Fired Up: 6 Restaurants with Fire Pits for Year-Round Relaxation
Know what’s better than enjoying a before-or-after dinner cocktail in front of a roaring fire? Sipping that drink while sitting around an outdoor fire pit with fresh air and friends you haven’t met yet. These six restaurants with fire pits — some in really cold climes — allow you to warm your spirit while soaking up a bit of nature.
1606 Restaurant, Gloucester, Massachusetts
The fire pit at this seafood spot in the Beauport Hotel will keep you toasty while you drink in the intoxicating sunset water views. Try one of the 16 select craft beers on tap or the signature festive Cranberry Mule cocktail. An after-dinner cordial by the fire, beneath an inky black sky and winking stars, will also reel you in. Make a reservation at 1606 Restaurant.
Jimmy’s at The Landing Resort & Spa, South Lake Tahoe, California
Sink into a comfy couch or armchair next to the fire pit on the deck that overlooks the azure Lake Tahoe and sandy Lakeside Beach. Order the Greek Mojito, poured with ouzo, rum, mint, lemon, and ginger, and for dinner, a Mediterranean-inspired, wood-fired seafood dish sounds about right. Make a reservation at Jimmy’s at The Landing Resort & Spa.
The Tiller Restaurant at Cliff House, Cape Neddick, Maine
Before or after you tuck into a pot of Wild Maine mussels and a boiled Maine lobster dinner, sip an aperitif by the outdoor fire pit. Later, head back out with a warm-your-heart Irish coffee and listen to the crashing waves off Bald Head Cliff — nature’s music that you’ll want to add to Spotify playlist. Make a reservation at The Tiller Restaurant at Cliff House.
Tidal, San Diego, California
The glass-enclosed fire pit on the appealing patio is the perfect spot to kick back and sip a signature Magnificent Doll (tequila, peach, kiwi, lime, agave nectar, and a black Hawaiian salt rim) before digging into SoCal cuisine. Bonus: Impressive views of Mission Bay, thanks to the eatery’s location at Paradise Point Resort & Spa. Make a reservation at Tidal.
Flannel, Stowe, Vermont
White-frosted mountaintop views and an outdoor fire pit are a match made in Vermont, especially at the signature restaurant at Topnotch Resort and Spa. Sip a Mountain on Fire cocktail (Green Mountain Vodka, Aperol, and orange and lemon juices) before heading indoors for dinner. Order s’mores off the dessert menu and you’ll bundle up and head back outside to toast the marshmallows over the flame. Make a reservation at Flannel.
Shell & Bones Oyster Bar & Grill, New Haven, Connecticut
This waterfront spot has two year-round outdoor fire pits — the perfect props for a glass of locally-produced Jonathan Edwards Chardonnay. Then, it’s oysters, a cup of New England clam chowder, and scallops, or, maybe clams casino and filet mignon before you cap the night with a nightcap by the fire. Make a reservation at Shell & Bones Oyster Bar & Grill.
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Laurie Bain Wilson is a Boston-based journalist, author, and essayist who writes often about travel, food, and baseball. Find her on Twitter @laurieheather.