Bar Gernika ★ 4.3
Bar Gernika on the Basque Block has served Idaho's Basque community since 1991, pouring kalimotxo and plating solomo in a worn-wood downtown pub.
Order: Solomo (marinated pork loin sandwich) and a side of Basque chorizo
Restaurants in downtown
Leku Ona ★ 4.2
Leku Ona, Basque for 'good place', opened in 2005 by Jose Mari Artiach from Spain's Basque Country, pairing cuisine with imported wines on two patios.
Order: Txakoli white wine and the lamb stew with white beans
Fork ★ 4.4
Fork on 8th Street is Boise's farm-to-table restaurant, sourcing Idaho and Northwest producers to build a menu that shifts with the Treasure Valley harvest.
Order: Asparagus fritters in season and the Idaho trout preparation
Alavita ★ 4.3
Alavita is a brick-walled Italian trattoria making fresh pasta from Northwest flour and local eggs, turning Idaho seasonality into agnolotti and tortellini.
Order: House agnolotti or whichever handmade pasta uses that week's market produce
Cottonwood Grille ★ 4.2
Cottonwood Grille has anchored the Boise River dining scene since 1999, serving Northwest seasonal cuisine on a patio that overlooks the river.
Order: Local Idaho trout on the seasonal menu, ordered on the riverside patio
Bittercreek Alehouse ★ 4.0
Bittercreek Alehouse on 8th Street anchors Boise's craft beer pub scene with rotating Idaho and Northwest taps and locally sourced pub food.
Order: The rotating Idaho craft beer selection and the locally sourced burger
The Basque Market ★ 4.2
The Basque Market on Grove Street has operated since 2000, serving rotating pintxos and outdoor paella alongside imported Basque wines and charcuterie.
Order: Rotating pintxos at Pintxo Hour (Thu-Sat until 18:00) and the Wednesday or Friday paella
Barbacoa Grill ★ 4.2
Barbacoa Grill sits on a pond in southeast Boise, serving prime steaks and coastal seafood alongside an extensive California and international wine list.
Order: Kumamoto oysters and the Chilean sea bass with the Napa Valley wine list
Goldy's Breakfast Bistro ★ 4.1
Goldy's Breakfast Bistro has served made-to-order breakfast with house Hollandaise in downtown Boise since 1999, steps from the Idaho State Capitol.
Order: Eggs Benedict with house Hollandaise and the red flannel hash
The Reef ★ 3.9
The Reef has been a Boise Basque Block neighbour since 2003, offering a Polynesian menu and island cocktails in a two-storey space with a rooftop patio.
Order: Firecracker salmon tacos and a tropical specialty cocktail on the rooftop patio
Boise Fry Company ★ 3.9
Boise Fry Company makes Belgian-style fries the star, using Idaho organic potatoes alongside bison burgers and a rack of house-made dipping sauces.
Order: Belgian-style fries seasoned at the table with house salt blends and house-made dipping sauces
High Note Cafe ★ 4.1
High Note Cafe runs a 100-percent plant-based kitchen in Boise, making every item from scratch without a freezer or microwave, serving nachos and gyros.
Order: Loaded Nachos and the Gyro -- both fully plant-based and made fresh without freezers
Ansots Basque Chorizos ★ 4.0
Ansots makes traditional Basque chorizos from recipes brought from the Basque Country, serving them in sandwiches from a compact shop near the Basque Block.
Order: The house-made Basque chorizo sandwich and paella on Fridays
Pengilly's Saloon ★ 3.8
Pengilly's Saloon is a Main Street institution since 1980, a dim and authentic Boise dive bar with cheap wells, live music most nights, and a back-bar stage.
Order: Well drink during the noon-to-19:00 daily happy hour and any live music set at the back stage
Casual Dining in downtown
Bar Gernika ★ 4.3
Bar Gernika is Boise's quintessential Basque pub, serving solomo sandwiches, lamb dishes, and Basque chorizo on Capitol Boulevard since 1991.
