Guidebook for Downtown Idaho Falls

Stephanie
Guidebook for Downtown Idaho Falls

Food Scene

A spendy but very popular indie restaurant/gastropub located in a former railroad bunkhouse, a short ten minute walk from the house. Walk-ins may be accommodated but reservations recommended. Relaxed atmosphere, three-season backyard seating (our favorite!) with gas fires, wine, beer and full bar with specialty cocktails. Chef Jay changes up the menu frequently. They’re famous for their variety of Wagyu and nearly everything is made without gluten. Don't miss: Buffalo Cauliflower, Lamb lollipops, coconut shrimp, New Zealand salmon, any of the steaks, other seasonal offerings like roast pheasant.
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D'railed
468 N Eastern Ave
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A spendy but very popular indie restaurant/gastropub located in a former railroad bunkhouse, a short ten minute walk from the house. Walk-ins may be accommodated but reservations recommended. Relaxed atmosphere, three-season backyard seating (our favorite!) with gas fires, wine, beer and full bar with specialty cocktails. Chef Jay changes up the menu frequently. They’re famous for their variety of Wagyu and nearly everything is made without gluten. Don't miss: Buffalo Cauliflower, Lamb lollipops, coconut shrimp, New Zealand salmon, any of the steaks, other seasonal offerings like roast pheasant.
Big dense loaves of delicious sandwich bread and baguettes, cookies, sweet breads, muffins, cinnamon rolls. Good drip coffee, espresso, specialty sandwiches, soups and salads to stay or go. Friendly warm place with big windows perfect for sitting and reading or people watching. Drop in for a cuppa and sample some bread.
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Great Harvest Bakery & Cafe
360 A St
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Big dense loaves of delicious sandwich bread and baguettes, cookies, sweet breads, muffins, cinnamon rolls. Good drip coffee, espresso, specialty sandwiches, soups and salads to stay or go. Friendly warm place with big windows perfect for sitting and reading or people watching. Drop in for a cuppa and sample some bread.
Delicious authentic Thai food and artful sushi. Naturally easy for vegan and gluten-free options. Take-out. Super-friendly family and waitstaff. Beer and wine bar.
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Krung Thep Thai Cuisine
366 Shoup Ave
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Delicious authentic Thai food and artful sushi. Naturally easy for vegan and gluten-free options. Take-out. Super-friendly family and waitstaff. Beer and wine bar.
A great family run hole-in-the-wall authentic Mexican bakery serving lunch and dinner as well. The building and furnishings are time-worn and simple, but we enjoy it. A busy lunch hotspot, but also good for takeout or a picnic - the river greenbelt is only a block away. Open Tues-Sun. Delicious fresh tortillas by the package, tres leches cake, flan, sweet breads. Love: spicy pork tacos, beans and rice.
Los Panchos Bakery
486 F St
A great family run hole-in-the-wall authentic Mexican bakery serving lunch and dinner as well. The building and furnishings are time-worn and simple, but we enjoy it. A busy lunch hotspot, but also good for takeout or a picnic - the river greenbelt is only a block away. Open Tues-Sun. Delicious fresh tortillas by the package, tres leches cake, flan, sweet breads. Love: spicy pork tacos, beans and rice.
Popular authentic family-run Mexican restaurant. Not within easy walking distance however.
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Morenita's Restaurant
450 Whittier Street
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Popular authentic family-run Mexican restaurant. Not within easy walking distance however.
Family-run old-school Chinese restaurant popular with many for their friendly staff and simple food . No beer or wine. Open 7 days.
Yummy House
354 W Broadway St
Family-run old-school Chinese restaurant popular with many for their friendly staff and simple food . No beer or wine. Open 7 days.
Family-owned coffee shop roasting , serving and selling single origin coffee. Serving fresh arepas and pastries and teas as well. Gluten-free options.
Chapolera Coffee Company
335 1st St
Family-owned coffee shop roasting , serving and selling single origin coffee. Serving fresh arepas and pastries and teas as well. Gluten-free options.
City Bagels is not just bagels- but also a nice place to grab coffee, a specialty dessert, bagel sandwiches for breakfast or lunch. Open on Sunday too!
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City Bagels and Bakery
369 Shoup Ave
