The Street Bar at The Newbury hotel Boston fireplace
Photograph: Nikolas KoenigAll vibes at The Street Bar at The Newbury
Photograph: Nikolas Koenig

26 best restaurants with fireplaces in Boston to get cozy

The warm glow at these bars, cafés and eateries will lift your spirits during the seemingly endless New England winter.

Jacqueline Cain
Written by: Megan Johnson
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To say Boston can be brutal during the winter is an understatement. When the winds are whirling, it’s easy to say “no way” to leaving your apartment for the blistering cold. But some of Boston's hottest restaurants and cafés are anchored by cozy, warm environments that include a roaring fireplace to warm up beside, and that’s enough to get us away from the couch. Here’s a roundup of some of the best spots to grab a seat by the crackling fire and enjoy a delectable meal. To find warmth without the flames, nestle into one of the best cocktail bars in Boston or best wine bars in Boston. For other spots worthy of wooing, try one of the most romantic restaurants in Boston or one of the best dessert spots in Boston. A cozy cocktail, hearty meal and decadent dessert await, as you sit out the chilly temps happily by the hearth.

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in Boston

The best restaurants with fireplaces in Boston

  • Hotel bars
  • Back Bay
  • price 2 of 4

Copley Square can be frigid during the winter (particularly that wind tunnel through nearby 200 Clarendon!), but guests can find refuge from the cold at this bar within the elegant Fairmont Copley Plaza. A roaring fire provides warmth and amplifies the already cozy ambiance provided by rich wood accents, crystal chandeliers, gilded tray ceilings and plush velvet and leather seating. There's a fireplace behind the bar, as well as one tucked away in the Red Room Lounge. Order an old-school cocktail, stare into the flames and you'll chase that chill out of your bones in no time.

  • Steakhouse
  • Allston/Brighton
  • price 3 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended

Located in Brighton since 1972, this popular locals' spot is housed on the original site of Boston's cattle industry. Today it offers a comfortable, tavern-style environment with a roaring fireplace and ample seating options. The 42-seat bar has TVs for watching the game, and lots of solid drink choices—gin martini drinkers will not be dissapointed. The menu includes comfort food faves and fine steakhouse fare that is priced like it's from another time.

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  • Downtown

A building filled with so much history needs a stylish spot that’s ripe for cocktails and conversation. Located right across from the Boston Public Garden in The Newbury, the Street Bar’s crackling fireplace cultivates an aura of glamour in a less-conspicuous way than its rooftop restaurant, Contessa. Order locally-inspired bar fare, or just grab a drink in the wood and leather-rich space that’s lined with books. 

  • Contemporary American
  • Downtown
  • price 3 of 4

Go past the buzzing main bar of this modern supper club (which retains the old-school vibe and 19th-century glory of its predecessor, Locke-Ober) to the library. Here, you’ll find comfy banquettes, chandeliers, shelves full of books, quirky portraits of celebrities and, of course, a roaring fire. Ask for a seat by the fireplace and sip a classic cocktail like the Rose Thorn to warm yourself inside and out.

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  • Italian
  • Harvard Sq
  • price 3 of 4

Pammy’s specializes in handmade pastas and modern Italian dishes, serving them all up within a hip atmosphere with a retro vibe. Inside this contemporary trattoria, you'll find a sleek, double-sided, white-tiled fireplace that warms both the lounge area and the dining room. Sip an amaro-forward cocktail by the fire on one side, then join the feasting fun at the communal table on the other.

  • Breweries
  • Allston/Brighton

A second taproom and production facility for Braintree’s Widowmaker Brewing Co., this Brighton place has a "neo-goth" vibe complete with a gas fireplace lounge and black leather furniture. Sit and sip on award-winning beers like Blue Comet IPA and Return to Oblivion Vienna-style lager. If you get hungry, check out the menu from Bone & Bread, the resident kitchen, for global tavern fare like crispy-fried oyster mushrooms, "uncommon ramen," burgers and chicken sandwiches.

