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A second-level patio at St. Vincent wine in Park View
A second-level patio at St. Vincent wine in Park View
Rey Lopez/Eater DC

19 D.C. Bars, Breweries, and Beer Gardens With Heated Patios for Outdoor Drinking

Stay warm at these wine gardens, rooftop bars, and even a viking village

by Adele Chapin
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A second-level patio at St. Vincent wine in Park View
| Rey Lopez/Eater DC
by Adele Chapin

While several D.C. bars are planning on hibernating for the winter during the novel coronavirus crisis, others are hoping to lure customers outside for hot toddies served around heat lamps and fire pits. When temperatures drop, here’s where to drink alfresco on rooftops and patios equipped with heaters. But be aware: D.C. bars are operating with a 10 p.m. cutoff for alcohol consumption, so don’t go waltzing onto a patio expecting to be served at 9:55. For ideas on dining outside, check out this map of restaurants with heated patios. For a running list of bars running Christmas pop-ups, go here.

Editor’s note: Every restaurant needs help right now. Don’t forget about neighborhood favorites while chasing the hot new thing. For a list of resources on how to help fight food insecurity in the D.C. area, go here.

A number of D.C. area restaurants have resumed dine-in service. However, this should not be taken as endorsement for dining in, as there are still safety concerns. The Washington Post is tracking coronavirus cases and deaths in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. More information can be found at coronavirus.dc.gov. Studies indicate that there is a lower exposure risk when outdoors, but the level of risk involved with patio dining is contingent on restaurants following strict social distancing and other safety guidelines.

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Red Derby

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Iconic Columbia Heights dive bar Red Derby serves up beer-and-shot combos on its covered patio and roof deck, with space heaters to keep customers toasty in the winter.

3718 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
(202) 291-5000
(202) 291-5000

Also featured in:

Hook Hall

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During the pandemic, the huge bar and events space in Park View has served as  a relief center for restaurant workers and hosted a tropical oasis theme out back. Now owner Anna Valero has embraced a wintry theme by transforming the space into a furry-blanket-covered viking village. Reserve a firepit or viking-themed hut, and peruse a menu featuring Glühwein and mead.

3400 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010
(202) 629-4339
(202) 629-4339
Photo: Fredde Lieberman

Also featured in:

St. Vincent Wine

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As of November, Park View has a wine bar with a 4,000-square-foot patio: heaters are stationed in St. Vincent’s backyard setup and on a deck perch.

3212 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010
(202) 413-9763
(202) 413-9763
St. Vincent’s outdoor space. Photo: Rey Lopez/Eater DC

Also featured in:

The Green Zone

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The Middle Eastern cocktail bar in Adams Morgan offers inventive drinks to pair with meze, falafel, and shawarma. Reserve heated patio and sidewalk tables on Resy, or buy a tickets to its latke pop-up on Sunday, December 13.

2226 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

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Service Bar DC

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Make a reservation or walk in at affordable Shaw hangout Service Bar’s heated patio, where hot drinks, hand warmers, gloves, and blankets are available for purchase. Besides cocktails and fried chicken, a Peruvian comfort food pop-up from former China Chilcano chef Carlos Delgado will run through the end of the year. 

926-928 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 462-7232
(202) 462-7232

Also featured in:

Lulu’s Wine Garden

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This revamped U Street wine bar upgraded its street seating for winter with patio heaters and wooden walls to allow for airflow. Each table even has its own heated ceiling lamp. There’s also front or back garden patios with heaters too.

1940 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 332-9463
(202) 332-9463

Also featured in:

600t

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Shaw cocktail bar 600 T created a new mural-covered patio in response to the pandemic, and it is outfitted for the winter months with heaters and hot drinks.

600 T St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 885-8888
(202) 885-8888
Stephen Lawrence/600t

Also featured in:

Atlas Brew Works (Multiple locations)

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Atlas Brew Works outfitted its Ivy City tap room with an outdoor living room, featuring firepits, cozy couches, and visits from food pop-ups on weekends. Heaters are headed to the Navy Yard patio at its Atlas Half Street Brewery & Tap Room too.

2052 West Virginia Ave NE #102, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 832-0420
(202) 832-0420
Firepits at Atlas Brew Works Ivy City Brewery & Tap Room
Photo: Atlas Brew Works

Also featured in:

Other Half Brewing: DC

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Make a reservation to try Brooklyn transplant Other Half Brewing Co.’s IPAs at its new facility in Ivy City, where almost all outdoor tables are under a covering, and there are also a limited number of space heaters.

