Guidebook for Boise
Food Scene
Brewpub restaurant nearby. Good food & a nice atmosphere. Dog friendly patio. Fireplace in winter. Great french fries and local beer.
31 locals recommend
Highlands Hollow Brewhouse
2455 N Highlands HolwBrewpub restaurant nearby. Good food & a nice atmosphere. Dog friendly patio. Fireplace in winter. Great french fries and local beer.
Long standing funky pizza pie restaurant close to airbnb. Thick crust pizza.
20 locals recommend
Flying Pie Pizzaria- State St.
4320 W State St Long standing funky pizza pie restaurant close to airbnb. Thick crust pizza.
Head down to 8th street where all the action is! This is a good local restaurant but there are many choices next door if it is too busy.
101 locals recommend
Bittercreek Alehouse
246 N 8th StHead down to 8th street where all the action is! This is a good local restaurant but there are many choices next door if it is too busy.
Nice patio for people watching. Good food but I just get french fries with bacon and gravy. Pick up a pasty from the fancy bakery next door or an amazing cappuccino. The original Joe Albertsons grocery store is close too.
53 locals recommend
Cloud 9 Brewery
1750 W State StNice patio for people watching. Good food but I just get french fries with bacon and gravy. Pick up a pasty from the fancy bakery next door or an amazing cappuccino. The original Joe Albertsons grocery store is close too.
My favorite coffee and breakfast. Plan on a line on weekends. Lots of community tables. Open seating. Great coffee.
90 locals recommend
Big City Coffee and Cafe
1416 W Grove StMy favorite coffee and breakfast. Plan on a line on weekends. Lots of community tables. Open seating. Great coffee.
My favorite greasy spoon breakfast place. Not fancy. Can be a small wait on weekends. Coffee sucks. The bandit sandwich is "heaven on earth".
15 locals recommend
Capri
2520 W Fairview AveMy favorite greasy spoon breakfast place. Not fancy. Can be a small wait on weekends. Coffee sucks. The bandit sandwich is "heaven on earth".
A great stop if you have kids. Enjoy dinner in the area, then stop by for dessert. Toy store next door. Walking distance to Camels back park.
53 locals recommend
Goody's Soda Fountain
1502 N 13th StA great stop if you have kids. Enjoy dinner in the area, then stop by for dessert. Toy store next door. Walking distance to Camels back park.
If you are looking for a "night out" type of dinner. Check this place out. Cool designed restaurant. If you want a steak, you should go for the hot rock steak.
160 locals recommend
Barbacoa Grill
276 Bobwhite CtIf you are looking for a "night out" type of dinner. Check this place out. Cool designed restaurant. If you want a steak, you should go for the hot rock steak.
Closest pretty good Chinese food. They deliver. Crab rangoon, vietnamese eggroll, generals chicken tend to be good. House noodle if you are hungry on a budget.
Golden Wok
3948 W Chinden BlvdClosest pretty good Chinese food. They deliver. Crab rangoon, vietnamese eggroll, generals chicken tend to be good. House noodle if you are hungry on a budget.
Drinks & Nightlife
Cheap. Walking distance to airbnb. friendly people. Pool tables and a shuffle board table. Laid back patio area.
9 locals recommend
Fireside Inn
1610 N 31st StCheap. Walking distance to airbnb. friendly people. Pool tables and a shuffle board table. Laid back patio area.
Old school pub. Nearby. Dark. Comfortable. Nice mix of people older and younger. Good burger deal on Mondays. I like this place.
O'Michael's Pub & Grill
2433 N Bogus Basin RdOld school pub. Nearby. Dark. Comfortable. Nice mix of people older and younger. Good burger deal on Mondays. I like this place.
Hipster outdoor bar on the river. Beer and food truck. Good summer scene. Close by the surf wave.
17 locals recommend
Yardarm
314 E 35th StHipster outdoor bar on the river. Beer and food truck. Good summer scene. Close by the surf wave.
Get your groove on at this bar with two levels. Next door is the reef which offers a rooftop bar. across the street is the dance club called China Blue. This downtown corner is where a lot of the nightlife happens. If are looking for "the scene" on a Friday or Sat night this is the best area near 6th and Main st. Food trucks, restaurants. I enjoy the whiskey sour made with a fresh egg from the Whiskey bar. Pengilly's has a more mature music scene with a comfortable feel.
17 locals recommend
Tom Grainey's Sporting Pub
109 S 6th StGet your groove on at this bar with two levels. Next door is the reef which offers a rooftop bar. across the street is the dance club called China Blue. This downtown corner is where a lot of the nightlife happens. If are looking for "the scene" on a Friday or Sat night this is the best area near 6th and Main st. Food trucks, restaurants. I enjoy the whiskey sour made with a fresh egg from the Whiskey bar. Pengilly's has a more mature music scene with a comfortable feel.
Parks & Nature
Boise has several very large parks that connect along the river. Just hop on the greenbelt in various spots to enjoy.
