30 Non-Boring Ideas for Your Next Girls' Night Out

Jäger used to be the bomb, bandage dresses used to heal all, and vodka soda—wait, to be fair, it’s still pretty crisp and refreshing, and definitely still an acceptable component of your girls' night out. But throwing back a couple of vodka sodas at the same three bars you always frequent can get a little, well, stale. And while no doubt your amazing crew can make just about anywhere feel like an Insta-worthy party, it's probably time to change things up once your local bartender has got your entire group's drink order memorized.

So what's a gal to do when she wants to reinvent GNO? The answer: a hell of a lot! Have a friend who is way into tarot? Get your act together and go to a psychic reading. In the mood to use your friends? Sign up for one of those BYOB painting classes. Or if you guys are on a health kick, how about breaking a sweat at a pole-dancing class?

If you and your friends are in a rut and want to ~spice up your lives~, look no further than the following alternative girls night out ideas. But don't forget to charge your phone before you head out—if your GNO doesn't hit Instagram, did it even really happen?

1. Treat yo' self to a fancy restaurant.

What better way to treat yourself than with a bougier-than-usual bottle of wine and fries for the table? Obviously I don't recommend making expensive dinner reservations so often that your budget takes a hit, but planning a seasonal fancy meal is a super fun way to get together and celebrate everything that's going on in your group's day-to-day lives.

2. Grab some cheap tickets to a sporting event.

Even if court-side seats aren't in the cards, you and your friends can still kick it in the nosebleed section with nachos and beer.

3. Have your own night at the museum.

Plenty of museums now offer “after hours” programming, complete with DJs, drinks, and open access to select exhibits. Learning is best done with a cocktail in hand, after all!

4. Hit up a bespoke cocktail bar.

Your fave dive bar can wait. Opt instead for the kind of plush setting where it feels like Colonel Mustard could murder you with a candlestick at any second. Also, nothing makes me feel more like an adult lady than telling the bartender, "surprise me."

5. Have your future told by a psychic.

Grab some friends for emotional support ('cause honey, you will absolutely need to dissect the experience after) and book a reading to glimpse into your future self.

6. See if you can escape the room.

Yeah, your office might have done this already as a team-building exercise, but with themes like “the zombie” and “the submarine,” now your Saturday night can include bonding over dismantling a fake bomb and escaping the clutches of a monster.

7. Justice! For! Bowling!

You know what's still fun? Bowling. Especially glow in the dark bowling. It was always the sickest 9th birthday party, and it's still lots of fun to do with your besties (socks and hand sanitizer not included).

8. Hit up a winery in the area.

Yes, this idea does require you to reschedule your girls "night" out to the daytime, but what are Saturday afternoons for if not sipping vino? Schedule a group tasting is a way to make your regularly scheduled activity (drinking wine, natch) into a more sophisticated affair.

9. Play tourist in your hometown.

Go out and do the kinds of things you would do if your cousin Lauren were in town. Go eat that famous dish! Go walk across that famous bridge! Get your steps in seeing all the sights!

10. Sing it out at karaoke.

Because what's more fun than belting out your favorite Whitney song? Belting Whitney with all of your closest girlfriends, duh!

11. Have some laughs at a comedy show.

Before there were comedy podcasts, there was the comedy club. These shows are usually pretty cheap, and the giggles are guaranteed (.

12. Take a pole-dancing class.

Channel your inner J-Lo in Hustlers and try a pole dancing class with your besties. It can be pretty freeing to empower yourself through the extremely timeless art of pole-dancing.

13. Have a good old fashioned movie night.

Keep your girls’ night out alive by catching a midnight showing of the latest hot release. If your location permits, do it up with food and drinks! Places like Alamo Drafthouse offer fusion tacos (yum) and spiked shakes (yummier) to enjoy while you watch.

14. Spend a night at the opera.

If you live in any major metropolitan area, this one’s for you. PSA: Opera glasses are only $20 on Amazon if you really want to look legit.

15. Let out your inner roller girl.

Another 9th birthday party revival, sure, but you’ll forget that this is basically a form of exercise when you’re spinning (and falling) under a disco ball. Also, hot pants are socially acceptable attire if you’re still not convinced.

16. Watch a meteor shower.

Check out the listings of 2020 celestial events, so you and your friends can wish on a shooting star or two.

17. Hit up a few gallery openings.

Crawling through gallery openings is an excuse for looking at beautiful objects, beautiful people, and also you get free glasses of wine basically anywhere you go, so.

18. Check out a symphony orchestra.

Nothing makes you feel classier than viewing a group of insanely talented humans in tailcoats and black gowns playing Chopin. If this isn’t an option, scope out some local spots with live jazz as an alternative.

19. Throw it back with an '80s/'90s/'00s dance party.

Nostalgic dance parties have hit music venues in a big way. What other night out can include leg warmers and teased bangs? Check your local clubs and event spaces to see if they're hosting one.

20. Chill out in a late-night coffee shop.

In case you haven’t pursued a degree recently, this is a friendly reminder that some coffee shops are open until the wee hours of the morning. Stake out the Friends-iest overstuffed couch and talk about how your Psych 201 prof is, like, so unfair.

21. Put it all on black at a casino.

Classy? If you live in Monaco. But casinos can actually be a fun place to drink and pull levers to maybe win money. Plus, people-watching.

22. Scream your heart out at an amusement park.

So this isn’t a late-night activity, but most parks stay open well after dark, which means the view from the top of that roller coaster might actually distract you from your impending doom. Plus, more people-watching.

23. Channel your inner Van Gogh at a paint and sip.

So many of these spots are popping up for a reason — if it takes a few glasses of vino for you to freely channel your inner creative, this one’s for you.

24. Test your gracefulness at a ballet class.

The epitome of grace, discipline, and class, ballerinas are always a magical sight for sore eyes. Disclaimer: You might call your mom immediately after and demand answers for why she never signed you up for dance classes.

25. Live your best lives on a booze cruise.

If you live by a body of water, chances are you have the opportunity to board a boat. There’s something about sparkly city lights reflecting on water that makes the night feel truly ~infinite~.

26. Have an Airbnb staycation.

So technically this is staying in, but go in on a huge downtown loft with a few friends and you get to make-believe that you live a more fabulous, glamorous life. Honestly, I’d stay in every night if I had that exposed brick and CB2 bar cart too.

27. Try your luck with a random Groupon.

Buy a rando activity Groupon for something you've never done before, and treat your friend to an afternoon of it. Nothing says bestie bonding time like indoor skydiving or BYOB pottery.

28. Fake a bachelorette party.

Grab a bunch of penis paraphernalia and a fake veil from a local sex shop, and hit up your favorite circuit of bars like you're at a bachelorette party. Take turns being the bride-to-be, dancing like it's your last night of being a free agent.

29. Host your own wine-tasting party.

And by that we mean go buy a bunch of cheapish bottles, then sit around with your girlfriends sipping the different kinds while saying fancy things about their bouquets.

30. Have a high-key photoshoot.

Glam up, and then take turns snapping Insta-worthy pics of one another. Since the pics won't be gratuitously self-taken, your peeps will just assume you were caught at a house party or something looking fabulous as always (not scouring through the reels to find your hottest angle).