Guidebook for Boise
Food Scene
Spring and summer by the river, fall and winter by the fire — any time is the perfect time to visit Cottonwood Grille. For more than 20 years, they’ve been the Treasure Valley’s go-to spot for elevated favorites in a casual-yet-refined atmosphere. With one of the most beautiful locations in Boise (not to mention plenty of parking), they’re the natural choice for weekend brunches, date-night dinners, happy-hour get-togethers, leisurely lunches, and memorable private events.
21 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cottonwood Grille
913 W River StSpring and summer by the river, fall and winter by the fire — any time is the perfect time to visit Cottonwood Grille. For more than 20 years, they’ve been the Treasure Valley’s go-to spot for elevated favorites in a casual-yet-refined atmosphere. With one of the most beautiful locations in Boise (not to mention plenty of parking), they’re the natural choice for weekend brunches, date-night dinners, happy-hour get-togethers, leisurely lunches, and memorable private events.
Simple Italian Food at very reasonable prices. Service has always been top notch. www.papajoesboise.com
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Papa Joe's
1301 S Capitol BlvdSimple Italian Food at very reasonable prices. Service has always been top notch. www.papajoesboise.com
NOBODY has better roasted beans then the Flying M. Incredibly quirky gift shop also which is great because the lines can be long. Consistently a packed house. I highly recommend taking a bag of the house blend back with you. www.flyingmcoffee.com
66 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Flying M Coffee House
500 W Idaho StNOBODY has better roasted beans then the Flying M. Incredibly quirky gift shop also which is great because the lines can be long. Consistently a packed house. I highly recommend taking a bag of the house blend back with you. www.flyingmcoffee.com
SOOO much to see at this restaurant. Large, lavish art pieces worth striking up a conversation to say the least. Even the bathrooms are an experience. Their comfortable rooftop bar (no food served up there) is a great place to sit back and enjoy an adult beverage. Whether you sit out on their patio or inside, make sure you order table side made guacamole for an appetizer and the fried ice crema lollipop tree for dessert. Some of their entrees tend to be as extravagant as their art. A huge menu + vegetarians get there own. Happy hour is the best in town.
LOCAL TIP - MAKE RESERVATIONS NOW!!!
160 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Barbacoa Grill
276 Bobwhite CtSOOO much to see at this restaurant. Large, lavish art pieces worth striking up a conversation to say the least. Even the bathrooms are an experience. Their comfortable rooftop bar (no food served up there) is a great place to sit back and enjoy an adult beverage. Whether you sit out on their patio or inside, make sure you order table side made guacamole for an appetizer and the fried ice crema lollipop tree for dessert. Some of their entrees tend to be as extravagant as their art. A huge menu + vegetarians get there own. Happy hour is the best in town.
LOCAL TIP - MAKE RESERVATIONS NOW!!!
Want the BEST burger in town? Fork. When you see their delicious menu, you will question why I would ever suggest getting a burger here. But, trust me. I've eaten A LOT of burgers. Maybe it's their rosemary parmesan fries that put me over the edge. Their desserts are excellent too, most known for their butter cake. Nom Nom! www.boisefork.com
146 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Fork
199 N 8th StWant the BEST burger in town? Fork. When you see their delicious menu, you will question why I would ever suggest getting a burger here. But, trust me. I've eaten A LOT of burgers. Maybe it's their rosemary parmesan fries that put me over the edge. Their desserts are excellent too, most known for their butter cake. Nom Nom! www.boisefork.com
Two block walk South of The Gem, this local burger stand serves fresh off the grill favorites, including breakfast! Always made to order and fast! Outdoor seating only, or take your meal back to the house.
Bad Boy Burgers
815 S Vista AveTwo block walk South of The Gem, this local burger stand serves fresh off the grill favorites, including breakfast! Always made to order and fast! Outdoor seating only, or take your meal back to the house.
One of the top 5 breakfast locations in town with a great selection of bakery products, they also serve lunch. Reasonable prices and incredibly generous portions. Inside and outside seating in the historic Linen District downtown.
