Region

Southwest Montana

Butte, Bozeman, and the country between the mines and the Gallatin.

BozemanButteThree Forks

Still open in the Southwest Montana

Outdoors · Still Old School · Montana Original

Bridger Bowl

Local nonprofit hill since 1955. Affordable tickets, community board, and the blue light on the Baxter when it snows.

Bozeman · Est. 1955

Drink · Still Old School · Montana Original

Haufbrau House

Campus-corner dive since 1961. Carved tables, open mics, and the last of the old Barmuda Triangle energy.

Bozeman · Est. 1961

Stay · Still Old School · Montana Original

Hotel Finlen

A working Uptown hotel from 1924, still checking people in when chain lodging sits by the interstate.

Butte · Est. 1924

Eat · Still Old School

Matt's Place

Montana's early drive-in habit, still in the same building. Burgers, shakes, and a counter that came back.

Butte · Est. 1930

Drink · Still Old School · Montana Original

M&M Bar and Cafe

Butte's all-hours bar-and-cafe habit, still on Main Street after a fire that would have finished a weaker place.

Butte · Est. 1890

Stay · Still Old School · Montana Original

Sacajawea Hotel

Railroad hotel at the Missouri headwaters since 1910. White clapboard, front porch, and rooms that still book.

Three Forks · Est. 1910

See · Still Old School · Montana Original

The Ellen Theatre

A 1919 Main Street playhouse that Bozeman bought back from decline and put back to work.

Bozeman · Est. 1919

Eat · Still Old School · Montana Original

The Western Cafe

Counter breakfast on East Main since 1933. Scratch cooking, no laptop culture, chicken fried steak that regulars still order.

Bozeman · Est. 1933

Stories from the Southwest Montana

Then & Now

Then & Now: Butte's Bars and Counters That Came Back

Fire, closure, and reopen: M&M next door, Matt's Place back on Placer, and Pekin gone in 2026.

Butte