& THISTLE

The Crown & Thistle has also been working with local breweries, like Kellogg-based Radio Brewing, to develop cask ales — smaller-batch brews, typically unfiltered and allowed to finish in the cask. Coeur d’Alene’s Chalice Brewing literally walks its casks, called firkins, over to Crown & Thistle, Drake says. From there, they’ll hook it up to the beer engine, which pumps the beer up from the cellar and into your empty mug.

“Beer does not get more fresh than that,” Drake says.

This isn’t the first win for the Coeur d’Alene pub; Inlander readers also voted it as North Idaho’s best new restaurant in 2020. But the couple is especially buzzed about this year’s win for best North Idaho beer bar.

“I love that people are paying attention to [our beer] because when we first opened, we said, ‘We’re a pub.’” Their focus has been and continues to be the beer, she adds. “We’re a drinking establishment that serves food.”

— CARRIE SCOZZARO

2nd

3rd

BEST CRAFT COCKTAILS

BEST WHISKEY BAR

Hogwash Whiskey Den

“Perfectly made cocktails.” (Leigh H.); “Atmosphere and barkeeps.” (Greg T.);

“Great selection of cocktails, super fun and interesting cocktail classes.” (Mary J.); “Great selection of whiskeys, knowledgeable and great food to accompany.” (Krista P.); “Hands down!” (Taylor B.)

BEST CRAFT COCKTAILS

2nd PLACE: Durkin’s Liquor Bar

3rd PLACE: Cease & Desist Book Club

NORTH IDAHO’S BEST: The Goat Lounge, Coeur d’Alene

BEST WHISKEY BAR

2nd PLACE: Purgatory Whiskey Bar

3rd PLACE: Durkin’s Liquor Bar

NORTH IDAHO’S BEST: The Bee’s Knees Whiskey Bar, Hayden

Best Margarita Cochinito Taqueria

“Fresh and not too sweet.” (Patricia B.); “Their Prickly Pear Marg is amazing!” (Christiane P.)

2nd PLACE: De Leon’s Taco and Bar

3rd PLACE: El Que

NORTH IDAHO’S BEST: Terraza Waterfront Cafe, Coeur d’Alene

BEST WINE BAR

Nectar Wine And Beer

Convenient Kendall Yards location. Gorgeous view with outdoor seating in warmer months. Friendly staff. More than three dozen wines — and 16 beers — available by the glass, with even more by-the-bottle to-go. And snacks available from Nectar’s neighbors. The only thing missing is you! (CSz)

2nd PLACE: Stylus Wine and Vinyl Bar, Coeur d’Alene

3rd PLACE: LeftBank Wine Bar

BEST SPORTS BAR

EPIC SPORTS BAR AT NORTHERN QUEST RESORT & CASINO

It’s not hard to figure out one major advantage that EPIC has over its sports bar competitors — you can legally bet on the games you’re watching there. Having some financial stake in the contests certainly adds some juice to the experience, but EPIC stood as a top-notch spot even before Northern Quest’s Turf Club Sports Book opened in December 2021 (there’s a Turf Club kiosk in EPIC). The centerpiece is of course the 10-foot-high, 30-footlong LED video wall which can display an array of games at the same time (perfect for March Madness or NFL Sundays), but there’s also plenty of tasty traditional bar grub and drinks. (SS)

2nd PLACE: Poole’s Public House

3rd PLACE: 24 Taps Burgers & Brews

NORTH IDAHO’S BEST: Capone’s Pub, Coeur d’Alene, Hayden, Post Falls

DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO SEE THE HOTTEST RISING STARS LIKE THESE WHO HAVE PLAYED HERE: LUKE COMBS, WALKER HAYES, RECKLESS KELLY ASHLEY MCBRYDE, SHOOTER JENNINGS, JOE NICHOLS JOHN ANDERSON, JIMMIE ALLEN, PARMALEE & MORE!

UPCOMING CONCERTS / INFO: THENASHVILLENORTH.COM

JUST MINUTES FROM SPOKANE & COEUR D'ALENE IN STATELINE, IDAHO

This one is notable, not for who won — though it’s amusing to spot “Bingo” in the name-o back then — but for who wasn’t mentioned. The other two finalists were Players and Spectators and Silver Lanes, two bowling alleys. No Northern Quest. No Spokane Tribe Casino. That’s because neither of them actually existed at that time. Northern Quest, run by the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, opened in December 2000. And the Spokane Tribe Casino, despite Spokane County commissioners’ efforts to stop it, opened in 2018. Both have become major influential forces in the community — not just financially but culturally as well. To start with, Northern Quest introduced the world to the commercial acting talent of local English teacher Mark Robbins.

