Girls Night Out in New York

Chef Julia Jaksic's West Village hot spot may be better known for its cocktail list, but the food isn't too shabby either. Gather your girls and indulge in plates of orecchiette (served with house-made Italian sausage, arugula and Parmesan), platters of cheese and charcuterie. After dinner, join the throngs of cocktail connoisseurs up front.

This Mexican haunt in Soho specializes in tasty eats with a swanky scene to match. Choose a booth inside or score a table on the spacious adjacent patio. Tacos, enchiladas and margaritas, along with a choice of 100-odd tequilas, will ensure a fab girls night out in New York.

This slick East Village joint has all the ingredients for a perfect girls night out. It's boisterous, with a solid list of specialty cocktails and vino, plus a menu of tasty treats such as mac 'n cheese, tuna tartare, braised beef short ribs and one of the best burgers in town.

If Schiller's is too low-key, get all dolled up and head to Keith McNally's upscale steakhouse in the West Village, where the ambiance is great and the food is even better. Order the bacon-wrapped filet mignon and chase it with a chocolate souffle for the optimal dining experience. Then hit the front bar to mingle with good-looking executive types.

This foodie-approved hidden gem in Bushwick is great for groups, and with a no-reservations policy, you'll have plenty of time to bond over wine at the bar before you are seated. Gourmet pizzas (the best around, seriously) are the perfect food over which to gossip, preferably from the comfort of the breezy backyard, weather permitting.

Make sure to save up some dough before hitting up this bi-level theater and nightclub on the Lower East Side, because getting in might mean dropping serious loot for a table. But it's worth it just to marvel at the fire-eaters, knife-throwers and contortionists (many of whom happen to be naked) with your girls. No big deal.

This subterranean Soho spot is a staple for the prepster set. On weekend evenings, it's brimming with drunk yuppy guys and the girls who love them. So if you and your friends find uptown trustafarians in pink shirts irresistible, sidle up to the bar, hunker down in a booth or hit the dance floor.

Legions of beautiful girls have been enjoying the dramatic interior of this underground lounge and vodka bar for years. The bar is peppered with mementos from Moscow, transporting beautiful ladies from Nolita to Russia. Recline on cushy leather seats and order some caviar to accompany your martini.

Sometimes you just have to accept that midtown might be the most convenient meeting place for your clique. But it doesn't have to be stuffy. Head to Graydon Carter's updated version of the classic Monkey Bar, which specializes in swank with a side of cocktails and upscale pub grub. See how long it takes for a group of Wall Street guys to buy you a bottle of Champagne (it won't be long).

You won't find any mention of the Standard's super hot rooftop club on the hotel's website, but trust us: It's there. Take the elevator up to the top floor, and then proceed to get sloshed on martinis, and keep your eyes peeled for celebs. Be sure to hit the bathrooms, which famously feature floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the city. Oh, and don't forget to dance your pants off.