‘Tis the season to get drunk near an open flame. Whether it be an indoor fireplace or an outdoor fire pit, there are plenty of places to keep warm in D.C. during the winter months while paying to eat and drink in public. Here are ten of our favorite places to do so.
Via Shutterstock.
BIERGARTEN HAUS: Consuming liters of beer and devouring large portions of meat feels more appropriate when done next to a roaring fire; it feels old-school, even Medieval. The large fireplace on Biergarten Haus’s back patio beer garden not only helps keep the outdoor space open and cozy during the winter months, it also creates a huzzah-worthy ambiance. Just resist the urge to yell “More beer, wench!” at your server. They really don’t appreciate that. — Elisabeth Grant
Biergarten Haus is located at 1355 H Street NE.
ROOM 11: We’ve previously talked about how great Room 11’s drinks are in our list of the Best Cocktails in D.C. (I mean, they have a cocktail named after Biz Markie, which is awesome and deserves another mention), but let’s talk about the ambiance for a second. OK, Room 11 doesn’t technically have a fire place, but they do have a fire pit outside, which, in my mind, qualifies it for this list. Moreover, the ambiance of Room 11 is less like a bar and more like cozy family room/kitchen of someone’s house. It’s small, but feels homey and welcoming. The fire pit outside is a great gathering spot for friends to gather in the cooler months and warm up with some tasty cocktails. — Matt Cohen
Room 11 is located at 3234 11th Street NW.
BARCELONA: Open for less than two months, the Logan Circle wine bar is the latest place that all of your friends are forcing you to go to because it’s so good. In addition to heat lamps and blankets, there’s a massive outdoor fireplace on the lovely, stone-floored outdoor patio area. Yeah, it lives up to the hype. —Sarah Anne Hughes.
Barcelona is located at 1622 14th Street NW.
Via Bardo’s Twitter.
BARDO: Without an indoor space at the moment (it should be open by February), Bardo is reliant on its huge outdoor fire pit and heaters to keep people coming through the winter. The future brewery’s fire pit burns actual wood for that real-wood feeling on your skin. —Sarah Anne Hughes.
Bardo is located at 1200 Bladensburg Road NE.
IRON GATE: Hot off the presses, Iron Gate reopened on the 1700 block of N Street NW (that’s where Tabard Inn and Topaz Bar are) in November. Their warm space and courtyard contain a fiery trifecta of an actual brick fireplace warming things up in the interior dining room—a converted townhouse—with fire pits, heat lamps, and candles keeping things bright and toasty in the courtyard. Inside dining consists of a seasonal tasting menu that starts at $50 a person. There’s a separate outside menu with breads, appetizers, pastas, grilled and rotisserie entrees, and of course cocktails by the fire. — Josh Novikoff
Iron Gate is located at 1734 N Street NW.
HOTEL TABARD INN: Inconspicuously tucked away in Dupont Circle, the Tabard Inn can feel miles away from the bustling city around it. The inn’s English-style living rooms features couches and a fireplace; during the summer, a quiet courtyard is as inviting a place as you could want for eye-gazing. If drinks go well, there’s a great restaurant to be enjoyed, and if that isn’t enough for you and your partner, well—it’s an inn, right? —Martin Austermule
The Hotel Tabard Inn is located at 1739 N Street NW.
Photo via Chez Billy’s Facebook.
CHEZ BILLY: Give credit where credit is due — to the designers of Chez Billy. No matter what season you’re in, this self-described “Parisian neighborhood bistro” provides a warm, appealing way to duck out of whatever life is keeping you busy and stressed with. In the summer, its high ceilings and ample natural light, as well as a back patio, give it a light airiness. In winter, it’s the simplicity of the dark wooden bar with exposed red brick walls and a cozy looking hearth in the middle (hence its place in this list). Also, they serve alcohol. So. —Alexis Hauk
Chez Billy is located at 3815 Georgia Avenue NW.
OYA: The Dupont Circle Penn Quarter Asian fusion restaurant has one of the most unique and beautiful fireplaces in the city. Made of white marble, the wall-length, gas fireplace matches the modern feeling of the food. —Sarah Anne Hughes.
Oya is located at 777 9th Street NW.
POSTE: Poste Moderne Brasserie’s outdoor patio becomes a winter longue during the colder months, with wood-burning fire pits. Wrap yourself in a blanket then relax on a sofa while drinking one of their special cocktails. —Sarah Anne Hughes.
Poste is located at 555 8th Street NW.
ART AND SOUL: Grab a table around Art and Soul’s large cauldron, and you’ll have a chance to warm up while staring at the Capitol Dome. A tree blocks the view in the warmer months, but the pesky leaves disappear when it’s fire pit season. A patio happy hour runs each weekday from 4-7 p.m. and there’s even a dog menu out there if you want to deliver a non-alcoholic bowser beer, frozen raw bone, or homemade dog biscuit to your favorite canine pal. — Josh Novikoff
Art and Soul is located at 415 New Jersey Avenue NW.