Order: Solomo pork loin sandwich and a glass of kalimotxo
Fork ★ 4.4
Fork is Boise's farm-to-table dining room on 8th Street, building every meal around Treasure Valley ingredients and pairing them with local craft beer.
Order: The seasonal asparagus fritters and the locally sourced daily trout dish
Bittercreek Alehouse ★ 4.0
Bittercreek Alehouse on 8th Street pairs rotating Idaho and Northwest craft taps with a pub menu that uses locally sourced proteins and vegetables.
Order: Local craft tap sampler and the locally sourced pub burger
Leku Ona ★ 4.2
Leku Ona on the Basque Block offers casual Basque dining on two outdoor patios, from pintxos at lunch to full lamb preparations and imported Basque wines.
Order: Lamb stew with white beans and Txakoli white wine from the Basque Country
The Reef ★ 3.9
The Reef is an island-themed two-storey restaurant next to the Basque Block, with Polynesian plates, creative cocktails, and a 350-seat rooftop patio.
Order: Thai chicken tacos and a rooftop patio cocktail in summer
The Basque Market ★ 4.2
The Basque Market has operated on Grove Street since 2000 as Boise's pintxos and paella destination, also selling imported Spanish wines and charcuterie.
Order: Rotating pintxos at Pintxo Hour and the outdoor paella on Wednesdays and Fridays
Cottonwood Grille ★ 4.2
Cottonwood Grille on the Boise River patio is the go-to for a relaxed Northwest seasonal lunch or dinner with local trout and Idaho produce.
Order: Idaho rainbow trout prepared seasonally and a cocktail on the riverside patio
High Note Cafe ★ 4.1
High Note Cafe is Boise's dedicated plant-based kitchen downtown, making every item from scratch without freezers for its flavour-forward comfort food.
Order: Loaded Nachos and the Gyro wrap, made fresh with no freezers on site
Boise Fry Company ★ 3.9
Boise Fry Company makes Idaho potatoes the star, turning organic spuds into Belgian-style fries with house salt blends alongside bison and turkey burgers.
Order: Belgian fries with truffle salt and the bison burger on a local whole-wheat bun
Pie Hole ★ 3.8
Pie Hole is Boise's go-to late-night pizza counter on 8th Street, serving large New York-style slices by the piece from 11am until early morning on weekends.
Order: The New York-style slice by the piece after midnight -- the late-night staple on 8th Street
Goldy's Breakfast Bistro ★ 4.1
Goldy's Breakfast Bistro has served breakfast in a historic downtown building since 1999, using local ingredients and scratch Hollandaise for Benedicts.
Order: Eggs Benedict with house Hollandaise and the red flannel hash
Guido's Original New York Style Pizza ★ 3.9
Guido's is a Boise institution serving New York-style pizza by the pie and slice on 5th Street, known for large foldable slices and house tomato sauce.
Order: The full New York-style pie with house tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella
Ansots Basque Chorizos ★ 4.0
Ansots Basque Chorizos makes chorizo from traditional recipes and serves them in sandwiches from a compact shop near the Basque Block, open for weekday lunch.
Order: The chorizo sandwich on fresh bread with piquillo pepper sauce
Barbacoa Grill ★ 4.2
Barbacoa Grill in southeast Boise serves prime steaks and Pacific seafood beside a pond, with a wine list covering Napa to the Rhone and blown-glass decor.
Order: Kumamoto oysters and the Chilean sea bass with a glass from the California wine list
Cafés in downtown
Flying M Coffeehouse ★ 4.2
Flying M Coffeehouse has been a Boise landmark since 1992, filling a large eclectic space on Idaho Street with quirky furnishings and coffee roasted in Nampa.
Neckar Coffee ★ 4.3
Neckar Coffee on 10th Street is Boise's specialty roaster and cafe, combining in-house roasting with a bakery counter in a neighbourhood hospitality room.