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City Bagels is not just bagels- but also a nice place to grab coffee, a specialty dessert, bagel sandwiches for breakfast or lunch. Open on Sunday too!
Fine dining, but casual, always delicious with a diverse menu. Family-owned and operated by the friendliest people. We’ve never had anything but a five star experience here. It’s also quiet and easy to enjoy conversation and an intimate dinner out. But they also accommodate groups. Reservations generally needed.
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Copper Rill Restaurant
415 River Pkwy
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Fine dining, but casual, always delicious with a diverse menu. Family-owned and operated by the friendliest people. We’ve never had anything but a five star experience here. It’s also quiet and easy to enjoy conversation and an intimate dinner out. But they also accommodate groups. Reservations generally needed.
Family-owned and operated downtown. Take out and delivery available, but dining in is a treat when you get to visit with the very friendly and helpful owners. If you are a pho novice, they’ll help you with the menu.
Hot Spring PHO - Vietnamese Cuisine
376 Shoup Ave
Family-owned and operated downtown. Take out and delivery available, but dining in is a treat when you get to visit with the very friendly and helpful owners. If you are a pho novice, they’ll help you with the menu.
Located downtown across the river. Gigantic menu and consistently good food. Always friendly wait staff and exceptional service.
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Jalisco's Mexican Restaurant
325 River Pkwy
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Located downtown across the river. Gigantic menu and consistently good food. Always friendly wait staff and exceptional service.
Smitty’s is that traditional pancake house locals have been going to since childhood. Breakfast is served all day.
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Smittys Pfannkuchen- und Steakhaus
645 W Broadway St
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Smitty’s is that traditional pancake house locals have been going to since childhood. Breakfast is served all day.
Dine-in, take-out and delivery pizza from the downtown. Good stuff.
Lucy's New York Style Pizzeria
560 W Broadway St
Dine-in, take-out and delivery pizza from the downtown. Good stuff.
A diverse from-scratch menu for your whole group, options for meat lovers to vegans, and savvy about food allergies. Gluten-free kitchen space and excellent fresh baked GF breads and empanadas. Family-run and delicious.
Altavita Restaurant
313 Park Ave
A diverse from-scratch menu for your whole group, options for meat lovers to vegans, and savvy about food allergies. Gluten-free kitchen space and excellent fresh baked GF breads and empanadas. Family-run and delicious.
Nice ambiance in an historic downtown building. Serves Steve and Harry's fresh local roasts. Open daily, including Sundays - a rarity downtown. Nice selection of breakfast and lunch items.
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Villa Coffeehouse - Downtown IF
344 Park Ave
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Nice ambiance in an historic downtown building. Serves Steve and Harry's fresh local roasts. Open daily, including Sundays - a rarity downtown. Nice selection of breakfast and lunch items.
Idaho Falls' only late night internet cafe. Egyptian themed, serving espresso, coffee, Italian sodas, light snack meals and other drinks. Free Wi-fi. Open 8A - 10P weekdays, Sundays 8A - 6P (rare downtown.)
The Egyptian Coffee House
475 Park Avenue
Idaho Falls' only late night internet cafe. Egyptian themed, serving espresso, coffee, Italian sodas, light snack meals and other drinks. Free Wi-fi. Open 8A - 10P weekdays, Sundays 8A - 6P (rare downtown.)
A new indie spot on the west side of the river, near the Riverwalk. Good reviews for drinks and good vibe.
The Nice Spot Mercantile and Coffee Bar
395 Lindsay Boulevard
A new indie spot on the west side of the river, near the Riverwalk. Good reviews for drinks and good vibe.
"Idaho's oldest continuously running cafe." A favorite of locals for many decades. A true old-school cafe and coffee shop with fresh pie, scones, biscuits and gravy, chicken-fried steak, burgers and fries, traditional breakfasts. Bottomless coffee mugs. Generous portions. You won't be disappointed.
North Hi-Way Cafe
460 Northgate Mile
"Idaho's oldest continuously running cafe." A favorite of locals for many decades. A true old-school cafe and coffee shop with fresh pie, scones, biscuits and gravy, chicken-fried steak, burgers and fries, traditional breakfasts. Bottomless coffee mugs. Generous portions. You won't be disappointed.

