Fun Things to Do

Guest Author: Jessica Flynn

Boise is blessed with many things. Fabulous outdoor recreation. A vibrant downtown. A growing and diverse cultural scene. Friendly engaging people. But I’m a foodie – and that means I focus frequently on the spots that serve up that delicious bite or cup of something fabulous.

Lately, I’ve been focused on breakfast – the meal that starts off your day on the right, or wrong, foot. There are a slew of great breakfast spots in Boise as any native will tell you. But if you felt like doing a tour of breakfast locales while in town, or embarking on a progressive breakfast across town – here are my recommendations of the must-stops:

Ultimate Lattes – Flying M Coffeehouse ((208) 345-4320 / 500 W Idaho St.) Hands down you must start your trek through Boise with a latte (or other frou-frou coffee of your choice!) from Boise’s original coffeehouse. Friendly staff, engaging conversations with locals, diverse art displays, cozy ambiance, and a perfect people-watching spot. A no-pretension-back-to-basics coffeehouse – topped off with those beautiful designs in the steamed milk.

Bottomless Mimosas – Le Café de Paris (208.336.0889/204 N. Capitol Blvd )Quite a few breakfast/brunch stops around Boise have started weekend ‘bottomless mimosas’ specials. But this French enclave in the heart of Boise steps from the Capitol takes the prize. Not just for being the most affordable at $5, but also for the breadth of options. Think mimosas are all about orange juice and champagne? They also serve up Kir Royal (Champagne & Crème de Casis), Kir Imperial (Champagne and Raspberry Liqueur), and Kir a la Peche (Champagne & Peach Liqueur). Tip: Sit near the bakery case so the servers can see when your glass needs a refill!

Muffins, Scones & Pastry Galore – Big City Coffee ( 208-345-3145 1416 W Grove St) Located in the heart of Boise’s hip new Linen District, Big City serves up muffins and scones the size of your face – literally. If you want delicious gooey pastries and are more into ‘muffin tops’ than ‘muffin bottoms’ – this is the place to grab some goodness. One of their most popular is the Pumpkin Chai Muffin – made famous as the favorite of Olympic cycling medalist and Boise-native Kristin Armstrong. My personal fave, though the recommendation comes without gold medal backing, is the Bear Claw Scone

Oatmeal Done Right – Red Feather Lounge’s Oatmeal Soufflé (208.429.6340 /246 N. 8th Street) Do you need to know anything more than it is a wonderful oatmeal concoction masked as a soufflé? It is better than that actually. Think crème brule crust top with a light-as-air fluffy middle. Warm, delicious, and somehow I think it is still good for you because it is oatmeal. Red Feather is also smack-dab in the middle of Boise’s Saturday Farmers’ Market and provides wonderful people-watching during brunch hours from early summer through late fall.

Boise Award-Winning Original - Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro (345-4100 / 108 South Capitol Blvd ) You can’t mention breakfast in Boise without including Goldy’s. Voted year after year as the top breakfast spot in town by the natives, the décor and vibe of this spot can’t be beat (Bon Appetite also ranked it as one of America’s top 10 breakfast restaurants a few years back.) Part of the attraction is the locale’s cozy atmosphere – which means you could wind up standing outside waiting for a table. The scrumptious dishes offered up range from traditional comfort breakfast foods like hash (Red Flannel Hash), cheese grits and scrambles – to the more unique fare like the Spinach & Cheese Frittata 9with spaghetti noodles), Andalusian Eggs, Salmon Cakes, lemon pancakes and multiple Benny options.

Best of the Rest - When I put out the call to my social networking friends on Facebook & Twitter – I received an avalanche of responses for best breakfast recommendations. Had to share a few other thoughts.
The Capri – Comfort food hot spot for down home breakfasts (2520 W Fairview Ave / (208) 342-1442)
Java - Bowl of Soul coffee and The Usual (bagel smothered in cream cheese, tomatoes, avocado and special-secret-spice blend)
Jim’s Coffee Shop – Best Bacon ( 812 W Fort St / (208) 343-0154 )
Trolley House – Biggest Pancakes (1821 Warm Springs Ave /(208) 345-9255 )

In the end, you really can’t go wrong! Boise’s best culinary offerings may truly come from those serving up the meal that sets the tone of your day.

Thank you so much for these great suggestions from my guest author, Jessica Flynn of Red Sky Public Relations. You can follow her on twitter @jessflynn

Things to do in Boise

Websites: Le Café de Paris, Red Feather, Big City Coffee, Bowl of Soul

Flying M Coffeehouse
500 W Idaho St.
Boise, ID

208-345-4320

Le Café de Paris
204 N. Capitol Blvd
Boise, ID

208.336.0889

Big City Coffee
1416 W Grove St
Boise, ID

208-345-3145

Red Feather Lounge
246 N. 8th Street
Boise, ID

208.429.6340

Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro
108 South Capitol Blvd
Boise, ID

208-345-4100

The Capri
2520 W Fairview Ave
Boise, ID

208-342-1442

Java Bowl of Soul
223 N 6th
Boise, ID

208-345-0777

Jim’s Coffee Shop
812 W Fort St
Boise, ID

208-343-0154

Trolley House
1821 Warm Springs Ave
Boise, ID

208-345-9255

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