Like summer days, summer nights in Missoula have a way of stretching on, and a day spent exploring our rivers, trails and downtown streets is simply the beginning of the fun. Patios fill up, music spills into the streets and trails become sunset destinations. Time flies when you are having fun, and in Missoula that means taking the evening as it comes and enjoying all the city has to offer. Here’s how locals make the most of the long summer evenings in Missoula.
Missoula has no shortage of places to settle in for happy hour–-from patios to charming indoor bars and more, the only hard part is deciding where to go! Breweries are often a popular first stop in the evening, and with so many to choose from it is easy to see why. Delicious local pints taste better on patios anyways as you cheers to sweet summertime and the memorable evening to come. Trivia is also a popular pastime in Missoula, so be sure to check out the various locations for trivia during your visit. If you are looking for popular spots for happy hour for cocktails, appetizers, and more, here are some of our local favorites.
Plonk: Pair your happy hour with a seat on the patio at Plonk, where cocktails, wine and small plates make it easy to linger a little longer. Extend your happy hour into an upscale dinner and finish off with some seriously delicious desserts for a fine dining experience to savor.
Montgomery Distillery: Sample locally made spirits, enjoy seasonal handcrafted cocktails and settle into one of Missoula’s favorite spots for a refreshing drink.
The Camino: This daily happy hour features discounted margaritas, beers and ciders and upscale Mexican starters. Their homemade chips and salsa are always a solid choice.
Top Hat Lounge: A longtime downtown favorite, Top Hat offers a happy hour menu with discounted beverages and elevated pup fare. It’s the kind of place that happy hour can turn into dinner, and even into an after-dinner concert!
Old Post: Whether you settle in for happy hour in the exposed-brick dining room or on the patio, you’ll enjoy a wide selection of local craft beer, cocktails and apps and a relaxed neighborhood atmosphere.
Thomas Meaghar Bar: This traditional Irish pub and long-time Missoula hang includes a straightforward happy hour with discounted beer, wine and cocktails. In true Irish fashion, they have an impressive whisky selection, too.
Cranky Sam’s Public House: For a laid-back start to the night, grab a craft beer and a bite on the lively patio while enjoying appetizers, pizza, pub food and more.
With mountains rising in every direction, you don't have to go far to find a memorable sunset in Missoula. The sun sets late during the summer months in Missoula, with the sun staying high in the sky until way after 9pm near the summer solstice, providing over 15 hours of sunshine per day. Take an evening walk, climb to a favorite overlook or simply find a spot where you can watch the last light settle across the valley. Every spot in Missoula is scenic, but if you are looking for a great place to catch the last light from a particularly stunning vantage point, we have a few favorite spots that locals love.
Brennan’s Wave: Want your sunset with a little river action without having to leave downtown? Head to Brennan’s Wave to watch the light fade over the Clark Fork and the city. River surfers ride the manmade wave well into the evening in the summer months, and you can take in the action from the new ADA accessible river access points at Caras Park.
The M: For the classic Missoula sunset, make the climb to the iconic M overlooking the University of Montana and the city below. The short and steep hike climbs 620 vertical feet in 0.75 miles, and the view gets better and better with each switchback.
Waterworks: Located at the north end of downtown, Waterworks is a short and sweet hike with access to big views. Waterworks is an easy one to scale for an after-dinner sunset and make it down to the city in time for a night on the town.
Ogren Field: One of the best places to catch a sunset and a game at the same time is at Ogren Field, home the PaddleHeads baseball team. With panoramic views of the mountains and a lively atmosphere, it is no surprise why this is a beloved summertime tradition.
Barmeyer Trail: For those who want to put a little more effort into the view, Barmeyer Trail and Blue Mountain offer opportunities to get above the valley and watch the landscape change as evening settles in.
Not in the mood for a hike? Find a rooftop patio instead! Grab a table at FINN or 7R Rooftop Bar and kick back with a drink in hand as you watch the sun set over Missoula.
A perfect evening in Missoula would not be complete without a delicious dinner at one of the town's many eateries and dining establishments. From five-star finds including favorite dives and fine dining, there are options for all palettes. Missoula's dining scene makes it easy to match your dinner to the mood. You can go dressed up for a special evening, grab a legendary burger at a neighborhood institution or find something comfortably in between.
Missoula's dive bars are part of the city's personality and are wildly popular and beloved options for locals.
