This is some text that will scroll along side of the normNothing takes a meal from “nice” to “whoa!” like a pristine river weaving past restaurant windows. Lucky for you, we have such a river in Bend, with award-winning eateries angled along its banks. 

From coffee shops to brewpubs to fine dining, you’ll find all sorts of scenic spots to grab a bite along the sparkling Deschutes River. Here are the best places for river view dining in Bend, Oregon.

Explore by neighborhood: Old Mill District • Box Factory • Downtown Bend • River West neighborhood

River view restaurants in the Old Mill District 

Va Piano Vineyards Bend tasting room

One of my favorite spots to sip vino outdoors in the summer, the Va Piano Vineyards tasting room in Bend is a wine lover’s paradise teeming with varietals from their winery in Walla Walla, Wash. 

While this isn’t the place to go when you need a full dinner, they do have a healthy selection of eats that pair perfectly with wine. A bowl of plump olives or salty marcona almonds gives you something to nibble while sipping, or share a charcuterie platter with pals as you sample from their expansive wine list.

Order wines by the glass and sample reds, whites, and sparkling selections, or pick from their menu of wine, beer, cider, or hard kombucha. You can also buy wines by the bottle to enjoy here or take back to your Bend vacation rental.

When the weather is warm, ask for a seat on the patio for gorgeous views of the river. In chillier months, you can still catch a peek at the water from tables near the rear of the tasting room. 

Anthony’s Home Port

If seafood is your thing, views of the water aren’t icing on cake. They’re more like cocktail sauce on succulent prawns, or maybe luscious lemon aioli on crisp calamari.

You’ll find these dishes—plus plenty more—at Bend’s Anthony’s Home Port restaurant, along with excellent views of the Deschutes River. Anthony’s also has one of my favorite Bend happy hours, with treats like crab and shrimp dip, tempura prawns, and scrumptious ahi poke bowls made with raw Pacific ahi poke in chili, ginger, sesame, and tamari over rice with edamame, sweet and sour cabbage, furikake, and seaweed salad.

Don’t miss their mouthwatering array of seasonal cocktails, especially when summer’s abundance brings fresh produce to the menu. If you’re staying for dinner, you’ll find plenty of tables with views of the river both inside and out. I’m partial to the outdoor tables where you’ll get a close-up view of happy river floaters and families strolling past on the walking path.

My favorite dish here is the Alaska weathervane scallops pan seared with beurre blanc and sprinkled with gremolata. They’re served with seasonal veggies and an almond basmati rice pilaf that is so delicious I dream about it sometimes. No joke. If you’re dining with folks who aren’t fans of seafood, they’ll be happy to know the menu contains plenty of options from steaks to vegetarian fare. 

Watch for their three-course sunset dinners on weeknights, as that’s a great way to score a bargain meal with the same river views you’ll see when you’re paying full price. 

Greg’s Grill

While Greg’s Grill is just a few hundred feet from Anthony’s and the two spots boast similar river views, the food is distinctly different. Come to Greg’s if you fancy contemporary Northwest cuisine like rotisserie prime rib, steaks, chicken, mouthwatering burgers, and more.

The architecture here is as fab as the food, with floor-to-ceiling windows, breathtaking woodwork, and a gorgeous fountain in the lobby.

But the river views are a centerpiece for all of it, and you can catch those from the indoor dining area or the outdoor patio. Happy hour here is outstanding, and I’ll sometimes make a full meal of their scrumptious appetizers like grilled haloumi, fried artichoke hearts, and their savory sweet potato fries. Save room for dessert, as their flourless chocolate torte with strawberry sauce is a must-have. And did I mention their excellent salads?

Now that you’ve got your food, raise a toast to your spectacular meal and spellbinding river views. Cheers!

Red Robin

I know some folks turn up their noses at the idea of chain restaurants, but considering the views offered at Red Robin in Bend, you should make an exception for this one. If you have kids in tow, this is a sure-fire win with tasty burgers, freckled lemonade, and a kids’ menu that’s guaranteed to please them. 

