District Coffee House

The District Coffee House is a great place to study, with fairly large tables and its calm environment. It has a minimalist design that limits potential distractions. It has good but pricey coffee. District Coffee House is an attempt at an upscale cafe, but without the pastries.

I have gone to The District to study and have found there are enough tables, both indoors and outdoors, to have space to study even during busier hours. There are very few options for things to eat, however. They have the typical yogurt-and-granola cups and a few other smaller items that could be found at any Starbucks, but at about twice the price. The coffee is fairly decently priced, but the quality simply does not match up with the price, especially for the typical college student’s budget.

I would recommend The District if you are looking for a place to study or simply want to feel fancy, but not if you are looking for a variety of pastries to choose from or a good Saturday morning breakfast.

Goldy’s Corner

Goldy’s Corner is for those who want the tastiness of but the convenience of a cafe. Though I would recommend the restaurant over the cafe, I still enjoy a coffee when I go to Goldy’s Corner.

Goldy’s Corner has a wide variety of pastries and coffees, as well as meals. I even once enjoyed a chicken pot pie. The only issue I have with Goldy’s Corner is that many of their pastries and meals are not fresh, which often results in dryness. For example, I purchased an apple muffin that lacked an apple flavor and was extremely dry. I would definitely recommend the restaurant over the cafe, as there cafe is fairly small and there is not much room to study, especially during busier hours.

If you are looking to avoid the lines at Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro, Goldy’s Corner is a great option for a quick coffee or meal. However, if you have the time, I would highly advise going to the restaurant.

Blue Sky Bagels

Blue Sky Bagels is a great place for lunch. It tends to be busy, especially on the weekends, so it is not the ideal place for studying. However, they have good coffee and cheap but delicious bagels. A toasted bagel costs only one dollar, and adding cream cheese, peanut butter or any other spread is only a few cents more. They also have plenty of bagel sandwich choices under six dollars.

Blue Sky Bagels is great for those looking for a place to meet their friends for a cheap but tasty lunch. It tends to get crowded and the chairs are not very comfortable, so it is not the best place to study, especially if you need get more than an hour’s worth of work done.

Java Coffee and Cafe

Java is well-known for its coffee and great atmosphere. It is a great place to study or spend time with friends. They are known more for their coffee rather than their food, which is good, but nowhere near the level of deliciousness that Goldy’s is able to produce.

Java’s interior is different than many other coffee shops, with high ceilings and large windows that let in plenty of natural light. The chairs are not the most comfortable, but sufficient for few hours homework while enjoying a nice coffee.

I have had their coffee and their Macho Burrito, both of which were very good, but not out of the ordinary. I found myself comparing their burrito to that of Goldy’s, and most burritos simply can’t compare. Overall, I would recommend Java as a great location to study, as it is fairly quiet and boasts great coffee.

Goldy’s Breakfast Bistro

Trav’s Favorite Breakfast Burrito

Goldy’s is an extremely popular spot for brunch, so much so that you’ll likely have a 30-40 minute wait if you go during peak hours without a reservation. This isn’t without good reason — their food is arguably one of the best in all of Boise.

I have had their Trav’s Favorite Breakfast Burrito and their pancakes. Both were above any other breakfast foods I have ever had. Filled with a sausage, egg, and a variety of vegetables, the burrito was large enough to serve as both my breakfast and lunch. The pancakes, also significant in size, likely had twenty sticks of butter in them, because they tasted far better than any other pancakes I’ve ever had.

Goldy’s is more of a restaurant than a cafe, so studying here is not an option. If you are looking for a great breakfast for a reasonable price, Goldy’s is the place to go (as long as you are willing to wait for a table).

Big City Coffee

Big City is one of the most popular locations for brunch in Downtown Boise. Though it is located a few blocks outside of the main area, this does not keep customers from enjoying their wide variety of breakfast options. They are known for their large portion sizes, as well as their “day-olds”, which are day-old scones and muffins sold for extremely low prices.

I have tried their Rodeo Wrap, a large breakfast burrito, and Farmer’s Daughter, a plate of a variety of fruits and vegetables, eggs, and toast. You can ask for your day-old scone or muffin to be warmed up, making it taste exactly as a fresh pastry would. With the portion sizes so large, you’ll likely be able to take home leftovers for later. Though it might not be the best study spot for students because of the big crowds, if you’re looking for a large, tasty breakfast, Big City is the place to go.

The Big City Rodeo Wrap