89 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Big City Coffee and Cafe
1416 W Grove StOne of the top 5 breakfast locations in town with a great selection of bakery products, they also serve lunch. Reasonable prices and incredibly generous portions. Inside and outside seating in the historic Linen District downtown.
Shopping
Quirky, yet convenient, this grocer is only 1.2 miles north of the home.
99 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Trader Joe's
300 S Capitol BlvdQuirky, yet convenient, this grocer is only 1.2 miles north of the home.
Arts & Culture
Stunning outdoor amphitheater is located next to the Boise River for the most spectacular evening of Summer/Fall entertainment.
Take your picnic dinner, some wine and rent low-back chairs and relax under the stars while watching the performance. They also have a Café Shakespeare for purchasing meals/snacks/drinks to take back to your seats. I held season tickets for 4 years and believe we are blessed to have this venue here in Boise.
81 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Idaho Shakespeare Festival
5657 E Warm Springs AveStunning outdoor amphitheater is located next to the Boise River for the most spectacular evening of Summer/Fall entertainment.
Take your picnic dinner, some wine and rent low-back chairs and relax under the stars while watching the performance. They also have a Café Shakespeare for purchasing meals/snacks/drinks to take back to your seats. I held season tickets for 4 years and believe we are blessed to have this venue here in Boise.
Boise's old (really old) penitentiary, Idaho Botanical Garden features seasonal events and Outlaw Field Concert Series. Check out their website for big name music talent! Savor Idaho is a huge food and wine event that will knock your socks off. It sells out every year. Penitentiary tours were featured on Ghost Adventures on The Travel Channel. Scary! Tours to the public are also offered. Paranormal investigations continue. I have to admit, it's quite creepy. Beautiful to walk through for any occasion, but even more spectacular during the Winter Garden Aglow (starting Nov). www.IdahoBotanicalGarden.org
124 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Isityalo seBotanical se-Idaho
2355 N Old Penitentiary RdBoise's old (really old) penitentiary, Idaho Botanical Garden features seasonal events and Outlaw Field Concert Series. Check out their website for big name music talent! Savor Idaho is a huge food and wine event that will knock your socks off. It sells out every year. Penitentiary tours were featured on Ghost Adventures on The Travel Channel. Scary! Tours to the public are also offered. Paranormal investigations continue. I have to admit, it's quite creepy. Beautiful to walk through for any occasion, but even more spectacular during the Winter Garden Aglow (starting Nov). www.IdahoBotanicalGarden.org
Parks & Nature
www.ridgetorivers.org is an EXCELLENT website to view all of the local trails the Boise foothills has to offer (totaling 190 miles). Trails vary in difficulty, length, and bike or dog friendly. The website will give you up-to-date information on trail conditions. Our foothills have something for everyone! (Never mind the physical address given on this post, as it was automated.)
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ridge to Rivers Partnership
3188 Sunset Peak Rdwww.ridgetorivers.org is an EXCELLENT website to view all of the local trails the Boise foothills has to offer (totaling 190 miles). Trails vary in difficulty, length, and bike or dog friendly. The website will give you up-to-date information on trail conditions. Our foothills have something for everyone! (Never mind the physical address given on this post, as it was automated.)
Mostly paved, the 25 miles of the Boise Greenbelt is a great way to get outdoors. The tree lined path guides you through parks, the Boise River, and other beautiful natural areas. Our greenbelt stretches from one end of the city to the other. We have seen many deer and other wildlife while on the Greenbelt. Rent a bike and tour our great city or go for a leisurely stroll. I bet you'll be coming back! www.parks.cityofboise.org/parks-locations/parks/greenbelt (Never mind the address on the map, as it automatically generated.)
18 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Boise Greenbelt Trail
Boise Greenbelt TrailMostly paved, the 25 miles of the Boise Greenbelt is a great way to get outdoors. The tree lined path guides you through parks, the Boise River, and other beautiful natural areas. Our greenbelt stretches from one end of the city to the other. We have seen many deer and other wildlife while on the Greenbelt. Rent a bike and tour our great city or go for a leisurely stroll. I bet you'll be coming back! www.parks.cityofboise.org/parks-locations/parks/greenbelt (Never mind the address on the map, as it automatically generated.)