High Note Cafe ★ 4.1
High Note Cafe is Boise's plant-based lunch and dinner counter, with every item made from scratch without a freezer or microwave, serving nachos and gyros.
The Modern Bar ★ 4.2
The Modern Bar at the Modern Hotel is Boise's most design-conscious bar-cafe, with inventive cocktails, a curated small-plates menu, and an all-ages patio.
Goldy's Corner ★ 3.9
Goldy's Corner is the coffee and dessert spin-off of Goldy's Breakfast Bistro, serving espresso drinks and pastries on Main Street near the Basque Block.
The Basque Market ★ 4.2
The Basque Market is a daytime pintxos and wine spot on Grove Street, with rotating small bites, Spanish provisions, and paella on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Goldy's Breakfast Bistro ★ 4.1
Goldy's Breakfast Bistro has poured Boise's morning coffee and plated Benedicts with house Hollandaise since 1999, in a historic Capitol Boulevard building.
Fork Brunch ★ 4.3
Fork Brunch on 8th Street applies the same Idaho-ingredient rigour to brunch as to dinner: local eggs, seasonal vegetables, and a trout gravlax board.
Leku Ona Pintxos Lunch ★ 4.1
Leku Ona Pintxos Lunch offers pintxos and Basque food from noon with outdoor patio seating on the Basque Block, Txakoli wine, and a relaxed midday atmosphere.
High Note Cafe Sunday ★ 4.0
High Note Cafe Sunday is a plant-based brunch counter with the full scratch-made menu in a relaxed downtown setting, popular with Boise's vegan community.
The Reef Lunch Patio ★ 3.9
The Reef Lunch Patio is Boise's most distinctive outdoor lunch spot, with Polynesian plates, fresh cocktails, and capacity for 350 guests under open skies.
Boise Fry Company Lunch ★ 3.8
Boise Fry Company's downtown location turns Idaho organic potatoes into Belgian-style fries with seasonal salts and house dips alongside bison burgers.
Bakeries in downtown
Guru Donuts ★ 4.2
Guru Donuts on Main Street makes yeast-raised potato donuts using Idaho spuds for a lighter, pillowy crumb, topped with rotating seasonal glazes.
Order: The Idaho potato donut with house-made glaze -- classic and seasonal flavour options daily
Flying M Coffeehouse ★ 4.0
Flying M Coffeehouse carries a daily rotating pastry case alongside its own-roast coffee in a large eclectic space on Idaho Street, open since 1992.
Order: The daily pastry selection from the display case alongside a house roast espresso
Neckar Coffee Bakery ★ 4.3
Neckar Coffee Bakery produces laminated pastries, daily cakes, and savoury items alongside its in-house roasting programme in the same downtown room.
Order: The laminated pastry of the day and a filter coffee from the in-house roast
The Avery Brasserie Pastry ★ 4.3
The Avery Brasserie Pastry from James Beard semifinalist Cal Elliott features brioche preparations and seasonal fruit pastries at weekend brunch.
Order: The brioche French toast and house-made pastry basket at weekend brunch
Goldy's Corner ★ 3.8
Goldy's Corner is the pastry and espresso counter of Goldy's Breakfast Bistro, serving baked goods and coffee on Main Street near the Basque Block.
Order: House baked sweet rolls and espresso drinks near the Basque Block
The Basque Market Provisions ★ 4.1
The Basque Market Provisions stocks imported Basque and Spanish goods, with Idiazabal cheese, house chorizo, and wines available from the Grove Street shop.
Order: House-made Basque chorizo and imported Idiazabal cheese from the provisions counter
Fork Weekend Pastry ★ 4.1
Fork Weekend Pastry uses locally milled flours and Idaho seasonal fruit, making the 8th Street dining room a worthwhile morning stop for a baked good.
