Stories > Fireside Dining
Fireside Dining Last Updated: February 2023
One of Connecticut’s great pleasures in chilly weather is cozying up to a fire while enjoying cocktails or a meal, or both. Luckily, there are dozens and dozens of fireside dining options in the state. Some of the hearths are located in country pubs, some in shoreline inns, and many can be found in fine-dining establishments – so make your choice and toast the cold days and nights from your comfortable perch. Make sure you call ahead, hours are subject to change.
Union League Café, New Haven
Offering menu and ambiance in a casual elegant style, the Café combines French classical traditions with a more contemporary approach to flavors, textures and native ingredients. Local and organic fish, meats, cheeses, produce and rare specialty products from around the world help the chefs create award-winning cuisine.
Fresh Salt, Old Saybrook
Ensconced within the Saybrook Point Inn and Spa, at Fresh Salt you can enjoy the gorgeous hearth and turn your head just slightly to take in saltwater views. The food is highly praised, too.
Sharpe Hill Vineyard, Pomfret
One of Connecticut’s finest vineyards also features fine dining in its aptly named Fireside Tavern. Connecticut Magazine mentioned the Creole shrimp as “a dish to try before you die.”
G.W. Tavern, Washington Depot
The wood-burning fireplace is a major feature of this Colonial-themed tavern. But so are the comfort foods and cocktails.
Griswold Inn, Essex
This historic inn a stone’s throw from the Connecticut River is full of Yankee charm, with a dining room, a tap room and several fireplaces throughout. Live music, too.
The Goose, Darien
The Goose” is a renewal of a classic American bistro and tavern offering fine dining, contemporary cuisine, warm hospitality and superb service.
Daniel Packer Inne, Mystic
The feeling here is that you are dining in the house of a sea captain, which happens to be true: Capt. Daniel Packer built the place in 1756. Fireplaces are only a part of the many charms here.
White Horse Country Pub, Washington
When the weather calls for it, there’s always a welcoming fire here at one of Connecticut’s favorite pubs. Get into the right mood with the shepherd's pie, Guinness beef stew or bangers and mash.
Thomas Henkelmann, Homestead Inn, Greenwich
Just forty minutes from New York City, this four-star contemporary French restaurant helmed by renowned chef Thomas Henkelmann offers impeccable service, a wine list of depth, breadth and complexity and above all else creative French food prepared and presented flawlessly.
Abigail’s Grille and Wine Bar, Simsbury
Slide into the nice corner booth next to the fireplace here and you may not want to leave. Abigail’s varied menu has many fans, and the wine bar is a good way to end the working day.
Cava Restaurant, Southington
The big stone fireplace in Cava’s Fire Place Room is a perfect fit for a cold and/or snowy night in Connecticut. The Italian fare on the menu will warm you up, too.
The Olive Tree Restaurant, Woodbury
This longtime favorite has found a new home in a place that feels pleasantly like a country farmhouse. The fireplace in the dining room is a nice touch on a chilly afternoon or night.
Millwright’s, Simsbury
This American 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.
Tavern at the Armory, Middletown
Once an armory for the Connecticut National Guard, now located in the Inn at Middletown, Tavern at the Armory serves traditional American cuisine with a New England style twist.
Jesse Camille's Restaurant, Naugatuck
Jesse Camille’s Restaurant serving classic food prepared with the freshest ingredients in an cozy unpretentious atmosphere since 1996.