1401 Okie St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 747-0050
(202) 747-0050

Also featured in:

Garden District

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This barbecue-slinging German beer garden on 14th Street has plenty of patio heaters between socially-distanced tables: hop on the online waitlist to get seated in a festive, Christmas-themed space.

1801 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

The Pub & The People

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Bloomingdale neighborhood bar the Pub & the People added fire pits to its dog-friendly patio on North Capitol Street. 

1648 North Capitol St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 234-1800
(202) 234-1800

Also featured in:

Red Bear Brewing Co

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This LGBTQ-friendly brewery in NoMa added fire pits and heat shafts to its patio. Reservations for outdoor tables are highly suggested on weekends.

209 M St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 849-6130
(202) 849-6130

Also featured in:

Wunder Garten

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NoMa’s expansive beer garden includes wintry touches like fire pits, outdoor heaters, and spiked cocoa and apple cider. Tables are first-come, first-served, while six-person cabanas are available for reservations.

1101 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Also featured in:

Morris American Bar

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The colorful patio at Morris American Bar is heated, and the cocktail bar just rolled out a charcuterie-heavy food menu this fall.

1020 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(833) 366-7747
(833) 366-7747

Also featured in:

WILD DAYS

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The outdoor patio and rooftop bar atop downtown’s Eaton hotel offers s’mores service to go with its fire pits. Four warm cocktails are on the drinks list, including a “Purple Haze” drink made with rum, hibiscus, and fall spices.

1201 K Street Northwest Rooftop, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 900-8419
(202) 900-8419
Wild Days bar reboots service this weekend atop Eaton Workshop with s’mores service. Eaton/official photo

Also featured in:

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Cantina Bambina

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Dock bar Cantina Bambina at the Wharf is equipped with heaters and hot cocktails this winter, and this December, the bar will turn into a “giant snow globe” with holiday lights and decor.

960 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024

Also featured in:

Dacha Navy Yard

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Spread out in Dacha Navy Yard’s outdoor beer garden, with tables arranged near fire pits and tents. The outdoor space at the original Shaw location includes heaters too, and both Dachas serve warm drinks.

79 Potomac Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 919-3800
(202) 919-3800

Also featured in:

Evening Star Cafe

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Del Ray neighbors have long turned to the Evening Star Cafe’s Front Porch for outdoor drinking, but this year, the restaurant added The Back Yard, complete with picnic tables, heaters, covered cabanas, Astroturf, and movie nights.

2000 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301
(703) 549-5051
(703) 549-5051
Photo: Evening Star Cafe

Also featured in:

Augie's Mussel House and Beer Garden

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Heaters dangle overhead at Augie’s beer garden: the restaurant opened in 2019 as one of Old Town Alexandria’s largest heated patios, with lots of Belgian beer on tap.

1106 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 721-3970
(703) 721-3970
The patio at Augie’s @ShootJoeC/Augie’s

Also featured in:

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Red Derby

3718 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010

Iconic Columbia Heights dive bar Red Derby serves up beer-and-shot combos on its covered patio and roof deck, with space heaters to keep customers toasty in the winter.

3718 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
(202) 291-5000
(202) 291-5000

Hook Hall

3400 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010

During the pandemic, the huge bar and events space in Park View has served as  a relief center for restaurant workers and hosted a tropical oasis theme out back. Now owner Anna Valero has embraced a wintry theme by transforming the space into a furry-blanket-covered viking village. Reserve a firepit or viking-themed hut, and peruse a menu featuring Glühwein and mead.

3400 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010
(202) 629-4339
(202) 629-4339
Photo: Fredde Lieberman

St. Vincent Wine

3212 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010

As of November, Park View has a wine bar with a 4,000-square-foot patio: heaters are stationed in St. Vincent’s backyard setup and on a deck perch.

3212 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010
(202) 413-9763
(202) 413-9763
St. Vincent’s outdoor space. Photo: Rey Lopez/Eater DC

The Green Zone

2226 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

The Middle Eastern cocktail bar in Adams Morgan offers inventive drinks to pair with meze, falafel, and shawarma. Reserve heated patio and sidewalk tables on Resy, or buy a tickets to its latke pop-up on Sunday, December 13.

2226 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Service Bar DC

926-928 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Make a reservation or walk in at affordable Shaw hangout Service Bar’s heated patio, where hot drinks, hand warmers, gloves, and blankets are available for purchase. Besides cocktails and fried chicken, a Peruvian comfort food pop-up from former China Chilcano chef Carlos Delgado will run through the end of the year. 

