The Modern Hotel and Bar is a design enthusiast’s dream. The former Travelodge has been retrofitted with mid-century modern flourishes — everything from tufted mustard yellow couches to bulbous pendant lamps and sleek wood paneling. Though the boutique hotel is perfect for urban explorers — it’s only a short walk to the heart of downtown Boise — The Modern also lures patio loungers to its flickering fire pits with stellar craft cocktails and seasonally driven small plates.
While “Mad Men” enthusiasts might have a soft spot for The Modern, not everything harks back to the days of Don Draper. Each of the hotel’s 39 rooms boast cushy pillow-top mattresses and flat screen HDTVs that loop the 39 Rooms Film Fest, a revolving showcase of independent short films. Queen suites feature an airy living room with a dining table, a mini fridge stocked with Idaho craft beer and a standalone Japanese soaking tub so deep you can plunge in up to your ears.
The Modern’s bar opens at 5 p.m. daily and offers creative libations like the Due Diligence, an herbaceous sipper with Ransom Old Tom gin, Averna and wild Idaho hyssop. James Beard-nominated Chef Nate Whitley serves up a rotating menu brimming with farm-fresh fare, like potted liverwurst with fava bean tapenade and fresh pickles.
Snag a ride on The Modern’s shuttle from the Boise Airport. Once you’ve settled in, explore the city on two wheels with one of the hotel’s complimentary cruisers, decked out with a wooden basket big enough to hold a six-pack from a local brewery. For morning fuel, hit up the hotel’s breakfast bar for fresh squeezed orange juice and mini croissants, served Monday through Thursday.
On the weekends, The Modern whips up a proper brunch, with everything from grass-fed pastrami and poached eggs to the beloved Thai Mary, made with lime juice, fish sauce, honey, Thai basil and a sriracha salt rim. After you’ve downed a Mary or two, don’t forget to swing by the bar’s restrooms for a quick dance party. Both bathrooms sport garden gnomes hoisting up mini record players and an assortment of vintage 45s.
