BOISE

Welcome to Boise

Boise is Idaho’s state capital and largest city. With a population of 228,790, Boise is big enough to boast a fine choice of urban amenities but small enough to offer a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Boise has several vibrant commercial areas with excellent restaurants, abundant craft beer breweries, and unique independent retailers. The city is also close to lots of outdoor recreation along the Boise River and in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Popular events include the Idaho Shakespeare Festival and the Jaialdi Basque festival. Across the river from Downtown Boise, the campus of Boise State University is home to the Boise State Broncos football team’s Albertsons Stadium and the performance venues of the Morrison Center and ExtraMile Arena.

This diverse city is divided into numerous distinctive neighborhoods with a wide array of housing options, from chic downtown apartments to historic mansions and suburban developments with spacious single-family homes.

What to Love

• Abundant urban amenities
• Distinctive neighborhoods
• Museums and galleries
• Popular annual events

Boise Neighborhoods

Boise features a variety of distinctive neighborhoods with their own unique characteristics and housing options. Downtown Boise has luxury high-rise condo developments with stunning skyline views. A few blocks from downtown, the North End has beautiful historic homes in eclectic styles. Northeast Boise features grand historic mansions and some of the city’s most sought-after private communities. Northwest Boise rises into the foothills with a mix of new construction and older homes similar to those in the historic North End. Known locally as The Bench, Boise Bench is an older residential neighborhood with a hip vibe and sweeping elevated views over Downtown and Ann Morrison Park. West Boise features a diverse array of housing developments, ranging from apartment complexes to peaceful suburban neighborhoods with spacious contemporary single-family homes. Southwest Boise similarly offers newer suburban developments along with acreage plots. Southeast Boise is home to Boise State University and several sought-after residential communities. Popular developments here include the dynamic work/live/play district of Bown Crossing and the prestigious community of River Run on the Boise River.

Dining, Entertainment & Shopping

Boise’s bustling downtown district is packed with great places to dine, drink, and shop. Bardenay Restaurant & Distillery combines creative Northwest cuisine with handcrafted cocktails made with house-distilled vodka, rum, and gin, and freshly squeezed fruit juices. Chandlers Steakhouse offers mouthwatering prime steaks, delicious fresh seafood, and a great selection of wines and cocktails in a swanky setting with a martini bar and live jazz music. Other downtown dining highlights include inventive farm-to-table fare at Fork, weekend brunch specials at funky Wild Root, wild game and fine wines at the romantic riverfront Cottonwood Grille, and gourmet burgers and jumbo hot dogs at the Triple B food truck. Close to the Boise State University campus, Madre Boutique Taqueria is a student favorite with flavorful and innovative taco varieties, including Idaho spud and braised short rib with kimchi and fried peanuts. Hyde Park Wine Shop in the North End’s Historic Hyde Park District offers more than 650 global wine labels alongside an elegant menu of Spanish-inspired small plates and entrees. Overlooking the river at Parkcenter Park to the southeast of Downtown Boise, Barbacoa is an incredibly stylish Spanish-American dining destination with artistic décor and a menu including steaks grilled to perfection on an open fire. In West Boise, Boise Towne Square is Idaho’s largest shopping mall. This premier retail destination features over 150 businesses anchored by Dillard’s, JCPenney, Kohl’s, and Macy’s department stores. Businesses at the trendy Bown Crossing development in Southeast Boise include Tavern at Bown Crossing for eclectic steak and seafood fine dining, Lovacore for delicious farm-to-table dishes, and Boise Fry Company for grass-fed burgers and some of the best French fries you’ve ever tasted.

Things to Do

Boise is an exciting city with lots of festivals and events. Every Saturday morning, the Boise Farmers’ Market and Capital City Public Market feature vendors selling farm-fresh produce and specialty foodstuffs. Other regular Downtown Boise events include First Thursday art exhibits and in-store events, and the free Alive After Five outdoor summer concert series. From May through September, the Idaho Shakespeare Festival brings outdoor theatrical performances to a state-of-the-art amphitheater. Boise has one of the United States’ largest Basque communities, and the unique culture of this region in Northern Spain is celebrated every five years in the spectacular Jaialdi festival. The Basque Block offers Basque food and Spanish wines at the Basque Market and cultural exhibits at the Basque Museum & Cultural Center. Other year-round cultural attractions include special film screenings and concerts at the gorgeous 1920s Egyptian Theatre and fascinating exhibits at the Idaho State Museum, Idaho Black History Museum, and Boise Art Museum. At the Boise State University campus, you can cheer on the Boise State Broncos at Albertsons Stadium, watch the college basketball and gymnastics teams and top touring acts at ExtraMile Arena, and see the Idaho Ballet and Broadway shows at the Morrison Center. Boise’s urban greenspaces include 41-acre Kathryn Albertson Park, 89-acre Julia Davis Park, and 153-acre Ann Morrison Park. The Boise River Greenbelt offers 25 miles of scenic trails alongside activities such as fishing.

Schools

Boise is served by the Boise Independent School District.

• Highlands Elementary School, Public, PK-6.
• Longfellow Elementary School, Public, PK-6.
• Pioneer Schools of the Arts, Public, Magnet, PK-5.
• Boise Senior High School, Public, 9-12.