To some, brunch is just a hash brown-studded meal that happens sometime between breakfast and lunch.

To others, it’s a religion served with a side of avocado toast.

No matter where you fall on the spectrum, here are more than two-dozen spots around Bend where you’re guaranteed to find the sort of super-tasty brunch that’ll have your belly penning thank you notes to your taste buds.

McKay Cottage

The cozy 1916 craftsman bungalow that houses McKay Cottage is packed with homey charm, and their brunches are packed with deliciousness.

Scrumptious Eggs Benedict at McKay Cottage.

Their hashes are my personal fave, and I always check the specials board for what’s fresh that day. A trusty go-to is the Florentine Hash with red rose potatoes cooked golden brown with Applewood bacon, baby spinach, oven roasted tomatoes, mushrooms, smoked mozzarella, poached eggs, and hollandaise. It comes with a butter scone and fresh fruit.

Grab a seat on their patio if it’s warm enough, and don’t show up ravenous—wait times here can be long, so be prepared to mill around sipping coffee while you chat up your fellow patrons. It’s part of the Bend experience!

Jackson’s Corner

My favorite things about Jackson’s Corner are too numerous to name, but high on the list is the fact that their eastside and westside locations make it easy to get my fix no matter which side of town I’m prowling.

Huevos Rancheros at Jackson’s Corner.

This is another spot where it behooves you to check the specials board, as their commitment to locally-sourced ingredients can earn you some fresh and tasty dishes.

My husband is obsessed with their biscuit breakfast sandwiches, but my go-to here is the Huevos Rancheros. It’s made with eggs and chorizo (sub avocado at no charge for vegetarians) atop fried corn tortillas, black beans, salsa verde, cotija, sour cream, and cilantro. It’s hearty and crisp and for some reason always hits the spot the morning after overindulging on the Bend Ale Trail. Not that I’ve ever done that.

Bonus: They serve Metolius Tea, which is my absolute favorite.

Bad Wolf Bakery & Bistro

As the name implies, Bad Wolf Bakery & Bistro has a knack for tasty baked goods and pastries, but they’re so much more than that.

Mmmm waffles at Bad Wolf Bakery & Bistro!

The cardamom waffles with vanilla bean yogurt and fresh fruit will hit the spot for brunch fans with a sweet tooth, or opt for the artery-clogging delight of the Shipwreck. It’s a plate of smothered hash browns topped with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, green onions, and sour cream (all of which is gluten free if that’s your jam).

Pro tip: Find a spot farther away from the door, as it can get a bit drafty on busy mornings when everyone’s coming and going.

10Below

Even if you’re not staying the night at the Oxford Hotel, it’s worth making a trip to the lower level for brunch at 10Below.

Scrumptious (and healthy!) frittata at 10Below.

I don’t know what makes their butter roasted fingerling potatoes so magical, but make sure whatever you order comes with a side of those.

Their variety of different benedicts offers something for everyone whether you like the classic form or more exotic offerings like veggie or crab. For a fresh and healthy choice, opt for the sweet potato, spinach, and ricotta frittata with onion, saffron, eggs, and baby kale.

You’ll also find a pretty sweet cocktail menu here if you’re looking to pair your brunch with an adult beverage.

The Lemon Tree

A few weeks ago, I entertained a pair of popular travel bloggers who visited to write about the ultimate girls’ getaway to Bend. One of the spots I picked for them was Lemon Tree, a relative newcomer to Downtown Bend’s dining scene. Both bloggers raved about this place, writing “If you go to one place on the list, this should be it,” and “This might have been the best breakfast I’ve ever had.”

Crab Cake Benedict at Lemon Tree.

The brainchild of two chefs who met while preparing gourmet meals on luxury yachts, Lemon Tree specializes in clean, fresh, international fare like their jumbo lump crab cake benedict with citrus hollandaise or Shaksuka—a Tunisian dish with poached eggs in a sauce of tomatoes, chili peppers and onions, seasoned with cumin, garlic, paprika, and coriander, served with crusty baguette and French feta.