Drinks & Nightlife

Marcellar's is a downtown wine and brews shop also serving by the glass. It's been our "Cheers" for years - we love it. Great selection and knowledgable friendly staff. Periodic live music jams and always a friendly local regulars crowd. Thursdays are $10 tasting nights starting at 5:30. They offer take-out menus for all of the downtown restaurants so you can order food in if you like.
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Marcellar's Vintage Wines and Brews
431 Park Ave
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Marcellar's is a downtown wine and brews shop also serving by the glass. It's been our "Cheers" for years - we love it. Great selection and knowledgable friendly staff. Periodic live music jams and always a friendly local regulars crowd. Thursdays are $10 tasting nights starting at 5:30. They offer take-out menus for all of the downtown restaurants so you can order food in if you like.
Locally owned by some of our favorite neighbors, IBC has a nice tasting room and a great outdoor seating area. Lots of live music from singer/songwriters to bands to local Celtic jam sessions on Tuesday nights. Often has a food truck but you can also order in or bring your own dinner from home (picnic basket entry hall closet). It's closeby, near the river south of the downtown. It can be a little tricky to find - the entrances are not on main roads but rather back in an old industrial area. We are often on bike and go the back way on Chamberlain. Also - feel free to fill the growler (in the cabinet left of the sink) with award-winning beer to bring home to the Betty Jo.
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Idaho Brewing Company
775 S Capital Ave
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Locally owned by some of our favorite neighbors, IBC has a nice tasting room and a great outdoor seating area. Lots of live music from singer/songwriters to bands to local Celtic jam sessions on Tuesday nights. Often has a food truck but you can also order in or bring your own dinner from home (picnic basket entry hall closet). It's closeby, near the river south of the downtown. It can be a little tricky to find - the entrances are not on main roads but rather back in an old industrial area. We are often on bike and go the back way on Chamberlain. Also - feel free to fill the growler (in the cabinet left of the sink) with award-winning beer to bring home to the Betty Jo.
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Tap-N-Fill
1494 Milligan Rd
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Parks & Nature

A Don't-Miss that is just a few minutes walk from the guest house! A nicely paved trail loops 14 miles along the banks of the Snake River. Beautiful views, great for exercise. You can travel the entire trail or cross the river at Pancheri or Broadway and do it in shorter pieces. Head west on Maple St., cross the RR tracks and Yellowstone highway. Maple then becomes Cliff Street. Cliff intersects the trail two blocks west at S. Capital Avenue. Enjoy!
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Idaho Falls
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A Don't-Miss that is just a few minutes walk from the guest house! A nicely paved trail loops 14 miles along the banks of the Snake River. Beautiful views, great for exercise. You can travel the entire trail or cross the river at Pancheri or Broadway and do it in shorter pieces. Head west on Maple St., cross the RR tracks and Yellowstone highway. Maple then becomes Cliff Street. Cliff intersects the trail two blocks west at S. Capital Avenue. Enjoy!
Idaho Falls' largest and oldest park, containing the Zoo, ball diamonds, ice arena, tennis courts, playgrounds - including one that is especially accessible. There is a lot of green space with plenty of places to gather. Picnic shelters can be reserved through the City Parks and Recreation Dept.
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Tautphaus Park
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Idaho Falls' largest and oldest park, containing the Zoo, ball diamonds, ice arena, tennis courts, playgrounds - including one that is especially accessible. There is a lot of green space with plenty of places to gather. Picnic shelters can be reserved through the City Parks and Recreation Dept.

Arts & Culture

The MOI is partly housed in what was our Carnegie library, with a large addition and a second under construction. It's only a five minute walk from the house. In addition to the current traveling history and science exhibits, the permanent exhibits tell the stories of early Idaho Falls, The West, and the Atomic Age. A children's play area is popular with its settler's cabin, teepee and forest playground. The kids never want to leave. Open 7 days. Monday family nights with discounted group admissions.
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Museum von Idaho
200 N Eastern Ave
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The MOI is partly housed in what was our Carnegie library, with a large addition and a second under construction. It's only a five minute walk from the house. In addition to the current traveling history and science exhibits, the permanent exhibits tell the stories of early Idaho Falls, The West, and the Atomic Age. A children's play area is popular with its settler's cabin, teepee and forest playground. The kids never want to leave. Open 7 days. Monday family nights with discounted group admissions.
The Art Museum is a quick walk from the house. Just take Maple across the tracks down Cliff, cross Capital and you’ll be there.
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The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho
300 S Capital Ave
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The Art Museum is a quick walk from the house. Just take Maple across the tracks down Cliff, cross Capital and you’ll be there.
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Willard Arts Center
498 A St
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Interactive arts center for kids. Fun green screen, turbo twister slide, virtual creation stations. A very short walk away.
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ARTitorium on Broadway
271 W Broadway St
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Interactive arts center for kids. Fun green screen, turbo twister slide, virtual creation stations. A very short walk away.

