Brownies Hostel & Bakery

If you have the right mindset, you'll be very happy to stay here. It's a rustic, 115-year old hostel on the edge of Glacier National Park and very affordable. You'll wash your own dishes and share washroom facilities with other guests. The floors are creaky and the walls are thin. We had a fun experience.

Only was in town for a day but Brownies was a great place to stay for the day/night. The room we stayed in was rustic as well as the whole building for that matter. It’s nothing fancy but gives you a nice place to stay and the service was great. We had clean sheets, a clean room, and most importantly the bathrooms, kitchen, and everything else was clean and stocked. Fairly expensive, but the bakery had a variety of yummy treats. The employees were strictly business but professional. My girlfriend and I met a lot of travelers from all over the world. I would for sure stay here again and highly recommend to others.

Hostel - 2/5. The place needs serious updating. We stayed for 4 nights, and it was a rough 4 nights. The bed is the single most uncomfortable thing I have ever slept on. 1 pillow and a mattress/box spring that were so bouncy, it was unreal. The bathrooms were okay despite the stall in the men's room being smaller than a phone booth. My knees almost hit the door. The showers were alright, albeit needing serious TLC from an updating perspective. The rooms are ridiculously small, which is fine, but leave very little room to move around. They have fans in the room, which were a huge help. The Staff - nothing much to say here. They were not rude, and they were not super friendly. Just very transactional in every interaction. Bakery - 5/5. The food in the bakery portion was top notch. Good desserts, breakfast sandwiches were decent, and the deli sandwiches were very good. I can see why the bakery stays so busy. Overall - I gave this a 4 out of 5, would have done 3.5 if I could. My advice would be to keep killing it on the bakery side, but the hostel portion needs work. Update your beds, amenities, and charge a bit more money, and this place would be great. If you need this place for one overnight, and you are exhausted, then it works,  Thats about all I can say.

Was driving by. Stopped for coffee. Tried huckleberry milkshake here. It was so good. Very amicable staff. Looks like a family owned business. Restrooms available for customers. Right opposite the Amtrak station.

I can only speak to the sandwiches and breakfast sandwiches. They were delicious and I went here all 3 days of my stay in East Glacier. I loved it so much I bought a sweatshirt. Highly recommend the peanut butter, huckleberry, and banana kids sandwich for adults of all ages. Also a shout out the Sharpie the dog and Brownie (unofficial name) who is also a dog.

Great location outside the Eastern side of Glacier National Park.During my stay across the road in a cabin, so convenient to walk over for coffee and breakfast sandwiches. After long hikes, so easy to get a pizza or sandwich. Staff very friendly.

Loved the deli wraps and bakery sweets. The girls behind the counter were working hard to help customers. I gave this store a 4 star only because the drink section was practically empty.

I’m reviewing the restaurant only with this post. The pizza was on the thinnest cracker crust and I wasn’t a huge fan but it was edible. The s’mores cookie was really good but the huckleberry bear claw didn’t have much flavor or filling. The sandwich was fine, nothing special. The workers were really nice. The location for us was convenient and when we needed it. The toilet had no toilet paper or paper towels though.

Great Bakery items with an amazing staff. Fun atmosphere and nice outdoor seating area.

Stayed here for a week, had to move rooms twice because rooms were full. Stayed in 4-dorm private room, queen room, and single room (which had two single beds). The 4-dorm private room's beds were really short, couldn't sit up. Each bed had an outlet which was nice. Rooms were a bit stuffy, not enough light, the latter two rooms only had one hook to hang towels / clothes although staff was quick to fix the first one when we asked. Bathrooms were pretty clean but small, knees hit the wall when sitting down, showers felt cramped. Walls were thin, could hear others laughing. Kitchen didn't have basic amenities like oil and salt, pots and pans were really old and sticky, knives weren't powerful. Couches in common room were really squishy and not clean. Lots of people coming in and out throughout the week so met quite a few people. It was mostly a quiet place, so that's good for sleeping. Wifi was pretty good but probably not good enough to video chat. Location is a bit far from the main part of Glacier, not too far from Two Medicine but far from Going to the Sun Road and Many Glacier.

