Where to Warm Up in Chicago Inside a Restaurant or Bar With a Fireplace

Where to Warm Up in Chicago Inside a Restaurant or Bar With a Fireplace

  • by Ashok Selvam and Naomi Waxman I The Green has a fireplace. | Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago
  • 11/8/23

Fireplaces aren’t just for show at Chicago’s restaurants and bars as they get ample use as early as September and as late as May. That’s not pessimism, it’s just reality. And though our friends in warmer states may brag about constant sunny skies, there’s something romantic about cozying up to a real fire with a delicious beverage or person. Meow! Here are a few of Eater Chicago’s favorite restaurants and bars with fireplaces.

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Moody's Pub

Hunker down around the fireplace with a burger and beer at this Edgewater pub. The warmth and coziness of the space beckons folks to stay a while.

Fireside Restaurant & Lounge

A bar called the Fireside seems like an obvious inclusion on this list, but here’s the twist: there are actually two firesides at this cozy Edgewater spot, one in the indoor dining room and the other outside on the all-season patio. Sit by either one and enjoy a meal of respectable American bar food, including pizza, ribs, and burgers.

The Green Post

The Green Post, Lincoln Square’s new Scottish drinking den from the owners of the Northman and Bar on Buena, offers a handful of seats beside a charming antique fireplace. It’s an ideal perch for snuggling up with a hot cocktail and a spinach pie.

Ella Elli

4 Star Restaurant Group’s sleek and swanky spot opened in Southport Corridor in 2017. Diners can sit by the fireside in the chic lounge area, try globally-inspired bites, and feel like a million bucks.

The sophisticated space features a lounge with a fireplace.
Ella Elli offers global fare and a warming lounge.
 Ella Elli [Official Photo]

Wilde Bar & Restaurant

In Lakeview, Wilde, named for the writer, is one of the best winter bars in town with a beautiful bar with plenty of bookcases and a fireplace. It’s great spot for a whisky or a pint.

Owen & Engine

After remaining closed for much of the pandemic, Logan Square’s Owen & Engine reopened in 2022 more dialed in than in past years. O&E is a British pub from chef Bo Fowler who is known for sourcing farm-to-table produce and meat from some of the area’s best butchers. The two-story restaurant includes a lounge set up on the second floor with a fireplace. The beer selection is worth a visit alone.

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