Fireplaces aren’t just for show at Chicago’s restaurants and bars as they get ample use as early as September and as late as May. That’s not pessimism, it’s just reality. And though our friends in warmer states may brag about constant sunny skies, there’s something romantic about cozying up to a real fire with a delicious beverage or person. Meow! Here are a few of Eater Chicago’s favorite restaurants and bars with fireplaces.
Read MoreWhere to Warm Up in Chicago Inside a Restaurant or Bar With a Fireplace
Find somewhere toasty this winter
Moody's Pub
Hunker down around the fireplace with a burger and beer at this Edgewater pub. The warmth and coziness of the space beckons folks to stay a while. Moody’s is known for pitchers of beers and its beer garden, but the interior isn’t bad, either.
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Fireside Restaurant & Lounge
A bar called the Fireside seems like an obvious inclusion on this list, but here’s the twist: there are actually two firesides at this cozy Edgewater spot, one in the indoor dining room and the other outside on the all-season patio. Sit by either one and enjoy a meal of respectable American bar food, including pizza, ribs, and burgers.
The Green Post
The Green Post, Lincoln Square’s UK-inspired drinking den from the owners of the Northman and Bar on Buena, offers a handful of seats beside a charming antique fireplace. It’s an ideal perch for snuggling up with a hot cocktail and a chicken and paneer pie.
Ella Elli
4 Star Restaurant Group’s sleek and swanky spot opened in Southport Corridor in 2017. Diners can sit by the fireside in the chic lounge area, try globally-inspired bites, and feel like a million bucks.
Wilde Bar & Restaurant
In Lakeview, Wilde, named for the writer, is one of the best winter bars in town with cozy fireplaces and leather banquettes. The Irish pub is great spot for a whisky or a pint.
Park & Field
Just because it’s cold out doesn’t mean Chicagoans have to be confined indoors. This Logan Square sports bar has two fire pits going all year round on its patio so that guests can brave the elements for a breath of fresh air without freezing. They’re surrounded by Adirondack chairs draped with blankets for some extra warmth. When the weather’s really nasty, lounge on one of the leather couches near the antique limestone fireplace inside.
The Albion Manor & The Parlour
Get cozy in The Parlour, The Albion Manor’s upstairs lounge and private party space, where there are plenty of couches including one positioned in front of the fireplace. The rugs, tasseled lamps and floral wallpaper give a distinctly retro vibe to the space, which makes an ideal spot for an after dinner drink like an espresso martini or boulevardier.
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Armitage Alehouse
The food at Armitage Ale House is a bit of a mixed bag, loosely themed around a London pub. But the space and atmosphere are absolutely top-notch, which Chicago almost takes for granted from Brendan Sodikoff and his team at Hogsalt. With a Victorian vibe, the area around the fireplace at Armitage Ale House in Lincoln Park will be coveted by diners.
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The Moonlighter
This beer and burger bar is a Logan Square hotspot, both literally and figuratively. It’s equipped with fireplaces both inside and out, and patrons can casually enjoy a brew or two while watching sports.
Scofflaw
Though Scofflaw was founded as a gin bar, its cocktail list now incorporates other spirits, which is excellent news for fans of wintry drinks like hot buttered rum that taste best next to a nice warm fire — and Scofflaw has not one, but two fireplaces. There’s also a lovely menu with food like katsu butter chicken that shows influences from across Asia.
The Violet Hour
Chicago’s most influential cocktail bar — folks won’t put up too much of an argument — features a fireplace at the rear of the space. Enjoy fancy drinks in the dim space from the owners of Avec, Big Star, and Publican.
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Barcocina West Town
Modern Mexican restaurant Barcocina has expanded into West Town with a dining room and sprawling 230-seat indoor-outdoor patio that ownership has tailored for year-round use. It features two double-sided fireplaces and can be completely enclosed to keep the winter winds at bay.
Chicago Winery
Liva, chef Andrew Graves’ (Alinea, Next, Terra & Vine) group-friendly restaurant inside downtown Chicago’s only winery, aims to foster a festive atmosphere with a double-sided fireplace that could amp up date night ambiance.
The Dandy Crown
The Dandy Crown’s chic design includes a lounge area with velvet couches and chairs, framed wall art, a painted mural, and a cozy fireplace. The River West cocktail tavern from the owners of A.J. Hudson’s Public House also has three fire pits that enable year-round patio drinking. Guests can take it all in while sipping on classic and contemporary concoctions.
The Dawson
The Dawson actually houses multiple fireplaces, including one outdoors. The huge restaurant and bar at the corner of Grand and Halsted also boasts a terrific beverage program, offering bottomless mimosas during weekend brunch.
Monarch & Lion
Monarch & Lion is the third restaurant from the team behind Rooh Chicago and Bar Goa, a British-style pub with a modern edge in Streeterville. Find fish and chips, plus chicken tikka masala inside a two-level space ideal for sports watching. The electric fireplace provides heat and ambience.
Upstairs at the Gwen
Looking for an outdoor activity in the winter? Check out the Gwen hotel’s seasonal curling rink for fun times. It’s equipped with fire pits to keep guests warm while you sip cocktails between turns.
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After
Fine dining chef Curtis Duffy and business partner Michael Muser, the formidable duo behind two-Michelin-starred destination Ever, bestowed Chicago with the cocktail lounge After. It looks like a starship, features high-end (see: spendy) spirits, and houses a two-sided fireplace to lend a touch of coziness.
Bar Pendry
Tucked inside the Pendry Hotel in the Carbon and Carbide Building, Bar Pendry serves elegant cocktails and boozy teas in a midcentury modern setting, complete with wood-paneled fireplace.
Soulé
The relocation of Bridgette Flagg’s modern soul food restaurant is a hit, amplifying what the original West Town location did and giving North Lawndale a full-service restaurant and bar, something the neighborhood hasn’t seen in half a century. The restaurant is popular with celebrities including musicians and professional basketball players.
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Simone's Bar
Over in Pilsen, Simone's unique space packs the crowds in on the weekends with DJs, a satisfying brunch menu, a fireplace, and more.
VU Rooftop Bar
VU Rooftop Bar is a rare South Side rooftop. Outdoor fire pits and heatlamps keep the fun going during winter.
Truth Be Told
Visitors to the University of Chicago can escape the cold by getting a table near Truth Be Told’s fireplace and having a hearty meal of British pub-inspired fare including shepherd’s pie, mussels tikka masala, and bangers and mash. On the weekends, pop in for a bottomless mimosa brunch or Sunday roast prime rib with traditional sides.