Staying at the Lark Hotel in Bozeman, MT

The Lark Hotel in Bozeman, Montana. A fun and funky little hotel in a fun and funky college town. A great last stop before our final destination of Bigfork, Montana.

Our travels out of Sioux Falls (with a brief pit stop at Wall Drug) lead us to Bozeman, Montana, our last overnight until we reach our final destination of Bigfork, MT. The ride is long-ish compared to our previous legs, but around 7:00pm, we pull into our home for the night, the Lark Hotel on Main Street. The Lark is a member of Columbia Hospitality Group, which manages about 20 or so unique properties throughout the Northwest, including the Salish Lodge and Spa in Snowqualmie, WA, which I have visited and stayed at many times. I have a good feeling about this.

Jack and Bob are ready to check into the Rialto Suite at the Lark Hotel in Bozeman, Montana.

There is a small snafu - our room is NOT one of the dog-friendly rooms, but we manage to work things out and all three of us will have a roof over our heads tonight. We check in to the Rialto Suite, a spacious, hip and ridiculously affordable room with a living area, small kitchen area, large bath and California king bed. The artwork and design is super cool but not over the top. Whoever designed this made it look inviting but did not spend a fortune and that is reflected in the room rates. All the rooms and public spaces have a similar look and feel - contemporary and communal. And there is a crackling fireplace outside with some benches for congregating.

Scenes from the reception area, communal spaces and Rialto Suite at the Lark Hotel.

After settling in, feeding Jack and taking him for a long walk around town, it is time for Bob and Ann to have something to eat. We are directed to the Blackbird Kitchen, about three blocks from our hotel. Solid plan. After a short walk, we arrive to a long and narrow dining space with a wood-fired oven at the end, and open kitchen concept. It is cool and comfortable, plus there is food and wine.

Blackbird Kitchen in Bozeman, MT offers wood-fired appetizers, pizzas and entrees, plus craft beer and wine by the bottle which one can take back to their funky hotel room, assuming there is any left over.

We had stopped and picked up a sandwich earlier and we are not starving, so we opt for a cheese assortment with Montana honeycomb for a drizzle, crostini from housemade whole wheat sourdough bread, and a rabbit liver pate (I know), house made pickles, arugula and some oven roasted local organic winter squash. It was a great combination and just right! There may or not have been a bottle of wine involved. Sitting at the bar, we were able to watch the kitchen staff make their amazing pizzas from homemade sourdough and ridiculously fresh toppings. If you are looking for a great craft beer and old world wine list with super fresh wood fired delicacies, then come here and you will not be dissapointed!!

The coffee shop at the Lark Hotel serves locally roasted Treeline Coffee. We took some beans home. It was amazing!

In the morning Bob takes Jack for a run to Montana State University's athletic fields while I head downstairs to the coffee shop at the Lark for one of the best lattes I have ever had. When Bob and Jack return from their run, Bob showers, we pack up, get another latte for the road and head out. Next stop is 4.5 hours away and our final destination - Bigfork, Montana.

The view of Main Street, Bozeman, Montana on a grey morning. It is a vibrant and bustling downtown scene! Stop in if you have the chance and be sure to stay at the Lark Hotel!