Explore Bozeman Montana with Our City Guide
/Welcome to Bozeman, Montana! Bozeman is a vibrant, outdoor-oriented city surrounded by majestic mountains and a plethora of outdoor activities. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast looking for a great destination for your next nature-filled adventure, or a city slicker looking for a great place to explore and experience the best of Montana, Bozeman is the place for you. This Bozeman Montana City Guide will provide you with all the information you need to get the most out of your visit to this wonderful city. From local attractions to the best restaurants, to outdoor activities and a bit of history, this guide will have you covered during your stay in Bozeman.
We just returned from our 10-day road trip to Yellowstone (blog post on the whole trip coming soon!!) The number 1 question I got was after planning lots and lots of different stops along the way from Cali, which was my absolute favorite place? I would definitely have to say it was Bozeman, MT. I really loved the cute hotel we stayed at called RSVP. This hip mountain towns food was AMAZING and a few of the restaurants were so much better than even expected and advertised. Everywhere we went seemed to be easily accessible with a quick drive and centrally located off the main road. Are you going to start planning a trip here soon? I’ll break down all my favorites for you, so all the hard work is done!!
#1 Where to Stay?
I always do plenty of research before we travel to find the perfect hotel that fits our needs. Although you may not spend tons of time in the room its so nice to try and find the comforts of home! I personally love a boutique style hotel that has character and charm! I found RSVP Motel of Bozeman long before this trip and had it pinned in my “Vacation Ideas” folder. So as soon as I knew we would be going to Yellowstone I booked it! Bozeman is a little over an hour outside of the North entrance of Yellowstone so it was an easy scenic drive to get to the famous park. The town being outside of the park a bit actually ended up being the perfect place for us to stay because parts of the park (especially lodging) happen to be closed in April. Bozeman was wide open and allowed us to see an amazing town we might not have otherwise if we would’ve chosen lodging in the park.
Back to the hotel. RSVP. Such a cute place to stay with a vintage Motel vibe but modernized! Every corner of the room had design and details that gave it so much character and charm. They offered lots of room goodies like beauty samples for example, and you know I’m all about that attention to detail! They have a coffee maker in each room, but if you need more they have the cutest coffee shop and restaurant called The Farmers Daughter. Its just darling inside and happens to be one of the top rated places to eat online. We didn’t get a chance to eat at their restaurant but the coffee was great and gave us that kickstart in the morning and the staff was so sweet and the place was always busy!
#2 Places To Eat
Bozeman, Montana is an amazing city to explore, boasting a vibrant downtown, unique eateries, and plenty of cultural activities. The main street area is home to a variety of restaurants, from upscale dining to casual pubs and coffee shops, so there’s something for everyone. Probably my favorite thing to do on vacation.. is EAT haha! If you’ve followed along on this trip through Instagram stories you sure did see a lot of food places! Let's break down our favorites, why we liked them and my recommendations on what you should order.
