Located a stonesthrow from central Boise’s open art gallery and contemporary restaurants, is a very special boutique hotel. Step forward, Inn at 500 Capitol. I was visting Boise for a slightly unusual reason – my grandfather’s two cousins carried out an infamous armed bank robbery in nearby Middleton in the 1920s, and were incarcerated in the nearby Old Idaho State Penitentiary. I was on an adventure around the Midwest following my family tree, and so naturally my adventure took me to Boise to see where the two brothers ended up.
By the time I arrived in Boise I’d been travelling for ten days already. I’d already visited five cities in three states and stayed in five hotels, had driven thousands of miles, and was exhausted. The Celebration Suite at Inn at 500 was not only the most perfect possible way to celebrate the successful trip, but it was also the most perfect possible way to rest and relax after a busy ten days. It was pure magic.
Arriving at Inn at 500 Capitol
The provides a complimentary airport transfer from Boise Airport, and arriving after a delayed flight, I found the lobby to be a welcoming space filled with beautiful local glasswork sculptures and pieces of art, bowls of complimentary snacks and mini fridges with complimentary drinks. And the complimentary snacks and drinks extend through to the rooms – I was pleasantly surprised to find my suite full of them!
Inn at 500 Capitol’s Celebration Penthouse
The Celebration Penthouse is part of the exclusive collection of three suites located on the Penthouse floor of the hotel. A one-of-a-kind suite featuring a stunning glass-enclosed walk-in rain shower and soaking tub, it also provides ample space with its kitchenette and dining area with seating for five, luxe living area with gas fireplace, and separate bedroom. Almost larger than my London bolt-hole, the suite had not one, not two, but three private balconies, providing sweeping, uninterrupted views over downtown Boise.
The king bed was plush and comfortable, with a gas fireplace in front of the bed and a large television above. Straight off from the bedroom was the luxurious bathroom space. The bath tub is impressively filled with water from an unassuming hole in the ceiling, and double sinks and a large ottoman provide the perfect space for getting ready to go out and visit one of Boise’s many restaurants.
Amenities at Inn at 500
While there is no swimming pool, there is a 24-hour fitness center, complimentary bicycles, complimentary pantry snacks, and a business center on each floor. The hotel is also dog-friendly, with specific pet-friendly rooms available for a fee of $75 per pet/per stay, with additional fees for Spa Suites and Penthouses. The hotel also features a rotating art gallery in the lobby to showcase beautiful art from local artists to those traveling from all over the world.
Where to eat in Boise
Boise has a surprising amount of brilliant restaurants. From Fork with its farm-to-table American dishes and a fabulous selection of cocktails, and The Wylder with its stylish, contemporary eatery offering slow batch pizza, veggies & salads. Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar is another popular spot, and don’t miss a drink at Press & Pony, where they serve classic craft cocktails at a wood-paneled bar in this buzzy locale with a vintage vibe. If you’re a meat-eater, you need to go for breakfast at Bacon!, a casual bistro specializing in all things bacon (they offer five different types of bacon, and dishes include Bacon Cinnamon Rolls and Bacon Bloody Mary’s). If you’d rather not venture out of the hotel, Richard’s is a well-regarded Italian fine-dining restaurant located in the heart of the property.
Things to do in Boise
A couple of days is enough to explore Boise. Start with the Old Idaho State Penitentiary, where they operate tours each day from 12noon. Known for being the location of strange paranormal activity, two of my grandfather’s cousins were in this penitentiary in the 1920s and 30s, and seeing the conditions the men were incarcarated in was certainly an eye-opener. A fascinating place to visit and well-worth the stop. Idaho Botanical Garden is a worthy visit on a nice day, and Idaho State Museum and Boise Zoo are solid choices if visiting with kids. You can’t leave Boise without experiencing the local art: visit the Boise Art Gallery and the Freak Alley Gallery, an open-air street art gallery that rivals Melbourne’s Hosier Lane.
Final Thoughts
Inn at 500 Capitol is the ideal hotel from which to spend a weekend exploring Boise. I loved the hotel’s art gallery and the complimentary pantry snacks, and the Celebration Penthouse was a true oasis of calm. The staff made every effort to ensure the stay was a great one, which only added to the enjoyment. One of my favourite aspects of the hotel was its sustainability initiatives – instead of providing plastic bottles of water, they provide glass bottles that can be refilled each day by housekeeping. They’ve also implemented energy-efficient lighting, installation of water-saving fixtures, and adoption of eco-friendly cleaning products. Additionally, it operates a robust recycling program and prioritizes sourcing food from local farms and suppliers, thereby minimizing its environmental impact and carbon footprint.
Book a stay in the Celebration Penthouse at Inn at 500 Captiol.
Catherine Lux is a food and travel contributor at AGLAIA, and a luxury lifestyle blogger documenting her life on her blog, Lux Life London. With Lux Life London having a large focus on travel and food, she loves nothing more than long-haul flights, excellent restaurants, and relaxing with friends in the coolest places in town.
