Start Your Day with Coffee (or Tea)

Before you do anything else, grab a cuppa from one of Bozeman’s many coffee shops. Zocalo serves fantastic coffee with homemade syrups and whipped cream to top ‘em off. If you’re lucky enough to be around in the fall, they have one of the best pumpkin spice lattes around, made with real pumpkin.

There are several other great coffee shops to check out downtown, including Rockford, Roly-Poly, Wild Joe’s, and Treeline at the LARK. Not feeling coffee? You’re in luck: Steep Mountain Teahouse has a large assortment of teas, and even some specialty drinks!

Grab Brunch

After tending to your coffee needs, head to brunch. The Western Cafe is always busy, and for good reason: their Montana-themed decor is unmatched, and their food is fantastic and well-priced. With classics like eggs benedict and chicken fried steak and eggs, you can’t go wrong. Don’t leave without getting their famous “Bobcat” French toast, which uses a cinnamon roll as the bread.

Or, check out Cateye Cafe, and enjoy a cozy morning in their funky feline decorated space. They serve mimosas made of fun flavors (plus, they’re huge), and unique spins on classic dishes with creative names. For a seriously memorable meal, order the Kitty Cakes–pancakes shaped like a cat–and a side of the banana bread French toast.

Brigade has a great brunch in a more upscale setting. With a variety of classic drinks and creative cocktails, it’s a great spot for a celebration. Their fresh beignets are to die for, and their unique dishes–like bison short rib and bacon hash–are fun to try.

Downtown Bozeman is full of breakfast places. Other local favorites include Jam!, The Nova Café, and Main Street Overeasy.

Step Back in Time at the Gallatin History Museum

Learn all about Gallatin County’s fascinating past at the Gallatin History Museum. Located inside the old county jail house, you can actually go inside the old jail cells and lay on the bunk beds (if you dare). Check out the reconstructed log cabin, hanging gallows, legendary Big Horn Gun–plus so much more. Stop by the museum’s store on your way out, which sells numerous books on the area’s history. The museum is much bigger than it appears from the outside, so plan to spend about 1-2 hours exploring the different exhibits!

Make sure you download or print a PDF of their self-guided tour map of the downtown area. That way, you can learn about the history of the area while you walk around and shop!

Do Some Shopping

Walk off brunch by popping into the many shops lining Main Street! If you’re looking for Montana-inspired gifts, you’ll have a plethora of stores to choose from. Try Montana Gift Corral, The Montana Scene, or Montana Shirt Co. Everyone (and we mean everyone) loves Heyday, a boutique with a bit of everything.

Intrigue Ink is a unique store with handmade, screen printed items and women’s clothing, many of which have a western flair. For more women’s clothing, check out EVRGREEN Clothing, Jonah & Sage, Whiskey and Lace, or AshleyCole Boutique. And for men’s clothing, head to Meridian Men or REVOLVR. Head West has a great selection of western-themed clothing and accessories.

You’ll also find an array of bookstores and art galleries downtown. Check out Country Bookshelf for new books and other goods, and Isle of Books for a large selection of used ones. Pop into Altitude Gallery, Montana Trails Gallery, or a gallery inside the Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture.

And of course, it wouldn’t be Bozeman without several outdoor gear stores! Check out Bozeman Running Company for all your running needs, or Bangtail Bikes for anything cycling-related. Chalet Sports and Backcountry both sell and rent a variety of clothing and gear.