I don’t know about you, but sometimes it’s hard to get out of your comfort zone when it comes to date night. Most nights, I want to come home – make a quick meal and laze around on the couch watching Hulu and call it a date. Even though it’s pretty nice after a long day at work, sometimes you need to get a little more creative…and that’s when Gilt City comes in.

I spent the afternoon last week with a few of my favorite girlfriends taking in a perfect fall day with some of Gilt City favorite spots, Chicago Distilling Company to get a little tour, and Presidio for a delicious dinner. Here’s a little play by play of the highlights, but you’ll have to check it out for yourself if you’re in the market for a killer date night experience! To kick off the Chicago Distillery tour, we went back to see where all the magic {aka, lots and lots of booze} is made. Chicago Distillery makes a bunch of different hard liquors, from vodka, to gin to white whiskey, all that are unique and extra-delicious, and best of all – made right here in Chicago. While I liked all the drinks we tried, Finn’s Gin was by far my favorite. After winning gin awards from the east coast to west, it’s a perfectly balanced botanical spirit that’s unlike any gin I’ve tried before. I’m thinking it’s a must give gift for all the gin loving men in my life {and in my family, there are a few of those!} If you’re not a fan of tours, you can always swing by the bar to snag a cocktail or sampling of their spirits selection. It’s nestled in the middle of Logan Square, so it’s the perfect place to start a date night out before hitting up a few more bars or grabbing a bite to eat! As part of the tour, we each got to take home our very own barrel aged cocktail kit! Don’t tell Jimmy, but it might be making it’s way into his Christmas present this year…it’s a perfect gift for the cocktail lovers in your life!  Even if you’re not a big drinker, the trip is worth it. I learned so much than I ever would have imagined about distilling spirits, and actually have a newfound appreciation for everything that goes into my cocktails! If you’re looking to reinvent date-night {aka, say no to dinner and a movie!}, Chicago Distillery is definitely worth checking out! And what’s date night without a delicious dinner? Next on our agenda was stopping by Presidio, a Bucktown gem featuring delicious cocktails, wine, and tapas worth drooling over. I love the dim-lit, gorgeous interior which makes a perfect setting for date night with your sweetie {or if you’re like us, your favorite blog wives!} It was the perfect spot to catch up, share some delicious appetizers, and dig into their not-so-small plates.  Kelly caught me mid-laugh, as usual! Wine {check}, Olives {check}, too much delicious food? {Double check!}I went a little crazy on the delicious mussels – they were HUGE, and the garlic bread that came with was ridiculously good. Needless to say, I’ll be back real soon 🙂

If you’re looking to revamp date night, make sure to check out the amazing deals on Gilt City Chicago! Special thanks to Jenn, Jess, Kelly, Blair, Shaheen and Lauren for the amazing company and too many laughs 🙂

And extra special thanks to Kelly for letting me snag her photos!