Inside Feste’s Champers Social Club: How a Soho Champagne Bar Is Redefining the Dinner Party Scene

Where Dinner Party Meets Champagne Bar

Throwing a chic dinner party in New York can feel intimidating for many — the planning, the decor, the menu, the vibes. But for Brenna Gilbert, an entrepreneur with an eye for curation and celebration, the dinner party is an art worth democratizing. That vision came to life first with Feste, an online destination designed to make hosting easier and more beautiful — and now, it’s taken physical form in Soho with the arrival of Champers Social Club, Feste’s first brick-and-mortar.

Part retail shop, part restaurant, and entirely devoted to the magic of gathering, Champers Social Club sits on Broome Street behind Feste’s storefront. Here, Champagne flows alongside casual, nostalgic bites, and the spirit of the neighborhood’s loft parties and pop-ins is alive every night.

The Story Behind Feste and Champers Social Club

Brenna Gilbert’s journey to creating Feste started far from the kitchen. With a background in retail and branding, she knew how powerful thoughtful details could be in shaping an experience. When she noticed how often friends seemed stressed about hosting — or skipped entertaining altogether — she saw an opportunity: make party planning easier, more stylish, and actually fun.

Feste launched as an online platform in late 2022, offering themed boxes of curated dishware, candles, centerpieces, and playful extras like palm reading cards or fancy matchbooks. The concept hit a nerve for urban hosts who wanted the atmosphere of a designer dinner party without the overwhelm.

The success of Feste’s boxes paved the way for a natural next step: a physical home that could bring the brand’s philosophy to life every day. The result is Champers Social Club — a Champagne bar with a wink, a nod, and a whole lot of personality.

A Menu Designed for Playful Nostalgia

To bring the food side of the vision to life, Gilbert tapped chef Connie Chung, whose background includes fine dining at Eleven Madison Park and founding Milu, a beloved casual Chinese spot near Madison Square Park.

At Champers Social Club, Chung flips the typical Champagne bar playbook on its head. Sure, the classics are here — oysters, caviar bumps, bubbles by the glass — but the menu leans hard into warm, retro Americana with an upscale twist. Think caramelized onion dip with crisp veggies, pigs in a blanket with a touch more finesse, and an unapologetic shoutout to Miller High Life — proudly dubbed the “Champagne of beers.”

The guiding principle? Dinner party food should feel generous, familiar, and never too precious to dig in with your hands. Chung’s menu has a sense of humor and warmth, designed to spark conversation and nostalgia in equal measure.

Why Dinner Parties Matter More Than Ever

What sets Champers Social Club apart is its rejection of stiff fine dining formality. For Gilbert and Chung, the goal was never to create just another polished Champagne lounge. Instead, they wanted to capture what’s magical about a great dinner party: the cozy unpredictability, the mix of fancy and casual, the freedom to toast strangers who become friends by dessert.

At a time when New York’s dining scene is constantly pivoting toward new trends, this return to the timeless appeal of gathering around bubbles and small bites feels refreshing. It reminds diners that a night out can be special without being intimidating — that you don’t have to know your grower Champagne from your grand cru to enjoy a glass of something sparkling.

What to Expect on the Drinks List

Of course, the bubbles are center stage. But here, they’re arranged with a twist. Instead of listing bottles by region or prestige, the wine list is organized by vibe. Looking for something playful? Try a funky pét-nat. Want to splurge with a classic tête de cuvée? That’s here too. And if Champagne’s not your thing, there’s always that cold Miller High Life to keep it real.

This cheeky approach removes the intimidation factor from ordering Champagne, inviting guests to lean into what feels fun rather than what sounds impressive. The staff is trained to help guests explore without the usual sparkle snobbery.

The Shop That Started It All

Beyond the restaurant side, Feste’s brick-and-mortar continues to deliver on its original promise: making party planning effortless. The shop offers curated tabletop essentials, candles, glassware, and unique add-ons to elevate a get-together at home. The themed “Scenes” — think dinner party kits in a box — remain the brand’s signature draw for hosts who’d rather spend time with guests than stress over matching napkins.

The retail side and the restaurant feed into each other: a guest might linger over Champagne and onion dip at Champers, then leave with a party kit to recreate the vibe at home the next weekend.

The Bigger Picture: Casual Luxury for Everyone

The magic behind Champers Social Club is its ability to make something that often feels exclusive — a Champagne bar — genuinely welcoming. In Gilbert’s eyes, the idea of “Champagne for the people” isn’t a slogan — it’s the DNA of the brand.

Paired with Chung’s nostalgic-but-elevated snacks, it creates a balance that’s rare in NYC: somewhere you can drop in for a quick pre-dinner glass or linger all night with friends nibbling pigs in a blanket while swirling vintage Champagne.

This blend of high and low, fancy and familiar, is exactly what makes the concept stick. It’s the same philosophy that has fueled Feste’s success — that the best parties feel personal, generous, and full of small moments that leave guests smiling long after they’ve gone home.

Conclusion: A Toast to New York’s New Party Playground

As New York’s dining landscape keeps shifting, spots like Champers Social Club remind us why we gather in the first place. Whether you’re planning an elaborate soirée at home or just want to feel that dinner party buzz on a random Tuesday night, Feste’s Soho outpost is ready with bubbles and bites to make it happen.