Travel guideHistorySightsNightlifeMap

Bozeman Nightlife, Montana

For those taking a fugitive glance through the car’s windows while driving along Bozeman MT streets, this mountain town may seem terribly quiet. But the vintage buildings in downtown Bozeman aren’t there just for the sake of atmosphere: they host numerous pubs, taverns, restaurants and clubs.

Bozeman Nightlife - College Bars, Clubs and Cafes

Due to it’s proximity to several major touristy attractions and, most of all, to its college town status (Montana State University main campus is located in Bozeman, with three other campuses in Billings, Havre and Great Falls), Bozeman nightlife can by far be considered a college-style nightlife. There are many locations where live contemporary music can be enjoyed, with Crystal Bar, 317 Pub (Irish pub), Rocking R Bar or the notorious Zebra Cocktail Lounge, being the most popular. There are also the three bars, all close to each other, that are the heart of college nightlife: Haufbrau Haus, The Molly Brown, and The Scoop. Those looking for a less noisy place and having the misfortune to visit during the academic year, might want to try the local beer varieties served fresh at the Bozeman Brewing Company's tap room.

A more cultural intrusion into Bozeman’s nightlife will probably start with a representation from Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, a local touring theater company which offers free admission in weekends or with the Equinox Theatre, frequently hosting experimental theatre representations, and will end in one of the animated coffee shops like The Leaf and Bean, Home Page Internet Cafe, Daily Coffee Bar, Wild Joe's Organic Coffee and Teahouse.

Bozeman Nightlife- Where to Eat

Restaurants offer a variety that can by far satisfy the most extravagant taste, from Asian (Dave's Sushi, Naked Noodle), Mexican (18 Miles to the Border, Garage the Soup Shack and Mesquite Grill, Casa Sanchez) American (Bacchus Pub, American Legion Club, Ted’s Montana Grill) to organic (Savory Olive, Emerson Grill). John Bozeman’s Bistro, Café Zydeco, Gallatin River Lodge, Nova Café are some of the most appreciated upscale restaurants, offering refined dishes accompanied by jazz or classical music. Most of the locals enumerated above can be found in downtown Bozeman, but the city suburbs don’t lack night activity either.

In case all these bars and restaurants are not to your liking, you can sit back and watch one of the movies playing at Gallatin Valley Mall. The majority of the American franchise dinners are present here, so the most reluctant tourist will easily spot a familiar and affordable family restaurant.

email to a friendAsk our travel experts a question about Bozeman