Best Breweries and Bars in Whitefish, Montana (2026)
Whitefish's best breweries and bars ranked by style — from live music venues to craft distilleries near Glacier National Park gateway.
Whitefish is 28 miles from Glacier National Park West Entrance—and the 6 best breweries and bars here are perfect for winding down after a day on Going-to-the-Sun Road. From dog-friendly beer gardens to award-winning craft distilleries, Whitefish's brewery scene punches above its weight for a gateway town.
- 6 best breweries and bars
- 28 mi from Glacier West Entrance
- 35 min drive time
- 15 craft breweries within 30 miles
Bonsai Brewing Project — Downtown · Wisconsin Ave
Best overall
Whitefish's best overall brewery — live music nearly daily, a dog-friendly beer garden, and rotating IPAs among the best in northwest Montana.
- Specializes in small-batch IPAs, sours, and seasonal brews with 10+ taps rotating throughout the year
- Dog-friendly outdoor beer garden and full kitchen with house-made burgers, sandwiches, and hot dogs
- Open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 8 PM
- Live music typically starts around 6 PM on Friday evenings with outdoor seating filling fast in summer
Locals pack the outdoor beer garden all summer. Bonsai is the most beloved brewery in Whitefish and the top pick for a whitefish montana brewery experience.
Spotted Bear Spirits — Downtown · Railway Street
Best cocktailsThree-time Best Cocktails winner with award-winning huckleberry spirits — craft distillery experience unique to this corner of Montana.
- Small-batch vodka, gin, and whiskey using Montana-grown grains and botanicals
- Signature cocktails include huckleberry margaritas, huckleberry mules, and a salt-and-pepper martini
- Located at 503 Railway St across from Depot Park — 5-minute walk from Central Ave
- Mon-Thu 4-8 PM, Fri-Sat 2-8 PM, Sun 4-8 PM
Spotted Bear distills three-time award-winning spirits using distinctly Montana ingredients — an experience unique to this corner of the country.
Montana Tap House — Downtown · Wisconsin Ave
Most tapsThe widest draft selection in Whitefish — 58 taps with 50 beers, heavily focused on Montana craft breweries.
- Dedicates most of 58 taps to local and regional craft breweries unique to the Flathead Valley
- Ideal for beer hunters wanting to explore Montana brewing — varieties you won't find on tap anywhere outside the region
- Indoor and outdoor seating with pub fare including burgers, wings, and flatbreads
- Open daily 11 AM-10 PM at 845 Wisconsin Ave — about 10 minutes on foot from downtown
For those seeking breweries in whitefish mt, Montana Tap House is essential — 50 Montana craft beers at a venue focused entirely on regional breweries.
Blackstar Brewery and Restaurant — Downtown · Central Avenue
Best brewpubMost convenient brewery for downtown visitors — on Central Avenue with solid house-brewed beer and a full food menu including wood-fired pizza.
- Brews Jeremiah Johnson-brand beers on-site using locally sourced barley malt from Montana
- Menu centers on pizza, salads, burgers, and sandwiches
- Located at 2 Central Ave — the most centrally located brewery in Whitefish, walkable from most downtown hotels
- Mon-Sat noon-9 PM, Sun 11 AM-9 PM
Blackstar offers the most convenient brewery experience for downtown visitors — walkable from most hotels and featuring house-brewed beer with a full food menu.
Great Northern Bar and Grill — Downtown · Central Avenue
Best live musicWhitefish's longest-running nightlife institution — open until 2 AM daily with live music Thursday through Saturday year-round.
- Open until 2 AM daily — the only true late-night venue in downtown Whitefish
- Live bands from bluegrass to rock on Thursday through Saturday year-round, with near-nightly entertainment in summer
- Pool tables, burgers off the grill, and an outdoor patio
- Located at 27 Central Ave — the downtown anchor since 1919
For the best bar in whitefish with live entertainment, Great Northern has been the downtown anchor since 1919. Summer brings near-nightly entertainment and crowds that stay late.
Backslope Brewing — Columbia Falls · 15 min away
Best nearby pickThe highest-rated brewery in the Glacier gateway corridor — 15 minutes from Whitefish and 10 minutes from the west entrance. A natural post-hike stop.
- Located in Columbia Falls — the last town before Glacier National Park, 10 miles from the west entrance
- 4 core beers plus 4-8 rotating taps with kombucha and cold brew on nitro
- Full kitchen makes it more restaurant than bar, with 12+ total taps
- Open Tue-Sat 11 AM-8 PM — closed Sunday and Monday
Backslope is the highest-rated brewery in the Glacier gateway and a natural post-hike reward. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 AM-8 PM.
Common Questions
What is the best brewery in Whitefish, Montana?
Bonsai Brewing Project at 549 Wisconsin Ave is the top-rated brewery in Whitefish. It offers 10+ rotating taps, a dog-friendly beer garden, live music nearly every day, and a full kitchen. Open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 8 PM.
Are there bars open late in Whitefish?
Great Northern Bar and Grill at 27 Central Ave is open daily until 2 AM — the only true late-night venue in downtown Whitefish. Montana Tap House closes at 10 PM. Most breweries close between 8 and 9 PM.
Is there live music in Whitefish?
Yes. Great Northern Bar features live bands Thursday through Saturday year-round, with additional shows in summer. Bonsai Brewing also hosts live music almost daily. Check greatnorthernbar.com/music-and-specials for the current schedule.
Is Backslope Brewing worth visiting from Whitefish?
Yes — Backslope Brewing in Columbia Falls is 15 minutes from Whitefish and 10 minutes from Glacier West Entrance. It is the highest-rated brewery in the Glacier gateway corridor. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 AM-8 PM.
Sources & Further Reading
- Bonsai Brewing Project — Bonsai Brewing
- Spotted Bear Spirits — Spotted Bear Spirits
- Montana Tap House — Montana Tap House
- Blackstar Brewery and Restaurant — Blackstar
- Great Northern Bar and Grill — Great Northern Bar
- Backslope Brewing — Backslope Brewing
- Montana Brewers Association — Montana Brewers Association
- Visit Montana — Visit Montana
- Glacier Country Tourism — Glacier Country
