Entry No. 39 — the Boise file — filed under: speakeasy
Press & Pony
Opened in 2015 by the founders of Boise Fry Company, this craft cocktail bar shares a doorway and a menu with the burger shop next door. The hidden entrance runs through the restaurant, behind a door labeled as the Boise Fry Company corporate office, though you can also slip in through the bar's own door past heavy burgundy drapery. It sits inside the historic Adelmann Building one block from the State Capitol.
The story
Walk into the Boise Fry Company on West Idaho Street, ignore the counter, and look for the door marked "Boise Fry Company corporate office." You didn't hear it from us, but that door doesn't lead to middle management or payroll. Push through it and you'll step straight out of a potato shop and into Press & Pony, a cramped, dimly lit cocktail den tucked inside the historic Adelmann Building just a block from the State Capitol.
The bar was opened in 2015 by the same founders behind the burger joint next door, who split the space into two completely different worlds. On one side you have french fries and ketchup pumps; on the other, heavy burgundy velvet drapes, vintage dark-wood finishes, and bartenders making their own sodas and tonics in-house. You can technically slip in through the bar's direct street door past the curtains, but ducking through a fake corporate office while people wait for their food is half the point.
Despite the secret-passage gimmick, the drink program here is remarkably grounded. The bartenders crank out inventive, highly specific drinks like the Greedy Monk, utilizing custom house-made syrups and sodas in a room that holds only a handful of people at a time. It remains one of the tightest, quietest drinking pockets in downtown Boise, provided you know which office door to open.
What it's like
Expect a narrow, moody space steeped in a 1920s atmosphere where the outside world completely disappears behind heavy drapery. Seating is extremely limited and reservations aren't taken, so your best bet is slipping in right around opening time. Order a basket of fries next door first, then cut through the office door to grab a stool at the bar and watch the bartenders pour custom sodas into high-end cocktails.
The move: Order fries next door first, then sneak through the "corporate office" door into the bar and split inventive cocktails like the Greedy Monk.
📍 Before you go Open Mon-Sat 4pm-midnight; reservations not required. Secret entrance is inside Boise Fry Company.
- 📍 Downtown Boise
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Adelmann Building, 600 block of W Idaho St, Boise, ID 83702
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Thick as Thieves — Follow up your corporate-office exit with another hidden entry down the block, where you'll need to locate a bird-marked side door and dial a vintage rotary phone to get inside.
- Gatsby — If you want to keep the speakeasy theme going, call ahead to get the daily password before walking a block over to this basement door.
- Freak Alley Gallery — Take a short stroll through this massive open-air alley gallery right around the corner to clear your head between drinks.
- 8 Horses Lounge — Continue the historic architectural tour by grabbing your next drink inside an old bank vault just a block away.
Good to know
How do I find the hidden entrance?
Head inside Boise Fry Company at 622 W Idaho St and locate the door marked "Boise Fry Company corporate office." Pushing through it takes you directly into the bar. You can also enter from the street through Press & Pony's main entrance behind the heavy burgundy drapes.
Do I need a password or reservation?
No passwords or reservations are required. Entry and seating are strictly first-come, first-served.
Can I eat food from Boise Fry Company in the bar?
Yes, Press & Pony shares a menu and doorway with the burger shop next door, making it easy to pair custom fries with craft cocktails.
What are the bar's hours?
Press & Pony is open Monday through Saturday from late afternoon (4:00 PM or 5:00 PM) until midnight, and closed on Sundays.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · visitboise.com · boisesocialite.com · Yelp
last checked: 2026-06-24