Great place to crash after Glacier backpacking. The bakery below the hostel is fantastic!

Stopped here for coffee before our big hike. The place was unorganized and barely had anything on the shelves. Looked like it was going out of business but in fairness it was getting close to the end of the season. Normally I would have gotten an almond milk latte but opted for the drip coffee to be on the safe side since I was about to do a long hike. They were serving Montana coffee traders medium drip which is one of my favorites. The did have a container of whole milk for a creamer. I did hear the pastries were homemade but nothing was gluten free.

A general store with rather underwhelming food and coffee. I ordered a latte and received something that tasted like drip coffee (maybe with creamer?). I also ordered a burrito with potatoes, sausage, and chorizo, but I'm pretty sure they ended up giving me one with just potatoes :( The bear paw pastry looked a lot better before it was placed in a paper bag. It was just ok. It was filled with huckleberry flavored cream cheese which tasted decent, but the rest of the pastry didn't taste very fresh.

Brownies was exceptional with making all the pies and pastries for my 3 day wedding weekend. They went above and beyond and had what was supposed to be ready, when it was supposed to be ready. We had a lot of stress that weekend, but the pastries and pies and rolls were the easiest part. Thank you!!

My God! Some othe best baked goods I've ever had as well as some great sandwiches . The PERFECT amount of sweetness! Great selection and great employees.

Delicious flakey pastries, friendly service and you'll leave with a smile on your face. Just go to Brownies and save yourself from the disappointment the others serve.

Been here twice on my trip. Staff is super friendly but expect a line to order and there is limited outdoor seating. Last night we had their pizza - really good, huckleberry pie (yum!) and local ice cream (generous scoops). Bakery items made fresh daily. Please note they are closed mid-day (We originally came at 2 o'clock and they were closed until 230) This morning Arrived at 7:45 for coffee to find they don't open till eight. Coffee menu includes espresso but no coconut milk for allergies. All of the breakfast sandwiches and burritos are premade so you can't modify them (I would have liked to add some veggies to mine). Got the egg sandwich on the largest English muffin I have ever seen. Cappuccino worth the wait.

Confession: I've never stayed in a hostel before. But when I found Brownies on Yelp while planning our trip to Glacier National Park I couldn't resist its cuteness, charm, and the sense of adventure of staying someplace other than a hotel (or campground). Brownies was just what I expected! Is it fancy? No. Is it grand? No. Is the wi-fi a little slow? Yes. But these are the things I found most charming. Its quirkiness, smallness, and throwback vibe were just perfect. And it's clean...sparkling clean! Our room was small, but efficient, and there were plenty of bathrooms to share. While we didn't prepare our own food in their large, well-appointed community kitchen, we did meet several folks there who were passing through on hiking and various other adventures. And the (delicious and huge!) pizza we ordered from downstairs was a great late-night snack which we eagerly shared with other guests. Brownies was one of the better values on our road trip, and I would happily stay there again on another trip to Glacier. It would be fun to come back in the fall and meet some PCT thru-hikers!

The sandwiches are soooo good! Fresh baked bread. And wonderful service my first thought was to keep this as a well kept secret but had to share.

As a life member of Hostelling International, I've had the opportunity to visit some great places around the U.S. and Canada. While some hostels are just that, there are others that are often historic hotels that also provide bunk beds/dorm-like accommodates, and then a few others that are way more than "just" hostels. Brownies fits into that third category. It's a hostel which has dorm-style accommodations for budget travelers, but also private rooms. It has all the great things I've come to associate with HI locations: travelers from around the world, a nice kitchen, Wi-Fi (desperately needed in a rural area where getting cell coverage can be a joyous occasion), clean bathrooms, and comfy blankets. Further, they have a nice bakery and food area on the first floor, which also doubles as the hostel registration area. By food, I mean made-to-order sandwiches, pizza, breakfast burritos, and a surprisingly good bakery. TRY THE HUCKLEBERRY PIE! One pro-tip: the bathrooms are a pain if you are over 5'5". You might have to actually angle yourself on the commode to accommodate your legs so they don't hit the awkwardly-placed sink :)

Soy latte ($3.50 + $0.50 soy) - 4.5 stars Didn't expect Glacier to have such good coffee! Bitter but not tannic and the soy was frothed well. Delicious!

