Entry No. 35 — the Bozeman file — filed under: speakeasy
est.1864 Noir Bar & Restaurant
On Bozeman's busiest stretch of Main Street, a concrete-and-metal staircase lit from beneath leads down to a basement room modeled on an 1860s saloon — the year Bozeman was founded. Behind the door at the bottom you'll find a long wood bar, antique fixtures, and ornate carpets, all themed around the city's frontier history. It runs late on weekends, staying open until well past midnight.
The story
Descend the under-lit concrete-and-metal staircase cut into Main Street's sidewalk, push open the basement door, and you're suddenly out of modern Bozeman. The room is modeled on an 1860s frontier saloon, taking its name from 1864—the year John Bozeman founded the town. Look closely at the logo on your menu: the 1864 script is directly traced from the handwriting of William Alderson on the original document that brought Bozeman into U.S. jurisdiction.
Inside, owners Allison Fasano and Blake Mackie put together a dimly lit interior with a long timber bar, antique fixtures, ornate carpets, and portraits of historic frontier figures lining the walls. There's a subtle local detail buried in the logo design, too: the number four is tinted red to mark Bozeman's 19th-century red-light district. In fact, right behind the building stands a historically preserved two-story brick brothel constructed in 1891 by Nelson Story Sr. and operated by Miss Kitty Warren.
While the decor nods to old Montana, the bar program and late-night menu pull a steady crowd long after the rest of Main Street's kitchens go dark. They shake up signature craft drinks like the smoky Highwayman and espresso-driven Cafe Noir, staying open past midnight on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
What it's like
Finding the entrance requires watching the sidewalk on East Main for the glowing subterranean stairs leading beneath street level. Once downstairs, expect low-lit amber vibes, heavy wood trim, and a bar room that fills up fast on weekend nights. If you want a late bite without fighting the prime-time dinner reservation crowd, aim for late-night happy hour on Thursday through Saturday when the kitchen runs until 1:30 AM.
The move: Descend the glowing basement staircase off Main Street and order frontier-era cocktails in the dim 1860s-saloon room.
- 📍 Bozeman
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 233 E Main St (basement level), Bozeman, MT 59715
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Stockman's Bar — Walk one block up Main Street to contrast 1864's dim, moody noir aesthetic with Stockman's revived western cowboy saloon.
- Tune Up Bar — Keep the underground drinking crawl going two blocks away in the former military band room tucked beneath the Kimpton Armory Hotel.
- Wild Wisdom Collective - The Underground — Visit another subterranean spot on Main Street to browse crystals and apothecary oddities before heading downstairs for cocktails.
- Master Psychic Kathleen Johns — Get a fortune reading on East Main Street before descending below the pavement for late-night frontier drinks.
Good to know
Where is est.1864 located and how do you enter?
It is in the basement at 233 East Main Street in downtown Bozeman. Access is via a subterranean concrete-and-metal staircase illuminated from beneath right on Main Street.
Why is the bar named 1864?
The name references 1864, the year John Bozeman founded the city. The typography in the logo is taken directly from founder William Alderson's handwriting on the original city jurisdiction document.
What are the hours for food and late-night drinks?
Dinner is served daily from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, and late-night happy hour runs Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights until 1:30 AM.
What is the story behind the red number four in the logo?
The red four references Bozeman's historic red-light district; directly behind the venue sits an 1891 brothel building built by Nelson Story Sr. and run by Miss Kitty Warren.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: bozemandailychronicle.com · est1864bozeman.com · opentable.com · downtownbozeman.org · bozemanmagazine.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-24