I was in town for business, and I had a local friend tell me, "you gotta go in here. You can tell the bartender what you like flavor wise, and they will make you something even better than you can imagine." And that, my friends, is exactly what happened. I walked in, not sure what to get. The bartender asked me what flavors I like. She went away and made me this epic cocktail. She told me all the things she added, and it was clear, these bartenders are the real deal. They know their stuff. I drank my delightful cocktail way too fast. But it was so damn good. The vibe is fun. They bartenders interact with everyone and do all kinds of cool things with cool ingredients and tell you about it all. Perfect spot for a loungey date night, or a meet up with a friend. There is no food. But plenty of spots on 8th in walking distance. This is probably one of the best cocktail bars I've ever been to. ... and I've been to a lot. :) read more

The Mode Lounge - A special drink the bartender made me - Lounges Near Me - Boise, Idaho

We spotted The Mode Lounge while out exploring downtown Boise. We popped in for a cocktail before heading to dinner. We hoped to grab a patio seat but the patio was packed so we went inside. The inside is dark and decorations are interesting. There is a variety of seating such as high tops, comfortable conversation chairs & tables as well as a booth. It has window seating available as well. We were actually the only people inside the lounge except one person at the bar. I soon realized why everyone was sitting outside after we took a seat and ordered cocktails. The music was so loud we could barely hold a conversation. Regardless, our server Nick was great. He was very attentive and constantly checked in with us for drinks. We ordered a Party Girl Mule, the Chili Gringo Mule and a dirty martini. All were delicious. I prefer my martinis colder and a glass filled to the rim. I felt the martini was lacking volume for the price of the martini. The Mode Lounge patio is located right on the walkway so it looked like a great spot for people watching. We didn't hang out too long as we had a difficult time talking with the loud music but we did like the drinks and our server, Nick. We will stop by again but look for outside seating. read more

See all

My friends and I recently went here for a girls night and it did not disappoint. This is a great pre dinner drinks spot. They have happy hour which is BOGO drinks. Their location makes this spot even better. Located on the corner of 8th street, they are right in the center of it all. This is a great spot to start out your night! read more

Such a cute and classy bar ! Decided to stop in 15 minutes before closing and Ruby the bartender took really good care of us ! Such a sweet and friendly girl ! Very knowledgeable on drinks and allows you to customize drinks due to preferences! Drinks are amazing ! Definitely get enter the dragon for the spring time ! Such a sweet drink ! Loved the ambiance and atmosphere! Would definitely come back to get more drinks and be helped out by Ruby ! read more

See all

My wife and I came here on an in town overnight get away for a night cap. This is a very cool spot located in down town Boise. Whether stopping in to start your night here, middle or end this is a great spot. The ambiance we really enjoyed classic lounge feel with a modern vibe. What we also liked is all their classic cocktails are all homemade and handcrafted. So be a little patient for your whisky sour, manhattan or old fashion because it's worth the wait. Service was A+ and really have no critique of this place at all. We will for sure be back. read more

The Mode Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Super cool spot, cozy atmosphere and friendly staff. Stopped by here in the middle of a Saturday and it was quiet, but I can tell this place gets packed at night. Music was a good vibe too. Not too loud and you can still hold a conversation. Bartenders were also very aware of an underage group that tried to come in and they promptly asked them to leave in a respectful way. read more

Been meaning to try this place and was not disappointed! The menu is balanced with creative cocktails and the classics - all made well! Tried the Old Fashioned and was impressed with the composure of the drink: the ice was impeccable and clearly hand cut, the flavor profile balanced - best I have tried in Boise. Also tried the Kernel Kink, a curious libation, and it was velvety, with a subtle kick from the ancho chile liqueur. Didn't get a picture it was that good! Definitely try this place out. read more

The Mode Lounge - Old Fashioned - the ice was perfect, and so was the drink - Lounges Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Me and some friends needed to buy some time before our dinner reservations so we stopped by this cute and elegantly decorated lounge for a drink. We were seated and served right away and made it just in time for happy hour! read more

