This place missed out on the fifth star, just because I'm old. They had a simply awesome western band Friday night, who were very competent, tight, and sounded great. With their 4 guitars, they put on a fantastic show for the 10 people in the audience. A walk down Main St, and every young person is out here either walking down it, or driving with the stereo up loooud. Half of them are wearing baseball caps, all are having a great time. As an old person I have the urge to tell someone "Don't do anything I wouldn't do". but I wouldn't want to give them a chilling vision of their future. read more

I can dig it! I'm not really a "night owl", so going to a bar on a Saturday night is suuuuuper out of my comfort zone. I came here at probably 10ish, and it was already starting to fill up. My friends and I snagged a table and stayed for around an hour as we sipped on some Moscow Mules. Thoughts/things I noticed: + Loud, But the reason it's loud is that there is fun music playing - so this isn't a bad thing. + Dimly lit (as a bar should be). + Spacious with lots of different places to sit/mingle: bar-top area, table area, and dance floor. + Speedy service: we ordered our drinks and had them maybe 3 minutes later. + Strong, but tasty Moscow Mule. Only disappointment was that it wasn't served in one of those cool mugs. It also seemed like a smaller portion size than the Mules I've had at other places...which is perhaps why it tasted so strong. #AhaMoment + Overall, cool environment for sitting back and grabbing a drink with your friends. Not the best place for carrying on a long/deep conversation (as it is loud), but nonetheless a cool place to hang out. + If you wanted to, you could definitely get rowdy here, but you can also just relax. This bar gives room for both types of night owls. read more

My grandmother used to go to this bar when she was my age, and I doubt very much has changed. Cute little bar where you can have a chat with some friends or catch a local band. read more

This is a very cool bar with great drink prices and great bands. The crowd was perfect sized to keep the place lively but not uncomfortably crowded. The cocktail waitress was great and we never waited for a refill, even if it was water. read more

Nice atmosphere and my friends and I had a good time. The bartender Sam was awesome! Good music and good drinks.

This bar is dirty, loud, and filled with some trashy ladies. So perfect for a Saturday night, haha. There is a pool table and limited seating but it's a fun experience. Biggest drawback, it's so loud. When the band is playing you literally can't hear. Also the drinks are made for getting people drunk. It's for sure the type of place you go to let lose and have fun. No dress code and no standards. read more

Service was wonderful. Prices were affordable if not on the low side. the band was really fun to watch. Lots of seating, pool table, good for groups. A really pretty outside patio out back. A blast! everyone was super friendly. Definitely recommend! read more

We arrived at open mic night early with all of our gear and a group of 11 people. We watched the regulars play for 3 hours and watched names falsely being picked out of the bucket for people they knew. We accepted that we wouldn't get to play and that things weren't ran honestly. We left and we won't be back. read more

I love dancing at Pengilly's. The music is rarely my typical genre and I enjoy it every time regardless. The drinks are strong and inexpensive. If you have a refined palette this might not be the move for you, but it sure is for me! I typically prefer to go on weeknights. I don't love crowds and like being able to dance without being danced on so coming here on a Tuesday or something is great! I have gone with a few Bachelor/Bachelorette parties to this spot on a Wednesday or Thursday and it is fun. You can dip around the corner for some peace and quiet and play a round of pool if you don't feel like dancing. read more

Pengilly's is best on thursdays when they have live jazz. The drinks are about averagely priced and average tasting but I don't really go there for the drinks, I go there for the music and the people watching. The crowd ranges from old men sitting at the bar who never fail to buy me a drink to the middle aged couple attempting to dance to the jitterbug on the non-existent dance floor to the young north end hippies sipping fat tire in the corner. This is a great place for a mellow evening. read more

Great old place to just hang and drink. Back bar is beautiful, and the old stage just makes you wonder just how many cool entertainers have been up there. If you're looking for loud and fast, this isn't your place. Definitely a top chillax place in Boise. read more