Busy park on 13th. Off leash dog area in the back by hiking trails. Walk down to Hyde park and have some food or dessert.
232 locals recommend
Camel's Back Park
27 Heron StBusy park on 13th. Off leash dog area in the back by hiking trails. Walk down to Hyde park and have some food or dessert.
Sunset Park
2625 N 32nd StClosest park. Walking distance. Dog friendly. Playground.
large public park. Fountain can be fun when it is very hot outside.
79 locals recommend
Ann Morrison Dog Park
1000 S Americana Blvdlarge public park. Fountain can be fun when it is very hot outside.
Quiet walking park. Goose poop on path but beautiful natural setting. Not good for dogs IMO.
72 locals recommend
Kathryn Albertson Park
1001 S Americana BlvdQuiet walking park. Goose poop on path but beautiful natural setting. Not good for dogs IMO.
Entertainment & Activities
Great place to spend the day. Rent a paddle board and paddle around Quinn's pond or check out the River surfers. Maybe just lay on the beach and watch the people.
39 locals recommend
Boise Whitewater Park
3400 W Pleasanton AveGreat place to spend the day. Rent a paddle board and paddle around Quinn's pond or check out the River surfers. Maybe just lay on the beach and watch the people.
Great for sking and snowboarding but also tons of fun activities in the summer! Try the new mnt rail for a family adventure. Tubing. Hiking, Biking, Food.
174 locals recommend
Bogus Basin Recreation Area
2600 N Bogus Basin RdGreat for sking and snowboarding but also tons of fun activities in the summer! Try the new mnt rail for a family adventure. Tubing. Hiking, Biking, Food.
Hockey downtown! Great way to spend an evening. Order tickets ahead.
14 locals recommend
Idaho Steelheads
233 S Capitol BlvdHockey downtown! Great way to spend an evening. Order tickets ahead.
Public swimming pool with a water slide! Cheap local option vs. roaring springs in Meridian.
11 locals recommend
Natatorium Pool
1811 E Warm Springs AvePublic swimming pool with a water slide! Cheap local option vs. roaring springs in Meridian.
close by yoga studio in my office building. sign up online and stop in for a class.
Yoga Tree of Boise
1674 W Hill Rdclose by yoga studio in my office building. sign up online and stop in for a class.
Best activity in Boise when it is hot outside. Float the River! Rent rafts and tubes at this park.
61 locals recommend
Barber Park
Barber ParkBest activity in Boise when it is hot outside. Float the River! Rent rafts and tubes at this park.
Check out the trail system located in the foothill nearby. Great for dog walks, hikes, and mountain biking. Good access just up 36th street
26 locals recommend
Ridge to Rivers Partnership
3188 Sunset Peak RdCheck out the trail system located in the foothill nearby. Great for dog walks, hikes, and mountain biking. Good access just up 36th street
I vote this Best local get outta the house spot for 1.5hrs when it is cold outside.
State Street Antiques
4718 West State StreetI vote this Best local get outta the house spot for 1.5hrs when it is cold outside.
Arts & Culture
Boise Art Museum
670 Julia Davis DrA beautiful way to spend a day. I love the art museum.
Zoo Boise
355 Julia Davis DrI really enjoy visiting the zoo with my daughters.
Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial
770 S 8th StNicely designed memorial.
Sightseeing
My favorite "get out of town drive for visitors". Head north on hwy 55. Head west at Banks, ID and head toward Idaho city. Stop here for lunch or ice cream. Head south back to Boise on Hwy 21. Scenic drive takes 2.5-5 hrs. Check for closed roads before leaving.
Great way to spend a day. Grab the cruiser bikes and let the wind blow through your hair as you tour Boise! Fun, easy, entertaining! You can access the greenbelt in many places including just down 32nd off Whitewater park blvd. Walk-able activity too.
12 locals recommend
Boise River Greenbelt
Boise River GreenbeltGreat way to spend a day. Grab the cruiser bikes and let the wind blow through your hair as you tour Boise! Fun, easy, entertaining! You can access the greenbelt in many places including just down 32nd off Whitewater park blvd. Walk-able activity too.
Cool area in downtown where local artist have transformed the alley into a art galley. Close to bars and restaurants.
102 locals recommend
Freak Alley Gallery
210 N 9th StCool area in downtown where local artist have transformed the alley into a art galley. Close to bars and restaurants.
Essentials
you might need
Washing Time Laundry LLC
4744 W State StClosest laundry mat.
Poppy Seed Bakery and Café
3910 W Hill Rdcoffee and pastries nearby. kinda cute place. weird hours.
Albertsons
1650 W State StGroceries and such.
Hawkins Pac-Out
2315 N Bogus Basin RdIf you like a classic drive thru, with a bit of an attitude, check this place out. Family run. I've grown to like this place.
6 locals recommend
Viking Drive In
3790 W State StIf you like a classic drive thru, with a bit of an attitude, check this place out. Family run. I've grown to like this place.
Caffeina Roasting Company
4774 W State StToo hip for me but yeah a great place.