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.
This winter already feels long, which is why we’ve been craving a hot drink by an ever hotter fire. These bars and restaurants around DC have gone beyond the usual patio heaters with cozy outdoor setups filled with al fresco fireplaces, string-lit structures, and private mini lodges, greenhouses, and igloos.
Obviously the more enclosed a structure is, the less truly outdoors it becomes. Don’t forget your mask, pay attention to local mandates on group limits, and if you’re in a private, enclosed space, stick to your household or pod (and consider checking with the restaurant on their safety and service policies). Some businesses, such as HalfSmoke in Shaw, welcome a discussion between servers and patrons about their interaction comfort levels, and food/drink can be exchanged outside the igloos.