TL;DR
- Colorful boutique motor lodge in Downtown Boise
- Part of The Nest group, known for revamping derelict hotels
- Fresh, youthful design with creative décor
- Bright, welcoming vibe in the heart of the action
- Check prices here
Vivid blade signs with cute typography? Check. Refurbished motor lodge in the heart Downtown Boise? Check.
Part of a regional chain where each location has a different bird name? *swoon*
It’s hard not to be charmed by this supremely cute boutique hotel, a new addition to Boise’s growing scene.
The Nest group, out of Bozeman, Montana, prides itself in taking derelict buildings and completely revamping them into colorful, welcoming hotels.
The SPARROW is one of three, a super-contemporary space built on the bones of an old hotel that had gone unused for years. Now, it’s a bright spot in the center of the action.
We’ll be clear, if you wanted something stately, full of antiques and damask and ornate luxury, this isn’t it. It’s accommodation with fresh style and youthful vibes.
What are the rooms like?
- Number of rooms: 68
- Room choices: Queen Singles, Queen Doubles, Studios, Bunks, and Suites
- Studios & Suites add pull-out sofas, extra space, and patios
- All rooms include: walk-in showers, bathrobes, HDTVs, desks, mini-fridges
- Decor: black-and-white map murals, illustrations, colorful accents
- Willow Suite features a wet bar
- See all the rooms in detail here
There are many different room types, so it won’t be hard to find something that fits. Queen Singles are definitely cozy, and we’d recommend going for a Studio King if you like a bit of space.
These are spacious rooms with pull-out sofas along with all the amenities. Only the Suites have more room.
All the rooms feature walk-in showers, cozy bathrobes, HDTVs, desks and mini-fridges.
Queen Doubles, and other Kings with sofa beds, are perfect for groups that are okay close-up. There are Bunk options as well.
Suites have private patios, and the Willow Suite boasts a wet bar.
Decor is creative and cool. The walls are covered with black-and-white maps, presumably copied from brochures of nearby ski areas.
They might not save your life if you get lost, but they look great on a wall.
Other walls have different illustrations, and the rest of the decor is either wood or brightly colored fixtures and accents.
It all goes together beautifully.
What are prices like?
And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?
- No traditional breakfast, but attached food truck/café offers coffee & snacks
- Staff recommendations for nearby dining spots
- No on-site fitness center, but free access to nearby gym
Technically, no breakfast, but there’s an attached food truck/café where you can get great coffee and snacks.
The staff is more than qualified to recommend places nearby, and most of the top Downtown restaurants are going to be in walking distance.
There’s also no on-site fitness center, but your stay includes complimentary access to a gym a five-minute walk away.
How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?
- Downtown location, easy access to shops, restaurants, and bars
- 8th Street & Freak Alley are the city’s coolest areas
- Greenbelt for riverside paths and parks (15 minutes away)
- Nearby attractions: Capitol, Boise Art Museum, Zoo, Julia Davis Park
- Day trips: Shafer Butte, trails to Idaho City, The Springs hot spring
- Neighborhoods: Botanical Garden in East End, yoga in Northend, dining on the Bench
The location is great; right in the middle of Downtown Boise, which may not be the most exciting town to wander, but it’s easy and pleasant.
Reputedly the coolest area is around 8th Street and Freak Alley, a cute commercial zone with a marketplace, shopping, and great eating.
The further you go towards the Idaho State Capitol Building the more charming 8th Street gets.
The Greenbelt is your spot for nature, a long stretch of riverside connecting a network of parks and walking paths.
The best way to get there will be next to the Anne Frank Memorial, a 15-minute walk from the hotel.
Head south and you’ll hit Julia Davis Park, where you’ll find the Boise Art Museum and the Zoo. From there, take a wander, cross the river, take a random path in whatever direction.
If you want some of the real great outdoors, Shafer Butte is a lovely hike nearby with some Big Sky views.
There are also plenty of great paths with trailheads off the road towards Idaho City.
Once you’re headed in that direction, why not keep going and hit up The Springs hot spring? You should reserve before adding it to the itinerary, but it’s a lovely day trip.
If you’d like to stay in the metro area, take some time to check out other Boise neighborhoods.
Nature lovers can check out the Botanical Garden in the East End, new-agey types can try a yoga class in the Northend, and foodies can head over toward the Bench.
And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?
Some things guests liked:
“Great hotel at a good price. The staff is super friendly and helpful. Sara really went out of her way for me, helping me carry boxes up to my room. She would not accept a tip, said it was her job….”
“The location is great, conveniently located to shops, restaurants and tons of coffee shops. The facility itself is great, modern and updated. The staff is fantastic!…”
Some things guests didn’t like:
”Off season pricing was a bit steep….”
”Two breakfast burritos a tea and a coffee is $30 and some change, but they let you know up front breakfast ain’t free, but don’t let that deter you from staying here….”
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