Owned by the city of Boise, Boise River Park is home to the Wave Shaper. Kayakers go here to hone in their skills. Really fun to watch! Directly across the Boise Greenbelt is Quinn's pond. Here you can swim, float, fish, kayak, paddle board or sunbath on the sandy beaches. Rent all your sports equipment at Idaho River Sports adjacent to the pond. The water is very clean and refreshing and is fed by the Boise River. www.boiseriverpark.com, www.idahoriversports.com
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Boise River Park
Boise River GreenbeltOwned by the city of Boise, Boise River Park is home to the Wave Shaper. Kayakers go here to hone in their skills. Really fun to watch! Directly across the Boise Greenbelt is Quinn's pond. Here you can swim, float, fish, kayak, paddle board or sunbath on the sandy beaches. Rent all your sports equipment at Idaho River Sports adjacent to the pond. The water is very clean and refreshing and is fed by the Boise River. www.boiseriverpark.com, www.idahoriversports.com
Entertainment & Activities
www.boiseweekly.com This is a terrific website to see what is going on in our city on a weekly basis. It gives concert updates, restaurant reviews, and other local shenanigans. It proves that there is never a dull moment here.
24 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Boise Brewing
521 W Broad Stwww.boiseweekly.com This is a terrific website to see what is going on in our city on a weekly basis. It gives concert updates, restaurant reviews, and other local shenanigans. It proves that there is never a dull moment here.
Floating the Boise River is a great way to keep cool on hot summer days. Park your car at Ann Morrison park (or ride your bike from the Boise Gem, we are SO close) and take the shuttle up to Barber Park. There you can rent a tube, raft or kayak. Sit back and enjoy the gentle ride as you pass through some great scenery along the river. As many as 100,000 people float the river every year! www.barber-park.com
61 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Barber Park
Barber ParkFloating the Boise River is a great way to keep cool on hot summer days. Park your car at Ann Morrison park (or ride your bike from the Boise Gem, we are SO close) and take the shuttle up to Barber Park. There you can rent a tube, raft or kayak. Sit back and enjoy the gentle ride as you pass through some great scenery along the river. As many as 100,000 people float the river every year! www.barber-park.com
Old School theater playing second run movies. This place is a fantastic experience and we highly recommend it. You can order drinks and choose from a very nice selection of hot entrees. They even offer espresso drinks to keep you from falling asleep in their comfortable chairs.
76 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Flicks: Rick's Cafe Americain
646 W Fulton StOld School theater playing second run movies. This place is a fantastic experience and we highly recommend it. You can order drinks and choose from a very nice selection of hot entrees. They even offer espresso drinks to keep you from falling asleep in their comfortable chairs.
Essentials
Local company that is employee owned, hands down the best deal in town and very very busy. Shop here and you'll save at least 25% over the bigger chains (expect to bag your own groceries). We don't buy beef here though as the quality is lower than the bigger chains.
53 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
WinCo Foods
110 E Myrtle StLocal company that is employee owned, hands down the best deal in town and very very busy. Shop here and you'll save at least 25% over the bigger chains (expect to bag your own groceries). We don't buy beef here though as the quality is lower than the bigger chains.
Traditional big chain grocery store. Albertsons' first store is here in Boise and the companies headquarters are here... but pricey compared to WinCo.
151 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Albertsons
1650 W State StTraditional big chain grocery store. Albertsons' first store is here in Boise and the companies headquarters are here... but pricey compared to WinCo.
Albertsons Marketplace (Broadway) on the other side of BSU is one of two flagship stores in Idaho with an incredible selection of everything! If you have the extra 7 minutes each direction, travel to THIS Albertsons. For a run of the mill Albertsons store, head 3/4-mile south of the home on Vista.
Albertsons
Albertsons Marketplace (Broadway) on the other side of BSU is one of two flagship stores in Idaho with an incredible selection of everything! If you have the extra 7 minutes each direction, travel to THIS Albertsons. For a run of the mill Albertsons store, head 3/4-mile south of the home on Vista.