Is anyone else’s mouth watering?

If breakfast cocktails are your thing, this is a good place to indulge. I have it on good authority the spicy blood orange Paloma (house-made strawberry jalapeño simple syrup and Espolon tequila topped with blood orange soda and a salted cayenne rim) is to die for.

Wild Oregon Foods

Don’t forget to admire the art at Wild Oregon Foods.

There’s a reason Wild Oregon Foods has been buzzed about everywhere from the Washington Post to local media like the Source Weekly. It’s that good.

Tucked away from the culinary center of town, Wild Oregon Foods is on the south end of Bend with the Bend Factory Stores. They specialize in farm to table meals sourced from around the Pacific Northwest. That means it’s a great approach to walk straight up to the counter, check out the day’s special, and say “I’ll have that” regardless of what it is.

You also can’t go wrong with their wild hash, which is available with either corned beef, brisket, or vegetarian options served up with roasted root veggies, bell peppers, green onions, and soft-poached eggs. More adventurous eaters might enjoy the elk huevos rancheros, or opt for the chai French toast if you’re looking to satisfy a sweet tooth.

Choose a table that lets you admire the local artwork and maybe slip into the bar for one of their famous house-made cocktails.

Bonus: You’re now fueled up for a day of shopping at the outlet mall!

Chow

Since it first opened in 2007, Chow has been one of my favorite Bend eateries. Maybe it’s the on-site gardens that offer uber-fresh produce during the summer months, or maybe it’s their commitment to locally-sourced ingredients.

The Blackstone Benedict at Chow will make your taste buds sing.

Or maybe it’s just that they serve darn good food.

The Blackstone is one of my menu faves, featuring cornmeal crusted tomatoes, garlic, spinach, smoked bacon, poached eggs, and sauce bernaise. You’ll also find plenty of unique twists on eggs benedict, plus a corned beef hash (beer braised for 14 hours!) that’s guaranteed to rock your world.

Arrive early, as seats can fill fast. This is a terrific stop in the summer months when their sunny outdoor courtyard is available for seating.

Sargent’s Café

I will confess that I hesitated to include Sargent’s Café not because it isn’t awesome (it is!) but because it’s one of those off-the-beaten-path local faves that I don’t want to see overrun by big crowds.

Classic diner chow at Sargent’s.

But I overcame my own selfishness and would be remiss if I didn’t mention this little diner on SE 3^rd street. Their prices are super-reasonable, and they have a homey, small town diner vibe that’s getting tougher to find these days.

My go-to item here is the Cougar Special (named for Mountain View High’s mascot) featuring ground beef, onions, mushrooms, spinach, and swiss cheese all scrambled together with eggs and topped with a side of hash browns. I generally swap the mushrooms for green pepper, and I always swear I won’t eat the whole thing, but I usually do.

Belly up to the bar here if you want to feel like a real local.

Foxtail Bakeshop

Another relative newcomer to Bend’s dining scene, Foxtail Bakeshop provides the perfect excuse to explore the up-and-coming Box Factory and its eclectic collection of shops, restaurants, and awesome history.

Foxtail Bakeshop boasts some pretty fabulous art on the walls (not to mention amazing brunch!)

You order at the counter before choosing your table, which means you’ll spend your time in line drooling over the stunningly gorgeous pastries in the display case. Foxtail boasts “whimsical, re-imagined classics and innovative specials,” which sums up both the food and the eclectic, art-infused dining room.

Everything is made from scratch daily, so if you have your eye on a particular menu item, get there early before they sell out. They’re big on farm-to-table cuisine, and take pride on making everything in house, from jams to cheeses to roasted ham to pickled vegetables.

Some tasty classics on the regular menu include the All Butter Biscuit Sando featuring a house-made biscuit, pan fried egg, apricot tarragon jam, chevre cheese, arugula, and house-cured bacon.

Fans of a sweeter breakfast will swoon over the Bittersweet Hazel, a sweet potato waffle with house-made hazelnut butter and citrus marmalade with orange zest Chantilly cream and toasted hazelnuts.

