The Balcony Club

Very queer friendly, my partner and I felt safe and welcomed. The bartenders and other staff were excellent and easy to get hold of! We had a great time at a table outside with a nice view. The dance floor was small, but still fun. Each drink was around $6, and a cover fee of $3 per person in cash only. Street parking was rough to find, so be prepared to use a parking garage or walk, but on the plus side there’s a parking garage that leads RIGHT to the Balcony, very convenient. We would definitely go again!

I’ve been coming here since I turned 21. Staff turnover is high. Events are well-attended. Not much going on beyond that (dancing and vibe-wise). Drinks are a little overpriced, pours are very light. Coat check is nice on busy nights. I’ll stop in for an event and then hurry to a second location when it’s over.

Very fun. LGBTQIA+ FRIENDLY! Events every weekend. Free water cups. Amazing and friendly staff and an extremely safe environment. Alcohol free options! Drinks are a little pricy, and the '$3 CASH ONLY' cover is dumb af. The balcony itself is very of dirty and not very welcoming for a first impression and gives off a very dive bar feel. Watched staff pick up a rag off the floor that was practically black with dirt and ick after they cleaned up a spill. Got my outfit snagged on a nail from the wall near the restroom, so definitely don't brush against any corners. Men's restroom stalls have been busted for at least a year at this point, so I hope you bros like pooping with the stall open if you're too drunk to figure out how to close it properly.

Friend and I were visiting from out of town for a convention and wanted to see the diversity that was advertised for the balcony. We were hopeful when we saw the positivity and inclusive words going in and the friendliness of the door person. Things went bad when one of the performers started talking negatively about “old queens” and being “an ongoing victim of their hate.” As my friend, who is also in the community and an indigenous POC, she was horrified at the vitriol especially when it was supposed to be an inclusive space free from hate. We may not know the full story but in a competition have some grace.

The employees are wonderful, but the music is absolutely abysmal. It was horribly bland with awful dancing potential. My friend and I (who are both queer) came here to dance in a safe environment, but my god. The music was SO bad that we couldn't even dance. When we were dancing, we were the only people on the dance floor 90% of the time. We tried to request music, but apparently you have to come on a specific night to have your requests honored?! The employees were great, but the music seriously killed the vibe. I don't know if a queer person is in charge of the music, but it certainly didn't feel like it. It was horrible. We went on a Friday night, too. It should have been busy, but we watched so many people come in and leave shortly afterwards.

Fun place, but I wouldn't call it a gay bar. I am yet to meet a gay guy there. Every guy there I flirt with usually has a girlfriend.

Once the staple of the Boise queer nightlife, the balcony has since taken a tailspin in terms of service, music and management. Not only does management cater and pander towards the CisHet customers, they actively drive out and push away their base clientele, that being the LGBTQ+ community that made them who they are today.

I really wish I would have read the reviews before I went. I'm from out of town and the bar is not welcoming at all. They only serve the regulars first. The girl skipped me over 3 times. But magically when I left a high tip the first time I became a priority. It's mostly a straight bar. But if you are gay you are not welcome it seems. Queer only. Music wasn't to to bad but it was so dead no one even wanted to dance. So if you a re looking for a good Saturday night and from out of town just stay in. It's not worth the cover.. yes COVER to get into this place where the employees aren't even happy to see you there. I really hope the owner sees these comments. Almost every single review is about the employees.