Located on the Northeastern corner of the beautiful Flathead Lake, Bigfork offers the natural beauty and relaxing ambiance that Montana is known for. And one of the best ways to fully enjoy the pleasures of the town’s natural beauty is by sampling one of its locally brewed craft beers while taking in the fresh lake air.
Luckily, Bigfork has several beautiful bars located both on the waterfront and within the town’s historic districts that serve a variety of local beer and liquor.
However, with so many local bars adding unique twists to their services, it can quickly become overwhelming to decide where to spend your next night out on the town.
To begin your exploration into the dynamic bar culture of America’s Treasure State, look no further than booking a table at one of the eight best bars in Bigfork, Montana.
The 8 Best Bars in Bigfork
1. Old Bridge Pub
Combining Bigfork’s small-town charms with traditional Italian style, the Old Bridge Pub is a fantastic bar for sampling many local beers over homemade Italian cuisine.
With 18 craft beers rotating on draught, Old Bridge Pub highlights many local breweries operating within the state.
For those less inclined to the flavorings of beer, Old Bridge Pub also includes many Montana-made ciders and seltzers in their inventory.
What to try
Old Bridge Pub is the best bar in Bigfork for tasting the local flavors of Montana Breweries over a dish of traditional homemade Italian foods. But, to best sample all of the flavors of Montana’s local beer culture, be sure to order their four x4 oz beer flights for only $8.
2. Tall Pine Lounge & Casino
Styled after an old western saloon, the Tall Pine Lounge and Casino combines cold beers, tasteful bar foods, and a selection of cocktails and retail wines with the historical charms of the good old-fashioned Montanan culture.
With nine high-def TVs featuring DirectTV NFL Sunday Ticket and ESPN Gameplan, Tall Pine Lounge’s bar is an excellent place for catching all of your favorite sporting events.
Alternatively, visitors to the bar can enjoy their locally brewed beers over a game of billiards, shuffleboard, and even the classic Golden Tee Golf arcade game.
Tall Pine Lounge also includes video keno, poker, and line game machines in their connected casino for patrons that want to try their luck at a game of chance.
What to try
Tall Pine Lounge features a wide selection of delicious bar foods and local craft beers guaranteed to satisfy any pallet. Enjoy the flavors of Bigfork over one of Tall Pine’s many bar and casino games.
3. Buffalo Saloon Casino Lodge
Buffalo Saloon Casino Lodge is the most distinct bar in Bigfork for its historical and cultural Montanan styles. The building the bar currently occupies was originally built in 1949 and served as the Swan River Schoolhouse on Hwy 83.
In 2009 the building was converted to the Montana Style Club and moved to its current location in the heart of Bigfork. For ten years, the old schoolhouse served as a local bar until new owners expanded the building’s operations in 2019.
Today, the Buffalo Saloon Casino Lodge offers a wide selection of local spirits and beers best enjoyed while watching your favorite sports teams on one of the ten big-screen TVs lining the bar area.
For extra excitement, visit the Buffalo Saloon during one of its event nights that feature live music, karaoke, and bingo every week.
And of course, the saloon has the added benefit of boasting on-site lodging so that you don’t have to worry about the drive home after your night out in Bigfork.
What to try
Check out The Grill, Buffalo Saloon Casino Lodge’s on-site restaurant, and the newest addition to its services. Serving delicious daily specials.
The Grill operates its happy hour from 2 pm to 3 pm and features $1 off beers, $1.50 of wine, and $2 off all appetizers.
4. Flathead Brewing Co and Pubhouse
First opened in 2004, the Flathead Brewing Co won two World Cup Beer Awards in its first two years of operations alone. In the two decades that have followed, Flathead Brewing has opened up their pub house that now features 16 delicious draughts brewed directly in-house.
And not only is their beer great, but their location is fantastic. Located directly on Flathead Lake, the pub house offers two floors of open-air decks that feature equally awe-inspiring views of the water and countryside.