In the warmer months, nab a table outside and watch the paddlers move past as you gobble your gourmet burger (I recommend the Bleu Ribbon Burger topped with tangy steak sauce, chipotle aioli, bleu cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and crispy onion straws). Another bonus is the prevalence of bottomless everything.

Er, I’m talking fries and drinks. Not the folks on the river. That would just be weird (not to mention uncomfortable to watch while you eat your burger).

Pastini Pastaria

As you might guess from the name, Pastini Pastaria is known for flavorful pasta dishes made with fresh, local ingredients in the tradition of neighborhood bistros in Italy. Aside from offering more than 30 classic and contemporary pasta dishes, they also feature salads, antipasti, sandwiches, desserts, and most importantly, gorgeous river views.

Their location in the Old Mill District just downstream from Greg’s Grill gives them primo views of a slightly different section of river, and the two fireplaces on their patio offer a great way to stay toasty if the evening turns chilly. But even if you pick a seat indoors, there are several fab tables with river views. 

Kick things off with something from their salad menu, which boasts a huge array of selections from beet salad to caesar to spinach salad balsamico to a grilled asparagus salad so swoony you’ll wonder how they made so much magic out of chopped egg, toasted hazelnuts, parmesan, lemon vinaigrette, mixed greens, and grilled asparagus. 

Pair that with a nice glass of Chianti, then gobble up an order of their butternut squash and gorgonzola ravioli in sage brown butter sauce with toasted hazelnuts. Yum!

River view restaurants in the Box Factory 

Monkless Belgian Ales

One of two Bend Ale Trail stops on this list, Monkless Belgian Ales specializes in classic, authentic Belgian-style beers made with traditional yeast and Old World character. It’s a unique process and a unique style of beer in a town that’s otherwise brimming with hop bombs. But what makes Monkless even more unique is its river-view setting near the Colorado Avenue Bridge.

The restaurant sits high above the surrounding terrain, giving you stunning views back toward the Old Mill District and the Hayden Homes Amphitheater. Get here early for a spot on the deck, or show up near sunset to watch the sky turn pink.

While unique beer and stunning river views take center stage here, the food is also some of the best on the Bend Ale Trail. Choose from starters like a Bavarian pretzel, crispy Belgian frittes, or their delectable roasted brussels sprouts with bacon lardons, goat cheese, and balsamic glaze. 

If you’re here for dinner, don’t miss delicacies like their pork schnitzel plate or their tasty chicken and liége waffles with crispy fried tenders, a classic Belgian liége waffle, thick-cut bacon, maple syrup, whipped butter, and hot sauce. The goat cheese cauliflower tarte will have you dreaming of Bruges.

River view restaurants in Downtown Bend 

The Commons Café and Taproom

The Commons Café and Taproom specializes in great drinks ranging from coffee and tea to cider, beer, kombucha, and wine. Fresh local pastries arrive each morning from local bakeries, and it’s a great spot to pull up a chair and enjoy river views with your beverage. It’s perfect for a simple breakfast or a post-hike brew, and they often host live music in the evenings.  

No matter when you show up or what you eat or drink, you’ll be treated to some of the best river views in town from their primo spot in Mirror Pond Plaza. Sit outside in the courtyard to feel the hustle and bustle of the Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays, or opt for a bit of privacy on their shaded back porch or inside the cozy little dining area. 

Watershed Coffee Roasters

Just a stone’s throw downriver from the Commons, you’ll find Watershed Coffee Roasters. It’s not a big, flashy restaurant with five-course dinners, but that’s kinda the point. This is the perfect, quaint little coffee shop for someone seeking fresh-roasted coffee, tasty tea, a real-fruit smoothie, or a breakfast sandwich.

On busy summer days, you’ll likely encounter a long line out the door, with folks jonesing for their cuppa joe. Be patient and wait it out. The river views are worth a few minutes standing in line getting to know your fellow coffee connoisseurs. If you wander by on a quieter day, this makes a nice spot to set up your laptop and catch up on some busywork at a sunny table facing the river. You can also take your drink outside to enjoy on a bench facing the river with the breeze in your hair. Go ahead and kick off your shoes to feel the grass under your feet. This is what vacation feels like.