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  • Gastropubs
  • Fenway/Kenmore
  • price 3 of 4

With its extensive selection of whiskeys (there are more than 200), Citizen Public House is a prime spot to hit up when you’re looking to warm up. If the brown stuff is not enough to get you toasty, there’s also a 100+ year-old fireplace that certainly will. Enjoy some oysters, a burger and a few drinks, and you’ll be ready to face the freezing Fenway once more.

  • American creative
  • Back Bay
  • price 4 of 4

Deuxave’s glamorous environs and sumptuous French fare are enough to bring a glow to any patron. (A wine list that approaches nearly 500 bottles definitely helps, too). Add in the Back Bay establishment's modern fireplace with roaring flames, and you’ll want to linger over every morsel of your meal to keep cozy.

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  • North End
  • price 3 of 4

For a high-end spot with a fireplace, head Bricco on the famed Hanover Street in the Italian North End. Known for their artisanal pasta, Bricco offers a menu of delectable options, like their ricotta pillows covered in truffle butter and wild mushrooms. Combine the food coma with the cozy atmosphere, and you’ll probably need a nap afterward. 

10. Angela's Cafe

One of East Boston’s most celebrated restaurants, Angela’s Cafe is known for authentic Mexican cuisine inspired by the Puebla region—think: cozy dishes like mole poblano, pipian rojo, chiles en nogada and more. The Orient Heights location, which is right across from the MBTA station, has a cool brick fireplace right next to the floor-to-ceiling windows, providing the perfect spot to enjoy your huevos rancheros. Be ready to wait in line on the weekends, but it’s well worth it.

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  • Downtown

You'll want to head to Brookline's public golf course for lunch, whether or not you've ever golfed in your life. The clubhouse, known as Hemock Grill, is open to the public daily, and year-round, with a menu overseen by chef Alex Saenz, who helms Taqueria el Barrio at Time Out Market and has graced several fine-dining kitchens in Boston. The chef's famous Southern fried chicken lives on at Hemlock Grill, along with sandwiches such as a Cubano, turkey club, grilled chicken with Peruvian green sauce and more. There are also salads, hot dogs, homemade chips and breakfast sandwiches served all day. Soft drinks enhance a wine and packaged beer lineup that impresses with selections like cans from Trillium Brewing Co. Check out the wintertime-seasonal Fireside Dinners, with pay-as-you-wish pricing; and in warmer months, take lunch out on the scenic patio overlooking the green.

  • Contemporary American
  • Harvard Sq
  • price 4 of 4

Since 1975, this refined Harvard Square stalwart has been on the forefront of local farm-to-table dining. Its elegant, seasonal menu even earned a place in the heart of former Cambridge resident Julia Child. The kitchen personifies a sophisticated approach to New England cuisine; locally-sourced seafood and meats, plus homemade pastas, are all meticulously and imaginatively prepared. When the temps dip, enjoy a seat by the roaring indoor fire.

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  • Seafood
  • Seaport District
  • price 3 of 4

Located on Boston’s historic Fort Point Channel in the Seaport District, this iconic marina-side, summertime hangout (complete with picnic tables and cheerful striped tents) pays homage to the chillier months with its indoor wood-burning stove. Take a seat at the coveted table right in front of the hearth, as you order lobsters and fried clams—all under a ceiling of lobster traps and twinkling lights.

  • French
  • Back Bay
  • price 3 of 4

Whether you're stopping into Bistro du Midi for a snack and a glass of wine, or you're indulging in a multi-course tasting menu, this Back Bay eatery is a popular choice for an intimate French meal. With windows overlooking the Public Garden, the upstairs dining room offers prime views. There’s also a fireplace that enhances the warm, romantic ambiance and Gallic-accented fare.

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  • Global
  • South Boston
  • price 2 of 4

The Southie mainstay is incredibly popular with local young professionals, and it’s not hard to understand why with that setup. Inspired by the Latin phrase “pro bono public” or “for the good of the people,” Publico has an interior courtyard with a retractable open-air roof, bar, lounge-style seating, and a heated floor. But it’s the roaring fire pits that bring folks in year round for eating, drinking and socializing.  

