One of the most charming and succinct downtown areas in the Pacific Northwest, with tree-lined streets and cobblestone sidewalks, Bend feels both like a Norman Rockwell painting and a chic, cosmopolitan center.
A wide array of small businesses from beauty salons to fitness stores, from clothing boutiques to art galleries offer a unique and sophisticated array of goods to satisfy even the most discerning shoppers. Downtown Bend is also a diner’s paradise: grab a quick bite at The Downtowner, which specializes in east coast style sandwiches; make a reservation at The Blacksmith or Jackalope Grill and indulge in award-winning dishes prepared by some of the most renowned chefs in the country. And don’t miss out on the five downtown breweries serving up frothy ambers and crisp, light lagers with names like Cinder Cone Red and Black Butte Porter.
The downtown area is made up primarily of two one-way streets, Wall and Bond that are intersected by Greenwood, Minnesota, Oregon and Franklin. Just west of downtown is Drake Park, where a damn that brought electricity to Bend in 1910 still operates and has created the picturesque Mirror Pond, a popular gathering spot for locals and tourists. South of the park is the Riverfront Neighborhood characterized by older mill-worker cottages and newer homes closer to the river. More upscale residences are found along the park and closer to downtown with large craftsman and colonial homes, quiet streets and mature ponderosa pines.
Downtown Bend and the neighborhoods surrounding it offer the perfect place to visit or live for those seeking a place with character and history that is a short walk from urban amenities. A number of mixed-use buildings such as Franklin Crossing and 919 Bond offer penthouse-style condos, and the historic district, between the Old Mill and downtown, has a number of quaint cottages reminiscent of Bend’s milltown era.
Downtown Bend Business Association
Phone: 541.385.6570
Visit the Website