America's 12 Best Restaurant Fireplaces

With winter once again upon us, it's time to say goodbye to restaurant backyards and terraces for the season and head indoors to dine. Few things set a cozy and comfortable mood better than a nice fireplace, and these 12 restaurants have the best fireplaces in America.

1789 Restaurant in Georgetown is old-school, formal, and very upscale, although the owners recently loosened up their dress code from jackets required to jackets suggested. A grandiose marble fireplace adds a warm touch to the dining room, which dates from (when else?) 1789.

This date-night hot spot serves an array of tapas-style dishes inspired by a host of Mediterranean cuisines, from Spanish to Greek. The romantic vibe is reflected in the décor as well, with a stone, wood-burning fireplace serving as the central focal point of the restaurant.

Boston can be quite the icebox during these long winter months. Thaw out at Deuxave, a comfortable yet chic neighborhood restaurant, located in the trendy Back Bay neighborhood. Relax in the warmth of their gas fireplace with a nice glass of wine. The interior exudes cultural sophistication with the perfect fireplace to match.

After a long day of hitting the slopes, there's nothing better than warming up with a fireside meal. Luckily, guests at the Viceroy Hotel in Snowmass Village can dine at Eight K, where an extra-long, double-sided fireplace lends the restaurant a cozy and romantic atmosphere.

Most restaurant fireplaces are decorative, but not at this unique Park City must-visit. Fireside Dining is home to not one, not two, but four massive fireplaces, and they each have a purpose: one melts cheese for raclette platters; one is used for roasting legs of lamb; one is used to heat fondue; and one is used to make Alpine favorites including potato rosti, capons, Swiss veal and wild mushroom stew, and beef short ribs. 

After a windy walk around Pier 39, the cozy fireplace near the waiting area of this standout seafood restaurant is the perfect place to relax and warm up. So indulge in steaming bowl of what has been called San Francisco's best clam chowder or tear into a whole Dungeness crab while staying toasty warm and dry.

Enjoy a warm bowl of quail gumbo or a hot apple cider toddy in the sitting room of this picturesque Provençal auberge. Chef John Besh's La Provence restaurant features rustic stucco-work, an antique French bar, and a beautiful French country home fireplace that helps create the warm, welcoming atmosphere that this New Orleans establishment is known for.

This Old Town bar and restaurant has an vintage air about it, from the timeworn mirrors hanging on the walls to the restored wooden fixtures and exposed beams. On particularly blustery days in the Windy City, Chicagoans escape to Old Town Social to sit by their carved wooden fireplace.

Though it can be easy to overlook the décor at Six Seven because of the stunning views of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains (not to mention the elegant, seasonal dishes), take the time to look around and you'll notice a stunning wood and stone fireplace that demands more than a passing glance.

The name says it all. Chef and owner Jim Solomon serves classic New England fare, specializing in seafood dishes, at this cozy establishment. The restaurant's namesake is a large stone fireplace displayed prominently in the main dining room.

Hunker down with some fish and chips and a two-minute pour of Guinness, and listen to live music at The Grafton, a casual and snug restaurant located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. Guests are welcomed to the back room and encouraged to sit back and relax in overstuffed, grandpa-style sofas near a stone fireplace.

A massive hearth is the centerpiece of the main dining room at Geoffrey Zakarian's standout Theater District restaurant. If it looks a bit incongruous with the rest of the Art Deco-inspired space, that's because the fireplace is original to the building, which was designed by renowned architect Stanford White. During the Christmas season, carolers serenade diners from just in front of the fireplace during brunch service.