Kaci’s Helena Guidebook
Restaurants
A list of our favorites
Helena's best Italian fine dining. You'll need to call ahead for a reservation.
28 locals recommend
Lucca's
56 N Last Chance GulchHelena's best Italian fine dining. You'll need to call ahead for a reservation.
Popular breakfast spot, and a quick walk from Casa Bida (take a left out the door & turn right on Idaho, left on Prospect, walk 2 blocks & it's on the right before you get to Montana Ave).
Warning: it's very busy on weekends and they do not take reservations. Expect a bit of a wait.
15 locals recommend
Steve's Cafe
630 N Montana AvePopular breakfast spot, and a quick walk from Casa Bida (take a left out the door & turn right on Idaho, left on Prospect, walk 2 blocks & it's on the right before you get to Montana Ave).
Warning: it's very busy on weekends and they do not take reservations. Expect a bit of a wait.
Chicken & waffles and other yummy local fare. Great for breakfast or lunch!
9 locals recommend
Nosh Cafe
101 6th AveChicken & waffles and other yummy local fare. Great for breakfast or lunch!
Great place to go for a glass of wine and a cheese board, and you can buy a bottle to take back to Casa Bida with you! Their super knowledgeable staff will help you find the wine you want.
32 locals recommend
The Hawthorn Bottle Shop and Tasting Room
46 N Last Chance GulchGreat place to go for a glass of wine and a cheese board, and you can buy a bottle to take back to Casa Bida with you! Their super knowledgeable staff will help you find the wine you want.
Always busy at dinnertime. The hibachi grill can be fun, but if that's not your thing there is plenty of other seating available.
13 locals recommend
Nagoya | Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi
2790 Washington StAlways busy at dinnertime. The hibachi grill can be fun, but if that's not your thing there is plenty of other seating available.
A crowd-pleaser with something on the menu for almost everyone. Try the beer battered onion rings or mozzarella sticks!
Warning: often a wait at dinner time
Tip: you can request any of their salads as a wrap, which comes with a side.
We love their separate Downstairs restaurant as well. It's seat-yourself and has a better wine list than upstairs. Yummy flatbreads and salads.
15 locals recommend
Brewhouse Pub & Grille
939 Getchell StreetA crowd-pleaser with something on the menu for almost everyone. Try the beer battered onion rings or mozzarella sticks!
Warning: often a wait at dinner time
Tip: you can request any of their salads as a wrap, which comes with a side.
We love their separate Downstairs restaurant as well. It's seat-yourself and has a better wine list than upstairs. Yummy flatbreads and salads.
Delicious Mexican take-out. You can eat it at a picnic table outside, or you can bring your food back to Casa Bida with you!
Only open for lunch & unfortunately closed on weekends.
15 locals recommend
El Vaquero Taqueria
1338 11th AveDelicious Mexican take-out. You can eat it at a picnic table outside, or you can bring your food back to Casa Bida with you!
Only open for lunch & unfortunately closed on weekends.
Breweries
Helena's most established, and loved breweries. You can go next door for a slice of The Bridge pizza and eat it at the brewery. Go earlier in the day if you want to beat the crowds.
50 locals recommend
Blackfoot River Brewing Co
66 S Park AveHelena's most established, and loved breweries. You can go next door for a slice of The Bridge pizza and eat it at the brewery. Go earlier in the day if you want to beat the crowds.
Ten Mile Creek Brewery
48 N Last Chance GulchGreat location in the downtown Walking Mall.
A little farther away from Casa Bida than the other breweries, but great beer and modern atmosphere. They have trivia on Mondays at 6pm!
Snow Hop Brewery
685 Barney StA little farther away from Casa Bida than the other breweries, but great beer and modern atmosphere. They have trivia on Mondays at 6pm!
They are nearby and have a lot more space than the other breweries. They usually have live music on weekends, including a summer concert series.
18 locals recommend
Lewis & Clark Tap Room
1535 Dodge AveThey are nearby and have a lot more space than the other breweries. They usually have live music on weekends, including a summer concert series.
Activities
Broadwater Hot Springs & Fitness
4920 US-12A small museum where you can take a short trip through Montana's history. This is also where you can buy tickets for the Last Chance Tour Train. If this is your first time in Helena the tour train is a must-do activity. https://lctours.com/take-a-tour-aboard-helenas-last-chance-tour-train/
34 locals recommend
Montana Historical Society
225 N Roberts StA small museum where you can take a short trip through Montana's history. This is also where you can buy tickets for the Last Chance Tour Train. If this is your first time in Helena the tour train is a must-do activity. https://lctours.com/take-a-tour-aboard-helenas-last-chance-tour-train/
An awesome interactive science experience for kids (or anyone really) in the Great Northern Town Center. Also next door to the Carousel, which has ice cream! In June/July/August there is a lunch concert every Thursday: https://greatnortherntowncenter.com/businesses/out-to-lunch/
20 locals recommend
ExplorationWorks
995 Carousel WayAn awesome interactive science experience for kids (or anyone really) in the Great Northern Town Center. Also next door to the Carousel, which has ice cream! In June/July/August there is a lunch concert every Thursday: https://greatnortherntowncenter.com/businesses/out-to-lunch/
Outdoor playground for kids, climbing wall, dog park, and walking/cycling path. Nice place to take kids and dogs, or go for a walk or run.
6 locals recommend
Centennial Park
1200 N Last Chance GulchOutdoor playground for kids, climbing wall, dog park, and walking/cycling path. Nice place to take kids and dogs, or go for a walk or run.
Mount Helena
https://www.helenamt.com/hiking-helena-montana-trails/
Entertainment
They always have indie movies, and sometimes live music and plays. Named after famed Helena-born actress Myrna Loy, and located in the old Helena prison.
18 locals recommend
The Myrna Loy
15 N Ewing StThey always have indie movies, and sometimes live music and plays. Named after famed Helena-born actress Myrna Loy, and located in the old Helena prison.
You can usually catch a well-produced local production here. You'll want to book your tickets at least a few days ahead, especially if it's a well-known musical, as it's a small theater that sells out. https://grandstreettheatre.com/
16 locals recommend
Grandstreet Theatre
325 N Park AveYou can usually catch a well-produced local production here. You'll want to book your tickets at least a few days ahead, especially if it's a well-known musical, as it's a small theater that sells out. https://grandstreettheatre.com/
Holter Museum of Art
12 E Lawrence StCinemark Helena and XD
750 Great Northern Blvd