A great bar, with good bands--a Boise icon. But the place is taking a turn for the worse. The bartenders are very occupied with coolness and play favorites with customers. They often serve themselves a shot, or serve each other shots, while customers wait to order at the bar. They'll chat among themselves or with favorite customers at the bar, and then, finally, make eye contact with standing customers trying to order a drink. It's cool that they can take shots on the job, but not cool that they are so blase and disinterested, taking their own sweet time. How about waiting until there are no customers waiting before you take a shot--especially in the later afternoon when it's pretty dead? A beautiful bar, but expect to wait for drinks, especially if you're not a regular. read more

May be my favorite bar in Boise, but will take a break from coming here. I just moved down from Seattle, where some places are cool with people bringing dogs to the bar, and heard that pengilly's was dog-friendly. The GF and I took the pooch a few times and had a blast! Great decor, fun music, good beer selection, generally a fun crowd, and everybody expressed that they loved the dog. Tonight, the bartender told me that they NEVER allowed dogs (after I'd already been with the pup a good five times), but if they really aren't dog-friendly, no big deal. He did, however, make sure to be exactly as condescending as he could in telling me to try the next bar that allows dogs, while scoffing at me. I really don't mind if it is not a dog-friendly bar, but the inconsistency left me feeling like I did something wrong, when I dont think there was a way I could have known. read more

I have always loved this place, it has an "old school" charm to it. They are now non-smoking which is a huge plus . I don't think they ever charge a cover and they always have great music. Blues, folk, jazz, open mic etc.....mainly local musicians.......never been dissapointed when I go. read more

First time here last time also. It's sad when you are trying celebrate your anniversary and some one has to be so rude. Bartender was so rude. Ask for a drink and acts like you are so snotty for asking who knew what you have to offer. So sorry, NOT!!! read more

The live music and old school atmosphere is very nice. The bartenders have never really been kind any of the times I have gone. But stop off for a quick drink if you have the time. read more

I feel so disrespected and will never return back to this bar. I came in around 8PM on a Sunday, the bouncer checked my ID (I am 31) and was allowed in. I also want to mention I was sober. I went outside briefly to my car to grab my charger and came right back in. The bouncer was no longer at the door. I walked in. A man from the bar, drink in hand came to me, pulling on my jacket pinching my skin asking to see identification. I asked him to not touch me aggressively like that and asked if he worked there. Obviously in question since he looked like a patron and I was greeted kindly by the other bouncer. IAN HUGHES is his name. The most disrespectful asshole. After getting my ID out for him he threw it out the door in the rain telling me to "get the f out." I was not drunk or in wrong behavior to receive this kind of behavior from him. He was rude, short tempered and unaware of the situation at hand. To treat a woman this way is unacceptable. I was a paying guest. When my friends left to meet me outside he spoke profanity to them as they asked what was wrong and denied that I even gave him my ID. A complete lie. All around disrespectful and uncalled for. read more

Horrible service from waitress with an attitude. Place is very dated, and in need of an update. One perk, bartender was great and makes a really good bloody mary. read more

So, I love this bar. Love it. I'm hanging with friends, ask the waitress for a glass of water. She points to the water pitcher on the bar? Service, not what I expected. Will I come back, yes, for sure, but the Pengilleys service has been lowered. It's not American to point to a pitcher when a patron asks for water. It's a sad day in American bar service and I never expected it from Pengilleys. read more

Loved this place! Me and my boyfriend are visiting from Los Angeles and our "in-laws" took us here. The atmosphere is so amazing, and our bartender was super fast and soo friendly. There was also a fantastic live band playing. Can't wait to come back and hopefully bring friends. read more

Great place for a beer and some old time stompin' music.

Great little bar. Clientele seem fairly down to earth. Non-smoking, Didn't care for the music the one time I was there during a show, but I think it was just because I wasn't in the mood for music. If you want a good drink, but don't care about any frilly bull-shit, this is the place. read more

Awesome atmosphere, quick service, strong drinks, and great live music. Perfect bar if you're not a douche.

These guys do a solid job booking bands. I was impressed with the bartender pour as well.

