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The winter patio at Red's Table
The winter patio at Red's Table
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Ignore the Cold Weather at These Festive Winter Patios

Drink outside all year long

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The winter patio at Red's Table
| Official

It's tempting for the cold-weather averse to stay indoors all winter. But many DC area restaurants make it easier for diners and drinkers to enjoy the outdoors on their patio without getting the chills. Some like Red's Table and Roofer's Union offer covered patios while others install heaters, blankets and fireplaces to keep guests cozy. Many close their outdoor space during snowstorms and frigid nights, while others only open the space on certain days, so make sure to call ahead.

Some are offering new food and drink menus, some of which are available only to patio guests. Hazel, for instance, is offering an outdoor grilling station. One of the new drinks offered at Jack Rose Dining Saloon comes with dessert: The Chai My Buns is topped with a hot cinnamon bun.

Here are several winter patios that will help area residents get some fresh air during a pub crawl or dinner date. And through this weekend, there's one more to consider — Garden District hosts its holiday-themed market on the patio outside through Dec. 18.

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Ambar Balkan Cuisine

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The Balkan restaurant offers a year-round rooftop terrace with a five-seat bar. yellow and orange blankets for guests who sit outside on their 10-seat sidewalk patio or on the heated rooftop terrace. Sip a Sumadija hot toddy, mad with sugar, plum brandy, Becherovka (an Eastern European herbal liqueur) and water, topped with a cinnamon stick.

Ambar's winter patio

Barcelona Wine Bar - 14th Street

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Heat lamps, blankets and fireplace pack as much heat as the Spanish cuisine at this 14th street small-plates restaurant.

Bluejacket Brewery

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The restaurant and brewery’s patio now has TVs, which means that diners won’t miss any game action. Blankets, fire pits, and spiked hot chocolate keep guests warm.

City Perch Kitchen + Bar

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City Perch uses heaters to keep guests warm on the patio, which stays open during winter except during extreme weather conditions.

Dirty Habit Firescape

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New this winter season, Dirty Habit has launched the Dirty Habit Firescape, its open-air patio that welcomes guests on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights when its 45 degrees or warmer. Guests can throw on a robe and warm up by the fireplace and several warm cocktails.

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Farmers Fishers Bakers

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Guests who can’t find an enviable spot near the fire pit can still stay warm at Farmers Fishers Bakers year-round waterfront patio. The Georgetown restaurant has blankets, several heaters and comfy couches.

The family owned Italian restaurant in Georgetown keeps the sidewalk seating toasty during winter with low-hanging heat lamps and oversized blankets.

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The winter patio offers outdoor fire pits, a new Kushi Yaki lazy susan service and winter beverage pairing. The lazy susan includes self-grilling stations with beef, chicken, mushroom and other skewers. The new winter beverage menu includes a spiked hot cocoa and a hot buttered rum with tea.

Official

Iron Gate

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Iron Gate's garden patio now has couches, giving it a lounge-y feel. Expect the usual fire pits, blankets and several warm winter cocktails on the menu. The list includes It’s Never Turkish, with amaro, coffee, whipped cream and coffee beans.

Jack Rose Dining Saloon

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A retractable glass roof makes the heated rooftop terrace a fine spot to enjoy the outdoors, regardless of the weather. The open-air terrace offers overhead heat lamps while the balcony room is equipped with a wood-burning fireplace, leather couch and glass doors overlooking 18th Street. New warm cocktails include Chai My Buns, with spiced rum, chai tea, soy milk and simple syrup, topped with a warm cinnamon bun.

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Le Diplomate

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Le Diplomate's patio is open year-round and outfitted with heat lamps and blankets and encloses half of it for guests who need more protection from the elements. The French bistro is offering two warm cocktails that will help heat things up: a hot chocolate with Chartreuse and warm red wine.

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Masseria

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Gather around the low-slung couches that surround the stone tables in the indoor/outdoor courtyard. Sip on some scotch and smoke a cigar from Masseria's rotating cigar selection.

Red's Table

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Red’s heated back patio offers protection from the elements with a covered awning, as well as views of Lake Thoreau.

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Roofers Union

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The covered and heated open-air rooftop at the Adams Morgan spot offers great views the neighborhood. Call ahead as it’s open only on certain days and times. The 15-seat horseshoe bar known for its signature punch bowls and frozen craft cocktails.

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The Gibson

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The Gibson’s back patio is open all winter, except during extreme weather conditions. The heated patio is partially covered and has a freestanding chimney for added warmth. The patio also offers a different bar menu, with boozy milkshakes, hot toddies and cocktails. A projector, screening everything from a football game to a Netflix premiere, is another new feature.

