With winter in full swing and the cold weather finally upon us, it’s time to hunker down in front of the fire. Luckily (for those of us who don’t have hearths at home), there are more than a few spots around town where you can enjoy an amazing meal by flickering firelight. Scroll down to peruse more than thirty destinations for fireside dining (and drinking).
2027 Massachusetts Avenue
Lexington, MA 02421
781-301-6655
Artistry on the Green is keeping things simple and traditional this winter with a lively fireplace right at the heart of their small but cozy restaurant in Lexington, MA. Take in the history surrounding you from the comforts of a fireside seat.
Make Bastille Kitchen your winter go-to. The Fort Point spot has a warm rustic vibe balanced with elegant fare. Request a seat in the Chalet lounge to sink into cozy chairs clustered around a roaring fire - you'll want to sit tight pretty much right through until spring.
After you eat, retire to Beacon Hill Bistro’s fireplace bar for a post-dinner cocktail. No need to brave the blistering cold when you’ve got these flickering flames promising a cozy spot to while away the evening.
The Public Garden looks just as pretty—perhaps prettier—from the warmth of a fireside table. Ditch the nighttime strolls in the cold this season and take in the view from Bistro du Midi’s dining room, where the hearth is lit and the food’s a hit.
The already romantic Bondir ups its game with an elevated brick fireplace that puts sensual ambience through the roof (literally, if you count the chimney). Linger over dinner for two until it’s just embers, if you’d like.
There’s a reason Bristol Restaurant and Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Boston is considered a home away from home for Boston’s movers and shakers: the roaring fireplace, along with both table and couch seating, creates the cozy, relaxed ambiance for this uber classy—yet comfy—Back Bay hot spot.
South Boston dwellers and diners don't have to venture too far to find a warm hearth when the cold weather hits. Capo's rustic, open-kitchen concept features a central stone fireplace that's an ideal spot by which to enjoy house-made pasta, wood-fired pizzas and classic Italian fare.
Don’t worry about running out of logs at Catalyst, where the electric fireplace comes to life at the flick of a switch. The lambent, linear installation lies adjacent to one of the tables whose lucky diners bask in its glow—play your cards right and you might be dining fireside.
Flanked by flowers, wreaths and lights for the holidays, Chiara’s fireplace is a festive installation that remains just as welcoming once the New Year has passed. Whether you make it in while the halls are still decked with holly or you’re seeking solace from frigid February temps, Chiara’s got you covered.
1 Burlington Mall Road
Burlington, MA 01803
781-221-6643
Chopps heats up—their Great Room area showcases a sleek glass fireplace with a modern touch. Adjacent seating allows guests to settle in for communal dining or cocktails by the light of the fire.
If Citizen’s spirits don’t keep you warm enough, perhaps the fire will. The Fenway spot turns up the heat this winter with a fireplace lodged in the corner—grab a table on either side for maximum warmth, or double up on the whiskey and enjoy the view from afar.
400 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02155
617-764-1655
When the weather outside is frightful, find your way to Davis Square’s Five Horses Tavern where cozy booths, classic American comfort food and a roaring fire will make you want to hunker down until spring arrives.
You can hunker down by the fire at Flank pretty much all year long, if you so choose. The Waltham steakhouse has an indoor hearth in their cozy, couch-filled den as well as an outdoor firepit on their patio. Take your pick for a lovely evening by the fire - winter, spring, summer or fall.
The color scheme of yellows and browns fits well with the beautiful fireplace in Harvest’s Brattle Room. Call ahead to make sure fireside dining is available—they seat the room for normal dinner service as long as there are no private events.
Hosting an event this season? Look no further, as L’andana not only has traditional Tuscan cuisine to warm your insides, but also a sleek fireplace overlooking guests in their private dining area. So raise your wine glass and cheers to toasty evenings with good company.
Menotomy adds to the rustic tavern ambiance with the warmth of a roaring fireplace. Snag a table hearthside to enjoy a historic bite (and sip) of Arlington by the glow of the fire.
Met Back Bay’s gas fireplace won’t crackle and spark, but it’s a nice piece of eye candy while you sip a hot chocolate or brace yourself to reenter the Newbury Street throngs.
Come winter, Copley Square is like an icy, windswept tundra. Shake the chill at Oak Long Bar where they’ve got a roaring fire and plenty of warming beverages that’ll bring the feeling back into your fingers and toes.
Just because it’s known for its patio doesn’t mean Oleana is a summer-only destination. Give the Union Square spot a shot this winter—you might be lucky enough to score a banquette seat by its wood stove fireplace.
Pammy’s dual sided fireplace has all the warmth and coziness (double, even!) that you’d expect from a glowing hearth while the surrounding ceramic tile adds an extra dose of cool. Perched right between the dining room and bar, the flickering flames are visible from just about every vantage point for everyone to enjoy.
59 John F. Kennedy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-491-9851
You don’t have to be a Harvard educated brainiac to know that the fireplace at Park Restaurant & Bar is the place-to-be, come the chilly days of January, February and (say it isn’t so) March. Just take a peek at the picture and make a (bundled up) beeline for Cambridge to get cozy.
If you’re out with your friends (or out on a date) Parsnip in Harvard Square should be on your list of go-bars this winter. The midcentury modern décor includes a fireplace in their upstairs lounge, guaranteed to shelter you from the frigid temperatures outside.
Post 390 is literally a hotspot this winter, with three fireplaces to offer guests escaping from the Back Bay cold. Two are traditional-style recessed numbers that radiate warmth to nearby tables. The third? A casual take on the fireplace—in the bar area sits a glass-encased pillar that provides some flickering ambience to those bellying up.
Escape those wintery winds at Precinct this season. Their fireplace overlooks their lavish dining room and bar area, the perfect spot to defrost and have an equally warming meal (or cocktail) in the heart of downtown.
If you find yourself in Hingham this winter, stop by The Quarry for a comforting dining experience. Their rustic decor is charming and welcoming. Their fireplace is even more so, offering guests a chance to dine in what is no doubt a beautiful dining room that feels just like home.
After you've strolled up and down the South End's picturesque streets and ducked into your fill of stylish little boutiques, pop in for a cozy, fireside meal at South End Buttery. Comfortable banquettes and a crackling fire (not to mention the stellar menu) combine to make the perfect perch for the chilly winter months.
Tamo’s interior is sharp, clean and modern—why should its fireplace be any different? The folks in the Seaport dispense with cumbersome logs and unwieldy tools in favor of a switch-on fireplace that adds just a touch of the rustic amid its sleek surroundings.
When the lights at Fenway are off for season and the infield is covered in snow, you can get cozy by the glow of the fire at Tapestry. The elegant-yet-approachable Club Room, with its palm trees and toasty central fireplace, will make you forget all about the cold outside and fill your head with the warmer days when the boys of summer return.
There are three reasons to go to Toro this winter. First, they have incredible paella. Second, they have an extensive and intriguing wine list to pair it with. Even more alluring is the large fireplace at the center of the room (in case the food and spirits haven’t warmed you up enough already).
Milling around the North End this winter? Duck into Tresca, where they've got two fireplaces. Choose between the one in the ground floor dining room or the one upstairs in the Tuscan Room for a flickering backdrop for an authentic Italian meal.
It’s only appropriate that the paragon of all-natural country fare boasts a real stone fireplace to match its backwoods-y menu. Woods Hill Table offers a winter warmer-upper so cozy you'll want to stay there all night.
