Isn’t it Romantic? Warm Places for Winter Dates in Connecticut

Imagine this romantic dinner scene. Lounging in an upscale dining room, you enjoy the gorgeous fireplace while waterfront views await just to your side. This is Fresh Salt at Saybrook Point Resort & Marina in Old Saybrook.

The executive chef works closely with local farmers, artisans and fishermen to ensure that every dish features the freshest seasonal ingredients. Enjoy seasonal menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner and be sure to experience the award winning Sunday Brunch. Not to mention it's set right in Saybrook Point Resort & Marina, where you'll find stunning accommodations, a spa, and famed sunset views over the marina.

Connecticut is home to many other destinations featuring hearth-warmed dining rooms, perfect for chilly winter nights. 

The Griswold Inn in Essex, a historic inn a stone’s throw from the Connecticut River, is full of Yankee charm with a dining room, tap room and several fireplaces throughout. There's also live music, adding to its appeal.

At Millwright's in Simsbury, the restaurant set in a refurbished mill combines a stylish dining room, a relaxed tavern and a unique event space to offer the ultimate setting for fine, farm-to-table cuisine and carefully chosen wine, craft beer and cocktail menus. Enjoy up-close views of the stunning rushing waterfall next to the building.

At Union League Cafe in New Haven, the menu combines French classical traditions with a more contemporary approach to flavors, textures and native ingredients. Reminiscent of a Paris brasserie, this is where old-world charm meets new.

See more spots for fireside dining in Connecticut. 

Pour. Clink. Sniff. Sip. Connecticut vineyards and wineries offer wine tastings, fine dining, picnics, festivals, live music, and events — all with a backdrop of rolling hills and grapevines.

The romantic rituals of sharing a bottle of wine make visiting Gouveia Vineyards in Wallingford the perfect afternoon date. The Stone House winery, high atop 140 scenic acres, is a cozy spot to enjoy the fireplace while sampling their award-winning wines. You wouldn’t be the first guests to get engaged here.

Most of Connecticut's farm wineries have indoor tasting rooms, but Aquila's Nest Vineyards in Sandy Hook and Worthington Vineyard in Somers offer seasonal experiences for even the most stubborn winter haters.  Worthington heats up for the cold months with igloo experiences, mulled wine, and hot cider.

Guests at Aquila's Nest can book seating around a personal fire pit, enjoy a cozy fire under a fully enclosed pergola, or relax in a private igloo. The winery also offers a "Winter Winderland" luxury picnic option in its indoor tasting room. 

Looking for a fine meal with your local wine? Try the bistro at Chamard Vineyard in Clinton, a French-inspired restaurant with dishes like Lyonnaise salad, Camembert en croute, Parisian gnocchi, roasted local cod loin, and steak frites. 

In a secluded corner of the Litchfield Hills region, Blackberry River Inn located in Norfolk, is a historic Colonial home situated on 27 acres. This National Historic Landmark is the perfect country escape that offers rich and authentic atmosphere inviting you to take some time off the daily routines.

Amazing water views are always in season. So, why not break away from the expected and enjoy an off-season stay at the Inn at Harbor Hill & Marina, voted one of the "Top 10 B&Bs" in the USA, and offering many great packages and deals. In the seaside town of Niantic, stop for something sweet at Gumdrops & Lollipops or browse the Book Barn. Afterwards, enjoy takeout from local farm-to-table bistro La Belle Aurore or sample local seafood at a number of nearby places.

Connecticut’s northeastern region is known as “the Quiet Corner,” but you’ll still find wonderful signs of life in the smaller towns and villages tucked among rolling hills.

Book a room at Woodstock’s romantic Inn at Woodstock Hill, and be sure to have dinner at the main dining room with a romantic fireplace. Enjoy a wintertime wine tasting at Taylor Brooke Winery, and before heading back, visit Soleil & Suns Bakery for some wonderful homemade artisanal breads and desserts.

Enjoy a stay in historic and scenic Greenwich, a gem of a town on Long Island Sound. Easily reached by car or train from New York City, Greenwich is home to museums, galleries, shops and restaurants that are open year-round.

Start with a reservation at one of Greenwich’s luxury accommodations, such as the J House Greenwich or Delamar Greenwich Harbor. Do a little shopping along Greenwich Avenue, then grab takeout at Meli-Melo or enjoy a sit down meal at l'escale. Take a romantic stroll through Greenwich Point Park, or explore the many art and science exhibits in the Bruce Museum.

Freelance writer Traci L. Suppa and her husband went on their first date in South Norwalk.

Looking for more? Enjoy these fireside dining destinations, try these date ideas, or book an unforgettable winter getaway.