TL;DR

Close to river: Just 5 minutes from Boise’s Greenbelt.
Spacious luxury: Comfortable rooms and suites with clean design.
Charming style: Red awnings, teal accents, and playful character.
Friendly staff: Helpful service with a relaxed vibe.
Check prices here

In Boise, the best walking is by the river, and this upscale boutique hotel is just a 5-minute walk from the water.

Besides the location, we’re looking at cute, spacious, luxury accommodation.

With the red awnings, cute little balconies, and teal accents, it looks a bit like a Playmobil hotel, blown up life-size to appeal to the tiny, round-headed, elbow-less doll inside all of us.

Besides a vague sense of plastic-yness, it’s everything you’d want out of a small hotel, pleasant from the ground up in the least pretentious of ways.

Staff are friendly and everything is squeaky-clean. It’s a no-fuss, all comfort way to spend a vacation.

What are the rooms like?

Rooms: 110 total, with spacious layouts starting at 400 sq ft.
Balconies: Available in Premier and Deluxe Kings, plus suites.
Luxury suites: Spa Suite with whirlpool tub; three unique Penthouses.
Amenities: Gas fireplaces, Smart TVs, plush linens, and robes.
See each room in detail here

We really weren’t kidding when we said spacious, with a Standard King offering 400 square feet of space.

Premier and Deluxe Kings include private balconies, while the Standard Queen provides space for 4 guests total.

If you’re looking for a fancier spot, group or couple, take a look at the Suites. You’ve got 3-person Studio and One-Bedroom suites with private balconies.

The real luxury, however, can be found in the two-person Spa Suite, with jetted whirlpool tubs tucked next to even more balconies.

That, or the three different Penthouse styles. One has a homey residential feel, one business-forward and contemporary, the last a romantic event with a risqué glass shower situation.

Penthouse or guestroom, you’re enjoying super-plush linens, cozy robes, gas fireplaces, sitting areas, Smart TVs, Bluetooth clocks, Keurig machines and mini (or normal) fridges.

The decor leans towards the beige, but generally with enough pops of color in throw pillows, blankets and wall art to keep them from getting boring.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

On-site dining: Restaurant reopening as a steakhouse in May 2025.
Room service: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner available meanwhile.
Extras: Complimentary snacks, welcome drinks, and 24-hour gym.
No pool: Spa tubs in suites make up for it.
Convenience: Airport shuttle, valet parking, and free bikes.

There is technically an on-site restaurant, under renovation until May 2025, when it is slated to reopen as a steakhouse.

In the meantime, room service is available for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and we assume the complimentary pantry snacks and welcome drinks are still a go.

There is a 24-hour fitness center. Sadly, no pool, so maybe you do want to spring for one of those whirlpool tubs?

An easy airport shuttle makes flying in and out easy, and valet parking means taking the car out won’t be much trouble either.

You may not need to, however, as the hotel provides complimentary bikes for guests who want to check out the riverfront on wheels.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Greenbelt access: 5 minutes to Boise’s riverside parks and trails.
Nearby culture: Julia Davis Park with museums and galleries.
Downtown vibe: 8th Street shopping, dining, and Freak Alley art.
Day trips: Shafer Butte hikes or hot springs near Idaho City.
Other areas: East End gardens, Northend yoga, and Bench dining.

One of Boise’s main brags is the Greenbelt, a network of parks running along the Boise River. If that sounds nice to you, we’d encourage you to stay at the Inn at 500.

You’re a 5-minute walk, or a 2-minute bike, to the Greenbelt. Take a right at the entrance, and you’ll hit one of the city’s most moving monuments, the Anne Frank Memorial.

Stay at the entrance, and you’re in Julia Davis Park, a cute little pack of green housing the Boise Art Museum the Discover Center, the Black History Museum, and more.

If you’d rather head inland, towards the State Capitol Building, we recommend heading towards 8th Street a cute commercial zone with a pedestrian section.

It has a marketplace, some shopping, and great eating, while Freak Alley Gallery is a spot of creative joy.

Other neighborhoods have a lot to offer as well. The East End gets the nature lovers, with a 33-acre Botanical Garden, yogis to the Coop, and yoga studios over in Northend, and the Bench will take anyone who wants to try some great food.

Or, stay outdoors. Shafer Butte is a nice hike about an hour north, and you’ll find many foothill hikes on the way up.

We say the same about the way to Idaho City, with the added benefit of a cute little hot springs with a café for a full day trip. Call ahead for reservations.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“We did an overnight here and thoroughly enjoyed it. Our room was lovely and it was a treat to have our own fireplace. Our dinner at Richard’s was excellent. The staff were kind and friendly. I would definitely recommend staying here….”

“It was an amazing stay the room. Was beautiful. We will definitely stay there again….”