I stayed for a night at Brownies in a private room and thought the experience was pleasant! It's definitely a hostel, so we weren't expecting anything special. It's pretty interesting staying above a cafe - there is always something to eat. As far as the food, it's decent!! During our stay, we got a veggie wrap for dinner, and 90% of the veggie wrap was good. Do not get the avocado added - it was incredibly crunchy and unripe. We also got the egg and sausage breakfast sandwich, which almost reminded me of a McDonald's egg McMuffin, in a good way! I would also highly recommend the huckleberry ice cream. The flavor is more subtle than some other fruit flavors but super delicious.

I'm working in East Glacier Park Village for the season needed a place for one night. Brownies was at the top of the list I received. For not being officially open for the season it's a busy little place. The bakery wasn't open yet but I look forward to coming back. Terry the owner was very accommodating, quaint and clean great prices and a great spot to meet folks from all over. I'll recommend and definitely stay here again.

Interesting hostel. This is an OLD (probably historic) building, with a grocery store on the first floor. Up the creaky stairs is the hostel. This hostel is a little different in that I am guessing it used to be a boarding house and all the rooms are private, i think. Once you are upstairs, there is a narrow hallway, and the doors to each room are reached by walking down this hallway. Two single beds in most rooms, as far as I could tell. You are staying here because you have come to visit Glacier Park, which is absolutely amazing. SO, no one stays in the hostel all day, so it may not bother you that the walls are 'historic' in that they are only the slats of wood, no sheetrock, no insulation, no soundproofing. We could hear every word and breath of our neighbors, and the floor hallway floor creaks with every footstep. STILL this place does have character and its dirt cheap. As always, with every hostel, take your ear plugs, and warm clothes as it can be rather chilly. Must see: Road to the Sun road - 8th wonder of the world. If you're hiking, for heaven's sake don't forget your bear bells (attach bells to your shoes) and take bear spray, and make lots of noise when you hike.

Didn't stay at the hostel but used the showers and restrooms. Worth the price and very clean! Also had breakfast there and ice cream. Everything was delicious, clean, and decently priced for a tourist town.

We stopped by a number of mornings for breakfast and to get sandwiches for hiking lunch. Nice little grocery store for the bare minimum. -Breakfast burrito: bland, lots of potatoes, slightly crispy tortilla -Breakfast sandwich: typical English Muffin breakfast sandwich, nothing special -Brownie: big, fudgy, quite tasty -Cream Cheese Brownie: big, dry, not as good as it looked -Turkey sandwich: fine sandwich, nothing surprising.

Nice, nicely done. I only went for the desserts so, i can't say much for the hostel but, it can't be much worse than the crowded cabins across the street. The brownies were amazing and they heat it up for you on request, i wish i could have taken some home with me. The ice cream was good, it was also frozen solid. It took the guy a good 30 seconds to scrape a sample out of the pot, which you won't complain after you get a generous portion of it. After i exclaimed about the size, the server told me, "Hey, what can i do?". After the ice cream melted you could taste the deliciousness within. Great place out in the middle of nowhere, i hope it survives the test of time.

A great little spot in the perfect location if you're coming from East Glacier Village into the park. They don't have a great assortment of groceries, but we really liked the sandwich deal. It's $7.50 for a sandwich and chips or a banana. The sandwiches are perfect to pack in a cooler for a day in the park! We will be returning here before we hike in coming days!

You know those things that always remain in your memory from vacations? The ice cream I got at this place will always be one of those things! I had never had huckleberry ice cream before and boy was it a treat!!! Huckleberry ice cream in a sugar cone...the taste of Montana that I will crave until I return! If you're in the area, make sure to stop & get one, it's oh so good!!