The Mode Lounge - Happy hour red blend - Lounges Near Me - Boise, Idaho

The cocktails here are clever, balanced, and worth the hype. Each one feels like its own little discovery, and the menu keeps things interesting without trying too hard. The space has a relaxed retro feel with soft lighting and comfy vintage seating that makes it easy to settle in. It is my first stop before an afternoon of shopping or a night out because it always sets the right tone. read more

Stopped by The Mode on a recent trip to Boise and really enjoyed this spot (and was wondering why in the world it took me so long to get here!). Situated on bustling 8th & Idaho, The Mode serves up a variety of cocktails, wine, beer, bubbly, and cider. They also serve small plates and nearby Pie Hole pizza is also served here (what's not to love about that?!). Inside has a lovely upscale lounge feel, filled with large windows overlooking 8th & Idaho. What is it about cocktails by flickering candle light that is just one of the best things on planet earth? I don't know but The Mode has it and so I'm 100% in. Get to it! read more

The Mode Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Boise, Idaho

As a Californian, people have this misconception that Idaho is absurdly conservative. Few folks who say this have actually been to Boise, or let alone Idaho. My partner and I went out for dinner with another gay couple across the street at Fork. Afterwards they suggested we grab a nightcap at The Mode Lounge--interestingly not the gay bar on the opposing corner. Mode Lounge is right in the heart of downtown Boise off N 8th and W Idaho Streets. We hopped a squat on the small outdoor patio with excellent people watching opportunities. They had an amazing selection of cocktails and libations with punny names. I appreciated that the menu changes seasonally. It's also worth mentioning that they have Happy Hour pricing from 3-6 pm daily. All of our various drinks were delicious, well-balanced and surprisingly affordable (though most things all compared to California standards). They also have pizza available by the slice, whole pie or CheesyGarlicStix for those with the munchies. If you go inside the lounge you'll find yourself in a very sleek/sexy, dark-lit lounge. The circular bar itself is gorgeous, while the seating is quaint with booths and private nooks. Ideal for a first or second date. I personally appreciated the feminist touch and risque art covering the walls, too. Extra bonus star for them supplying tampons and candy in the gender-neutral "potties"! Whenever I find myself back in Boise, I'll be sure to hit up Mode. read more

See all

We had a glass of Chardonnay during happy hour on the terrace. Although cold, they have heaters which help. This is a stylish and charming place to have a control ahead of dinner nearby. read more

The Mode Lounge - Chardonnay - Lounges Near Me - Boise, Idaho

The Mode Lounge is located on 8th St and is a great spot to grab a drink downtown. The vibe is sophisticated and fun, with live music often playing outside during the summer. Their indoor and outdoor patio seating in the warmer months is ample- I've always been able to find a spot here for me and my crew! They have Happy Hour every day from 4-7 pm with great priced drinks! My favorites off of the Happy Hour menu are the Dark n' Stormy, French 75, and the Daiquiri. They even have a "You Call it" option with any mixed drink for $6.50! My non-happy hour go-to is their Party Girl mule made with Idaho party animal vodka, lavender bitters, and grapefruit. They also have a charcuterie and cheese plate if you're needing some small bites to accompany your cocktails. The Mode is open until 2 am and is a great spot to meet up with friends downtown. read more

See all

Great great cocktail place. The range of drinks is impressive and you will undoubtably find something new to try. The indoor and outdoor options offer a nice choice of vibe and scenery, especially in the warmer months. The location is great as it is so centrally located. It does get busy later in the night, but that only makes is more fun. Recommend if you are looking for a good drink spot, pre or post dinner! read more

Excellent selection of libations. A couple of downsides are that pricing is not listed on menu and not everything on the menu was available , somewhat understandable considering the market trends and rarities. Overall great place to grab a drink. Only food option was pizza by the slice from next door. read more

See all

Didn't love the drink I got, but it was a special so I'll give them a pass. Loved the vibe, good service, very pretty.

