Bardenay Restaurant & Distillery: Night Out on the Basque Block
Bardenay Restaurant & Distillery claims a singular place in American drinking history: it opened in 2000 as the nation's first restaurant and distillery, pouring cocktails made from spirits distilled on site in the same brick building. It sits on downtown Boise's historic Basque Block, and with roughly a 4.4-star average across hundreds of reviews it is one of the Treasure Valley's most consistently well-reviewed places for an unhurried evening out. It is this week's night-out pick, whether the plan is a date, a catch-up with friends, or a solo stool at the bar.
What makes it special
In December 1999 the federal government issued Bardenay the first distillery permit ever granted to a distiller operating in a public space, and the restaurant opened the following April in a brick warehouse on the Basque Block. The room keeps that industrial warmth: exposed brick, dark wood, and a long bar backed with copper and stainless stills where the house gin, vodka, rum, bourbon, and liqueurs are made on site. The cocktail list leans on those house spirits, the kitchen turns out honest Pacific Northwest fare, and review after review strikes the same note: the place is welcoming without being dressy, which makes it an easy pick for a weeknight or a celebration.
What to order
- A cocktail built on house spirits, like the Huckleberry Lemon Drop, the Sangria Royale with Bardenay Gin, Bardenay Cassis, and sparkling wine, or the espresso-forward Mystery Cocktail
- Seared rare peppered ahi tuna or the smoked trout spread to start, two appetizers reviewers call out as good value
- The bacon-wrapped beef filet for a splurge, or lighter picks like the sea bass gnocchi, the cider-brined pork chop, or cod and chips
- A Reuben or a meatloaf sandwich with one house cocktail if you want an easy, moderately priced meal
What it costs
Bardenay stays a step below Boise's white-tablecloth rooms. Appetizers run roughly $13 to $16, sandwiches and lighter plates about $12 to $17, and entrees from the high teens up to about $33 for the bacon-wrapped beef filet. With a couple of cocktails included, a dinner for two typically lands in the $60 to $90 range, and it is just as easy to keep the tab closer to $25 with a sandwich and a single drink.
Plan your visit
Bardenay is at 610 West Grove Street on the Basque Block in downtown Boise, with the distillery's tasting room a short drive away on West Chinden. Call (208) 426-0538 or visit bardenay.com for hours, menus, and brunch times; there is also a second Treasure Valley location in Eagle. And if you are out looking at acreage in Boise or Eagle, this is a fine way to end the day.
The Treasure Valley Acreage Homes Team
Two acreage agents at MORE Realty, serving Boise, Pocatello, Twin Falls, and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Questions about acreage? Call us, we answer our own phone.