The Oxford: A Missoula institution, the Oxford is the kind of place where you can order a burger, play some video poker and find yourself surrounded by decades of local character.
Double Front Café: Go for the legendary fried chicken at Double Front Café, a no-frills Missoula favorite where a casual dinner is part of the experience.
M Club: For a true neighborhood-bar experience, pull up a seat at the M Club, where cold drinks, casual fare and a distinctly local atmosphere keep things low-key.
For those looking to be wined and dined, Missoula has a number of memorable fine dining options. Many of Missoula’s chefs are passionate about local and in-season ingredients, as is reflected in menus across town.
Brasserie Porte Rouge: Enjoy exceptional French-inspired cuisine featuring local ingredients, rotating seasonal menus and specials, paired wine courses and an exceptional ambiance.
1889: This classic steakhouse with a modern twist features locally sourced meats and specialty cocktails. The atmosphere is trendy. The vibe is comfortable. And the food is delicious.
Boxcar Bistro: Locally-sourced ingredients is the name of the game at this French-inspired, laid-back bistro. Their friendly staff and elevated menu makes for a great spot to experience Missoula's flavors and culinary breadth.
Florabella: Florabella is a contemporary Italian spot serving up elevated and classic pizza dishes, seriously good pasta, and other classics in an intimate setting. Choose from an impressive number of Italian wines to pair with your dinner, and don’t skip dessert!
Saketome: Upscale sushi, elevated Asian dishes and creative cocktails all meet at Saketome. This hotspot in downtown Missoula dishes out a great ambiance as well as excellent dining.
When the sun goes down over the mountains surrounding Missoula, the town is still alive with activity, music, dancing and good times for all. Downtown Missoula’s walkable layout makes it an excellent town for bar hopping and dancing, grabbing a couple relaxed beers over games of darts or pool, or watching the game on the big screen.
For dancing, the options range from country western to clubbing, Missoula has it all.
Monk’s Bar: Located underground, Monk’s is a nightclub, concert venue, bar and dance spot all in one, with live music nearly every night of the week and themed nights, too.
Sunrise Saloon: As Missoula’s only dedicated country-western concert venue and bar, Sunrise Saloon is a great place for dancing, including beginner-friendly line dancing classes, and live country music.
Union Club: A Missoula staple, the Union offers an eclectic mix of college-aged students and old-school locals who gather for beer, bar food and dancing to live music. Union also has pool tables and a large seating and dining area.
The Badlander: This lively bar is known as a go-to place for dancing, with a designated dance floor, plus pool and karaoke nights.
Top Hat: It has been mentioned already, but it bears repeating. After serving up delicious elevated pub fare throughout the day, Top Hat turns into a concert venue at night, including many free or low-cost shows perfect for dancing the night away.
For those looking for a place to play bar games like pool, shuffleboard or darts, Missoula has many options (including Union Club and The Badlander, which were already mentioned above).
The Rhino: A Missoula staple dive bar, the Rhino has shuffleboard tables, pool tables and an extensive tap list.
Charlie Bs: This no-frills dive bar features a pool table as well as keno machines.
Three in the Side: Missoula’s only designated pool hall, this downtown spot also has darts, arcade games and a full bar.
When in doubt, follow the music while enjoying an evening out in Missoula. Downtown Missoula is home to a wide array of music venues, ranging from the historic Wilma Theater, which regularly sells out headlining acts, to smaller clubs featuring local talents. Throughout the year, Caras Park in downtown Missoula along the Clark Fork River is home to a wide variety of events, ranging from brewfests and cultural events to symphony concerts and choral festivals.
In attrition to downtown’s venues, Missoula is home to an impressive amount of outdoor concert venues which play home to huge-named acts, music festivals and more. KettleHouse Amphitheater, located west of town along the historic Blackfoot River, regularly sells out shows and has a schedule that rivals many major cities’ concert calendars. The Western Montana Fairgrounds is the home of the two-day music festival, Zootown Fest, as well as the annual Western Montana Fair. Last but certainly not least, Washington-Grizzly Stadium transforms from the University of Montana’s football stadium into a 25,000+ person concert venue and has hosted huge headliners, like Pearl Jam, Luke Bryan, Post Malone and many more.
No matter how you spend your evening in Missoula, you are sure to find good food, good drink, good music and good times to be had all around. Remember to never drive under the influence and use Missoula’s free public bus transportation, ride share services and event shuttles to safely enjoy Missoula’s night life.
