About Winter Fun
This article is a part of Washingtonian’s feature: Winter Fun Indoors & Out. Our editors and staff pulled together the best things to do this winter, including snowball fights, cozy places to get a drink, ice skating, and more.
Go out? Stay home and get cozy by a fire? Why choose? Some favorite hearth-equipped bars and restaurants, ranked.
7. Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub
Sip a Guinness by the hearth of this Old Town pub, which boasts fireplaces on both floors. 713 King St., Alexandria; 703-548-1717.
6. The Red Fox Inn & Tavern
In Virginia hunt country? Stop at this nearly 300-year-old tavern for a nip by the fire. 2 E. Washington St., Middleburg; 540-687-6301.
5. Iron Gate
One of DC’s most romantic restaurants gets its charm from a fireplace in the dining room, plus fire pits on the wisteria-covered patio. 1734 N St., NW; 202-524-5202.
4. Rye Street Tavern
It’s worth the drive to Charm City to sip spirits by a Rumford fireplace (a tall, skinny, extra-warm variety) or by an outdoor fire pit facing the river. 13 Rye St., Baltimore; 443-662-8000.
3. Bar a Vin
This wood-paneled, romantic Georgetown wine bar is one of our favorite places to curl up with a glass of vin rouge and date by a wood-burning hearth. Sister restaurant Chez Billy Sud next door provides excellent cheese and charcuterie. 1035 31st St., NW; 202-965-2606.
2. 600 T Street
With only 25 seats in this cabin-like nook of a cocktail bar, almost everyone is close to the fireplace. 600 T St., NW; 757-646-6282.
1. The Living Room at the Ritz-Carlton
The 130-foot-tall hearth in the lobby lounge makes this the biggest blaze in DC. Go for weeknight happy hour (5:30 to 6:30), when you’ll get gratis s’mores with your discount libations. 3100 South St., NW; 202-912-4100.
A version of this article appears in our January 2019 issue of Washingtonian. This post has been updated with new information.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
