A great place to come for live music, this tavern is also a favorite bar among Boise locals. The interior is immaculate and charming, and local rock-'n'-roll favorites "The Rebecca Scott Decision" and "Fat John & The Three Slims" jam here regularly. There is limited seating, and a small dance floor. Downstairs is J.T. Toad's, another live music venue.

One of downtown's newest establishments also happens to be one of the first restaurant and 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 Mediterranean-style menu. Entrees range from Oyster Fry to Rum Pepper Steak. The Warm Boarshead Pastrami 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.

Experience Boise's Basque scene at this cozy, charming downtown eatery. Lamb stew, beef tongue (served on Saturdays), chorizo and solomo sandwiches decorate this funky menu. Standard fare exists for the less brave, too. Indulge with a 22-ounce Guinness or a glass of Basque wine. For a taste of Basque, try the croquetas. Tables are sparse, and prized if found. Outdoor seating is also available during the warmer months.

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.

Customers perch on bar stools and the conversation is always flowing at this downtown nightspot. The large windows at Bittercreek Alehouse are perfect for people watching. With about 21 different Northwest microbrews, the pub has become a favorite hangout. The food is original with appetizers such as Clams in Amber, Garlic and Herbs and a variety of desserts. The pub is open daily from 11a.

This popular bar is one of the veterans of Boise's downtown nightlife. Live blues and rock acts pound out cover tunes at this centrally located watering hole. The Rocci Johnson Band, an old mainstay, plays its own original tunes here. A balcony overlooks the stage and dance floor. Darts, pool and video games also are located downstairs. Despite a smattering of college students, the clientele is generally 30 and older.

This independent and foreign film cinema, located near the Eighth Street Marketplace, is a perfect escape from the high-budgeted, predictable movies Hollywood often offers. Movie goers don't have to sneak their favorite beverages into the theater. Instead, try from the selection at Rick's Cafe American. The cinema also features a video rental area, where you can find rare and vintage films.

For stiff drinks minus the flair, this cozy full-service downtown bar caters to sports enthusiasts and alternative 20-somethings alike. Local and national sports memorabilia enhance the bar's interior, located in the basement of the historic Idanha Hotel. Conversation is encouraged in this dim and smokey, but strangely charming tavern. Although housed in small quarters, chairs and stools take up most of the space. The draft beer selection is limited. If you prefer premium beer, buy it in the bottle.

Wood tables, brass fixtures, and a staring deer head create a testosterone-charged experience at this riverside restaurant. Televised sporting events add to the atmosphere. Claiming to have Boise's tallest bar, the pub boasts a wide variety of microbrews, including Buttface Amber Ale and Total Disorder Porter. Originality continues in the dining room with dishes ranging from Armadillo Eggs to Bourbon Blackjack Burgers. The outdoor patio provides views of the Boise River and Boise River Greenbelt

Known as the "E-Club," the Emerald City Club is one of the largest clubs in Boise and regularly caters to people of all walks of life. DJs spin music from the 1970s to the present, but you won't hear any Stairway to Heaven here. Thursdays are considered Straight Night, but the venue insists, at least on the marquee, that "Yes, we are straight friendly." The dance floor is spacious and cocktails flow, but the beer selection is limited.