926-928 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 462-7232
(202) 462-7232

Lulu’s Wine Garden

1940 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

This revamped U Street wine bar upgraded its street seating for winter with patio heaters and wooden walls to allow for airflow. Each table even has its own heated ceiling lamp. There’s also front or back garden patios with heaters too.

1940 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 332-9463
(202) 332-9463

600t

600 T St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Shaw cocktail bar 600 T created a new mural-covered patio in response to the pandemic, and it is outfitted for the winter months with heaters and hot drinks.

600 T St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 885-8888
(202) 885-8888
Stephen Lawrence/600t

Atlas Brew Works (Multiple locations)

2052 West Virginia Ave NE #102, Washington, DC 20002

Atlas Brew Works outfitted its Ivy City tap room with an outdoor living room, featuring firepits, cozy couches, and visits from food pop-ups on weekends. Heaters are headed to the Navy Yard patio at its Atlas Half Street Brewery & Tap Room too.

2052 West Virginia Ave NE #102, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 832-0420
(202) 832-0420
Firepits at Atlas Brew Works Ivy City Brewery & Tap Room
Photo: Atlas Brew Works

Other Half Brewing: DC

1401 Okie St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Make a reservation to try Brooklyn transplant Other Half Brewing Co.’s IPAs at its new facility in Ivy City, where almost all outdoor tables are under a covering, and there are also a limited number of space heaters.

1401 Okie St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 747-0050
(202) 747-0050

Garden District

1801 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

This barbecue-slinging German beer garden on 14th Street has plenty of patio heaters between socially-distanced tables: hop on the online waitlist to get seated in a festive, Christmas-themed space.

1801 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

The Pub & The People

1648 North Capitol St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Bloomingdale neighborhood bar the Pub & the People added fire pits to its dog-friendly patio on North Capitol Street. 

1648 North Capitol St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 234-1800
(202) 234-1800

Red Bear Brewing Co

209 M St NE, Washington, DC 20002

This LGBTQ-friendly brewery in NoMa added fire pits and heat shafts to its patio. Reservations for outdoor tables are highly suggested on weekends.

209 M St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 849-6130
(202) 849-6130

Wunder Garten

1101 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002

NoMa’s expansive beer garden includes wintry touches like fire pits, outdoor heaters, and spiked cocoa and apple cider. Tables are first-come, first-served, while six-person cabanas are available for reservations.

1101 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Morris American Bar

1020 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

The colorful patio at Morris American Bar is heated, and the cocktail bar just rolled out a charcuterie-heavy food menu this fall.

1020 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(833) 366-7747
(833) 366-7747

WILD DAYS

1201 K Street Northwest Rooftop, Washington, DC 20005

The outdoor patio and rooftop bar atop downtown’s Eaton hotel offers s’mores service to go with its fire pits. Four warm cocktails are on the drinks list, including a “Purple Haze” drink made with rum, hibiscus, and fall spices.

1201 K Street Northwest Rooftop, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 900-8419
(202) 900-8419
Wild Days bar reboots service this weekend atop Eaton Workshop with s’mores service. Eaton/official photo

Related Maps

Cantina Bambina

960 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024

Dock bar Cantina Bambina at the Wharf is equipped with heaters and hot cocktails this winter, and this December, the bar will turn into a “giant snow globe” with holiday lights and decor.

960 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024

Dacha Navy Yard

79 Potomac Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003

Spread out in Dacha Navy Yard’s outdoor beer garden, with tables arranged near fire pits and tents. The outdoor space at the original Shaw location includes heaters too, and both Dachas serve warm drinks.

79 Potomac Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 919-3800
(202) 919-3800

Evening Star Cafe

2000 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301

Del Ray neighbors have long turned to the Evening Star Cafe’s Front Porch for outdoor drinking, but this year, the restaurant added The Back Yard, complete with picnic tables, heaters, covered cabanas, Astroturf, and movie nights.

2000 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301
(703) 549-5051
(703) 549-5051
Photo: Evening Star Cafe

Augie's Mussel House and Beer Garden

1106 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Heaters dangle overhead at Augie’s beer garden: the restaurant opened in 2019 as one of Old Town Alexandria’s largest heated patios, with lots of Belgian beer on tap.

1106 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 721-3970
(703) 721-3970
The patio at Augie’s @ShootJoeC/Augie’s

Related Maps