Best Places For A Girls Night Out
By Lauren Wulf
Gals, this one is for you (Fellas, these places are fun for you too!). Here are a few of my favorite spots in Chicago for a girl's night out. From birthday parties, happy hour, bachelorettes or just a night out with friends, ladies don't usually need an excuse to get together. The following places have fun drinks, good food and a perfect atmosphere for a great night out.
Pops for Champagne
601 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60654
popsforchampagne.com
This swanky space makes a perfect backdrop for a night out. Located in the heart of River North, it makes for a great place to start the night. With a full bar and champagne list of over 200 selections, there is no shortage of bubbly to choose from. Small plates and sharable items make it easy to split a few things while you're popping bottles. Great music also helps keep the party going until 2:00AM.
Zed 451
739 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60654
www.zed451.com
The rooftop at Zed451 makes for a great girls night locale during the warmer months. Beautiful views of the city and fun drinks bring in a large after-work and weekend crowd. Soak up the sun and views with a few of their signature cocktails, including: Red Apple Sangria, Ginger Bourbon Lemonade, Mojitos, Margaritas and more. Wine and champagne flights also make for a fun sampler if you can't decide on just one. The Lounge menu at Zed features sliders, calamari fries, flatbreads and other tasty items to share with the gals.
Carnivale
702 W Fulton Market
Chicago, IL 60661
www.carnivalechicago.com
Carnivale's gorgeous interior of hot pink and bright colors sets the scene for a fun girls night out. The beautiful space is always buzzing with people, music and ambiance. You can't help but be happy in such a colorful place! Specialty drinks include: raspberry or coconut mojitos, margaritas, sangria, frozen white sangria and martinis. Entrees, sides, appetizers and meat and cheese plates make this a great spot for dinner and drinks.
Sable Kitchen & Bar
505 N State St
Chicago, IL 60654
www.sablechicago.com
The sleek atmosphere and interior make Sable a stylish place for any girls night. Cool cocktail concoctions and sharable plates inspired by Executive Chef Heather Terhune (yes, the recent contestant on Bravo's Top Chef Texas!) make for a delicious night on the town. Cocktails here are more than the average vodka and tonic. Here are a few of the inventive drinks you'll find at Sable: Long Road Home (imbue vermouth, Vida Mezcal, lime, agave), War of the Roses (Pimm's, Citadelle gin, Chase Elderflower, mint, fresh lime) and Tuesday's Gone (Calvados, Ketel One, vanilla, lemon), just to name a few. Even their new brunch menu adds a twist to the classics.
Tavernita
151 W Erie St
Chicago, IL 60654
tavernita.com
Tavernita's menu is tapas-style and geared towards sharing. With unique cocktails, great food and a stylish interior, this River North hot spot is perfect for a fun girls night. Warm lighting, cool spaces and rustic decor add to Tavernita's appeal. A couple of my favorite menu items include the flatbread, calamari, gnocchi and meatballs.
Lauren Wulf, CBS Chicago
Lauren Wulf writes about living in Chicago on a budget on her website, A Poor Girl's Guide Chicago.