Kickass, super cozy hostel with a fantastic little cafe/general store with anything you would need for the road/hiking. My 2 friends and I paid 70$ for a 3 bed family room to ourselves (brilliant) and enjoyed the fresh house made pizza after spending a couple nights camping in Glacier. Linens were fresh and super comfy, the lavatories/showers were clean and obviously maintained, which made for a great nights sleep. Environment is wood cabin-esque (did I mention cozy?) which was honestly very enjoyable in the snowy setting. If you need some yummy food and rest on a budget, this place is perfect.

You get to sleep above the delicious smells of a bakery. Aka, I can relax with a coffee, a huckleberry cake, and breakfast burrito while enjoying a view of the mountains and roaming cattle. AND I can do it all in my pj's! What more do you need???

We stayed here for two nights. It's an affordable place to stay if you don't mind sharing a bathroom/shower with other people. I like that this place is open at 6:30 in the morning and have breakfast ready to go. The quality of the breakfast burrito and breakfast egg muffins are not great. But if you're looking for a quick bite before heading out for a long hike, it's ok. The wifi was not great because they have limited bandwidth.

The baked goods are to die for! The delicious aromas wafting out of this place was what drew us in. The heavenly quality of the bakery items had us returning the next day as well. The ice cream was also superb. This is a quaint business in a tiny, tiny town. We were only stopping through, but I went into the upstairs area to use the restroom (within the hostel portion), and was impressed by the cleanliness and welcoming aspects. This is a great place for a fun stayover, for college-aged travelers.

Private room Pros: - Double-sized bed - Two sets of drawers - Lamps - Window fan - wifi - good apple strudel Cons: - Horribly bumpy, unlined, dangerous and difficult road to get to hostel from Glacier NP - for 12 miles - SECURITY ISSUES: Hasp locks on OUTSIDE of each room. Yes, that's right. Any mischievous person thinking they are being funny or some sick f...udge can easily close the hasp and lock you INSIDE of your room. Don't even get me started on the dangerous implications of that. - No A/C or heat - Uncomfortable bed - Walls so thin I could literally hear a man SIGH. - $10 fee (if room deemed to be left messy) - Trash including teeth picks under bed (Perhaps they owe ME $10 since the room apparently isn't cleaned that thoroughly) - Horribly tiny bathrooms - Knees 4 inches from door of bathroom stall, feet sticking out from under it (and I'm only 5' 3 1/2" tall) - 2.5 - 3 feet between shower stalls and front counter - Hard for 2 people to pass each other to go to toilets/showers while someone using sinks/counter - Shower stalls right next to door so every time it opens, people can see inside - Might be difficult/extremely uncomfortable for larger persons to fit/maneuver in restrooms

As Tristan mentioned, this is definitely an interesting hostel. We had a good time here and it was everything we needed from a hostel: a comfortable bed and a roof that keeps the rain out and walls to keep the cold and snow out. True, it is a very old place and each slat of wood seems to creak if you stare at it. But that kind of adds to the charm, I think. What's most important in my book is that it is clean. That's ultimately all I really care about and the bathrooms, kitchen, and living rooms (oh yea, and our room) were all clean. There is an interesting history to this place: it used to be a brothel. (notice I mentioned how clean it was first!). That explains the lay-out Tristan described. Its history is a testament to the way the West used to be, with a train stop nearby and mining in the area, you could imagine how popular this place was. We thought the staff here was kind and quirky, just a lot of fun to listen to. The one thing that is tough to get used to is the fact that you can hear every sound from your neighbors. When one of them opens their door, it sounds like they're opening the door to you room. Kinda weird and creepy. But oh well. That's hostelling! If you're coming in to town and need a cheap and clean space to stay, this is it.

