Top Rated Nightlife in Boise

Located in the heart of Boise, this popular establishment plays hosts for patrons from both near and far. Not you're typical taco outlet, even though its name might suggest otherwise, this is where you can get your hands on some truly innovative fusion creations that wonderfully blend ingredients and cuisines from all over North America and Asia. While their menu might not be as extensive as its contemporaries, it does offer immense diversity and uniqueness. Some of their specialties include the Thai Lard Salad, the Chicken Roja taco, and the Local Mole Smothered Burrito. Beer and wine are also served here with the Barbarian- Big Bad Wolf, Fremont-Dark Star and Chateau de Series Cotes du Rhone being the stand-outs.

One of Boise's truly local bars, this saloon has pleased its patrons for decades. In lieu of loud music and gimmicks, the tavern features stiff drinks, great conversation and a laid-back ambience. Its gorgeous old-style serving bar comes complete with an antique cash register and also complements the high-backed, wooden booths. Pengilly's Saloon is a great escape from the elbow-to-elbow traffic that often defines the downtown's weekend nightlife. Check their website page for upcoming bands.

Yardarm is a seasonal bar located by the waterside and generally visited by surfers and paddlers. The casual looking bar has been made out from an old shipping container, and everything from the bar to the high stools has been made from up-cycled materials. On the drinks menu they have lots of icy cold beers on tap along with local cider and wines. If you are feeling hungry, they have a dedicated food truck that serves delicious tacos, fries and burgers. The joint is a perfect place to bring along your friends and family and enjoy good food and drink.

Live music and a full bar welcome visitors to this painfully hip club. In addition to its often peculiar patrons, pinball, pool and Ms. Pac-Man fill the space of this dim, smoke-filled building on the periphery of downtown's nightlife. Bands range from obscure local musicians to the borderline mainstream variety. Other nights, DJs spin music and wannabe models strut their stuff at fashion shows. Check website for upcoming events.

Images of Humphrey Bogart dance through your head when you relax at this Casablanca-inspired cafe, located in the Eighth Street Marketplace. Connected to the The Flicks, a foreign and independent movie house, the fireplace-accented cafe serves a variety of sandwiches, soups, burgers, lasagna, salads and wraps. Wine and beer lovers choose from 18 wines and 30 beers. If coffee is your thing, then try one of the gourmet espresso drinks. The garden patio is perfect for people-watching while munching on the cafe's trademark chocolate chip cookies.

One of downtown's most popular establishments also happens to be one of the first restaurants with a distillery in the nation. Bardenay, which is sailor's slang for cocktail, concocts its own vodka, rum, gin and whiskey. In addition to drinks comes an impressive New American menu. Entrees are quite filling and range from charbroiled salmon to rum pepper steak. The pork tenderloin and corned beef reuben sandwiches are especially good. Besides the distillery, the spacious brick-walled eatery features beers on tap served at its long, cherry-oak bar.