Despite being a midsized city, Boise, Idaho boasts quite a few very cool coffee shops. These places attract a myriad of different personality types, ranging from the most far out artist to the staid lawyer working around the corner at Idaho Legal Aid Services. Each of Boise’s best independent coffee shops offers something slightly unique, which sets them apart from others in town. But still each also possesses that indefinable quality that makes people want to come in, hang out and stay awhile.
Flying M
Flying M is one place that makes a great cup of coffee, but then so do a lot of coffee shops around Boise. What Flying M does do in such a superior fashion is offer an awesome coffee culture to its many devoted fans. Inside, it resembles-a little bit-that coffee shop made famous by “Friends”, Central Perk. An abundance of couches, comfortable chairs and mismatched tables invite coffee drinkers to come in and stay awhile. The coffee house features the artwork of local artists on the its walls and holds a charity benefit for AIDS every year around Valentine’s Day; local artists submit their art for sale. The proceeds from the sales go to help those afflicted with AIDS. Additionally, the Flying M offers funky items for sale like pop art refrigerator magnets, arts and crafts made by local artists and items like the irreverent countdown clock key chain it offered a couple of years ago. The topic of the key chain? George W. Bush’s last day in office. Flying M is open seven days a week.
Flying M
500 West Idaho Street
Boise, ID 83702-5754
(208) 345-4320
flyingmcoffee.com
Lucy’s
It’s difficult not to love a coffee shop that inhabits a place where ice cream used to be sold-Baskin and Robbins to be exact. But that incarnation was quite a long time ago, and Lucy has found a solid home on Broadway street just down the road from Boise State University. The feel of Lucy’s independent coffee shop reaches back to the retro age in America complete with a cool Honeymooners clock on the wall and yellow vinyl armchairs by the door. The coffee shop’s interior lands on the small side, and depending on the way you look at it, can either be crowded or cozy when it gets busy. However, judging from the number of people who brave the oh-so-slight spaces between tables, that is hardly a deterrent. Instead their attitude seems to be “all the better to chat with you”. And so it is.
Lucy’s
1079 Broadway Avenue
Boise, ID 83706-3624
(208) 344-5907
lucys-coffee.com
Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro
No mention of independent coffee shops in Boise can be complete without mentioning Goldy’s. Goldy’s is the type of coffee shop that hearkens back to a day when the word coffee shop meant a restaurant that served very tasty, maybe not so good for you food and to die for coffee. Goldy’s is all of those things except occasionally, healthy food is actually to be found on the menu. Goldy’s features an upstairs/ downstairs set up, gourmet coffee and probably the best eggs in town. The bistro features unlimited amounts of Dawson’s coffee and a long waiting list. But no worries. Just come early and plan on staying awhile.
Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro
108 South Capitol Boulevard
Boise, ID 83702-5901
(208) 345-4100
goldysbreakfastbistro.com/
