31 Boston Restaurants with Cozy Fireplaces
Enjoy your next meal hearthside.
Ooh, look at that crackling fireplace. / Photo via Getty Images
As winter weather looms and the sun sets before the workday ends, you can always seek solace in the many Boston restaurants and bars that keep their dining rooms warm and toasty with crackling fireplaces. Some are wood-burning, some are gas-lit, some old-school wood stoves, and others are modern and wrapped in marble. But whatever they may look like, they all provide the warmth and cozy ambiance needed for a dinner, date night, or just a few drinks. This winter, let the flickering flames of these neighborhood fireplaces light the way.
This guide was last updated in November 2023; stay tuned for periodic updates.
Abe & Louie’s
The stately dining room at this Back Bay steakhouse has been warmed by a glowing fireplace for more than 20 years. Stop in for dinner and enjoy Wagyu or a classic French onion soup, and find that even the best of meals tastes better beside a hearth.
793 Boylston St., Back Bay, Boston, 617-536-6300, abeandlouies.com.
Avery Bar
At the Ritz-Carlton’s downtown cocktail den, you’ll find updated caramel-hued finishes, sumptuous seating, and plenty of nooks and crannies for hiding away with one of the “Avery 10” cocktails. Who can resist curling up in one of those leather chairs in front of the elevated fireplace?
10 Avery St., Downtown Boston, 617-574-7100, ritzcarlton.com/boston.
The four-sided fireplace at the Banks. / Photo courtesy of the Banks Fish House
The Banks Fish House
Pulling up a seat by the four-sided fireplace and diving into a hearty bowl of clam chowder (garnished with pork belly and chive oil) at this Back Bay favorite is the best way to warm your bones any night of the week.
406 Stuart St., Back Bay, Boston, 617-399-0015, thebanksboston.com
Bistro du Midi
This Provençal bistro has stellar crudo, an extensive wine list, and entrées inspired by coastal New England from award-winning chef Robert Sisca. Upstairs in the restaurant’s exquisite dining room sits a burning hearth, ready to accompany any meal.
272 Boylston St., Back Bay, Boston, 617-279-8000, bistrodumidi.com.
The fireplace at Capo. / Photo by Assembly Designs
Capo Restaurant and Supper Club
Black truffle risotto, rigatoni Bolognese, and more await at this South Boston Italian eatery. Ask for a table close to the fire and order a bottle of wine—you might want to stay a while.
443 W. Broadway, South Boston, 617-993-8080, caposouthboston.com.
Catalyst Restaurant
Right in Kendall’s Technology Square, this restaurant trades the rustic brick fireplace for something more cutting edge. It’s a sleek ribbon of flame, housed in a glass box, cutting through the lounge area. But just because it’s modern doesn’t mean it’s not inviting, as anyone who’s spent an evening basking in its warm glow would tell you.
300 Technology Sq., Kendall Square, Cambridge, 617-576-3000, catalystrestaurant.com.
Charlie’s Kitchen
Sometimes, keeping it simple is the only way to go. At Charlie’s, a menu heavy with hearty apps and loaded burgers make it easy to do just that. Trek outside to the restaurant’s (mostly) year-round beer garden, grab a drink, and let the outdoor fire tables (imagine a fire pit right in the center of your table) do the rest.
10 Eliot St., Harvard Square, Cambridge, 617-492-9646, charlieskitchen.com.
Citizen Public House
It’s not just the extraordinarily deep rosters of rye, bourbon, scotch, and Irish whiskey that keeps us warm at this Fenway neighborhood favorite. Behold that 100-year-old fireplace.
1310 Boylston St., Fenway, Boston, 617-450-9000, citizenpub.com.
Corrib Pub & Restaurant
The neighborhood bar is one of our favorite Irish hangouts for a reason. A roaring fireplace makes it quite welcoming during the winter, and prime rib dinner every weekend complements the homey ambience.
2030 Centre St., West Roxbury, Boston, 617-469-4177, corribpub.com.
The stone-wrapped fireplace at Deuxave. / Photo courtesy of Deuxave
Deuxave
A cellar full of aged Bordeaux, sophisticated riffs on Parisian pastry-craft, and updated takes on classic cookery make this upscale Back Bay spot a special-occasion French favorite, but the blazing gas fireplace makes it especially welcoming during the colder months.