We stopped in for a cocktail. They were not busy. The spot has a 70's vibe with plenty of longe seating both inside and on the patio. There were quite a few bourbons to chose from. Drinks can from a solid mixologist. They have lots of drinks to choose from and quite a selection with a nice vibe. Decent place to have drinks downtown. read more

The Mode Lounge - Old Fashioned - Lounges Near Me - Boise, Idaho

My son took me here on my birthday for a few cocktails... loved the vibe of the place in general. The best part was when our server came over. She was just so cute with her pink hair and she was just the sweetest! When chatting with us she found out it was my birthday, so she came back with a birthday shot for me. Just a super cute place with great service! Would definitely go back again! read more

We got to the place 20 mins after the happy hour ended, so it was empty. We ordered 2 vodka martinis. Took about 25 minutes to get them (our waitress explained they messed up the fist batch, and had to redo them). When my drink arrived, it was the tiniest vodka martini I've seen. Save yourself time and money, and go somewhere else. read more

Excellent service. The food and drinks were delicious. The staff was superb. Well worth the visit. read more

See all

Tanner made me the best drink ever!!! Brock was very kind as well! Will go again to see some of my favorite people!

Just love this little corner joint! I always try something new when I come in and this time did not disappoint. Amanda was behind the bar, quite charming and a solid mixologist. She made me 3 different drinks, all bourbon based and the palate was not disappointed. Anytime I'm downtown, I have to stop in and have at least one! read more

The Mode Lounge - Main bar, great selection for bourbon and mule cocktails, notable wine list - Lounges Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Super fun spot in a great location. They have great traditional cocktails plus yummy seasonal ones. Staff was friendly and welcoming. I will be back. read more

The Mode Lounge boasts great decor, comfortable seating, and attentive service. Their happy hour deals are a definite plus. However, the gradual increase in music volume can make casual conversations challenging. Overall, a solid four-star experience. read more

Excellent spot to grab a drink downtown. Great list of a huge variety of cocktails, happy hour everyday 3-6, and a very relaxed, eclectic vibe. Staff is always super friendly and helpful. read more

WTF Listen, I am sure not all of Boise is made up of assholes, right? So, we come here around 9 on a Friday night. Our waitress is nice. Nice, but a complete hot fuc*#+g mess. First, she comes by and I order an old fashioned and Wifey orders the Party Girl. About 20 minutes and no drinks later, hot mess returns and apologizes becuz there's a "new bartender trainee" and things are getting crazy. She proceeds to ask us if we already ordered drinks. Huh? Uhh, yeah Einstein, we ordered from YOU. She says ok and apologizes again. I kid you not, not 5 seconds after she leaves, someone delivers our drinks. It starts raining a bit. Wifey and I espy a nearby table with umbrella that a couple vacates. We sidle on over. Our hot mess comes out and tells us she is sorry, but there is a party of 6 who have been waiting for the table. Uhh, ok. We move back to our original table. Again, no kidding - a couple, two flogging people are the only ones who sit at the table. Apparently, the other four in their party are imbued with invisibility superpowers because we never see them. Forgot to mention that our waitress told us, "I'll get you an umbrella for your table." I will give you one guess as to how that turned out. It gets better. We tell hot fricking mess that we want to order a pizza with pepperoni and pineapple. Ok she says. 15 minutes later, she comes by and tells us there is no more pepperoni. Wtf. Mode Lounge gets its pizza from the joint next door and it fuc£+*g looks pretty clear that pepperoni pizza is flowing out the door. Whatever. We ask for bacon and pineapple. About 30 minutes later, hot mess comes back. Get this - she now tells us that the pizza joint told her that it would be an hour wait to get our pie. We are done. Farg it. Get our bill. We have now spent about 2.5 hours here and all we have to show for it is 4 drinks, empty stomachs and a bad case of the frizzies due to the sprinkles. We pay. We go next door to the pizza place as by this time, it is the only farking joint that is still serving food. We get a couple slices with no drama. Forgive me Boise, but your city is inhabited by a whole slew of arseholes. Half-ass employees who have no reasonable comprehension of good customer service. It is a theme that we encountered upon several stops in this town. read more

Enjoy The Triptych by Tyler Armstrong; this cocktail showcases 3 Amari's - Averna, Campari, Cynar, Antico Formula and Rittenhouse Rye. Robust. Aromatic Salinity. Citrus Highlights. Available now until the end of summer. read more

The Mode Lounge - The Triptych by Tyler Armstrong - Lounges Near Me - Boise, Idaho

