Nightlife in Coeur d'Alene

Situated on a bustling corner, Splash beckons passersby inside to watch the game, hit the dance floor, or grab a bite to eat. A self-professed destination for both day and night, Splash's kitchen serves up a menu of bar-friendly appetizers and snacks, such as beer-battered onion rings with ranch for dipping and spinach-artichoke dip served with a toasted baguette. The day-to-day action usually centers around sporting events, which play throughout the bar on 10 high-definition TVs.

If they can't make it to the game, sports fans find The Ref Sports Bar a good substitute for the live action. Flat screens flicker on all four sides of a jumbotron-style feature hanging above the bar. Friends gather around creatively named pizzas, such as the Classic Homerun Margherita and the The Man Cave, with buffalo sauce, crispy chicken, jalapeño bacon, and ranch dressing forming the image of the buttons on a remote control. They can also share a plate of chicken wings doused in various sauces, including six buffalo sauces in varying levels of heat. Ambitious eaters who complete the Unnecessary Roughness Challenge—devouring five total pounds of burger, toppings, and fries—get their meal for free plus a pallet in the corner to sleep off the food coma.

Barbecued meats and frosty brews are the main draw at Hot Rods Bar and BBQ, but you could probably guess that from looking at the name. What you wouldn't know without stopping in for dinner, however, is how much fun can be had when the plates are cleared away. A late-night destination no matter the night, Hot Rods pairs saucy ribs and pulled-pork sandwiches with entertainment options that range from live karaoke to beer-pong tournaments.