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Eater DC's Guide To Heated Patios For Year-Round Outdoor Drinking

Which bars restaurants keep their patios and outdoor spaces going even in a polar vortex?

by Christine Blau
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by Christine Blau

Like it or not, winter arrived. Favorite DC seasonal beer gardens close up shop, taxis encourage laziness, and hibernating at home instead of bar-hopping sounds tempting, if just for a moment.

But winter blues are hardly necessary when some area bars and restaurants outsmart the cold with cures for acute stir-craziness. Feel festive again with enclosed patios, fur blankets, cozy fire pits, heaters and when all else fails, whiskey. Read on for Eater's guide to winter patios where the end of summer doesn't mean the end of drinking outside.

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If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Boundary Stone Public House

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This unpretentious Bloomingdale favorite keeps the enclosed patio space open so the whiskey flows all winter long

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 621-6635
(202) 621-6635

Also featured in:

Bourbon Steak Washington DC

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Toast the season in Georgetown by drinking a classic hot cocktail like Buttered Rum while huddled under new blankets around heat lamps and fire pits.

2800 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 944-2026
(202) 944-2026

Also featured in:

El Chucho Cocina Superior

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This Columbia Heights upstairs patio covers up but keeps on serving Mexican street fare and the occasional warming pozolé verde.

3313 11th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 290-3313
(202) 290-3313

Also featured in:

El Rey

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Newcomer on U Street uses a retractable roof to cover the shipping container construction, with space heaters and strong tequila cocktails as back up.

919 U St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 506-6418
(202) 506-6418

Also featured in:

Farmers Fishers Bakers

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Serving a sustainable, seasonal menu, this Foggy Bottom adjusts for winter with a fire pit and heated patio.

3000 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 298-8783
(202) 298-8783

Also featured in:

Iron Gate

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A brick fireplace sure beats space heaters, as seen in this warm courtyard in the Dupont Area, still serving grilled entrees outside.

1734 N St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 737-1371
(202) 737-1371

Also featured in:

Little Miss Whiskey's Golden Dollar

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The eccentric outdoor patio expanded to two levels and added gas heaters to maintain the magic during winter.

1104 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Also featured in:

Poste Moderne Brasserie

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Poste added free s'mores kits for the outdoor lounge fire pits, where drinking hot cocktails like tequila and chili pepper spiced hot chocolate just feels right.

555 8th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 783-6060
(202) 783-6060

Also featured in:

Satellite Room

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Defy winter in Shaw while drinking a boozy milkshake, like malted with Murphy's stout or peanut butter whiskey, on the heated patio next to the 9:30 Club.

2047 9th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 506-2496
(202) 506-2496

Also featured in:

St. Arnold's on Jefferson

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The Cleveland Park location has more space to enjoy pots of mussels on the enclosed patio.

1827 Jefferson Pl NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 833-1321
(202) 833-1321

A BAR + Kitchen

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Starting December 1 through February, A Bar + Kitchen's outdoor terrace is stocked with two fire pits, four area heaters and blankets to keep things cozy. There's a DIY $5 hot cider bar and $5 hot chocolate bar (add a shot to either for an extra $6). $5 s'mores kits are also available in addition to the usual drink and bar bites menu.

2500 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20037
(202) 464-5610
(202) 464-5610

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Boundary Stone Public House

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

This unpretentious Bloomingdale favorite keeps the enclosed patio space open so the whiskey flows all winter long

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 621-6635
(202) 621-6635

Bourbon Steak Washington DC

2800 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, D.C. 20007

Toast the season in Georgetown by drinking a classic hot cocktail like Buttered Rum while huddled under new blankets around heat lamps and fire pits.

2800 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 944-2026
(202) 944-2026

El Chucho Cocina Superior

3313 11th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

This Columbia Heights upstairs patio covers up but keeps on serving Mexican street fare and the occasional warming pozolé verde.

3313 11th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 290-3313
(202) 290-3313

El Rey

919 U St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Newcomer on U Street uses a retractable roof to cover the shipping container construction, with space heaters and strong tequila cocktails as back up.

919 U St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 506-6418
(202) 506-6418

Farmers Fishers Bakers

3000 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

Serving a sustainable, seasonal menu, this Foggy Bottom adjusts for winter with a fire pit and heated patio.

3000 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 298-8783
(202) 298-8783

Iron Gate

1734 N St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

A brick fireplace sure beats space heaters, as seen in this warm courtyard in the Dupont Area, still serving grilled entrees outside.

1734 N St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 737-1371
(202) 737-1371

Little Miss Whiskey's Golden Dollar

1104 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

The eccentric outdoor patio expanded to two levels and added gas heaters to maintain the magic during winter.

1104 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Poste Moderne Brasserie

555 8th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Poste added free s'mores kits for the outdoor lounge fire pits, where drinking hot cocktails like tequila and chili pepper spiced hot chocolate just feels right.

555 8th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 783-6060
(202) 783-6060

Satellite Room

2047 9th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Defy winter in Shaw while drinking a boozy milkshake, like malted with Murphy's stout or peanut butter whiskey, on the heated patio next to the 9:30 Club.

2047 9th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 506-2496
(202) 506-2496

St. Arnold's on Jefferson

1827 Jefferson Pl NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

The Cleveland Park location has more space to enjoy pots of mussels on the enclosed patio.

1827 Jefferson Pl NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 833-1321
(202) 833-1321

A BAR + Kitchen

2500 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20037

Starting December 1 through February, A Bar + Kitchen's outdoor terrace is stocked with two fire pits, four area heaters and blankets to keep things cozy. There's a DIY $5 hot cider bar and $5 hot chocolate bar (add a shot to either for an extra $6). $5 s'mores kits are also available in addition to the usual drink and bar bites menu.

2500 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20037
(202) 464-5610
(202) 464-5610

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