Pengilly’s Saloon | Boise, ID

Until recently, it was illegal to buy distilled spirits in any form in the state of Idaho on Election Day. That includes in a bar. Yes, you could get a beer, but forget the hard stuff when the polls were open. The antiquated law came from the early 1900s when saloons were polling places, and candidates would get voters in early, get them plowed, then STRONGLY suggest they vote for the candidate that was buying their drinks. Pengilly’s saloon was probably one of the locations for these shenanigans.

Esquire magazine pointed out in its 2007 best bars in America issue that the bar top and back is a “…stunner of a 110 year old Brunswick bar.” With the all wood booths along the west wall, the scattering of short tables and chairs, and the monster sized western themed art hanging on the walls; things don’t seem to have changed much since the McKinley administration.

But don’t think this is some cowboy bar. On the weekends, rock, bluegrass, jazz, and actual country bands (y’know, the ones that don’t sound like pop music with a twang) make patrons of all kinds toss aside the short tables for dancing room in front of the tiny corner stage. I walked in wearing a suit one night and sat down next to a couple that looked like they fell out of the latest issue of High Times. No one felt out of place. The only types who might feel out of place are the frat and sorority crowd. Thankfully, they have plenty of options to get annihilated on Bud Light and sex on the beach shots a block down. By the way, Pengilly’s is smoke free.

The bartenders and doormen all seem to have beards. It’s dim but not dark, and whoever decorated the place long long ago loved wood, heavy as hell bar stools, and burnt sienna. It has good taps which don’t appear to rotate much but that’s fine. Plenty of bottles too if that’s your thing. The staff knows what they’re doing but just because they might know how to make a drink with 8 different ingredients, doesn’t mean you should order it. Get a beer or liquor on the rocks. These guys have people to serve… and now, even on Election Day.