Maybe you’re just getting into Central Oregon after a long day on the road, celebrating a successful day outdoors, or just looking to unwind after a full weekend of fun and frolic. Whatever the occasion, it’s only natural to raise your glass in one of Central Oregon’s beloved watering holes.
No matter where you might be around the region, you find no shortage of excellent pubs, bars, lounges, and taverns serving everything from fresh, locally brewed craft beer to cocktails mixed with small-batch spirits. So if you’re looking to find your new favorite outpost to kick back with a cold one, here’s a guide to bars in Central Oregon.
Bars in Bend and Sunriver, Oregon
Craft beer might get most of the love and attention in Bend, but the city is home to a booming bar scene—with outings for every occasion.
The Rapa Nui Tiki bar opened in 2021 and pairs bao buns, tuna poke, and other internationally inspired dishes with a curated lineup of tropical cocktails. The drinks are strong, the glassware is era-appropriate, and the atmosphere is a delight.
Oenophiles, meanwhile, flock to Portello Wine Café, which serves reds, whites, sparkling wines, and dessert wines from around the world; selection ranges from Oregon- and Washington-produced wines to varieties from Spain, Italy, Argentina, and France.
If the sheer volume of Bend breweries feels overwhelming, sample your way through their greatest hits at Broken Top Bottle Shop & Ale Cafe—which pours nearly a dozen locally made ales and lagers on draft (for on-site sipping) and boasts an excellent selection of cans (for imbibing back at your campsite).
And while Sunriver may be a family-friendly resort community, it nevertheless offers a few fun bars—including Village Bar & Grill, which pours a variety of local beers, Pacific Northwest wines, and seasonal cocktails crafted with spirits from Central Oregon distilleries.
If you’re still thirsty, learn more about breweries and cideries in Bend, Oregon.
Bars in Sisters, Oregon
It’s impossible to acknowledge Sisters without discussing its Wild West influence—the wooden sidewalks, the public restrooms for “Cowboys” and “Cowgirls”, the clapboard buildings, and so forth.
That western flair extends to the community’s bars—one of which is charmingly called Sisters Saloon & Ranch Grill. The Old West vibe extends beyond the name; a pair of stuffed bison heads sit up above the well-stocked bar, pressed tin adorns the ceiling, and an old-timey piano sits in the corner. Housed in a building that dates back to 1912, Sisters Saloon boasts several locally made beers, an incredible spirits selection, and a joyful atmosphere.
For a more modern take on the bar experience, stop into the new Ski Inn Taphouse and Hotel, which pours more than a dozen local beers and four varieties of wine, boasts a full bar, and hosts nine big-screen, high-definition televisions—one of which is outdoors. You’ll find plenty of outdoor seating on the patio, as well as a handful of boutique hotel rooms upstairs if you don’t want to go far after imbibing.
Curious about where else to sip a cold one around town? Learn more about breweries and cideries in Sisters, Oregon.
Bars in Redmond, Oregon
Whether you’ve spent the day hiking and climbing at Smith Rock State Park (one of many national and state parks in Central Oregon) or heading underground at the Redmond Caves, the working-class city of Redmond hosts plenty of bars for unwinding after a day of outdoor adventure.
Rimrock Taphouse stands out around Redmond for offering an astounding 50 beers, ciders, and seltzers on tap at any given time—spanning locally made craft beers, domestic lagers, regional ciders, and more. If you’re bringing your four-legged friend, the tap house’s patio is dog-friendly.
Bars in La Pine, Oregon
La Pine sits at a kind of crossroads in Central Oregon—surrounded by the ponderosa pine forest for which the city is named, at the foot of the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, and just a short drive from the region’s high desert and the Oregon Outback. It’s no wonder, then, that La Pine hosts a variety of bars for travelers on their way to (or coming back from) those scenic landscapes. We’ve rounded up a few to inspire a stop on your next trip to La Pine.
Any good watering hole offers a fun atmosphere—and Vic’s Bar & Grill has that covered with an old-school exterior (featuring a mix of stone columns, an Old West-inspired facade, and vintage signs) and a lively interior that blends cold beer, strong cocktails, live music, and more. Hungry? Vic’s broasted chicken is a house specialty.
Most of us can agree that it’s fun to knock back a few while bowling—which is what makes Shandy’s such an inviting outpost. Established in 2020, Shandy’s hosts a bowling alley and 25 arcade games—along with a robust cocktail menu that includes daily specials and fun happy hour deals; enjoy it all on the patio, outfitted with fire pits that keep the party going long after you’ve returned your bowling shoes.
Meanwhile, Legend Cider became La Pine’s first cider maker when it opened in 2019. The husband-and-wife team behind Legend have gained plenty of popularity in the years since for crafting an approachable mix of ciders that incorporate real fruit juices for a clean, crisp finish. They all go down easy in the spacious, backyard-like seating area, which boasts partially covered picnic tables, a freestanding porch swing, and an on-site food cart.
Bars in Prineville, Oregon
Prineville emits an effortless, old-school charm that reflects its status as the oldest city in Central Oregon. If you’re looking to unwind with a drink or two, you’ll find plenty of places to do just that around town.
The name says it all at The Waterhole Tavern, a neighborhood favorite since 1978. The wood-adorned pub (featuring a stuffed buck head above the bar) pours beer from local purveyors and spirits from regional producers—all of which pairs well with an ever-changing pub fare menu that includes sandwiches, pizzas, and house-made desserts.
And while the old-school Barney Prine’s Steakhouse & Saloon is known for its steak and seafood selection, the restaurant’s bar scene impresses with Central Oregon-brewed ales and lagers on draft, a robust selection of beer and cider in cans, and strong cocktails—all of which tastes better than ever on the pub’s patio.
Bars in Madras, Oregon
Going back decades, the community of Madras has been a gathering place for nearby ranchers and farmers after a day outdoors. It retains that welcoming, community-minded atmosphere today with several fun bars around town.
Wild Winds Station has gone through several iterations since opening in 2013; it launched as a butcher shop, added a growler refill station in 2014, and expanded into a restaurant and bar in 2015. Through it all, the pub has retained its cheerful disposition while pouring regional craft beers and fun cocktails.
Bars in Maupin, Oregon
Sitting in a canyon along the Deschutes River, the cozy community of Maupin is home to its fair share of convivial watering holes.
Your day of whitewater rafting the Deschutes River isn’t complete until you’re off the water and nursing a cold one at the Rainbow Tavern along the town’s main drag. The old-school bar was recently purchased by Mt. Hood Brewing and offers a variety of the brewery’s signature ales and lagers—all of which pairs well with sandwiches, salads, and seven pizzas.
And if you’re looking to imbibe on a sun-kissed patio on a summer afternoon, stop by The Riverside; the hip outpost offers a full bar, regional wines, craft beers, and creative cocktails—all of which go down easy on the spacious patio, mere steps from the Deschutes River.