This place has a cool atmosphere and usually some great music. But I don't think they've cleaned the keg lines since it opened, so avoid the beer on tap. read more

Want to love life again? Spend an evening at Pengilly's Salloon in Boise, Idaho! Great crowd, great staff, the best music, the best bar in Boizzzzzzeeeeeee, Idaho! read more

Just awesome! Great relaxed atmosphere and mellow yet outgoing crowd. The frequent live music and great drinks are the icing on the cake. This bar makes me want to move to Boise just so I could hang out here more often! read more

I couldn't ask for a cooler place. Total throwback with great American Roots type music on stage. Very affordable and it makes me wish that there was a Pengilly's in every town. read more

Last night, myself and my friend, a 24 year old female veteran, stepped out of the bar because she lives in Virginia Beach and there was just a mass shooting. Her husband lives there, he was okay, but it triggered an anxiety/PTSD episode because of her previous deployments and the fact that it was in her home town. The employee checking IDs at the back gate, Ian, came out and told her she couldn't have her drink out there. She gave it back to him, flipped him off and turned around saying "f*** you" at the same time. She was a wreck, visibly upset, crying, shaking. She didn't argue with him, she didn't get violent, she flipped him off and cursed at him. After about 20 minutes I was able to calm her down, and when we tried to re enter the bar Ian said she wasn't allowed because she had flipped him off and cursed. I asked multiple times if this was Pengilly's policy. He never answered. He just kept asking me what I would do if someone acted like that in my place of business. If this is Pengilly's policy to not let people in the bar who act rudely, I will gladly follow it. If this is just one employee that got offended and chose this as a punishment, not okay. I will be returning to speak to the manager. read more

Nights out on the town happen every 3 months and consist of me driving my drunk friend back to their houses when the night is over. Starting the night out and the knitting factory I am always relieved when the crew wants to go to Pengilly's to finish up the night. It's a win for me because I enjoy the easy laid back blue grass vibe and I get to swing dance (just because I am sober doesn't mean I don't love to dance). I usually drink a lot of coffee to get me through the night so we stopped at a coffee shop to get me a coffee. When I tried to take the coffee into pengilly's I was stopped at the door and told no outside beverages (it was expected). I smile and attempt to either get my way or at the very least one sober person to flirt with another sober person. I say "No outside drinks even for the designated driver?" I was quickly and curtly told in a stern and almost rude manor absolutely not. I realize at this point I hit the wrong nerve and was only making his night worse. I downed the coffee and went inside. I attempt to apologizing for making his night more difficult at the door (remember I only asked one question and didn't push the issue past the one question). While the words that came out of his unsmiling mouth were "its fine" his body language was curt, rude, uptight, and still annoyed. At this point I was disappointed in pengilly's customer service. While I expect the uptight treatment from other bouncers at other bars I have always held Pengilly's at a higher standard with fantastic employees and easy manor. I am sad to say that the good times at Pengilly's are over at least for this designated driver. read more

Okay, I love dive bars and this one is great. Full of character, charm and fun. I played pool with some locals. They have strange rules so ask before you play. I talked to an 80 year old lumberjack drunk who hit me in the chest and then didn't remember that he did it. I danced with nice ladies having a good time. The drinks are cheap, if you're from Los Angeles. The music was great if you're from anywhere. The bartenders got me drinks fast and remembered my order. The decor was total dive bar but that's what I'm reviewing. Go for fun. If you're looking for upscale... look elsewhere. read more

Pengilly's has the worst, most disrespectful staff I have ever encountered. The manager working Saturday night with a big beard is the most degrading person. I was helping clean things up from a band set. I tried to walk back in and he pushed me back and asked for my ID so I gave it to him and said I have been here all night. " he said you can get the fuck out of here for your shitty attitude. Granted I walked by him with boxes in my hand just minutes before... I have never been treated with such little respect. Pengilly's staff is full of rude, arrogant, disrespectful people. The manager working Saturday night is pathetic. way to run off customers because you have a small complex.... worst bar I have ever been to. Worst bar in Idaho. First of all I willing gave my ID to him and he still got in my face and cursed at me... I can't believe the disrespect by a manger for doing what he asked... I wouldn't recommend pengilly's to anyone! read more

stiffest drinks in town, best happy hour