McMenamins Old St. Francis

There were some real highs and some lows. The soaking pool was awesome, and the theater looked rad. I liked the hidden little rooms and all the artful details. The front desk staff were super friendly, sweet, and helpful. The bar staff didn’t know much about the beers they served, and even though we were hotel guests, we got kicked out of the outdoor area when the inside bar closed. The worst part was the pub waitress, who was icy and unfriendly, acting annoyed with us the whole meal. It was weird and just super lame.

I helped a friend book a room here because we wanted to see if the hot tub and spa were high quality and worth a future trip. When it was time to pay, his bank had placed a hold on the room amount, so the payment didn’t go through at first, even though the bank had the funds available. He was polite and tried to explain, asking how we could sort it out. I assume the person was the owner, though it might have been the manager. He said, “at this point you have stayed at my hotel feloniously for two days And it’s Payment or Police!” My friend was scared he could go to jail just for staying at what we’d first thought was a nice hotel. It turned into a nightmare, with him afraid he’d be locked up alone. Luckily, we got the payment cleared through the bank, and the man calmed down as my friend checked out safely. Be very aware of this place. The treatment was unbelievably unkind.

Wish I’d come here the last few times I was in Bend. Parking can be a pain, so get here early. Take time to explore the property and look at the old building mixed with the McMinamin's touch, ideally with someone who’s interested in showing it to you. The rooms aren’t cheap, but you can sit by any of the several outdoor fireplaces. The soaking pool may not live up to hopes on a weekend. There are gig driver services around, and that’s how I got here from a cemerety.

The rooms look gorgeous, and the beds are soft and really comfortable. The soaking pool was a highlight too, with wonderfully warm water and a dreamy interior. Everyone on staff was friendly and attentive. This McMenamin's was fantastic.