Why Idaho for Your Next Meeting or Event?
Idaho's cosmopolitan capital city sits on the Boise River and is surrounded by the Boise foothills, where outdoor activities abound. Restaurants are setting up on the sidewalks to welcome diners outside, and hospitality partners in town have been busy this past year, adding new eateries, tasting rooms and more.
To invite visitors outside, the city and such local stakeholders as the Downtown Boise Association and the Capitol City Development Corp. are encouraging businesses to expand beyond their walls. Establishments can grow along the side of a building, create a "parklet" with patio seating in parking spaces or take up more sidewalk space for patio seating. Occasionally, businesses are even allowed to close part of the street and reroute sidewalks and bike lanes.
BOISE
New & Coming Soon
As of February, the Boise Centre, which reopened last June, hosts events for up to 50 people per room with physical-distancing and other precautionary measures. The convention facility is following its Clean & Safe program, which includes enhanced disinfecting protocols, temperature checks, new seating capacities and more. The facility has also gained GBAC Star certification from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council.
Recent Hotel & Venue Additions
The 112-key Hotel 43 and its sister, the 252-room Grove Hotel, have instituted a number of new health and safety protocols, such as sanitizing all surface areas of airport shuttles between trips, including seat covers, door handles and the steering wheel.
The Grove Hotel Also has opened a fourth-floor terrace with sun shades and a fire pit; food-and-beverage service comes from the in-house restaurant, Trillium. The spot looks out on the Boise Train Depot and the surrounding foothills.
At the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights, a plan is in place to build a $3 million human-rights education center next to its Anne Frank Memorial. Announced on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (the center's 25th anniversary), construction will bring in a new sculpture by Boise metal artist Ken McCall titled "Uplifted" that draws on the text of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights.
Notable Meeting Hotels
Properties with meeting space include the 303-room Riverside Hotel, 252-room Grove Hotel, 180-room Residence Inn Boise Downtown City Center, 112-room Hotel 43 and 110-room Inn at 500 Capitol.
To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit Northstar Meetings Group's new venue finder.
More Event Venues
James Beard Chefs
Two culinary wizards recognized by the prestigious cooking awards continue to whip up delights downtown. Sarah Kelly, co-owner of
Petite 4, serving French bistro fare, has offered a pop-up menu while restaurants were closed.
Pastries such as pain au chocolat are the forte of Moshit Mizrachi-Gabbitas, co-owner of
Janjou Patisserie, who has been recognized in the Outstanding Baker category.
Kin is the newest restaurant from chef Chris Komori, serving eclectic modern fare with many vegetarian options. Currently open for small gathering and takeout, the downtown space is surrounded by a natural amphitheater, and in warmer weather small groups can enjoy “piKINics” while taking in some much-needed live music and other entertainment.
New in Boise’s downtown dining and social scene is NightHawk, a wine-tasting lounge with a rough-but-cozy vibe. The establishment's developers also is transforming the former Old Spaghetti Factory space into a restaurant, bar and music venue.
Nearby, the Little Pearl Oyster Bar has been opened by chef-owner Cal Elliott. The Michelin-star culinary whiz — whose lamented Rye restaurant in Brooklyn, N.Y., closed down in 2018 — has more big plans for his hometown. Elliott has purchased the historical Averyl Building, once the Manitou Hotel; a complete renovation will create two street-level restaurants and a 39-room hotel upstairs.
The Telaya Wine Co. used this year's downtime to add some meeting space. The room includes a small balcony overlooking the Boise River. Strict safety protocols ensure the well-being of all who visit.
Transportation in & Around Boise
Boise Airport, approximately six miles from the city's downtown; transfer cost by taxi, $15; many area hotels offer complimentary shuttle service. Delta Air Lines now flies between Boise and Atlanta, giving Idaho a much-needed connection to the East Coast. And Alaska Airlines is launching a flight to Palms Springs, Calif.
From July 2 to Sept. 6, JetBlue will run nonstop flights between Boise Airport and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. The weekly flights will be Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
The city offers three electric-scooter rental companies: Lime, Bird and Spin. Find tips and regulations here.
Group Venues
Aviation history is celebrated in the Warhawk Air Museum, a venue created from founders John and Sue Paul's love of planes. In 1986, John was restoring his third plane, when interested visitors began donating boxes of WWII memorabilia. The museum, about half an hour west of Boise in Nampa, welcomes groups of up to 200.
Whitewater rafting on the Payette River is one of the best ways to get outdoors when the weather is warm. Raft Idaho can help find an outfitter.
Top 10 Boise Restaurants
From western style cuisine to international delights, Boise offers a variety of dining choices sure to enhance your event.
- Chandlers Steakhouse - Seafood, Steakhouse
- Barbacoa Grill - Steakhouse
- Bittercreek Alehouse - American
- Goodword Barbecue Company - Barbecue
- Fork - American, Bar
- Bardenay Restaurant & Distillery - American Pub
- Capital Cellars - Wine Bar
- Luciano's - Italian
- 10 Barrel Brewing Co. - American
- Bombay Grill - Indian