This post brought to you in partnership with Capital One 

This time of year, I always get asked for some cozy, fun Chicago date night ideas! I feel like summer is all about maximizing time on patios and grilling out at home, but there’s something uniquely special about winter date nights that I always look forward to when it starts getting cold! Dark, cozy, romantic––what’s not to love?

Today, in case you need some inspiration (or you just want to be VERY HUNGRY) I thought it would be fun to take you along on one of our most recent date nights to one of our favorite spots–– BLVD!

BLVD has been a favorite of ours for a while now, and we’re so excited that our partner, Capital One (who is sponsoring this post) let us give them a little spotlight on the blog today, because I think most people have really been sleeping on what a fantastic place it is!

Shall we? ????

BLVD is one of our favorite date night spots––the vibe is a swanky, Old Hollywood supper club, and the menu is what I would describe as upscale American–it’s expertly curated and has something for everyone.

I don’t say this lightly, (I know it’s v controversial) but their steak rivals the best steakhouses in the city, and their cacio e pepe is also to die for!

The location also makes it perfect to zip down Lake Street to the Theatre District to catch a show! (This is what we did for my birthday and it was the best night!) And it’s a prime location for bar hopping in the West Loop before or after dinner.

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Neal’s prawn appetizer he ordered to start!

PROOF I ATE CLAMS! AND LOVED IT!

You guys know I NEVER eat seafood–I try to like it SO BADLY and I can never get it down, but you guys. I ATE CLAMS. AND THEY WERE DELICIOUS. The next day I saw all my girlfriends at lunch and yelled, “YOU GUYS! I ATE CLAMS!!!” These were so good. They were prepared similar to mussels in the most delicious, creamy, savory broth, served with crusty bread for dipping. UNREAL. I am now a fan of clams but only if they’re at BLVD. ????

Also, I HIGHLY recommend asking to meet Kolin, their sommelier and beverage director. His pairings are incredible and he always makes fantastic suggestions. I also just learned that their wine list was given a 2019 Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator and it didn’t surprise me one bit! Kolin knows what he’s doing!

Prettiest bathrooms 

They also have the most Instagrammable bathrooms ever. It feels like you’re in an Old Hollywood dressing room and I love it. Except we always come here just the two of us so nobody is there to take my photo on the luxurious pink velvet loveseats in the ladies’ room. ????

Must orders at BLVD: The ribeye (one of the few places in Chicago you can get a Pat LeFreida steak–it’s absolutely incredible). Also, cacio e pepe, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and frites–duh. Yes we took home a lot of leftovers. ????

Their beautiful booths are perfect for a special occasion–they’re very secluded and you feel like a movie star! ????

How you can get access to the best reservation times at BLVD, and some of the other top restaurants in the city:

As you know, Capital One is one of my sponsors (I’m so grateful for their partnership!) and I’m really excited about their newest offering with OpenTable, because they’re making date nights even BETTER.

We’ve been Capital One customers for years, and we love their cards (we have the Venture card) because they’re all about experiences–from earning points on dining and travel to give cardmembers access to special events not available to anyone else.

Their latest customer perk? A new partnership with OpenTable, giving cardholders access to exclusive premium weekend reservation times! That means, it’s easier for Capital One cardholders to snag those hard to come-by resos at some of the best restaurants in the city–not just BLVD, but a whole bunch of others, like Momotaro, GT Fish and Oyster, Swift & Sons, and more! Click here for the full list of Chicago restaurants and to see which other cities made the list! (If your city isn’t on the list – don’t worry, more are coming soon!)

Here’s how to take advantage of their premium access reservations: 

To book a Premium Access reservation, Capital One cardholders can download the most recent version of the OpenTable app and then look for the Premium Access carousel. Tap “view all” to verify your Capital One card and book a table for two or four at prime dining times!

Why we love our Venture Card: 

Capital One actually didn’t ask me to share my personal experience with our Capital One card, but I really wanted to, because I know a lot of you guys have goals to travel more–and this can really help you do that!

If your credit card hasn’t been working for you and/or earning amazing rewards is one of your financial goals, then I’d suggest researching one that does and Capital One is a great place to start.

Like I said, we have the Venture card, so that’s the one I’ll speak to personally here! Here are some of the reasons we love our Venture card.

(Sidenote: I would also like to reiterate here, as always–that any credit card should always be used responsibly and paid off in full, every month. You should treat a credit card exactly like cash–don’t spend what you don’t have!)

VENTURE CARD-ONE OF THE BEST CARDS OUT THERE–PERIOD–FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO PRIORITIZE EXPERIENCES LIKE TRAVEL:

We often get asked how we’re able to travel so much, and our Venture card is a huge part of that. Not only do new cardholders get 50,000 bonus miles if they spend $3,000 within 3 months of account opening, but you earn unlimited 2 miles per dollar on every purchase. If you’re like us and often fly multiple airlines/aren’t loyal to one specific hotel chain–this comes in VERY handy, because you can use your miles to cover the cost of tickets on any airline without blackout dates! 

With the card, you also get up to a $100 statement credit for your application for either TSA Precheck or Global Entry! 

TONS OF EXTRA PERKS AVAILABLE FOR DINING, SPORTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT:

Capital One cardholders get access to experiences that nobody else does–from local pop-up dinners with some of the best chefs in the world, early access concert tickets, exclusive discounts, VIP lounge access at events, and more.

OTHER CARDS TO LOOK INTO:

Capital One makes other great cards too that might be a better fit depending on your lifestyle, credit, and other factors! You can compare all their cards right here to find the best choice for you.

I hope this gave you some great inspiration for your next date night!

Need more reccos? Some outfit inspo for your next date night, and more Chicago restaurant reccos! 

This post brought to you in partnership with Capital One, a company we have trusted as customers for a very long time! Thank you for supporting the partnerships that allow me to keep creating the best possible content for YOU, my best girls! ????CHEERS!