Another highlight of Downtown Boise is The Lively Restaurant, known for its stunning decor, captivating cocktails, and delectable dishes. Conveniently located in the heart of downtown, just a short walk from the Capitol, local boutiques, and the Boise Art Museum, it’s an ideal stop on any walking tour. Whether you’re savoring their famous meatballs made from the Chef’s grandmother’s cherished recipe, or enjoying a handcrafted seasonal cocktail, dining at The Lively is an experience you won’t want to miss.

The first time Boise, Idaho, hit my radar, I was on a ski trip in Sun Valley in 2022. “Have you been there?” asked newly acquired friends on the lifts. “It’s getting cool,” one local whispered.

When I finally went this summer, I found a midsize, mountain-adjacent community that can appear charmingly small-town or thrillingly cosmopolitan, depending on which block you walk down or who you meet.

Idaho’s premiere restaurant, The Lively, offers a sushi experience like no other.

Award-winning Chef Edward Higgins of ‘The Lively’ joined Idaho Today’s host, Mellisa Paul, at Purple Sage Farms to show the meticulous process of finding the perfect ingredients to inspire a delicious dish at Idaho’s premier restaurant, The Lively. Purple Sage Farms herbs, spices, greens, and vegetables are thoughtfully grown and proudly certified organic on a family farm in Middleton, Idaho. This is one of the chef's favorite sources of fresh produce. "It's one of the first places I stopped and was thoroughly blown away by what Tim Sommer does here."