— DANIEL WALTERS

For several years, Sandpoint area businesses consistently snagged top spots in the North Idaho category of the Inlander’s Best Of readers poll. Best brewery? Laughing Dog Brewing. Best outdoor music festival? Festival at Sandpoint. Best radio station? KPND.

In 2015, however, we decided to carve out a separate category for Sandpoint, highlighting places to eat, shop and explore in one of our readers’ favorite North Idaho towns.

That same year, TRINITY AT CITY BEACH won for best outdoor/patio dining, a feat the lakeside eatery repeated again in 2017 and 2023.

“We’ve got four walls, and 50 percent of those are made of glass,” says Trinity owner Justin Dick. “You get almost a 180-degree view of the beach.”

Although the summer is the busiest season, says Dick, Trinity’s view is a year-round favorite, especially for locals. During summer, Dick likes to walk the beach in the early morning but in colder months, including when it snows, “it looks like a picturesque Christmastime in Sandpoint.”

“The City Beach is the most underutilized asset that Sandpoint has,” Dick says.

BEST ALL-AROUND BAR 219 LOUNGE

2nd PLACE: MickDuff’s Brewing Co.

3rd PLACE: Eichardt’s Pub and Grill

BEST ART GALLERY ART WORKS

GALLERY, HALLANS GALLERY (TIE)

BEST BREAKFAST HOOT OWL CAFE

2nd PLACE: Connie’s Café & Lounge

3rd PLACE: Bluebird Bakery

BEST CLOTHING BOUTIQUE FINAN MCDONALD CLOTHING CO.

2nd PLACE: Campfire Couture

3rd PLACE (tie): Eve’s Leaves, Le Chic Boutique

BEST OUTDOOR/PATIO DINING TRINITY AT CITY BEACH

2nd PLACE: Matchwood Brewing Company

3rd PLACE: Spuds Waterfront Grill

The most over-utilized asset in Sandpoint is, perhaps, THE 219 LOUNGE, the town’s oldest bar. Generations of Sandpoint residents have sidled up to the bar for a cold one. The 219 has it all: a hefty list of draft beer, live music and a great outdoor patio for when the weather’s right.

If you’re looking for a dose of creative arts, look no further than the ART WORKS GALLERY and HALLANS GALLERY. Art Works is a regional artists’ cooperative, and its gallery is currently celebrating the turning of spring. Hallans is the epicenter of Sandpoint history, and tends to the collection of photographer Ross Hall, who captured the town’s history for decades.

Maybe beer and art isn’t your thing. In that case, check out FINAN McDONALD CLOTHING CO., which will outfit you for any purpose: outdoors, travel and even for the comfy indoors. The store has a particular focus on environmentally-friendly brands, as well as reducing waste.

How about a big woo-hoo for HOOT OWL CAFE, which has won for the best breakfast in 2017, 2020 and again this year?

“The Hoot Owl is known for being a place to get a home-style meal at a fair price,” says new owner Joshua Butler, who is partial to the green eggs and ham breakfast with spinach, basil pesto and melted Asiago cheese. Customer favorites include the hash browns smothered in ham, onions, peppers, eggs and cheese with a side of gravy or salsa and toast, he notes.

Butler bought “the Hoot,” as some people call it, from Wendy Sater, who ran it for more than 25 years before retiring last year. Sater purchased the place from her uncle, who had run the popular spot along Highway 200 since 1972.

Besides the food, the eatery’s signature collection of owls is still in roost, with only a few additions and subtractions, says Butler.

Service is important, he adds, noting that the Hoot Owls’ secret to its longevity is “putting community and your people ahead of profit margins. We are a family at the Hoot, from the crew to our regulars we are a tightknit bunch always willing to help, or listen, or just be there to have a cup of coffee.”

Although he’s been looking at expanding catering and some meal options, Butler doesn’t see any reason to change much else.

“It is a community institution, and we intend to keep it that way.”

— CARRIE SCOZZARO

They look like dandelions, but they’re actually wild onions.