Official

The Pub & The People

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A tent equipped with mistletoe, garlands and lights gets guests in the holiday spirit while heaters and blankets keep them warm and cozy. Wine, cider and ale are available for sipping. Order from the full food and drink menu, which includes three hot cocktails: hot bourbon cider, spiked, hot chocolate and Irish coffee.

Official

Vinoteca Wine Bar & Bistro

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The back plaza has everything to make a drinker’s outdoor winter escape complete: wood-burning fire pits, heaters, holiday lights and mulled wine.

Official

Ambar Balkan Cuisine

The Balkan restaurant offers a year-round rooftop terrace with a five-seat bar. yellow and orange blankets for guests who sit outside on their 10-seat sidewalk patio or on the heated rooftop terrace. Sip a Sumadija hot toddy, mad with sugar, plum brandy, Becherovka (an Eastern European herbal liqueur) and water, topped with a cinnamon stick.

Ambar's winter patio

Barcelona Wine Bar - 14th Street

Heat lamps, blankets and fireplace pack as much heat as the Spanish cuisine at this 14th street small-plates restaurant.

Bluejacket Brewery

The restaurant and brewery’s patio now has TVs, which means that diners won’t miss any game action. Blankets, fire pits, and spiked hot chocolate keep guests warm.

City Perch Kitchen + Bar

City Perch uses heaters to keep guests warm on the patio, which stays open during winter except during extreme weather conditions.

Dirty Habit Firescape

New this winter season, Dirty Habit has launched the Dirty Habit Firescape, its open-air patio that welcomes guests on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights when its 45 degrees or warmer. Guests can throw on a robe and warm up by the fireplace and several warm cocktails.

Official

Farmers Fishers Bakers

Guests who can’t find an enviable spot near the fire pit can still stay warm at Farmers Fishers Bakers year-round waterfront patio. The Georgetown restaurant has blankets, several heaters and comfy couches.

Flavio

The family owned Italian restaurant in Georgetown keeps the sidewalk seating toasty during winter with low-hanging heat lamps and oversized blankets.

Official

Hazel

The winter patio offers outdoor fire pits, a new Kushi Yaki lazy susan service and winter beverage pairing. The lazy susan includes self-grilling stations with beef, chicken, mushroom and other skewers. The new winter beverage menu includes a spiked hot cocoa and a hot buttered rum with tea.

Official

Iron Gate

Iron Gate's garden patio now has couches, giving it a lounge-y feel. Expect the usual fire pits, blankets and several warm winter cocktails on the menu. The list includes It’s Never Turkish, with amaro, coffee, whipped cream and coffee beans.

Jack Rose Dining Saloon

A retractable glass roof makes the heated rooftop terrace a fine spot to enjoy the outdoors, regardless of the weather. The open-air terrace offers overhead heat lamps while the balcony room is equipped with a wood-burning fireplace, leather couch and glass doors overlooking 18th Street. New warm cocktails include Chai My Buns, with spiced rum, chai tea, soy milk and simple syrup, topped with a warm cinnamon bun.

Official

Le Diplomate

Le Diplomate's patio is open year-round and outfitted with heat lamps and blankets and encloses half of it for guests who need more protection from the elements. The French bistro is offering two warm cocktails that will help heat things up: a hot chocolate with Chartreuse and warm red wine.

Official

Masseria

Gather around the low-slung couches that surround the stone tables in the indoor/outdoor courtyard. Sip on some scotch and smoke a cigar from Masseria's rotating cigar selection.

Red's Table

Red’s heated back patio offers protection from the elements with a covered awning, as well as views of Lake Thoreau.

Official

Roofers Union

The covered and heated open-air rooftop at the Adams Morgan spot offers great views the neighborhood. Call ahead as it’s open only on certain days and times. The 15-seat horseshoe bar known for its signature punch bowls and frozen craft cocktails.

Official

The Gibson

The Gibson’s back patio is open all winter, except during extreme weather conditions. The heated patio is partially covered and has a freestanding chimney for added warmth. The patio also offers a different bar menu, with boozy milkshakes, hot toddies and cocktails. A projector, screening everything from a football game to a Netflix premiere, is another new feature.

Official

Related Maps

The Pub & The People

A tent equipped with mistletoe, garlands and lights gets guests in the holiday spirit while heaters and blankets keep them warm and cozy. Wine, cider and ale are available for sipping. Order from the full food and drink menu, which includes three hot cocktails: hot bourbon cider, spiked, hot chocolate and Irish coffee.

Official

Vinoteca Wine Bar & Bistro

The back plaza has everything to make a drinker’s outdoor winter escape complete: wood-burning fire pits, heaters, holiday lights and mulled wine.

Official

Related Maps