Order: The house-baked morning pastry basket with seasonal fruit and local butter at weekend brunch
Coffee Roasters in downtown
Neckar Coffee ★ 4.4
Neckar Coffee on 10th Street is Boise's most serious specialty roaster, combining a roasting operation with a full cafe and bakery counter downtown.
Flying M Coffeehouse ★ 4.2
Flying M Coffeehouse has been Boise's community coffee room since 1992, pouring beans roasted at its Nampa Coffeegarage facility in an eclectic atmosphere.
The Avery Hotel Coffee Service ★ 4.1
The Avery Hotel Coffee Service serves carefully sourced espresso and filter coffee alongside its brunch and lunch menus with a European brasserie approach.
Wine Bars in downtown
Barbacoa Grill Wine List ★ 4.2
Barbacoa Grill Wine List maintains one of Boise's deepest wine lists, spanning Napa Valley to the Rhone region, with a knowledgeable staff trained in pairing.
The Modern Bar ★ 4.2
The Modern Bar at the Modern Hotel pours a wine list alongside its cocktail programme, featuring Snake River Valley producers and Pacific Northwest labels.
The Basque Market Wine Shop ★ 4.1
The Basque Market Wine Shop stocks imported Basque and Spanish wines for on-site and retail, with Txakoli whites and Rioja reds available by the glass.
Leku Ona Wine Service ★ 4.1
Leku Ona Wine Service serves imported Basque and Spanish wines on the Basque Block, with Txakoli and Basque ciders poured alongside pintxos and lamb dishes.
Chandler's Wine and Cocktail Bar ★ 4.3
Chandler's Wine and Cocktail Bar at Hotel 43 operates a sommelier-driven wine service with classic cellar selections alongside live jazz nightly.
KIN Beverage Pairing ★ 4.7
KIN Beverage Pairing at $40 per person completes chef Kris Komori's five-course Idaho seasonal menu, with a curated sommelier-selected wine flight.
Bars in downtown
The Modern Bar ★ 4.3
The Modern Bar at the Historic Linen District hotel is Boise's most design-forward cocktail room, with creative takes on classics and original drinks.
Bittercreek Alehouse ★ 4.1
Bittercreek Alehouse is Boise's cornerstone craft beer bar, pulling Idaho and Northwest taps with a kitchen committed to sourcing at the same standard.
Neurolux ★ 4.2
Neurolux in the Hitchcock Building on 11th Street is Boise's premier live music bar, open 365 days a year until 02:00 with shows most nights and cheap drinks.
Pengilly's Saloon ★ 4.0
Pengilly's Saloon on Main Street is Boise's most beloved dive bar, running cheap wells and domestic beers with daily happy hour from noon to 19:00.
Woodland Empire Ale Craft ★ 4.1
Woodland Empire Ale Craft is a downtown Boise hyper-local brewery, working with Idaho growers since 2014 and serving lagers and ales in a small taproom.
Barbarian Brewing Downtown ★ 3.9
Barbarian Brewing Downtown pours the Garden City brewery's rotating lagers, ales, and seasonal releases in a compact neighbourhood bar on Main Street.
The Reef Bar ★ 3.9
The Reef Bar's rooftop is Boise's most festive outdoor drinking spot, with specialty tropical cocktails, huckleberry mojitos, and capacity for 350 guests.
Chandler's Bar ★ 4.2
Chandler's Bar at Hotel 43 pairs classic cocktails with live jazz seven nights a week and a cellar-driven wine list in a formal hotel setting.
Leku Ona Bar ★ 4.0
Leku Ona Bar on the Basque Block pours Txakoli wine, Basque ciders, and signature cocktails until midnight as the evening anchor of the Basque Block.
Barbacoa Grill Bar ★ 4.1
Barbacoa Grill Bar offers late-night happy hour on Fridays and Saturdays from 22:00 to midnight with $6 house wine and discounted cocktails pond-side.
