Butte Beat: It’s Like Dining Inside of a Painting

BUTTE, MT - Have you ever wanted to dine inside of a painting?

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Sounds weird, but I know I have. Though there are presumably millions upon millions of paintings featuring restaurants, diners, and eateries, there's always one in particular that has always captured my mind. Edward Hopper's iconic painting of a diner on a corner, sitting in the midst of a lonely night, was something I've always wanted to be a part of. I could imagine myself being the gentleman sitting by himself, dressed in a timely suit, and enjoying a cup of coffee; if I were lucky, I could imagine myself being the gentleman sitting next to the beautiful woman, appreciating the scene around me.

Even though I will obviously never be able to dine inside of a painting, especially one as iconic as Nighthawks, I can get close whenever I decide to visit Annie's Cafe in Butte. Located discreetly inside of the extremely familiar standalone brick building we see everywhere in Butte, Annie's is unlike anything I've seen before.

The charm of the breakfast and lunch restaurant comes from the eclectic nature of the interior itself. It almost feels like you're eating inside of a beautiful watercolor painting of your typical antique shop, which is to say that nothing on Earth compares to that feeling. Plus, you can tell that everyone, from locals to tourists, quietly enjoy their time in the classic cafe, evidenced by the smiles and recognition from both parties—implying that the patrons who go there, keep going there.

The food is absolutely remarkable as well, as it reflects the longing we all have for grandma's greasy food, down to the gravy on the biscuits. My favorite, however, is the hash browns, as every time I order them, my mouth literally waters in anticipation. That's usually a good sign.

The best part? They're cash only, which not only signifies their undying respect to their patrons by refusing to have them pay credit card fees, but also indicates that they're the real deal. Seriously, has there ever been a cash-only joint that wasn't incredible? No, no there hasn't.