket in the busy season in case you can’t get a table. They sell beer to go in mason jars, bring your own or buy one of theirs! Always try the special at The Bleu Rooster and Rush’s Squares makes some amazing Cannolis AND serves ready to eat cold salads for when you are wanting something cool and fresh.
2.) Midtown Yacht Club
Why We Love: Our vote for the best selection of food trucks in Bend! You can’t go wrong with ANY of them. Outdoor dining makes it easy for kids to sit on the ground or make a mess and no one cares.
Vibe: Casual, Chill
Seasonality: Mostly Summer, some Winter. Limited indoor/heated winter seating but we’ve never had a problem getting a place to sit in the winter. Summer there is a lot of sun exposure but they do have misters for cooling in the hottest parts of the year.
Insider Tips: Beer selection on tap is average, instead grab a 16 oz can from the cooler and try something new. Lots of fun kids drink options in the coolers too!
3.) Crux Fermentation Project
Why We Love: Biggest lawn for kid play in town. Bring their toys or a soccer ball and let them do their thing. Beer lines move fast, great views of the mountains, a fun place to meet up with friends and socialize.
Vibe: Casual, Fun, Trendy
Seasonality: Summer or Winter, lots of seating or lawn space for both.
Insider Tips: Crux has a kitchen and full menu and there are a couple food trucks always open outside. The Crux pizza truck has very limited hours, Wed–Sat 2-9 PM.
4.) Sunriver Brewing Eastside
Why We Love: Friendly service, easy to park, almost never a wait for a table, small kids LOVE the indoor play spot stocked with toys. Good pizza, huge salads, great appetizers.
Vibe: Easygoing, Casual
Seasonality: Summer and Winter, more inside seating than out
Insider Tips: Outside kids can play on turf, inside there is a designated play area. Easy bill payment option via QR code.
5.) Bend Brewing
Why We Love: Incredible location in downtown Bend and adjacent to the Deschutes River. Seasonal live music, good cocktails and lots of space, shade and room for kids to roam.
Vibe: Casual, Festive
Seasonality: Mostly good for Summer, VERY limited indoor seating.
Insider Tips: Lawn seating and parts of the patio are subject to no service and food truck food only. If you want table service you HAVE to sit inside or on the adjacent patio. Bring a blanket for the lawn during music or just a nice place to sit with the family for drinks and food.
6.) Cascade Lakes Brewing
Why We Love: Great food, fun spot to people watch when you sit outdoors, great fire pit to sit around during the winter. Big comfy booths for indoor seating.
Vibe: Business Casual
Seasonality: Summer or Winter, more indoor seating than out
Insider Tips: One of very few places that takes reservations. Call ahead during the busy season to reserve your table. Ask to sit outside in the summer or we love the booths by the windows when sitting inside.
7.) Brown Owl
Why We Love: Great cocktails, off the radar for crowds, always easy to get a table and service any time of day or year.
Vibe: Casual, Rustic
Seasonality: Summer and Winter, but very limited outdoor seating.
Insider Tips: Upstairs in the nest is a fun place to sit with the kids. Play the ring toss game or darts to keep them entertained. Also a good place to come to watch sports.
8.) Lifty’s
Why We Love: Outdoors, amazing food, plenty of outdoor seating and easy place for kids and adults to have fun together.
Vibe: Fun, festive, casual
Seasonality: Summer or winter, best for summer
Insider Tips: Order food online if you need to make it quick or reserve a sand volleyball court online for a fun group get together. Great vegetarian and vegan options. Limited Brunch only menu served until 1 on the weekends.
9.) Wild Rose Thai
Why We Love: Tight seating and small dining room means this is not an obvious choice but it IS a place our kids love to go. Fancy mocktails are a special treat for the kids and this is a place to give them a fun, vibrant and authentic food and culture experience.
Vibe: Casual-Dressy, Festive, Hip
Seasonality: Indoor seating only
Insider Tips: Make a reservation as far in advance as possible. Tables here are hard to get last minute, especially for greater than 4. Day of reservations usually only give you late night seating options. Our kids love the beef skewers and half roasted chicken.
10.) Worthy Brewing
Why We Love: This place is built for volume, and as long as there is enough staff, waiting for a seat is usually never a problem and the wait is relatively fast. Outside seating is our favorite here. There are fire pits, lawn space, a stage for live music, and an upper deck with great views of Mt Bachelor to Mt Hood on a clear day.
Vibe: Easy going, casual, chill
Seasonality: Summer and Winter, plenty of seating to accommodate all seasons.
Insider Tips: Take your kids for a walk through their demonstration gardens, say hi to the chickens and the bees, AND make sure to check out their “Hopservatory” (telescope) and take in the starry nights.
Want more recommendations for Bend dining options?
Contact us and we’ll give you the inside scoop!