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A black patio at Mi Casa with a row of booths
Mi Casa’s matte black patio is outfitted with plenty of heaters.
Rey Lopez/Eater DC

18 D.C. Restaurants With Heated Patios to Keep Diners Warm

Dine outdoors across these reliable patios and rooftops, fancy nooks, and next-level streateries

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Mi Casa’s matte black patio is outfitted with plenty of heaters.
| Rey Lopez/Eater DC

Even though summer is long gone, the pandemic has helped diners warm up to the idea of sitting outside all year.

While plenty of longtime perches and patios remain top destinations for dining outdoors in the cold, this list also includes innovative streatery setups and stylish alfresco additions that came to life when indoor capacities shrank — and are now here to stay.

Here are a select group of 18 restaurants that step it up with their heated outdoor spaces.

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Queen’s English

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The small Columbia Heights hit expands outside with a heated patio (weather permitting), where diners can sample its Hong Kong-style menu influenced by chef Henji Cheung’s childhood. Besides patio heaters, warm up with a hot Kowloon redeye espresso cocktail with cognac, clove, and coconut. The Northwest strip is ripe with heated options from The Coupe and Makan, too.

Provost

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Located on on Rhode Island Avenue in Northeast, Provost’s inviting rooftop is outfitted with multiple heaters to keep diners warm. The American restaurant serves burgers and organic chicken cordon bleu, with lots of options for vegans and vegetarians, too.

Glover Park Grill

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Glover Park Grill unveiled a renovated, temperature-controlled patio during the pandemic. If the actual dining space is full, the expansive space is merely a stone’s throw next door.

Seven Reasons

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On 14th Street NW, Enrique Limardo’s experimental Seven Reasons debuted both a retractable roof system and heating system for the restaurant’s winterized garden patio. The chef’s other venture, downtown’s fast-casual spot Immigrant Food, also features a heated outdoor space outfitted with blankets, heaters, rugs, and festive lights.

The Imperial

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The Imperial, Jack Rose’s elegant sister restaurant in Adams Morgan, weatherproofed its rooftop for the winter with a heating system and tent with retractible sides for inclement weather. A few doors up, beloved whiskey bar Jack Rose offers a pair of heated outdoor options: a reliable rooftop terrace with a retractable glass roof and jazzed up streatery situation below.

A rooftop with a shielded cover and soft seating.
The Imperial’s rooftop is perched above the bustling Adams Morgan corridor.
The Imperial/official photo

Lulu’s Wine Garden

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The restaurant formerly known as Vinoteca features three garden patios, all outfitted with heaters capable of seating 120 in total. Hot cocktails arrive in a thermos, and there’s also lots of wines by the glass and bottle to go along with comfort snacks like hatch chile mac and cheese and hot queso.

Gravitas

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The Michelin-rated pioneer in Ivy City added a sophisticated seating area to compliment chef Matt Baker’s elegant tasting menus. The enclosed addition, adorned with hanging greenery, adds 25 seats across an industrial-chic vestibule and 30 in the front part of the restaurant. Its glassy rooftop structure, the Conservatory, feels like you’re dining in a cozy greenhouse.

Lounge chairs and a modern table topped with plated dishes.
The enclosed addition to Gravitas adds room for 55 guests.
Gravitas/LeadingDC

MI CASA

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Dupont’s Tex-Mex restaurant and tequila bar features a stylish, matte black patio filled with leafy accents, retractable windows, and soft booths. The enclosed extension, illuminated by string lights, is joined by a heated, open air deck out front. Head to Bistro du Jour, Knead Hospitality + Design’s French-themed sister on the Wharf, for a heated, wraparound patio with prime waterfront views.

The black patio with string lights and palm print booths at Mi Casa.
Mi Casa’s enclosed patio offers cozy, boho-chic vibes in the heart of Dupont Circle.
Rey Lopez/Eater DC

O-Ku Sushi DC

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The rooftop deck at this Union Market sushi spot boasts city skyline views and rooftop heaters.

St. Anselm

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Restaurateur Stephen Starr spent big bucks during the pandemic to build out rows of elaborate dining booths out front of steakhouse St. Anselm and French sister spot Le Diplomate in Logan Circle.

