8 Best Restaurants in Kalispell, Missoula, and Northwest Montana, Montana

Shakes come in one size—large—at Big Dipper, where folks line up for homemade ice cream in flavors like cardamom, green tea, huckleberry, maple walnut, and Mexican chocolate. In the summer, the line can extend around the block. There are locations in Helena and Billings, too.

One of a very few local breweries that is all about lagers rather than ales, the Bayern Brewery offers a dozen craft beers in its German-style brewery's tasting room. The Edelweiss Bistro upstairs serves good German staples, including excellent sausages and schnitzels. Try the bratwurst and sauerkraut or the käsespätzle. Beer options include Schwarzbier and St. Wilbur Weizen, as well as seasonal specials such as Dopplebock, Groomer, or Face Plant during ski season, and Dump Truck Summer Bock when the weather's warm. Brewery tours are available by appointment.

Come here for the best bread and soup in the valley. The café's baked goods, including fresh croissants, baguettes, and scones, will entice you in, but it's worth your while to stay for breakfast or lunch—the Reuben sandwiches are sublime, and any one of the salads makes a great lunch. Local artwork adds a warm touch.

This little bakehouse makes delicious croissants, scones, brioches, canneles, and other sweet baked treats. It also serves the best coffee in town. In addition to pastry, this longtime bakery sells artisan breads (baguettes, ciabatta, rosemary foccaccia, and New York rye), gourmet mustards, salts, vinegars, and olive oils.

The Rocky Mountains might be a strange place for an artisan coffee bar, but this spot has been roasting its own beans south of Whitefish for decades. Fresh coffee, pastries, and homemade gelato are favorites at this popular downtown hangout. Stop in to enjoy a cuppa joe and browse the hand-painted furniture, gifts, local artworks, and bulk coffees and teas that line the brick walls. Sister cafes are in Columbia Falls and Kalispell. Tours at the roastery are given on Tuesday mornings.

This simple eatery is a local favorite and a great place to stop for breakfast or lunch as you travel the width and breadth of the Mission Valley. Ask for a warmed-up homemade cinnamon bun while you wait for your "farmer's breakfast" of eggs, bacon, and homemade bread. Try some combo of the many soups, sandwiches, and salads for a satisfying mid-day meal. 

For a quick bite to eat, this local favorite offers a variety of tasty burritos and tacos inspired by similar shops in San Francisco's Mission District. Try the Mission Supreme with your choice of baked cod, pulled pork, or carne asada. Though now a small chain, the restaurants started in Missoula, where there are four locations, but can now be found all over Montana. Each one has a different vibe, with local, funky art, and cool music.

Floorboards creak beneath your feet as you explore this old-fashioned market, opened in the 1880s as Missoula's first grocery store and spilling over with deli delicacies today. With 150 cheeses to choose from, the sandwich possibilities are endless; have them pile on Black Forest ham and horseradish for a creation that will get you down the trail. There's an impressive selection of specialty groceries, along with imported beer, microbrews, and an outstanding selection of wine, plus a knowledgeable and friendly staff to help you make the best selections. There's limited seating both inside and outside.