Pie Hole ★ 3.8
Pie Hole on 8th Street is Boise's late-night institution, pouring cheap beer and plating large pizza slices until 03:00 on weeknights and 04:00 on weekends.
Bittercreek Alehouse Late Bar ★ 4.0
Bittercreek Alehouse Late Bar keeps the 8th Street corner alive after 23:00 with rotating Idaho craft taps and a pub menu that runs until close.
Street Food in downtown
Capital City Public Market ★ 4.4
Capital City Public Market fills Grove Plaza on Saturdays from April through December with Treasure Valley produce, food vendors, and handmade goods on offer.
The Basque Market Pintxo Hour ★ 4.3
The Basque Market Pintxo Hour on Thursday through Saturday is Boise's best small-plates street eating experience, with rotating pintxos and poured Txakoli.
Boise Fry Company ★ 3.9
Boise Fry Company turns Idaho organic potatoes into Belgian-style fries in paper cones with house salt blends and dipping sauces for a quick downtown lunch.
Basque Market Paella ★ 4.3
Basque Market Paella cooks large pans of Basque saffron rice and seafood on the Grove Street patio each Wednesday and Friday on the Basque Block.
Pie Hole Pizza Slices ★ 3.8
Pie Hole Pizza Slices serves oversized New York-style slices from a walk-up counter on 8th Street that runs until the early morning hours on weekends.
Guru Donuts ★ 4.1
Guru Donuts makes Idaho potato donuts as a morning street snack, with seasonal glazes from huckleberry to strawberry champagne on Main Street.
Ansots Basque Chorizo ★ 4.0
Ansots Basque Chorizo sells house-made chorizo sandwiches for a quick lunch near the Basque Block, with a traditional recipe from Spain in a compact shop.
Boise Food Trucks at Capital City Market ★ 4.2
Boise Food Trucks at Capital City Market hosts rotating food truck vendors alongside produce stalls on Saturday mornings with birria tacos and crepes.
Breweries in downtown
Woodland Empire Ale Craft ★ 4.2
Woodland Empire Ale Craft has worked with Idaho growers since 2014 in a hyper-local downtown taproom, producing lagers and ales from local grain and hops.
Barbarian Brewing Downtown ★ 3.9
Barbarian Brewing Downtown pours the Garden City brewery's seasonal lineup of lagers, ales, and seasonal releases in a compact Main Street setting.
Budget Eats in downtown
Boise Fry Company ★ 3.9
Boise Fry Company is the definitive Idaho budget lunch stop, with organic-potato Belgian fries, bison burgers, and house-made sauces for under $14.
Pie Hole ★ 3.8
Pie Hole sells oversized New York-style pizza slices for the most budget-friendly downtown eat on 8th Street, open until late on weeknights and weekends.
High Note Cafe ★ 4.1
High Note Cafe is Boise's best-value plant-based meal, with fully scratch-made nachos, gyros, and burritos at prices that undercut most downtown restaurants.
Ansots Basque Chorizos ★ 4.0
Ansots Basque Chorizos serves house-made chorizo sandwiches as Boise's most authentic cheap lunch on the Basque Block, with a walk-up format for under $12.
Bar Gernika Lunch ★ 4.2
Bar Gernika Lunch offers Basque pub food at accessible prices, with the solomo sandwich and pintxo plate among the best-value authentic Basque eating.
Capital City Public Market Hot Food ★ 4.3
Capital City Public Market Hot Food at Grove Plaza on Saturdays has a dozen-plus vendors selling tacos, crepes, and fresh pastries for $6-10 per item.
Guru Donuts ★ 4.1
Guru Donuts makes Idaho potato donuts for $3-5 each, a morning treat that showcases Idaho's agricultural identity with seasonal glazes and a pillowy crumb.
The Basque Market Pintxos ★ 4.2
The Basque Market Pintxos from $4-8 each are the best-value Basque eating in Boise, with rotating toppings on bread slices and Txakoli wine for under $20.
