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 the best 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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Café Sintra

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

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.