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  • Bakeries
  • Cambridgeport
  • price 2 of 4
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended

Like its sibling spots in the South EndBack Bay and elsewhere in Boston and Cambridge, this café has pastel hues, a chalkboard menu and a space as cute as a cupcake—but the cozy Cambridgeport Flour boasts a unique amenity: A glass-sided gas fireplace with lounge seating around it. Order a sticky bun, sugar-sprinkled vanilla cream doughnut (Sundays only) or a lunchtime sandwich and settle in.

  • East Cambridge

Settle into a leather wingback in front of a cozy fireplace at this Cambridge Crossing restaurant. Chef Will Gilson’s menu is meant to satiate any size hunger—there are snacks like jalapeño-bacon croquettes and steak + oyster tartare, sandwiches such as the French onion soup grilled cheese and hearty entrees including pan-roasted Scottish salmon. Designed with an open greenhouse layout, the Lexington also features one of the area’s only roof decks, so it’s the place to be no matter the season.

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  • Back Bay

An homage to New England’s long-standing fishing tradition, The Banks celebrates the area’s love affair with the sea and its bounty. The menu starts on the docks, as chef Robert Sisca fuels the passion by serving dishes like MV smokehouse bluefish pate, cuttlefish spaghetti and Dover sole meunière, while the first-floor raw bar offers stellar crudo, oyster, and caviar selections. The huge open fireplace on the ground level is a sight to behold, but there’s also a smaller hearth on the second floor, so you can get your fix of flames either way.

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  • Italian
  • South Boston
  • price 2 of 4

The South Boston hotspot serves up Italian food and spirits in a vibrant setting, which includes an 18-foot, wood-burning fireplace. It’s surrounded by plenty of seating, so guests can enjoy an Italian feast in a cozy setting. Take a peek into the open-concept kitchen as you enjoy fresh, house-made pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and classic Italian dishes. Italian food lovers who can’t deal with gluten can also rejoice: On Tuesday, Capo offers a fully gluten-free menu.

  • American creative
  • Seaport District
  • price 4 of 4

Escape the chilly Seaport breeze coming off of the water and enjoy the real stone fireplace situated inside Woods Hill Pier 4. Once you've gotten comfortable by the hearth, enjoy the local, organic, farm-to-table cuisine the restaurant has on offer. The kitchen only uses ingredients sourced from The Farm at Woods Hill and other nearby purveyors, crafting modern New England fare that'll warm you up right down the core. 

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  • Contemporary American
  • Kendall Sq
  • price 2 of 4

Given Catalyst's location in the heart of MIT territory, it's no surprise that this Technology Square restaurant boasts an ultra-modern fireplace. A long, sleek glass box of flames divides the lounge area from the dining room, bringing a bit of warmth to the otherwise clean and minimalistic contemporary space. While the hearth may not crackle like a traditional fire, it’s still a cozy place to enjoy a boutique glass of wine or a designer cocktail.

  • Steakhouse
  • Back Bay
  • price 4 of 4

There's a good reason why Grill 23 is one of the city’s most famous steakhouses. Fusing together luxury and comfort, the spot is a favorite of corporate bigwigs and anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion. But the cozy environs are kicked up a notch by the crackling fireplace, which is the perfect spot to soak up the luxe vibes over perfectly-prepped steaks. 

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  • Theater District

It may be Boston, but Nash Bar feels a whole lot like Nashville. Located in the Theater District right across the street from some of the city’s best performance venues, Nash Bar serves Southern food in a high-energy atmosphere. Grab a seat to enjoy your chicken and waffles, but be sure to check out the fireplace that’s surrounded by faux deer heads and bull skulls.

26. Kestra

One of Boston’s newest hotels, the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport is always bustling with conventioneers, business people and tourists. Kestra, their all-day Mediterranean-American eatery, features a wide fireplace with plenty of nearby seating for a full meal or a quick drink at the lengthy bar. The venue’s sleek design and shelves cultivated with art books make the space even more intriguing. 

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