Back in March, I argued that the summer of 2025 would be a Garden City summer. And I was right, I think — new and existing Garden City businesses are hubs of activity, commerce, art, and recreation. But maybe I should have clarified that I was mostly talking about the eastside of Garden City.
Garden City Staples: Arts, Parks, and Waters
The rest of Garden City has a lot to offer, but east Garden City — a deceptively short drive, walk, or bike ride to downtown Boise — has seen a lot of development in recent years and has capitalized on it this summer.
That’s largely thanks to the parks, waters, and art spaces that have been making Garden City a destination for decades. Quinn’s Pond, Whitewater Park, and the surrounding areas are great for paddleboarders, surfers, picnic-ers, and Greenbelt strollers alike.
The Surel Mitchell Live-Work-Create District is another Garden City success story and a staple in the arts community. Surel’s Place is the anchor for the district, spans multiple studios, and provides the area with an artistic undertone.
If you miss the Lit Room, it’s alive and well inside Oldspeak. (Blake Hunter / City Cast Boise)
Oldspeak, a New GC Destination
As a literary nerd, one of my omens for a Garden City summer was the opening of Oldspeak, a book and beer bar that has quickly become a beloved gathering spot that is busy at nearly all hours. It’s part taproom, part bookstore, part art gallery, and maybe most importantly, it feels like a place where one could hatch a resistance plan over books, beer, and tea.
It’s Still Patio Season
Someone should do the math on which Treasure Valley neighborhood has the highest proportion of patio to overall acreage, because I think east Garden City might take it. These patios are still in their peak season, so if the chill in the morning air has you dreading fall, go sun yourself on one of these:
- Caffe Luciano’s, a riverside Italian American cafe with highly shareable wines and appetizers.
- Bardenay has their new patio, which isn’t riverside, but it is big!
- Among other Chinden Boulevard patios are Western Collective and Barbarian Brewing’s taproom.
- If you haven’t snagged a table at Yardarm’s tiny patio, do yourself the favor.
- Telaya Wine Co. has maybe the quintessential Boise patio.
- …right next to another quintessential patio at The Sandbar at Riverside Hotel’s Greenbelt-side restaurant.
- And of course, with new faces and places to go in Garden City, Push & Pour can’t be forgotten.
Not all new housing is good: Case in point, the weird new Gru house is finished! Also, RIP to the farmers market that used to take place here. (Blake Hunter / City Cast Boise)