Their tea selection here is top notch, or treat yourself to one of their tasty brunch cocktails.

Currents at the Riverhouse

How do I feel about brunch at Currents at the Riverhouse? As I typed the words just now, my mouth literally started watering as I thought about their corned beef hash served with onions, bell pepper, potato, spinach, poached eggs, and horseradish crème fraiche. It’s one of the few breakfast items that reheats beautifully so you can take half of it home (it’s a big portion, yo) to enjoy the next day. Or an hour later because you can’t stop thinking about it.

Corned beef hash at Currents is every bit as delicious as it looks.

The brioche French toast and Belgian waffle are other popular offerings for the sweet-loving crowd, and the salmon lox croissant always catches my eye, too.

If you ask nicely and it’s not too busy, you can score a table with views of the river, or dine outdoors on their riverfront deck when it’s nice outside.

Greg’s Grill

It’s been more than a year since we took the kiddos to Greg’s Grill to try their brunch, and the 13-year-old still asks me when we can go back and order their French toast.

Scrumptious, crunchy French Toast at Greg’s Grill.

It’s no ordinary French toast, dipped in cornflakes and grilled golden brown, then topped with cinnamon powdered sugar. Even I found myself chomping a slice, and I’m not even a fan of sweet breakfasts.

The hash is another succulent treat, made with prime rib, white cheddar, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, and onions topped with two poached eggs.

Ask for a table with views of the river for the complete Greg’s Grill experience.

Victorian Café

One of the most popular brunch stops for locals and visitors alike, Victorian Café (or “The Vic” as it’s affectionately known) is legendary for both their benedicts and their Bloody Marys.

Don’t forget the Bloody Mary when you order brunch at The Vic!

Prepare to be overwhelmed by their massive selection of options, ranging from the Green Hornet (spinach, asparagus, jalapeños, scallions, and gruyere in a three-egg omelet topped with avocado) to their Texas Hold’em Benedict (spicy BBQ pulled pork, sautéed onions and green chilis, topped with house-made ancho chili hollandaise and fresh cilantro).

There’s plenty of stuff for no-frills eaters, too, ranging from house-made granola to blueberry pancakes.

Wait times here can be a little long, so don’t show up starving at 10 a.m. on a Sunday and expect to have food in hand five minutes later. The Vic is an experience, and you need to make time to savor it.

Boxwood Kitchen

Full disclosure: I have not yet tried brunch at Boxwood Kitchen since they opened in the Old Mill District a couple months ago.

If you like your brunch on the lunchier side, add an avocado kale salad to your meal at Boxwood.

But the dinner I enjoyed there so thoroughly knocked my socks off, I felt compelled to include them and mention they offer a weekend brunch from 11-3 on Saturdays and Sundays.

Menu items that pique my interest include the breakfast sliders with scrambled egg, aged cheddar, and chipotle aioli, or the tres leches French toast with ricotta, candied oranges, and Grand Marnier maple syrup.

No matter what you get, be sure to add a side of their fried brussels sprouts with ponzu sauce, sesame, and lime. I promise they’ll be one of the tastiest things you put in your mouth during your Bend vacation.

Café Sintra

Named after a town in Portugual, Café Sintra offers yummy and unique brunch items with a Portuguese flair.

Linguiça and chipotle hollandaise add a little zing to your breakfast at Café Sintra.

My favorite dish is their twist on a classic eggs Benedict, featuring two poached eggs and sliced Roma tomatoes over sourdough bread, served with their famous Sintra potatoes. You can choose between linguica, Bavarian ham, or Italian sausage for your meat (pick the linguica!) and traditional or their signature chipotle hollandaise (go for the spice, it’s divine!). Add spinach for an extra boost of vitamins.

They also do a Francesca Sandwich made with two scrambled eggs, bacon, and Swiss cheese on Tuscan bread with dijonnaise sauce that’ll have you bribing the server in hopes of getting your hands on the recipe.

This is a nice spot to linger over a leisurely brunch while you sip coffee and nibble their European-style toast assortment.