See all

The Mode has always been a favorite of mine and it continues to get better. A nice addition has been the pizza and salad menu from Pie Hole next door, just gives something decent to eat while you're enjoying their excellent drinks. Waitstaff and bartenders are excellent and the owner is hands on and works really hard to please the customers. A nice happy hour too. Most importantly, there's a nice drink menu. Both creative cocktails and old standbys are mixed perfectly. Plus, the location at the corner of 8th and Idaho makes it a great place to people watch with the new mall-type setup on 8th. Outside patio and inside area so it's good for all year round. Plan on sitting for a while, this is a place where people like to go and kick back and have several drinks and visit with friends. It's a great place to enjoy. read more

See all

Tanner is awesome. Cocktails was WILD. It had a flower in it from South America that numbs your pallet. Great environment. Highly recommend

Visited The Mode Lounge recently on a Friday night during happy hour and again we had a another positive experience. The staff is always friendly and provides great service. The Party girl cocktail is not in Happy Hour but a fun drink to try. read more

See all

Drinks are expensive, but good. Visiting here from Portland so not much different as far as that is concerned. Sitting outside the flies are abundant, other restaurants have the fly deterrents. Fun atmosphere! read more

Creativity is a spark. It can be excruciating when we're rubbing two rocks together and getting nothing. And it can be intensely satisfying when the flame catches and a new idea sweeps around the world. Jonah Lehrer The Mode Lounge, located in downtown Boise is a trendy and relaxing lounge. 48th person to review The Mode on Yelp. My 469th review. I added the above quote because each drink is specially created by the mixologists, who are SUPER awesome and approachable. I really enjoyed talking with them and watching them make my drinks. They do some next level stuff here! I ordered the Accidents happen, which was so awesome to watch be made. It's pretty labor intensive and magical to the eyes. My drink was literally on fire! I, personally, never seen this be done. The neatest thing was that I couldn't drink it if I smelled it because it's so strong! Close your and drink-- trust me, it's well worth it and tasty, too! I ordered a second drink, but can't remember what it was because the next level took me to the next level! Highly suggest. Thank you Mode for allowing my friends and I to relax, talk, view your creativity, the cool conversations, and the New Orleans suggestions! read more

See all

Overall I'd give Mode 3 stars except...Tyler is awesome (hence, the extra star). My husband and I had him wait on us in late May during our anniversary, and now my husband brings all his clients back. The bar can be a bit slow to turn out drinks and the patio and interior are just ok. Let's be honest, there's a lot of competition in Downtown Boise. But, the location is amazing and if you're lucky enough to get Tyler, you'll have a good time. read more

This was a fun place to visit and hang out. I loved the decor with the mismatched chairs and the dim ambiance. I ordered the yazi ginger mule which was delish. The ginger beer has a really good zing. Def a cool place to hang out and have some drinks. Keep in mind this is a lounge so just snack foods. read more

