Guidebook for Boise
Food Scene
Fun, laid back vibe with a full bar. The tacos and burrito bowls are yummy! It's a walk up counter with restaurant seating. $2 beers if you like PBR and other domestic can beer.
50 locals recommend
Parrilla Grill
1512 N 13th StFun, laid back vibe with a full bar. The tacos and burrito bowls are yummy! It's a walk up counter with restaurant seating. $2 beers if you like PBR and other domestic can beer.
Nice atmosphere, inside and outside seating. Good coffee and offers a food menu including breakfast items such as a breakfast burrito and really good eggs benedict.
74 locals recommend
Java Hyde Park
1612 N 13th StNice atmosphere, inside and outside seating. Good coffee and offers a food menu including breakfast items such as a breakfast burrito and really good eggs benedict.
Upscale steakhouse with amazing food and drinks. Best steaks in Boise, in my opinion. Their happy hour alone is worth it if you don't feel like spending over $100 on dinner for 2. Great place for a special night out.
75 locals recommend
Chandlers
981 W Grove StUpscale steakhouse with amazing food and drinks. Best steaks in Boise, in my opinion. Their happy hour alone is worth it if you don't feel like spending over $100 on dinner for 2. Great place for a special night out.
This place is one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Boise. It's moderately upscale, atmosphere is great- decorated very nicely. The food is delicious! You must try the table side guacamole! I also recommend the rock steak and the tacos. If it's your birthday or anniversary, tell them and you'll get a special dessert!
Great happy hour menu and on the weekends, it turns in to a nightclub after dinner hours. There is also a rooftop patio you have to check out!
160 locals recommend
Barbacoa Grill
276 Bobwhite CtThis place is one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Boise. It's moderately upscale, atmosphere is great- decorated very nicely. The food is delicious! You must try the table side guacamole! I also recommend the rock steak and the tacos. If it's your birthday or anniversary, tell them and you'll get a special dessert!
Great happy hour menu and on the weekends, it turns in to a nightclub after dinner hours. There is also a rooftop patio you have to check out!
Local craft beers and delicious food. I recommend the salmon or fish and chips! There is also a small putting green in the bar area. Putting green open to the under 21 crowd before 5pm.
Sockeye Alehouse
Local craft beers and delicious food. I recommend the salmon or fish and chips! There is also a small putting green in the bar area. Putting green open to the under 21 crowd before 5pm.
Locally roasted coffee in a hip atmosphere. Light food also served.
12 locals recommend
Caffeina Roasting Company
4774 W State StLocally roasted coffee in a hip atmosphere. Light food also served.
Jalapeños Bar & Grill Franklin
Delicious Mexican food and margaritas.
Restaurant and bar serving Mexican food and delicious cocktails! Their Happy Hour menu is perfect. FYI: The food is spicy! Great patio for warm weather but also beautifully decorated inside.
Matador Boise
Restaurant and bar serving Mexican food and delicious cocktails! Their Happy Hour menu is perfect. FYI: The food is spicy! Great patio for warm weather but also beautifully decorated inside.
Boise Fry Company
204 N Capitol BlvdYummy burgers and a huge variety of fries and sauces.
Drinks & Nightlife
Restaurant with a great rooftop patio in the summer. Food is good and there is usually live music. Their mojitos are a must!
27 locals recommend
Reef
105 S 6th StRestaurant with a great rooftop patio in the summer. Food is good and there is usually live music. Their mojitos are a must!
Iconic Boise bar with live in house band and dance floor. It's been around for 40+ years and hasn't changed a bit. Also has pool tables and dart boards. You will find a mix of ages from early 20's to 60+ hanging out here.
11 locals recommend
Humpin' Hannah's
621 W Main StIconic Boise bar with live in house band and dance floor. It's been around for 40+ years and hasn't changed a bit. Also has pool tables and dart boards. You will find a mix of ages from early 20's to 60+ hanging out here.
Western Proper
Also a family friendly restaurant but fun place for drinks and to play games/bowl.
Spacebar
620 N Capitol Blvd21+ bar with vintage arcade and pinball machines. Fun and nostalgic!
Parks & Nature
Beautiful park with lots of walking paths. ponds and a waterfall. There are deer that live inside the park and its not uncommon to see them.
72 locals recommend
Kathryn Albertson Park
1001 S Americana BlvdBeautiful park with lots of walking paths. ponds and a waterfall. There are deer that live inside the park and its not uncommon to see them.
Fun park for families. There is play equipment and tennis courts as well as a big hill you can climb up. Lots of easy hiking trails from this park and a nice view of the city from the top.
232 locals recommend
Camel's Back Park
27 Heron StFun park for families. There is play equipment and tennis courts as well as a big hill you can climb up. Lots of easy hiking trails from this park and a nice view of the city from the top.
Approximately 2 mile hike to the top of tablerock where a large cross overlooks the city of Boise. Stunning views from the top. The trail is easy to moderate. It's very popular so be prepared to share the trail with others. I would recommend an early start during the summer as the trail does not have much shade and gets quite warm by noon.