Iron Gate Restaurant

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Chef Anthony Chittum’s Greek-Italian restaurant Iron Gate has long been a spot for alfresco dining even in cold weather, thanks to its heaters, fire pit, wisteria vines, and twinkling lights.

BOURBON STEAK

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Michael Mina’s popular steakhouse builds a fancy little ski village across its stone terrace every winter. Sturdy wooden chalets, named after famous Four Seasons ski resorts around the world, are filled with fancy furniture, candles, and blankets. Diners can park inside each Aspen-inspired nook and order from chef Robert Curtis’s entire menu, including smoked s’mores for dessert. Reservations will soon go live for parties up to six.

Urban Roast

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The day-to-night Penn Quarter cafe makes use of its outdoor real estate right near Capital One Arena with rows of fire pits fit for roasting s’mores and staying warm.

Dirty Habit

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For a huge patio in the middle of the city, consider Dirty Habit’s 10,000-square-foot outdoor area out back. Saddle up to a sleek camp fire pit and order an assortment of global plates from its Mexico City-born chef Edgar Escalante.

Belga Café

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Hiding in a sea of restaurants in Barracks Row is Top Chef alum Bart Vandaele’s Belgian-themed mainstay Belga Cafe, where guests sit inside a whimsical greenhouse and order steak tartare, branzino, and a venison rack. Each glass-enclosed structure fits dinner parties up to four.

Officina

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The roof deck at stylish Italian restaurant Officina at the Wharf is ready for winter, thanks to a fire pit and heaters placed by the lounge seating areas and an enclosed area. Meanwhile, sister restaurant Masseria (known for its tasting menu) boasts a heated pergola and fire pits in the lounge.

The outdoor patio at Officina
The upstairs patio at Officina.
Officina/official photo

Bammy's

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Navy Yard’s Caribbean-style waterfront fixture keeps guests warm outdoors with gas heaters and warm drinks like mulled wine. To pretend you’re on island time, try a Blackberry Bramble or a Guava and Campari cocktail.

An icy red cocktail sitting on a bar
A tropical cocktail at Bammy’s pairs well with waterfront views outside.
Bammy’s/official photo

The Salt Line

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Heat lamps, tables with built-in fire pits, and a tent helps ward off the chill at the waterfront outdoor patio at this seafood favorite known for its raw bar.

A photo of Salt Line’s outdoor seating area.
The outdoor bar at Salt Line features raw seafood, cold beer, and cocktails.
Greg Powers/Greg Powers Photography

Queen’s English

The small Columbia Heights hit expands outside with a heated patio (weather permitting), where diners can sample its Hong Kong-style menu influenced by chef Henji Cheung’s childhood. Besides patio heaters, warm up with a hot Kowloon redeye espresso cocktail with cognac, clove, and coconut. The Northwest strip is ripe with heated options from The Coupe and Makan, too.

Provost

Located on on Rhode Island Avenue in Northeast, Provost’s inviting rooftop is outfitted with multiple heaters to keep diners warm. The American restaurant serves burgers and organic chicken cordon bleu, with lots of options for vegans and vegetarians, too.

Glover Park Grill

Glover Park Grill unveiled a renovated, temperature-controlled patio during the pandemic. If the actual dining space is full, the expansive space is merely a stone’s throw next door.

Seven Reasons

On 14th Street NW, Enrique Limardo’s experimental Seven Reasons debuted both a retractable roof system and heating system for the restaurant’s winterized garden patio. The chef’s other venture, downtown’s fast-casual spot Immigrant Food, also features a heated outdoor space outfitted with blankets, heaters, rugs, and festive lights.

The Imperial

The Imperial, Jack Rose’s elegant sister restaurant in Adams Morgan, weatherproofed its rooftop for the winter with a heating system and tent with retractible sides for inclement weather. A few doors up, beloved whiskey bar Jack Rose offers a pair of heated outdoor options: a reliable rooftop terrace with a retractable glass roof and jazzed up streatery situation below.