Brunch in downtown
Goldy's Breakfast Bistro ★ 4.3
Goldy's Breakfast Bistro has anchored downtown Boise brunch since 1999, with eggs Benedict, French toast, and house-made hollandaise drawing weekend queues.
Order: Eggs Benedict with house hollandaise
Fork Restaurant ★ 4.3
Fork Restaurant is Boise's most popular full-service weekend brunch, blending Idaho ingredients into New American brunch dishes and Idaho trout scrambles.
Order: Idaho trout scramble with seasonal vegetables
Flying M Coffeehouse ★ 4.1
Flying M Coffeehouse offers Boise's most community-centred weekend brunch, with locally-roasted coffee and a breakfast menu of burritos and pastries.
Order: Breakfast burrito and drip coffee
The Reef ★ 4.1
The Reef near the Basque Block serves Polynesian plates and cocktails on a 350-seat rooftop patio, making it Boise's liveliest weekend escape.
Order: Firecracker salmon tacos and a tropical cocktail on the rooftop patio
High Note Cafe ★ 4.1
High Note Cafe is Boise's best-value plant-based brunch stop, with nachos and burritos built on house-made sauces and cashew-based dairy alternatives.
Order: Brunch nachos with cashew queso
Leku Ona Basque Restaurant ★ 4.2
Leku Ona Basque Restaurant's Saturday brunch is the only place in Boise for a traditional Basque morning meal with house-cured chorizo and tortilla.
Order: Basque omelette with house chorizo
Late-Night Eats in downtown
Pie Hole ★ 3.8
Pie Hole is the only downtown Boise kitchen open until 03:00 on weeknights and 04:00 on weekends, serving oversized New York-style pizza slices.
Neurolux Lounge ★ 4.0
Neurolux Lounge on 11th Street is Boise's premier indie music and arts bar, open until 02:00 every night with a well-priced drinks menu and a late crowd.
Pengilly's Saloon ★ 3.9
Pengilly's Saloon on Main Street is one of Boise's oldest late-night bars, open until 02:00 every night with live music several evenings a week.
Bittercreek Alehouse ★ 4.2
Bittercreek Alehouse keeps kitchen and taps running until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, with Idaho-sourced pub food and rotating craft beers.
Nightlife in downtown
Icon Bar ★ 3.6
Icon Bar is downtown Boise's longest-running dance club on 9th Street with DJ nights Thursday through Saturday covering hip-hop, top-40, and electronic music for the city's mainstream nightlife crowd.
Neurolux Lounge ★ 4.0
Neurolux on 11th Street is the heartbeat of Boise's indie music scene, hosting touring bands and local acts nightly with a small capacity venue that makes every performance intimate and a drinks programme that keeps prices low.
Pengilly's Saloon ★ 3.9
Pengilly's Saloon is one of Boise's oldest bars, booking live music several nights a week in a historic Main Street setting with a long bourbon selection, Idaho craft beers, and a loyal crowd of local regulars.
The Modern Bar ★ 4.2
The Modern Bar occupies a ground-floor space near the Basque Block with low lighting, a design-forward interior, and a cocktail programme that reads closest to speakeasy aesthetics in the Boise bar scene with complex, spirit-forward drinks.
Le Bois ★ 3.9
Le Bois on Myrtle Street is Boise's most established LGBTQ-friendly bar and nightlife venue, with a relaxed early-evening cocktail atmosphere that transitions to dancing Wednesday through Saturday.
Chandler's Steakhouse Bar ★ 4.1
Chandler's Steakhouse bar area is Boise's most polished listening-bar environment, with a classic piano soundtrack, extensive whisky programme, and the calm late-evening pacing that invites conversation over noise.
Bittercreek Alehouse Late ★ 4.2
Bittercreek Alehouse is the city's best option for a late-evening meal with serious craft beer, open until 01:00 Monday through Saturday with the full Idaho-sourced kitchen running and 30 taps of regional draft beer.