371 Commonwealth Ave., Back Bay, Boston, 617-517-5915, deuxave.com.
Euno Ristorante
Reserve a table in the downstairs dining room for an especially romantic meal—that’s where the fireplace is flickering. Lingering over a meal of osso bucco with risotto Milanese or goat-cheese-stuffed artichokes (wrapped in prosciutto, no less), you might forget you’re in cold, wintry Boston rather than the Italian countryside.
119 Salem St., North End, Boston, 617-573-9406, eunoboston.com.
Grendel’s Den
This funky basement bar puts a great spin on happy hour with half-priced food nightly from 5-7:30 p.m., and the large, dining room fireplace has comforted generations of Cantabrigians over decades in Harvard Square. (Pro tip: Try the mead. It’s only fair to pay homage to the era in Grendel’s namesake epic.)
89 Winthrop St., Harvard Square, Cambridge, 617-491-1160, grendelsden.com.
Grill 23 & Bar
At this high-ceilinged steakhouse, exquisite entrees including Atlantic halibut with crispy new potatoes; the signature 18-ounce, 100-day aged prime ribeye; and other dishes are served by white-coated waiters. The grand, fireplace-warmed room is also a holiday-season lunch staple.
61 Berkeley St., Back Bay, 617-542-2255, grill23.com.
Harvest’s outdoor fireplace in Cambridge. / Photo courtesy of Harvest
Harvest
This Harvard Square landmark continues to draw students, professors, and other locals in with the likes of wild Atlantic swordfish with whole-belly clams and potato purée, herb-roasted rack of lamb, and bluefin tuna crudo. Both the comfortable dining room and the outdoor garden terrace boast fireplaces.
44 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge, 617-868-2255, harvestcambridge.com.
Hunter’s Kitchen & Bar
Nestled in the heart of Southie with soaring ceilings, wood paneling, and warm lighting, Hunter’s has cozy cabin vibes year-round. Even better? The atmosphere comes alive with an always-lit fireplace that complements the restaurant’s southern-inspired comfort food.
110 Dorchester St., South Boston, 617-221-4200, hunterssouthboston.com.
Local 149
Tucked deep in South Boston, this watering hole is serving up contemporary American cuisine and plenty of house cocktails. Any stiff drink you order pairs well with the glow of the fireplace.
149 P St., South Boston, 617-269-0900, local149.com.
Mare Oyster Bar
Lobsters rolls, a raw bar, and bowls of seafood-laden gnocchi dovetail well with the outdoor fire pits. The hardest decision is just deciding what cocktail would vibe best with your night.
3 Mechanic St., North End, Boston, 617-723-6273, mareoysterbar.com.
Oak Long Bar + Kitchen
You can’t miss the warm glow inside this elegant classic: There’s a fireplace located behind the bar. Alongside the glassed-in wine vault and original stained glass windows, the snug Red Room Lounge has its own hearth, too.
Fairmont Copley Plaza, 138 St. James Ave., Back Bay, Boston, 617-585-7222, oaklongbarkitchen.com.
Oleana
Through dishes like tuna and black olive deviled eggs and lemony flattened potatoes, chef-owner Ana Sortun’s vivid Middle Eastern flavors ignite the senses, while the wood stove aglow in the dining room makes this Cambridge classic extra welcoming.
134 Hampshire St., Cambridge, 617-661-0505, oleanarestaurant.com.
Pammy’s fireplace makes the communal table extra cozy. / Photo courtesy of Pammy’s
Pammy’s
Modern, sleek DTILE (a ceramic from the Netherlands) wraps this dual-sided hearth. The heat it throws makes the communal table even cozier, and the prix fixe menu somehow even more delicious. (That lumache Bolognese is a game-changer, but don’t be afraid to venture elsewhere on the can’t-go-wrong menu.)
928 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-945-1761, pammyscambridge.com.
The Rose Room at Prima. / Photo by Assembly Designs
Prima
Make date night even more special in Prima’s Rose Room. Behind gold-tasseled curtains, this dining room is awash in sumptuous red velvet and pink marble (including the fireplace). Enjoy steak and pasta from the restaurant’s main menu, plus a prosecco concierge service.