Entertainment & Activities

This is our oldest live performance theater opened in 1919 and beauifully restored in the 1990's after decades of disrepair. For many years it was the Paramount Movie Theater.
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The Colonial Theater
450 A St
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This is our oldest live performance theater opened in 1919 and beauifully restored in the 1990's after decades of disrepair. For many years it was the Paramount Movie Theater.
1930’s/40’s theater split in two. Heavy on the family and kids shows. Owners have maintained the vintage vibe. Shows and snacks are shockingly affordable.
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Centre Theatre
461 Park Ave
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1930’s/40’s theater split in two. Heavy on the family and kids shows. Owners have maintained the vintage vibe. Shows and snacks are shockingly affordable.
Nearby in the downtown. Fun and challenging! Great for datenight or a group.
Idaho Escape Rooms
387 Park Ave
Nearby in the downtown. Fun and challenging! Great for datenight or a group.
Just blocks away downtown. Lots of family and kids’ activities.
Idaho Falls Public Library
457 W Broadway St
Just blocks away downtown. Lots of family and kids’ activities.

Essentials

Closest to the Betty Jo - nice grocery store with bakery, deli, pharmacy, Starbucks, and decent wine and beer selection. Produce department offers several pre-prepped options for quick meals. Good meat/seafood selection, and my favorite... affordable fresh floral.
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Albertsons
590 E 17th St
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Closest to the Betty Jo - nice grocery store with bakery, deli, pharmacy, Starbucks, and decent wine and beer selection. Produce department offers several pre-prepped options for quick meals. Good meat/seafood selection, and my favorite... affordable fresh floral.
Smallish natural food store with many organically produced items. Big supplement section, natural skin and hair care.
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Natural Grocers
1270 E 17th St
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Smallish natural food store with many organically produced items. Big supplement section, natural skin and hair care.
Nice grocery store with a good organic produce section. Sushi chef in the deli - very good. Decent beer and wine selection. Also has pharmacy, garden center, clothing, sporting goods, housewares, Starbucks.
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Fred Meyer Pharmacy
1555 Northgate Mile
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Nice grocery store with a good organic produce section. Sushi chef in the deli - very good. Decent beer and wine selection. Also has pharmacy, garden center, clothing, sporting goods, housewares, Starbucks.
Very large grocery store with a nice bulk section, including fresh ground peanut, almond and cashew butters. Large selection of fresh bagels in the bakery.
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WinCo Foods
333 N Woodruff Ave
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Very large grocery store with a nice bulk section, including fresh ground peanut, almond and cashew butters. Large selection of fresh bagels in the bakery.

Shopping

New boutique clothing store and a local line of lip balms, candles and other handmade items. Great vibe!
Poppy & Pout
396 Park Ave
New boutique clothing store and a local line of lip balms, candles and other handmade items. Great vibe!
New indie bookshop in the heart of Downtown "offering new books, stationery, and literary adventures." Great atmosphere with a variety of events from story time to spelling bees to community lecture series. Good variety across all genre's and ages. We are so happy to welcome Winnie and Mo's!
Winnie & Mo's Bookshop
343 A Street
New indie bookshop in the heart of Downtown "offering new books, stationery, and literary adventures." Great atmosphere with a variety of events from story time to spelling bees to community lecture series. Good variety across all genre's and ages. We are so happy to welcome Winnie and Mo's!
Popular consignment clothing store downtown.
Lily's Too
318 Park Ave
Popular consignment clothing store downtown.
Another quality consignment clothing store downtown, not to be confused with Lily's Too. They are two separate shops.
Lily's Selected Consignments
257 A St
Another quality consignment clothing store downtown, not to be confused with Lily's Too. They are two separate shops.
More than 40 local artisans offer handmade wares in the shop! Glasswork, leatherwork, sterling jewelry, woodwork, original art and prints, and much more! Regular hours are M-F, 11-5, and Saturdays from 10-4!
The Handmade Idaho Shop
430 Park Avenue
More than 40 local artisans offer handmade wares in the shop! Glasswork, leatherwork, sterling jewelry, woodwork, original art and prints, and much more! Regular hours are M-F, 11-5, and Saturdays from 10-4!
Boutique shopping right next to our favorite wine shop! Too much to mention - great place for cards and gifts, jewelry, housewares, bags, lotions and soaps and more.
Lemon Meringue
425 Park Ave
Boutique shopping right next to our favorite wine shop! Too much to mention - great place for cards and gifts, jewelry, housewares, bags, lotions and soaps and more.
Coffee shop with associated mercantile that has a lot of fun and unique shopping.
The Nice Spot Mercantile and Coffee Bar
395 Lindsay Boulevard
Coffee shop with associated mercantile that has a lot of fun and unique shopping.
Bumble and Bleat Soapery