Awesome hostel with a great staff. If you're going to Glacier (and you should because it's beautiful), definitely stay here. The living space is above a bakery, so it smells like muffins. The beds are comfortable and clean, and the old building is really charming and rustic. (It's true that it's a little creaky.) The staff is so friendly and helpful. I totaled my car up there at the end of last season and they were so nice and understanding (I was a bit of a wreck, myself). They let me stay after the official close date, shuttled me around, and made sure that I got back on the road safely. Wonderful people and the best possible place to be stranded!

If you're passing through East Glacier, this is a nice pit stop. The staff is super friendly and welcoming. The pastries as delicious (especially the huckleberry brownies...TRY IT!), and they have quick on the go sandwiches, breakfast burritos, and hiking/camping needs for your Glacier trek. Did I mention it's also a hostel?

A Rustic & Charming Hostel in an Historic Building - Affordable, Simple & Close to Glacier National Park. My mother and I stayed at Brownies Hostel for two nights in the beginning of September in a private room. I chose to stay at this hostel because of its proximity to Glacier National Park. Brownies Hostel is located inside an historic original building from the early 1900's and staying in this hostel and the village of East Glacier Park made me feel like I had stepped back in time! The hostel was very rustic and basic but still charming. The furniture and decor inside the hostel is very retro and old-fashioned, but it added to the charm. The hostel is located within short driving distance to a general store, gas station, souvenir shops and a few small restaurants in East Glacier Park. I enjoyed the location and the close proximity to Glacier National Park. My mom and I drove into the park every day to go hiking and exploring, so location was important to us. The St. Mary park entrance was located about a 45 minute drive from the hostel and the Two Medicine entrance was about 15-20 minutes away. Our private room had a double bed, nightstand and a lamp and sheets and linens were included. It was very small and a little bit crowded for two people, but was clean, comfortable and cozy and we made it work. Because the hostel is in a very old building, the walls are not insulated and they are literally paper thin. Even during the daytime and evening, I felt like I had to whisper while in the hostel, just in case people were sleeping in the rooms. Ear plugs are definitely recommended! The room was also a bit chilly in the night time, as the building doesn't appear to be insulated, but there are warm and fuzzy blankets in the room. The washrooms (gender-specific) are shared among those staying in both the dorms and the private rooms and they are located down the same hallway as the rooms. In the female washroom, there were only two shower stalls and two toilets to share amongst everyone and the room itself was very small and crowded, making it difficult for more than two people to move around comfortably. Unfortunately though, I did experience some problems while using the shower in the female washroom. After about 5 minutes of being in the shower, the lights turned off automatically. It was a little shocking and I couldn't find any light switch to turn them back on (I think they were motion detector lights), so I was left to shower in pitch darkness for the remainder of my shower which was somewhat challenging and definitely unpleasant. This same thing happened to my mom as well, so I am not sure what the issue was or if this is a regular occurrence or not, but it's something to be aware of. The water was hot though and water pressure was pretty good also. The hostel has a small but cozy common area to hang-out, with comfortable couches and chairs. There is also a computer for guests to use. The common area was the only place in the hostel where I was able to access the Wi-Fi internet and it did not work at all in the private rooms, which was unfortunate and slightly inconvenient when I wanted to check something online. The connection was generally pretty fast in the mornings and early evenings when nobody else was using it, but after dinner, it would often become very slow and bogged down to the point where I couldn't even get a simple webpage to load. Nevertheless, I enjoyed relaxing on the comfy couches in the common area and resting my feet after long days of hiking. There is also a guest kitchen which is fully equipped and has two fridges, a stove, cupboards, a table, utensils, cookware and more. The ice cream at the bakery/cafe on the hostel's main level was really delicious and I would recommend eating there at least once during your stay! They also sell huckleberry pie, cafe beverages and other baked goodies. If you are on a budget looking for basic accommodations within close proximity to Glacier National Park, then Brownies Hostel definitely fits the bill. I only spent time in the hostel in the mornings and evenings and was in the park during the majority of the day, so it was satisfactory for what I needed, which was basically a place to sleep. The only negatives that I experienced at this hostel were the thin walls and lack of good quality sleep and the issue with the lights not working in the female showers. Other than that, I enjoyed my stay at this hostel.