10 City Square, Charlestown, Boston, 617-804-7400, primaboston.com.
Publico Street Bistro
The fire pits in this Southie spot’s year-round atrium are as welcoming on a cool summer’s night when the retractable roof is open as they are in the dead of winter. But when the Publico Garden is decked out in flannel blankets and plush pillows and as the après-ski-themed Lodge at Publico, the coziness can’t compare.
11 Dorchester St., South Boston, 617-622-5700, publicoboston.com.
The Sound End Buttery’s downstairs dining room. / Photo by Carl Tremblay/Snowflake Studios
South End Buttery
Though you may stop into the popular Shawmut Street café for a coffee and pastry often, the South End Buttery’s downstairs dining room is a true hidden gem. The roaring fireplace invites you to sit down and stay a while, plus full dinner and brunch menus will make you never want to leave.
314 Shawmut Ave., South End, Boston, 617-482-1015, southendbuttery.com.
The Street Bar at the Newbury. / Photo by Nikolas Koenig
The Street Bar
Inside the Newbury Boston hotel, the Street Bar’s jewel-toned banquettes, chairs, and barstools are situated around a fireplace encased in dark wood, evoking the feel of a snug library. There are no reservations, so get there early and hope for a seat in front of the fire. Even better: If you’re staying at the hotel, you can book a fireplace suite, each equipped with a wood-burning fireplace that’s serviced by a “fireplace butler.”
One Newbury St., Back Bay, Boston, 617-536-5700, https://www.thenewburyboston.com/dine/street-bar.
Tresca
When it’s too cold to sit outside on Tresca’s intimate balcony Table 77, opt to sit inside by the roaring fireplace instead. The atmosphere will feel just like Sunday dinner at home—but the food will be even more hearty and soul-warming. From stuffed meatballs to lobster ravioli, the decision is the most difficult part.
233 Hanover St., North End, Boston, 617-742-8240, trescanorthend.com.
The dual-sided fireplace at the new Seaport Tuscan Kitchen. / Photo provided
Tuscan Kitchen
This 300-plus-seat enoteca has it all: Views of the bustling Seaport District below; authentic Italian cuisine like house-made truffled gnocchi with wild boar ragu; an open-hearth pizza oven; and house-made gelato and artisan breads—plus a soaring stone fireplace that opens on both sides.
64 Seaport Blvd., Seaport District, Boston, 617-303-7300, tuscanbrands.com.
W Lounge
This hotel lounge strikes a balance of hip but not exclusive, crowded but not cramped, loud but not obnoxious. We’re also quite partial to the retro-futuristic-looking fireplace. Pair it with hot-honey chicken sliders and truffle fries, and you’ve got a serious winter escape on your hands.
100 Stuart St., Downtown Boston, 617-261-8700, wboston.com.
Warren Tavern
Finish up the day at this weathered tavern, one of the country’s oldest watering holes where Paul Revere and George Washington once drank. The historic haunt remains a Charlestown go-to for comfort food, cold brews, and live music.
2 Pleasant St., Charlestown, Boston, 617-241-8142, warrentavern.com.
The dining room fireplace at the Waverly. / Photo by Assembly Designs
Waverly Kitchen & Bar
If it were possible to make Waverly’s decadent brunch even better, a fireplace in the center of the dining room does the trick. There’s no better way to enjoy the likes of buttermilk biscuits and smoked gouda mac and cheese than accompanied by some warm flames.
231 Bunker Hill St., Charlestown, Boston, 617-380-6500, waverlycharlestown.com.
West on Centre
The cozy dining-room fireplace is just one reason this West Roxbury restaurant is an indispensable neighborhood gathering place. Weekend brunch, a handful of gluten-free options, and a dozen-piece rotating draft list are some of the other reasons.
1732 Centre St., West Roxbury, Boston, 617-323-4199, westoncentreboston.com.
Oh, look, it’s Bill Murray (above the fireplace on the far right). / Photo by Richard Cadan
Yvonne’s
Locke-Ober’s original centerpiece hearth is preserved in the glam redux—roaring beneath the cheeky painted portrait of Bill Murray in Yvonne’s library bar. Note: This is also one of the city’s most beautiful restaurants.
2 Winter Pl., Downtown Crossing, Boston, 617-267-0047, yvonnesboston.com.
With reporting by Shaula Clark and Alex Wilking.
