BoZone’s Best of Bozeman Are (Mostly) Campus Hits

Every year, “BoZone” — an online hub for various Bozeman events — releases a list celebrating places around town as the best for that year as voted on by the public in an online poll. From restaurants and coffee shops to tattoo parlors and breweries, there's a best-of award for any category you could think of. This week, I set out to explore the award-winning places most relevant to college students to see if the best of Bozeman would be the best for college students. 

The first award winner I checked out was the one I felt was most relevant to a college community — the best coffeehouse. Wild Joe’s Coffee Spot was the winner of BoZone’s Best-of 2023 Coffeehouse; from the minute you walk in, you can tell why. Located right on Main Street, Wild Joe’s space is filled with long tables, comfy chairs and loveseats. Artwork for sale by local artists hung on the walls, and quiet music played from speakers on the high ceilings overhead. 

From a college student's perspective, I could immediately see the appeal. There were plenty of open seats and power outlets available, which can be hard to find in a lot of places. There was no loud music making it hard to concentrate and the productive energy was fed by the tables of scattered people reading and getting work done. I was curious, however, if other students would feel the same way. 

Isabella Patterson, a senior psychology major, spoke to me about her take on Wild Joe's being voted the best coffeehouse in Bozeman. “It has more tables than most places downtown which is nice, and it's a good environment to study,” she said.  

However, she didn’t feel like it was the absolute best for MSU students. “I think [Beacon Coffee Roasters] is the best location-wise, but it’s always busy,” she said.  It’s true — Beacon is located right across the street from Langford Hall. In contrast, Wild Joe’s is about a mile from campus, which makes it a bit harder to access for students walking from campus. It may have been voted the best coffeehouse in Bozeman, but maybe it’s not the best for MSU students who prioritize time and distance when looking for somewhere to study.

Next up, I explored a place of equal or perhaps greater importance to a college community. The award for Best Sports Bar of 2023 went to Spectators Bar and Grill, and MSU students certainly agreed.

According to senior photography major Max McDonough, “In town, it’s got the best energy, especially on game days being so close lends to it being such a good spot for campus students to go.”

Located just off campus, Spectators is perfect for students of drinking age looking for a place to go on any kind of game day. Decked out with old football jerseys and pictures of MSU sports over the decades, it is clear this bar is a home for Bobcat fans. 

“It might not be a party bar, but it's the best for relaxing with friends and watching a game,” McDonough commented. 

When I went to Spectators for myself, I experienced the same thing. Watch a big game at Spectators and you’ll see why it came away as 2023’s Best Bozeman Sports Bar and why students at MSU agree.

The last stop on my tour was the double winner of BoZone’s 2023 Best Sandwich and Best Lunch. Tucked away inside a bakery on the northwest side of town is Fink’s Delicatessen, and after only one trip — and the best pastrami sandwich I’ve ever had — I was convinced that there could be no better in Bozeman. However, it’s not exactly close to campus and I wondered if this would affect what MSU students thought of it. 

Senior business major Henrik Ernst was unfazed by the distance, and completely agreed with Fink’s ranking. “If you said bring me to the best sandwich shop in town, I would bring you to Fink’s Deli,” Ernst said. “I think the only drawback is that you have to drive there, but every time I go it’s amazing and it's worth every part of the journey.”

Ernst echoed my feelings exactly. It’s a small shop, and nearly invisible from the road, but for all the great sandwiches I’ve had in Bozeman, nothing has topped what Fink’s has to offer. For any student willing to make the trek, they can be assured it is well worth the effort. 

It seems, for the most part, MSU students agree with the rankings of Bozeman's Best. Some spots may not be the most accessible for students, but for me, each place I visited was hands down deserving of its best-of title. I urge all students of MSU to go check out the best and see for themselves.