Come hungry, leave happily full — maybe even with a box of doughnuts to go. That’s how it goes in Central Oregon. From comfort food and craft cocktails to locally sourced ingredients and sweet treats, menus here cover a lot of delicious ground. Here’s where to find great meals, ingredients and culinary inspiration in the high desert.
Baked Goods and Cocktails in Madras and Warm Springs
Eagle Bakery in Madras, 43 miles north of Bend, is a longtime favorite turning out family-made treats like cinnamon-swirl bread, pies and savory goodies like Italian garlic hot dog buns. Choose from among trays of fresh-from-the-oven pastries, grab a mug of hot coffee and settle into a spot at a shared table before heading to the nearby Museum at Warm Springs.
A couple of miles north of Madras is New Basin Distilling Company, which has a tasting room where you can sample what they’re distilling on-site. Pull up a seat at the bar for a craft cocktail made with favorites like Stagger Gin or Wild Will Whiskey. You can also try more than 17 flavors of mixing vinegars that bring a little zip of fruit flavor, which means you’re sure to find something to pair with a snack from the rotating on-site food carts. The nearby Erickson Aircraft Collection makes an easy next stop for a look at vintage aircraft.
In Warm Springs, about 15 miles north of Madras, Twisted Teepee Food Cart makes Native American fry bread along with juicy burgers and fries. Keep it savory with a burger served on warm fry bread, or go sweet with huckleberry butter. It’s comfort food with cultural roots.
Ranch-Raised and Freshly Baked in Prineville and Powell Butte
Blue Duck Saloon in Prineville, about 38 miles northeast of Bend, brings Western inspiration to an upscale, woman-owned restaurant. Choose from traditional favorites like burgers with house-cured pork belly or a rib eye topped with savory butter at this 21+ spot. Open for lunch and dinner, it’s a perfect stop after a day hiking at Smith Rock.
When your sweet tooth kicks in, Chickybellas is there to satisfy with cases stacked with fresh-baked cookies, cakes and Danishes. Indulge in homemade potato doughnuts in several flavors, from classic glazed and chocolate to rotating weekly flavors like Earl Grey glazed and orange cardamom. It’s open early, perfect for a pre-adventure doughnut run.
If you could use a glass of milk to wash down those sweets, just 5 miles outside Prineville in Powell Butte is Windy Acres Dairy Farm. This family-run dairy produces raw milk, cheeses, butter and yogurt right on the farm. Arrange a visit in advance for a closer look at life on a working dairy — cows, cream and all.
Twelve miles north of Prineville, Wine Down Ranch is a working cattle ranch and lodge nestled among grassy meadows beneath the Ochoco foothills. Stay in a cozy guest cabin, or time your visit with a concert or stargazing under wide-open, dark skies. You can also pick up pasture-raised beef (whole, halves, quarters or retail cuts) by appointment to take home.
Twenty miles southwest of Prineville, Brasada Ranch offers golf, lodging and Cascade mountain backdrops while dining at its on-site restaurant, Wild Rye, which is open to guests and visitors. Enjoy relaxed yet refined dishes inspired by regional and local ingredients, such as elk and beef, alongside seasonal produce. Pair your plate with a glass of wine and a rose-gold high-desert sunset. Reservations are recommended.
Homestyle Plates and Craft Brews in Tygh Valley, Maupin and Sisters
In Tygh Valley, 60 miles north of Madras, Molly B’s Diner is a down-home stop with plenty of small-town soul. Dig into loaded breakfast plates, chicken-fried steak, brick-oven pizza and Friday-night prime rib. It’s the kind of family-friendly spot that keeps ranchers, road-trippers and folks with big appetites well fed.
Set across from the Deschutes River in Maupin, 10 miles south of Tygh Valley, is the Riverside. When you’re hungry from rafting and fly-fishing, this is a great spot to relax. Pull up a chair on the deck overlooking the river and enjoy some hearty food, a cold beer or a cocktail. In warmer months, you can catch live music or play bingo out back.
Across the bridge, Mt. Hood Brewing Co.’s Rainbow Tavern serves classic pub dishes with wine, cocktails and Mt. Hood Brewing Co. beers on tap. Whether you’re fresh off the raft or settling in for the evening, this Maupin staple stays open later than many spots in town — perfect for a late bite or a nightcap.
Two miles east of Sisters, Lazy Z Ranch is a bee ranch and winery practicing soil-friendly, sustainable farming. Pop into the tasting room to sample ranch-made wines and mead. Pair it with a spicy Munch Wrap Supreme or a savory poutine from Luckey’s Woodsman food truck. Catch festivals and live music during warmer months.
At historic Lake Creek Lodge 14 miles west of Sisters, Høst Supper Club offers beautifully prepared and delicious meals like steak, salmon, seasonal roasted vegetables and dishes using loads of local ingredients. It’s a relaxing spot for dinner after fly-fishing the Metolius or hiking Black Butte.