When visiting the decks, be sure to admire the view while enjoying the venue’s delicious selection of bar foods and any one of Flathead Brewing’s 16 craft beers. And if you are not a fan of beer, don’t worry. The pub house includes a full liquor bar and cocktail menu
carefully designed to match your meal pallet while engaging local distilleries and fresh ingredients.
What to try
Try the Brewer’s Sour Series when visiting Flathead Brewing Co and Pubhouse. The series is a line of sour beers that have won 9 local and national beer awards.
Also, check the pub houses’ event schedule before visiting for the dates of the venue’s monthly comedy nights and other specialty shows.
5. The Raven
Residing directly on the Bigfork waterfront, The Raven is a beautiful bar that offers awe-inspiring views of Flathead Lake. With indoor and outdoor dining on two waterfront decks, The Raven features a Caribbean-styled design reflected in all of its services.
The bar kitchen is well-staffed and includes many local foods on the menu, but with an added international flare. Similarly, The Raven focuses on offering local craft beers, but they also feature many fun specialty cocktails.
While the waterfront decks offer beautiful dining areas to enjoy a drink and a dip in the lake throughout the summer, the heated decks maintain their functionality for year-round use.
Check out The Raven’s event schedule for any upcoming live music performances and other special events.
What to try
The international influences of the local cuisines are best sampled with one of The Raven’s specialty cocktails made from the finest liquors of the local Whistling Andy Distillery.
6. Kelly’s Casino & Bar
As a self-proclaimed “classy dive bar,” Kelly’s Casino and Bar is located on Bigfork’s historical electrical avenue.
Kelly’s is an excellent location for sampling the history and culture of Bigfork’s local craft beer scene while offering many fun-filled activities throughout the week.
There is always some entertainment in Kelly’s, with several bingo, trivia, and poker nights occurring every week. On the weekends, Kelly’s invites a variety of well-known local live music performances to entertain their guests.
Overall, Kelly’s Casino is the best bar in Bigfork for sampling the local beer while trying your hand with some of the best Poker players to be found in the town.
What to try
While the bar hosts weekly bingo and trivia nights, what truly sets it apart as one of the best bars in Bigfork is its frequent Poker Nights.
Inviting those who prefer games of risk to their bar, Kelly’s Poker Night runs every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday throughout the Winter, with Thursday being added to the lineup throughout the summer.
7. Garden Bar and Grill
The Garden Bar and Grill is an excellent example of a local Montanan Bar located directly in downtown Bigfork. It offers a variety of local microbrews rotating on a 20-tap long draught and all of the traditional bar foods you would expect to find.
The Garden Bar includes several bar games available to entertain its patrons. From billiards and pinball to gambling machines offering a line of casino games, the Garden Bar and Grill always offers its guests a good time.
However, the experience the Garden Bar and Grill provides reaches new heights in the summer. As the weather warms up, the bar opens its large backyard patio, where patrons can enjoy complete bar services and the beautiful summer weather.
What to try
The Garden Bar and Grill feature live music and other special events on their beautiful backyard patio throughout the summer. It is the perfect place for a night out to enjoy great drinks, dancing, and fresh Montana air.
8. Growlers Bar and Casino
Located in Bigfork’s only bowling alley, Growlers Bar and Casino features many fun games and activities for its guests.
From bowling a round at Grizzly Lanes to playing games at the family-friendly arcade, there is always a good time to be had at Growlers.
The bar itself is a great place to socialize between rounds, with a wide selection of local beers and American foods to satisfy your pallet.
For adult-only fun, head on over to the Growlers Casino, where they offer a range of video casino games and its own full-service bar.
What to try
The Growler Nachos are best enjoyed over a round of bowling. But if visiting for dinner, be sure to try the Growler’s 8 0z. chuck and brisket burgers served on Wheat Montana Brioche Buns.