In my opinion, this is a horrible hostel. The beds are uncomfortable, and one of my sheets had something crusty on it (I don't even want to think about what that might have been). The whole place has a grungy, dirty, worn-out feel to it, and their kitchen appliances look like something from the dark ages. It is also very noisy, as everything squeaks (bed frame, floors, door hinges and door locks, etc...) so you wake up whenever anyone moves, and it is hard to keep quiet yourself. The bathrooms are tiny, you hit your elbows on the shower stall because it is so small, and it is hard to use the toilet because the door is so close to the seat. The only good thing about this hostel is that it's cheap, but I would rather pay a little more for a decent place to stay.

Reviewing only the brownies, here. Apparently they are truely awesome as we had to stop there a few times so that the lady with a sweet tooth in our group could indulge. Ordering a brownie special is the way to go, just hoped you had a big hike before so you can afford the calories...

This place is run down, the cleanliness was average at best, the coffee was OK, the pastries were on the heavy on sugar/unsubtle side, the staff was not friendly, there are signs everywhere telling people what not to do. Choose another place

This is a good place to stay the night if you are looking for cheap accommodations. My husband and I stayed in a private room. It was very basic and the door didn't lock (the inside sliding lock was mounted incorrectly). The building itself is old and it seems like the floor slants at an angle. The kitchen was small and really cramped when trying to make dinner. The shower was the worst. It was small, dirty, and the automatic lights went out after a few minutes while I was in the shower. It was pitch black and I couldn't get them to turn back on, so I had to stand half way out of the shower and open the hallway door to get the automatic signal to work. On the positive side, it did smell amazing from the bakery downstairs.

We stayed here for a couple nights while exploring Glacier National Park. It is an older log building with a ton of character. People were polite and friendly and we met people from several countries while hanging out in the common area and kitchen. The sandwiches were amazing on fresh bread from the bakery and the pizza was outstanding. Great atmosphere and the staff were super helpful and made our experience very memorable. Highly recommended.

We used the laundromat. The ladies in the store were very helpful and will provide change for the machines.

Stayed here in September 2014 and pretty much paid for what it was worth. The place was dark and a little shabby, but the location was great for a balance between solitude and a-small-town atmosphere. Quite a distance from the main entrance of the park but Two Medicine lake might be worth a visit.

Three words: homey, comfortable, and kind. I would 10/10 recommend this place for anyone who is an adventurer at heart and loves to meet the most amazing people. After arriving at Brownies with no plan at all for our next few days there, the employees took us under their wing and helped create an unforgettable trip for me and my two friends. Whenever I make my return to Glacier, I most definitely will be staying at Brownies Hostel again.

Great pit stop in East Glacier! Brownies, ice cream and pastries are the best! The cherry lifeboat is delish!!! A must stop for everyone!!

Stopped by and sampled their huckleberry pie which was homemade and AWESOME! Worth the stop!

This is your typical hostel. Totally clean and what is to be expected for $20/night. The other hostel guests were very respectful and quiet, not a rowdy bunch at all. A medium walk from the train station, across the street from a car rental, has a little deli counter so you can get a sandwich to go for your day in glacier national park. Very thin walls, so don't expect a romantic stay with your boo.

Service is great! I had high hopes for their baked goods. They were ok- definitely satisfied our hankering for baked, sweet goods. If I were to recommend one thing it would be the huckleberry pie.

While starting to plan a 2015 trip to Glacier NP, I was delighted to see that Brownie's is still in operation! My 12-year old son and I discovered this hostel in 1997 and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Warm and friendly owners and staff, easy camaraderie of a hostel, best cinnamon rolls and espresso for me, an abundance of friendly dogs in the yard entertained my son for hours. Easy access for us as train travelers, too. Our private room met our needs. Memorable stuffed french toast at adjacent restaurant still ranks as one of my top 5 food "events" ever!