Upscale Boutique Lodging: Inn at 500 Capitol

June 18, 2018

One of the many highlights of my Boise, Idaho visit was a stay at recently-opened (January 2017) upscale boutique property Inn at 500 Capitol.

Located in the heart of downtown, this is a beautifully – and intelligently – designed Four Diamond Hotel, with spacious, light-filled rooms with lots of storage. Room service is delivered via a butler’s pantry door next to the closet.

The Inn at 500 Capitol is filled with locally-curated artwork, lighting fixtures, furniture and decor everywhere you look. Each of the six floors has a its own unique full-length mural near the elevators.

Down each hall is a compact, functional business center with a desktop printer, great for printing boarding passes as well as any online-purchased entry tickets. You could even print out a map in case your phone doesn’t have local cellular coverage.

[Basque sheep-themed room; photo by Joanne & Tony DiBona Photography]

Entering the lobby brings you to twin check-in desks, where a complimentary glass of Idaho wine (or craft beer) awaits. In this area you’ll also find the guest pantry, with free snacks, bottled water and juice available for guests day and night.

[Art-themed room; photo by Joanne & Tony DiBona Photography]

On the second floor are meeting rooms, a ballroom and 24-hour fitness center looking out to a colourful terrace and views of Boise.

Complimentary red cruiser bikes (with helmets, locks and baskets) and luxury shuttle service are also part of what makes the Inn at 500 a handy hub for travellers.

And depending on availability, one of the Mercedes vehicles can even bring guests into town (within a few-mile radius).

I really enjoyed the little patio outside my living room, great for coffee in the morning (by midday, the airco was ready to cool me down).

[How cute is my zoo-themed room?!]

Upon entering my giraffe/zoo-themed deluxe king room, a hand-written, illustrated welcome note and bar of yummy dark chocolate wrapped in hotel-branded packaging awaits me.

Richard’s

Richard Langston is a James Beard-nominated chef who’s well-loved amongst the Boise culinary community. His onsite restaurant, Richard’s, serves up excellent meals alongside craft cocktails and an extensive wine list. They’re open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, happy hour and weekend brunch.

[Richard’s]

Wine and pets? You bet! Here’s two hotel packages to make your stay even more enjoyable:

We Love Idaho Wine Package
Inn at 500 Capitol’s We Love Idaho Wine package includes a bottle of Idaho wine in room, a box of local chocolates, early check-in, a $25 gift card to Richard’s, luxury transportation AND tasting fees for two urban wineries (Cinder and Coiled).

Walk over to Bodovino wine bar and use the additional $10 gift card to enjoy tastings from over 150 bottles of wine on tap. Boasting 30 wineries within a half-hour drive from downtown (as well as a range of tasting rooms in the city center), Boise is a welcoming alternative for wine lovers looking to stretch their dollars while sipping.

[Cinder Dry Viognier at Richard’s Restaurant; photo by Joanne & Tony DiBona Photography]

Other area wine activities to consider: Vinoyasa-yoga at Indian Creek Winery, the Basque Museum Annual Wine Fest and Idaho Wine Month (June).

Beer and Pups
This hotel is super pet-friendly! The package includes a welcome gift for your four-legged buddy, beer tastings for two humans at pet-friendly brewpubs Payette Brewing Co. and Boise Brewing, a $10 credit for Richard’s Restaurant Pet Menu — plus the $75 pet fee gets waived.

A few favorites on the pet menu include the Grilled Kobe Beef Burger (served sans seasoning and quartered for easy eating), Local Scrambled Eggs and Fresh Salmon (lightly grilled). There’s even a pumpkin purée served with a locally-made dog biscuit for when pups crave something light after a long travel day.

Inn at 500 Capitol is located at 500 South Capitol Boulevard in Boise.

I stayed as a guest of the Inn and Visit Idaho. Opinions, as always, are my own. Where not expressly mentioned, non-watermarked images provided by Inn at 500 Capitol.