Nestled alongside the Deschutes River, the Old Mill District is home to an eclectic mix of restaurants, tasting rooms, shops and riverside trails right in the heart of Bend.
Local shopping favorites like Vanilla Urban Threads, Confluence Fly Shop and Ginger’s Kitchenware anchor the Old Mill District, which also includes classic national brands like REI and Regal Cinemas. Altogether, more than 55 different businesses make up the Old Mill’s distinct shopping and dining area, built upon and inspired by the rustic architecture of the former Brooks-Scanlon lumber mill that dominated Bend’s economy for much of the 20th century.
Proud hosts to some of Bend’s most dynamic dining concepts, the Old Mill District is a foodie’s dream with more than a dozen food and drink concepts. Greg’s Grill offers up delicious, upscale Pacific Northwest fare along with spectacular views of the Cascades. (They also whip up one of Bend’s best breakfasts during the weekends.) Anthony’s serves up fresh Northwest seafood and boasts one of Bend’s broadest selections of regional wines. Flatbread Neapolitan Pizzeria brings a slice of southern Italy to Deschutes County with its authentic woodfired, Naples-style pizza. And Va Piano Vineyards and Naked Winery’s tasting rooms have become go-to spots for locals looking to sample some of the most innovative wine produced in the Pacific Northwest.
The Old Mill District is also home to the scenic Les Schwab Amphitheater, the state’s largest outdoor concert venue. Each summer more than a dozen shows take place at the Amphitheater, acts as diverse as Paul Simon, Slightly Stoopid, Jack Johnson, the Deftones and Dierks Bentley. The Les Schwab Amphitheater sits upon the former Shevlin-Hixon mill site, across the river from the shopping core of the Old Mill District.
With its ideal location along the Deschutes, the Old Mill District hosts numerous events throughout the year. The Bend Brewfest is scheduled for the third weekend of August every summer, the Oregon WinterFest takes place every February, and Art in the High Desert brings in some of the country’s top artists each August. And don’t miss Bend’s famous Holiday Lights Paddle in December, a lighted kayak and canoe parade that runs up the Deschutes River through the Old Mill District.