If you want to enjoy the views but don't want to hike, table rock is accessible by car.
17 locals recommend
Table Rock Trailhead
Approximately 2 mile hike to the top of tablerock where a large cross overlooks the city of Boise. Stunning views from the top. The trail is easy to moderate. It's very popular so be prepared to share the trail with others. I would recommend an early start during the summer as the trail does not have much shade and gets quite warm by noon.
If you want to enjoy the views but don't want to hike, table rock is accessible by car.
Beautifully manicured garden. There is an entrance fee and check out their website there is frequently activities and concerts May-October. From Thanksgiving until mid January, it becomes the Winter Garden Aglow and is lit up with thousands of Christmas lights.
124 locals recommend
Idaho Botanical Garden
2355 N Old Penitentiary RdBeautifully manicured garden. There is an entrance fee and check out their website there is frequently activities and concerts May-October. From Thanksgiving until mid January, it becomes the Winter Garden Aglow and is lit up with thousands of Christmas lights.
Wonderful park on the Boise River greenbelt right across from BSU. The Boise zoo and Idaho History museum also located here.
81 locals recommend
Julia Davis Park
700 S Capitol BlvdWonderful park on the Boise River greenbelt right across from BSU. The Boise zoo and Idaho History museum also located here.
Huge park with a disc golf course and a dedicated dog park. Located on the Boise River Greenbelt.
11 locals recommend
Ann Morrison Park Disc Golf Course
Ann Morrison Park DriveHuge park with a disc golf course and a dedicated dog park. Located on the Boise River Greenbelt.
Eagle Bike Park
Old Horseshoe Bend RoadFun and free bike park!
Entertainment & Activities
During the winter, this is a ski resort and tubing hill located only 16 miles from the house. May-October there are other activities to enjoy such as hiking and mountain biking trails, a mountain coaster, outdoor concerts, trampolines and more!
174 locals recommend
Bogus Basin Recreation Area
2600 N Bogus Basin RdDuring the winter, this is a ski resort and tubing hill located only 16 miles from the house. May-October there are other activities to enjoy such as hiking and mountain biking trails, a mountain coaster, outdoor concerts, trampolines and more!
Old Idaho Penitentiary
2445 Old Penitentiary RdZoo Boise
355 Julia Davis DrFun little zoo perfect for kids & families.
Interactive museum with lots of activities to keep kids engaged and learning.
37 locals recommend
Idaho State Museum
610 Julia Davis DrInteractive museum with lots of activities to keep kids engaged and learning.
Discovery Center of Idaho
131 W Myrtle StInteractive STEM type museum with rotating exhibits.
Outdoor mall with lots of restaurants and a movie theater. Be sure to check out the fountain and during the winter, there is a skating rink.
245 locals recommend
The Village at Meridian
3597 E Monarch Sky LnOutdoor mall with lots of restaurants and a movie theater. Be sure to check out the fountain and during the winter, there is a skating rink.
Indoor ropes course, bowling, laser tag and arcade. Outdoor mini golf and go karts. Fun for the whole family!
98 locals recommend
Wahooz Family Fun Zone
1385 S Blue Marlin LnIndoor ropes course, bowling, laser tag and arcade. Outdoor mini golf and go karts. Fun for the whole family!
Idaho’s largest outdoor water park. Usually open Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. For an extra special day, rent a private cabana!
89 locals recommend
Roaring Springs Water Park
400 W Overland RdIdaho’s largest outdoor water park. Usually open Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. For an extra special day, rent a private cabana!
Memorial Stadium
5600 N Glenwood StCatch a baseball game! The Hawks are Boise’s only minor league baseball team.
Idaho Steelheads
233 S Capitol BlvdCheck out the Idaho Steelheads Hockey Team!
Located about 30 minutes N of Boise, The Springs is a natural hot springs pool. Reservations are required and only limited days and hours when children are allowed. Very peaceful place to relax and unwind. Food and alcohol are served poolside.
54 locals recommend
The Springs
3742 ID-21Located about 30 minutes N of Boise, The Springs is a natural hot springs pool. Reservations are required and only limited days and hours when children are allowed. Very peaceful place to relax and unwind. Food and alcohol are served poolside.
Arts & Culture
Idaho State Museum
610 Julia Davis DrTickets are required for performances at the Morrison Center located on the BSU campus. Broadway in Boise, the philharmonic, Ballet Idaho and more can be seen at this venue.
35 locals recommend
Morrison Center
2201 W Cesar Chavez LnTickets are required for performances at the Morrison Center located on the BSU campus. Broadway in Boise, the philharmonic, Ballet Idaho and more can be seen at this venue.
Outdoor theater in a beautiful venue by the river. You can pack your own picnic dinner or purchase food on site. A selection of Shakespeare plays are performed here during the summer.
81 locals recommend
Idaho Shakespeare Festival
5657 E Warm Springs AveOutdoor theater in a beautiful venue by the river. You can pack your own picnic dinner or purchase food on site. A selection of Shakespeare plays are performed here during the summer.
Boise Art Museum
670 Julia Davis Dr