Black Bird Kitchen
SO DARN GOOD! Make a reservation because this small but adorable restaurant is a popular one!! It was packed all night long and I totally get why. We shared different antipasti , salad and tried the blackbird bread (which was delish). We split (dare we say) one of the best pizzas we have ever had. Scott read a review online before going and read that people were saying it was the best pizza they had ever had and even better then Italy. We laughed at that thought and told ourselves that they must not order pizza much. However… They may have been right! The pizza lived up to the hype and then some! BlackBirdKitchen.com
Western Cafe Of Bozeman
A classic that has been around seemingly forever in the heart of downtown and a must eat for breakfast. The scenery is so perfectly Western and gives you that cozy feel of being in a real mountain town. Scott got the Chicken Fried Steak and I got the Cinnamon Roll French Toast. Both are the top sellers and we soon learned why! Such big portions and so delicious make this place a must eat when in Bozeman! Western Cafe of Bozeman
Mint Cafe and Bar
A short drive to the next small town outside of Bozeman but you’ll get yourself a delicious steak and enjoy the quaint downtown of Belgrade. We both got steaks and Scotty being a good boy got asparagus while I got my favorite guilty pleasure.. the Fries! I wont ever regret getting them either because as good as the steaks were those fries were THE BEST of the entire trip!! Mint was totally worth the 20 min drive and highly recommend calling before you head from Bozeman to get on the waiting list because even in the middle of this small town in the middle of week the place was poppin! Mint Cafe & Bar
The Coffee Pot Bakery Cafe
This was located just up the street from the Bozeman Hot Springs and the cutest little place to start your day with breakfast or to have a delicious midday sandwiches. They make all their fresh pastries and are known for their cinnamon rolls (sadly we didn’t get one because they had sold out!) However the scone we shared was so delicious!! The Coffee Pot Bakery Cafe
Fink’s Deli
Right next to Wild Crumb you will find Fink’s. An adorable little place to grab a sandwich, soups, salads and cuts of meat and cheese. We grabbed a sandwich to share in Yellowstone and eat as we waited for Old Faithful to blow! It was SO good. The sauce was perfect and the meat and cheese were so fresh. Highly recommend for a quick sandwich grab when going to Yellowstone, planning a picnic or to enjoy at their location. Fink’s Deli
Roost Fried Chicken
If you are in the mood for fried chicken.. Look no further! They have every type of chicken and sauce you could ever want. We of course we tried a few different options on the menu and loved them all. My favorite was the classic chicken sandwich! Its a quick place to eat also if you are in a rush! Roost Fried Chicken
Wild Crumb
A great place to grab some pastries! I got banana nut bread, a cheese and ham croissant and blueberry scone for the day we drove to Yellowstone. They open early enough that it was perfect little stop to grab and eat on the road. Wild Crumb
Jam!
Trendy little place in downtown Bozeman only open for breakfast and lunch! Top of my list from what we ordered? The pancakes! They have tons of options and were so good! Side note, make a reservation as well. Even mid week breakfast the place was crowded. Jam On Main
#3 Things To do
Bozeman, Montana is a vibrant city full of outdoor activities and cultural attractions. Located in the beautiful Gallatin Valley, the city is surrounded by mountain ranges and is home to Montana State University. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend getaway or an extended stay, Bozeman has something for everyone. Here are some of the things we did during our stay.
Bozeman Hot Springs
Number 1 thing Scotty needs on vacation is a gym after all the good food that we eat. So, me being the planner I am, when I knew our hotel didn’t have one I had to find something to keep him happy! Luckily one of the top things to do was relax in the Hot Springs…but on the property they also had a gym! So, it was a perfect morning to go workout and then jump in the Hot Springs for relaxation all in one place.
Peet’s Hill/ Burkes Park
A beautiful view of the town and a great way to get outside and get some exercise. With beautiful mountains all around it's the ultimate place to take an afternoon walk especially if you brought your dog on this trip.
Drink’s at Montana Ale Works
We didn’t eat here so I can’t comment on the food.. even though it was highly popular on my search before our trip. It was super cute to just stop by and have a beer from their huge list!!
Bridger Creek Golf Course
If you are a golf fan then Bridger Creek is a perfect place to spend an afternoon. Gorgeous location that I enjoyed the nature of while Scotty got to play a round of golf.
Yellowstone
If you are staying in Bozeman to visit Yellowstone or just looking for something to do on a free day I highly recommend visiting the famous park. Scott and I saw everything we wanted in the Yellowstone Park in one day. We didn’t do too many hikes, but we researched and mapped out everything we wanted to see before so that we got the most out of our time and weren’t looking for things as we were driving. For outdoor enthusiasts this is a must do when in the area.
No matter what brings you to Bozeman, you’re sure to find something that fits your interests. Whether it’s exploring the city’s cultural attractions or enjoying the great outdoors, Bozeman has something for everyone.
We both really enjoyed our 4 days in Bozeman and I know you will too! The town offers lots more that you could add (especially for lovers of the outdoors) but these are the things we narrowed our days down to and truly enjoyed! Hope this Montana travel guide helps your planning.
Wishing you wonderful travels, Amanda
(for more on this trip in video form go to my Instagram stories under the YELLOWSTONE highlight and to shop these looks head to my liketoknow.it where everything is linked.)
