Setting the Bar for Third Spaces
Forget noisy bars and sticky floors. Garden City’s coolest new hangouts are reimagining what it means to “grab a drink.” Boise’s sister city is home to many third places: those magical, in-between spaces that aren’t quite home and definitely aren’t work, but are just as important. Think of them as the living rooms of your social life, where you can unwind with a beverage, stimulate your mind, and connect with friends (and maybe the occasional dog).
Picture sipping a craft brew while browsing shelves of best sellers, classics, and indie novels; testing your trivia skills over a cup of kava; or knocking out emails with a loyal pup by your side and a local IPA in hand. Whether you’re looking for a solo escape, a spot to impress a date, or somewhere you can actually hear your friends talk, these hip third places set the bar high—pun absolutely intended.
Here are a few of Garden City’s most happening places that are rethinking where, how, and what we drink.
Clubhound: Garden City’s “Happy Place”
Step through the gate at Clubhound and you’ll likely be greeted by Ash, the golden retriever and “Chief Cuddle Officer,” who’ll come in for a pet before you’ve even ordered your drink. Clubhound’s 2.5-acre campus is pure bliss for its canine members, with a beer, wine, and coffee bar, rotating food trucks, and a packed calendar of events for their human counterparts. “We’re joy makers,” said Managing Owner Julie Emerick. And it’s true—even non-dog owners visit this third place for the instant dopamine boost. Whether you’re working remotely, craving community, or simply needing a little puppy love, you’ll find it here.
Karuna Kava & Tea: Making Connections
Sober curious? This third place proves you don’t need alcohol to get a good buzz—or to find community. Inspired by his own journey toward recovery and wanting a space to truly connect, Founder Ben McQueen opened Karuna Kava & Tea. Freshly brewed kava is the star at this bar, alongside several other non-alcoholic options including coffee, kombucha, soda, organic tea, kanna, cacao, and yerba mate. “But Karuna is not just for people in recovery,” explained McQueen. “Everyone is welcome here.” And with its vibrant, light-filled space, board games, and happy hour three times daily, you’ll want to stick around. (Remote workers often linger for several hours a day.) Weekly events include live music, trivia, open mics, cornhole tournaments, and kava circles.
Oldspeak Bar: “Bookstore for the People”
Entering Oldspeak Bar feels like stepping into another era, where the local indie bookstore and your favorite brewery decided to host a secret salon. Part taproom, part bookstore, part community hub, this is a third place for thinkers, dreamers, and anyone who loves a good story with their stout. The split-flap sign above the bar sets the tone: “Book Lounge (noun): The communal spaces where books are the vehicle for conversation and culture.” And there’s plenty to talk about: you’ll find shelves stacked with new, used, and recommended reads, local art on the walls, and even a micro-museum that tells the history of prohibition in Idaho.