Pine Tavern

Probably one of the most iconic restaurants in Bend, Pine Tavern has been operating since 1936, and is best known for mouthwatering sourdough scones with honey butter, and for the two pine trees (one dead, one living) that emerge from the center of the restaurant through the roof of the building.

While those things are admittedly pretty awesome, so are the river views. Reservations are a good idea, particularly if you want dibs on a river-view table or a spot on the patio. They’re open for lunch, happy hour, and dinner.

Come at dinnertime if you want to sample the aforementioned scones. I’m a big fan of their Chicken Marsala, though a friend claims they make the best prime rib he’s ever tasted. Regardless of what you choose for your entrée, save room for dessert, and don’t forget to click a few photos of the views so you can savor them long after you’ve licked the plate clean. Don’t worry—I won’t tell.

Bend Brewing Company

If you haven’t been to Bend Brewing Company since they expanded and remodeled, stop what you’re doing right now and head to this locals’ fave on the Bend Ale Trail.

Picnic tables sprawl across wide-open grassy areas where kids can frolic, dogs can chill by their humans’ tables, and everyone’s giddy about sipping some of the best beer in town while gazing out over the sparkling Deschutes.

Even when the weather’s not great for outdoor dining, you’ll get fab river views from several of the indoor tables. Bonus: The staff here is always super friendly, and the overall vibe is classic old-school Bend.

BBC is well known as one of the locals’ favorite breweries, and their variety of experimental brews is one of the reasons. Ask your bartender for a taster of whatever’s seasonal and unique, then order a pint or perhaps a whole sample tray. The Elk Lake and the Ching Ching are my personal faves, but there’s plenty of good stuff to choose from. The fish and chips at BBC are extra special, or try one of their unique dinner salads. 

Then order another beer. Because really, you’re in Bend. And you’re on the Deschutes River. Enough said.

Sen Thai Noodles & Hot Pot

One of the newer additions to this list, Sen Thai Noodles & Hot Pot offers a cozy, welcoming space to enjoy bold Thai flavors and—what else?!—spellbinding views of the Deschutes. You’ll catch glimpses of the river whether you choose a casual seat at the bar or a romantic table for two right by the windows.

Sen sets out to capture the vibrant flavors of Thailand’s street food scene with their modern Bend eatery. Choose from classic noodle bowls to Thai-style hot pots—interactive meals where you cook your own selection of fresh, raw ingredients in a flavorful stock. It makes for a fun lunch experience or a unique dinner. 

The cocktails here are especially flavorful, with the Yoga Retreat (vodka, carrot syrup, pineapple, lemon, coconut) topping my list. They’ve also got a tasty array of booze-free mocktails, plus wine, cider, beer, and more.

Whatever you do, make sure you order the Tuah Gratiem, aka wok-fried green beans with fresh garlic. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but trust me when I say this is one of the most delicious, flavorful veggie dishes you could possibly imagine. I suggest eating them sloooowly, one bean at a time, so you can savor the river views (not to mention the food!) for as long as possible.

River view restaurants in the River West neighborhood

Currents at the Riverhouse

You don’t need to stay at The Riverhouse Hotel & Convention Center to dine at their spacious, river-front restaurant, Currents. The fact that they serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, and have a happy hour makes them an excellent go-to spot almost any time of day, and the fact that their back deck offers killer river views makes it one of my favorite spots in Bend. 

The deck overlooks a rapid section of frothy whitewater, which is different from what you’ll see in the lazier sections of river through the Old Mill and Downtown Bend. There’s a fun energy to it, and the sound of crashing whitewater makes an exhilarating backdrop to an outdoor meal.

The menu here is constantly changing, but one of my favorite breakfast items in all of Bend always seems to stay on the menu. That’s the Slow Roasted Beef Brisket Hash made with onion, bell pepper, potato, spinach, poached eggs, horseradish cream, and scallions. It’s huge enough to split, but why share? Take the leftovers back to your room or vacation rental to heat up later.

Lunch and dinner are equally delicious, and they do a great job changing up the menu seasonally to take advantage of whatever’s freshest. If you can score a spot on the patio, it’s the perfect place to have a special meal to cap off your Bend adventure.

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