Entry No. 38 — the Boise file — filed under: speakeasy
Thick as Thieves
Entry is a working puzzle: find the side door marked with two thieving birds, climb the stairs, and pick up a vintage rotary phone at the top, then dial 102 to make a mirror-covered door swing open. Behind it is a dark, candle-lit room built for intimate, personalized cocktail service. Open since 2022, its technique-driven craft program earned it a national spotlight as BARTENDER.com's Featured Bar in December 2025.
The story
You don't just walk into Thick as Thieves; you dial your way inside. You locate the side door along Idaho Street marked by two thieving birds, walk up the stairwell, and pick up the vintage rotary phone waiting at the top. Dialing 102 triggers a mechanism that swings a mirror-covered door wide open, revealing a dark, candlelit hideaway designed for low-key, high-touch drinking. Operating downtown since 2022, the lounge earned national attention when BARTENDER.com named it their Featured Bar in December 2025.
What sets the cocktail program apart is how it turns Idaho's strict liquor laws to its advantage. State regulations forbid pre-batching cocktails or liquor infusions, so the team relies on serious culinary technique behind the scenes—using Spinzalls for liquid clarification, hand-cutting ice daily for precise dilution, and producing forced carbonation and milk punches from scratch. The menu rotates around bold, culinary-leaning profiles like the green-curry-inspired Greedy Monk and the mango sticky rice-inspired Bangkok Dangerous, alongside secret off-menu drinks revealed only under a black light. If you need something to soak up the spirits, they serve charcuterie plates alongside custom donut holes made in collaboration with local favorite Guru Donuts.
What it's like
Entering feels like a private ritual: you spot the twin-bird logo on the side door, head upstairs, and ring 102 on the rotary phone to break the mirror seal. Inside, you are dropped into a quiet, dim room filled with velvet seating and warm candlelight. The service is high-touch, with bartenders frequently crafting drinks around whatever flavors you describe. Seating is tight, so booking ahead via Resy is strongly advised—couples get 1.5 hours at a table while parties of four or more get two hours. Smart casual attire fits right in, and weeknights offer your best odds if you're trying to walk up without a reservation.
The move: Make the dial-102 entrance part of the night, then settle into a candlelit corner and let the bartenders build cocktails around your tastes.
📍 Before you go Open daily from 4pm; reservations recommended. Enter via the side door with two birds, then dial 102 on the rotary phone upstairs.
- 📍 Downtown Boise
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 620 W Idaho St, Suite 200, Boise, ID 83702
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Press & Pony — Head right next door to contrast Thick as Thieves's candlelit, technique-focused lounge with Press & Pony's compact craft bar.
- Gatsby — Pair two downtown hidden entryways in one evening by swapping the rotary phone for Gatsby's daily phone-code alley entrance.
- Ampersand — Follow up a dark, mirror-doored drink session with panoramic city views from Idaho's highest-elevation bar 14 floors up.
- Freak Alley Gallery — Stroll through the Northwest's largest open-air mural gallery just two blocks away before heading up the stairs for a drink.
Good to know
How do you find and enter Thick as Thieves?
Look for the side door at 620 W Idaho Street marked with two thieving birds. Walk up the stairs, pick up the vintage rotary phone at the landing, and dial 102 to trigger the mirror-covered door.
Do I need a reservation to get in?
Reservations via Resy are strongly encouraged. Parties of two are allotted 1.5 hours of table time, while parties of four or more are allotted 2 hours. Walk-ins are accepted if space allows.
What makes their cocktail program unique?
Because Idaho law prohibits pre-batching cocktails, every drink is made fresh to order. The bar utilizes techniques like Spinzall clarification, milk punches, and daily hand-cut ice, and features secret menu items readable only under black light.
Do they serve food or non-alcoholic drinks?
Yes. They serve custom donut holes created in collaboration with Boise's Guru Donuts alongside charcuterie plates, and they offer a full program of technique-driven non-alcoholic cocktails.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · bartender.com · Yelp · downtownboise.org · sipmagazine.com · totallyboise.com
last checked: 2026-06-24