A rooftop with a shielded cover and soft seating.
The Imperial’s rooftop is perched above the bustling Adams Morgan corridor.
The Imperial/official photo

Lulu’s Wine Garden

The restaurant formerly known as Vinoteca features three garden patios, all outfitted with heaters capable of seating 120 in total. Hot cocktails arrive in a thermos, and there’s also lots of wines by the glass and bottle to go along with comfort snacks like hatch chile mac and cheese and hot queso.

Gravitas

The Michelin-rated pioneer in Ivy City added a sophisticated seating area to compliment chef Matt Baker’s elegant tasting menus. The enclosed addition, adorned with hanging greenery, adds 25 seats across an industrial-chic vestibule and 30 in the front part of the restaurant. Its glassy rooftop structure, the Conservatory, feels like you’re dining in a cozy greenhouse.

Lounge chairs and a modern table topped with plated dishes.
The enclosed addition to Gravitas adds room for 55 guests.
Gravitas/LeadingDC

MI CASA

Dupont’s Tex-Mex restaurant and tequila bar features a stylish, matte black patio filled with leafy accents, retractable windows, and soft booths. The enclosed extension, illuminated by string lights, is joined by a heated, open air deck out front. Head to Bistro du Jour, Knead Hospitality + Design’s French-themed sister on the Wharf, for a heated, wraparound patio with prime waterfront views.

The black patio with string lights and palm print booths at Mi Casa.
Mi Casa’s enclosed patio offers cozy, boho-chic vibes in the heart of Dupont Circle.
Rey Lopez/Eater DC

O-Ku Sushi DC

The rooftop deck at this Union Market sushi spot boasts city skyline views and rooftop heaters.

St. Anselm

Restaurateur Stephen Starr spent big bucks during the pandemic to build out rows of elaborate dining booths out front of steakhouse St. Anselm and French sister spot Le Diplomate in Logan Circle.

Iron Gate Restaurant

Chef Anthony Chittum’s Greek-Italian restaurant Iron Gate has long been a spot for alfresco dining even in cold weather, thanks to its heaters, fire pit, wisteria vines, and twinkling lights.

BOURBON STEAK

Michael Mina’s popular steakhouse builds a fancy little ski village across its stone terrace every winter. Sturdy wooden chalets, named after famous Four Seasons ski resorts around the world, are filled with fancy furniture, candles, and blankets. Diners can park inside each Aspen-inspired nook and order from chef Robert Curtis’s entire menu, including smoked s’mores for dessert. Reservations will soon go live for parties up to six.

Urban Roast

The day-to-night Penn Quarter cafe makes use of its outdoor real estate right near Capital One Arena with rows of fire pits fit for roasting s’mores and staying warm.

Dirty Habit

For a huge patio in the middle of the city, consider Dirty Habit’s 10,000-square-foot outdoor area out back. Saddle up to a sleek camp fire pit and order an assortment of global plates from its Mexico City-born chef Edgar Escalante.

Belga Café

Hiding in a sea of restaurants in Barracks Row is Top Chef alum Bart Vandaele’s Belgian-themed mainstay Belga Cafe, where guests sit inside a whimsical greenhouse and order steak tartare, branzino, and a venison rack. Each glass-enclosed structure fits dinner parties up to four.

Related Maps

Officina

The roof deck at stylish Italian restaurant Officina at the Wharf is ready for winter, thanks to a fire pit and heaters placed by the lounge seating areas and an enclosed area. Meanwhile, sister restaurant Masseria (known for its tasting menu) boasts a heated pergola and fire pits in the lounge.

The outdoor patio at Officina
The upstairs patio at Officina.
Officina/official photo

Bammy's

Navy Yard’s Caribbean-style waterfront fixture keeps guests warm outdoors with gas heaters and warm drinks like mulled wine. To pretend you’re on island time, try a Blackberry Bramble or a Guava and Campari cocktail.

An icy red cocktail sitting on a bar
A tropical cocktail at Bammy’s pairs well with waterfront views outside.
Bammy’s/official photo

The Salt Line

Heat lamps, tables with built-in fire pits, and a tent helps ward off the chill at the waterfront outdoor patio at this seafood favorite known for its raw bar.

A photo of Salt Line’s outdoor seating area.
The outdoor bar at Salt Line features raw seafood, cold beer, and cocktails.
Greg Powers/Greg Powers Photography

Related Maps