The Mode Lounge is lined with windows looking out on both 8th and Idaho streets making it a great place to watch the world scoot by on a beautiful Boise January night. We did that for an hour or so while we sipped a glass of wine from their modestly sized and reasonably priced (@$6 - $14 / glass) list of wines (mostly imported, a few domestic) while we enjoyed the cool ambiance and warm service. We're enough fans that on some future visit to Boise, we'll be back. VIBE The owner of The Mode (which is in the space once occupied by the late Grape Escape) also owns Pie Hole pizza next door and those two spaces could not be more different. The Mode is dark and sleek inside; dark tin ceilings, black tables and chairs, a couple of black leather-like lined booths punctuated with pops of sparkly brights from the lights over the bar and from the street outside. Music mix was appropriately "cool bar" and set at a nice low level to support conversation. SEATING We arrived around 6:30p and tables in the main room were full with mostly business attired folks it seemed but there were a few seats open at the high stools at the curved bar. Associated digression... notice how the standard height seating fills up first. What's up with all the high stool seating in other venues? Good for The Mode for realizing not all guests want to or can (as in my case) perch on stools. SERVICE From greeting by the bartenders when we walked in to the server who took our wine order and delivered , service was very friendly. Trust me when I tell you we look nothing like their target demographic and yet we received welcome as if we were. Very nice. LIBATIONS Had we wanted cocktails instead of wine we would have been able to select from a couple of dozen house specialties (@$9 - $11). There is even one cocktail called The $25 Cocktail. (I'll let you guess what the price is.) Maybe a dozen wines by bottle ranging from $48 - $89. EATS We weren't jazzed by the appetizer menu of maybe eight items and mostly raw, cold food service like steak tartare, yellowtail crudo and lox. (Prices range $8 to $16). Also the food menu noted the servings were for four, as I recall. So we enjoyed our wine and headed to Tony's Pizzeria Teatro a couple of blocks away for eats. (Highly recommend Tony's.). The table of four "suits" behind us was headed for Ruth's Chris after their cocktails they said. I point out the good idea tor The Mode as launching point before dinner somewhere downtown. THIS N THAT: 1) PARKING: On street or in garage. As visitors to Boise we are always surprised, delighted really, that one can often actually find a spot on street downtown. 2) ACCESSIBILITY: No accessible parking on this block. Level in door and all on one floor throughout. Only high seating at bar but all other seating is table height. Loos are accessible too. 3) HOURS: 4p to 2a, seven days a week. 4) FUN AT THE LOO: Seriously. There is a M on one door. Translated to be Men that turned out to be so. The other door had no lettering so assumed it was W. Correct. The fun surprise is they have an old "vanity table" set alongside the sink with a scented candle burning and a bowl of Dilettante mint truffles wrapped in green foil. So, after one has done what one came to the Ladies to do, one can take a luscious chocolate for later. And if one is very nice, one will take one to share with one's spouse. Noting that gender has privileges, there are no chocolates in the Gents noted my hubby to our server. She laughed and said they hoped the ladies would help themselves to enough to share. :-) 5) NICE SURPRISES: a) WIFI hot spot. b) Outdoor seating to be added come warmer weather. read more

The Mode Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Boise, Idaho

See all

First of all, Brian is completely amazing when it comes to mixing drinks. I don't even know the name of anything we had- maybe they didn't even HAVE names- but they were created with each person's taste in mind. Great selection of wines and beers. Not to mention- the truffles in the powder room- A-mazing! read more

The Mode Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Had a pleasant experience with a tasty 8th Street Whiskey Sour. While we were sitting in the bar we enjoyed the drink and a had the chance to taste a new concoction for the fall menu curtesy of the bar tender testing it out. I enjoyed watching the waitress interact with other customers because she was really nice and pleasant. They have really nice glassware and use the fancy chunky and spherical ice which makes one feel a bit sophisticated. read more

The Mode Lounge - 8th Street Whiskey Sour - Lounges Near Me - Boise, Idaho

I have a weak spot for Moscow Mules, and The Mode Lounge has absolutely made its way to the top of my list for the best Moscow Mules. The Party Girl ($12) features a wonderful inclusion of grapefruit ginger soda (seen tipped over in the mug). Although the drinks are slightly on the pricier end, the size of this Moscow Mule made up for the price alone. The Mode is also located in a wonderful spot of downtown, and boasts a generous front patio with live music playing every once in awhile. Tip: I hear the bathroom is also a big hit for some bomb-ass selfies read more

The Mode Lounge - The Party Girl - Moscow Mule - Lounges Near Me - Boise, Idaho

All I have to say is go visit Jon Michael! (Nickname Drake) Best bartender in Boise! Come here for the craft cocktails and he'll throw in the attitude for free (good attitude) read more

The venue, drinks and DJ are pretty good actually. The 2 star rating is due to the service/wait times. We came in on a Saturday night (table of 2) and took a seat at a table. It took 15-20 minutes for one of the waiters to come by and take our order. We ordered 3 drinks. Another 15-20 minutes goes by and the waiter says the drinks are being made right now. 20 minutes later and still no drinks. At this point it's been close to an hour. No waters, no drinks. Other tables were being served before us multiple times so we left. I want to point out that in a previous experience, I observed a table that ordered drinks, and it took so long that they got up and left. And one of the waiters chased the group down and tried to force them to pay. Completely unprofessional! The Mode suffers from no competition. They have a prime location downtown offering a more mature environment than a lot of the bars/clubs in the area. If you're looking for a quick drink on a weekend night, The Mode is not the place for you. read more