10 best Boston restaurants with heated outdoor dining for winter

Woods Hill Pier 4 brings farm-to-table dining to the Seaport, on the site where the iconic Anthony’s Pier 4 restaurant once sat. During the chilly months, Woods Hill transforms its waterfront tables into a series of igloos, which are able to seat eight guests. Reserve one of the cozy outdoor globes where you can sip seasonal hot beverages, dine on organic dishes with ingredients from local purveyors and enjoy panoramic views of the Boston skyline.

Perched over the Seaport, The Lookout Rooftop offers unparalleled views of the rapidly evolving Boston skyline. During the winter months, the rooftop transforms with pop-up heated igloos, which guests can reserve for prix fixe dinners, small plates and seasonal cocktails for up to two hours. Grab nine of your closest friends (the igloos can accommodate up to 10 guests) and prepare for a cozy, yet unforgettable, evening set against a twinkling backdrop.

This Southie hotspot is recognized for its spacious courtyard and lounge areas, and it welcomes winter with its seasonal popup, “The Lodge at Publico.” Inspired by the cozy atmosphere of après ski, The Lodge is decked out with reclaimed wooden tables, flannel blankets, faux animal heads, an artificial snow machine, and roaring fire pits. Check out the new Gingerbread Lane in back with its sugary decor and couch-style seating. Enjoy a winter-themed menu full of hearty dishes and toasty cocktails.

Bring blankets and grab some couch. Come flurries or flakes, they fireplace hard at this hip spot on the Mystic River in Assembly Row. Even when winter dumps feet of the snowy stuff, they dig paths around the two year-round fire pits to make them more Fireball hot toddy-friendly for guests. Cozy up with a spiced wine or Irish Coffee apres flatbreads, apps, or sandwiches.

Tucked between the historical inn’s main building and masterfully restored barn, a winter culinary escape awaits at the INNgloo Wonderland. These four cozy igloos are designed to each seat up to six for a warming lunch, dinner, and weekend champagne brunch among twinkle lights. Each features a charming faux-fireplace heater and mini speaker for mood-setting background music as you dine on Town Meeting Bistro’s seasonal a la carte menu. 

With an outdoor heated patio that’s surrounded by residential buildings, SRV can get as warm as its source of inspiration, the city of Venice, even on the chilliest of winter days. Boston’s first Venetian-style osteria and wine bar, SRV balances its focus between modern interpretations of cicchetti (snacks and small plates) and spectacular pastas, with a regionally inspired wine list for the ultimate pairing.

Fireside dining is the ultimate representation of cozy, and at this North End favorite, their fire pits are the ideal spot to enjoy the restaurants calling card of oysters and crudo. The Italian-accented seafood dishes and the handful of non-seafood options (chicken, pork, veal, steak) are equally impressive. If you can’t snag a seat directly next to the fire, you can enjoy the ambiance from lounge seating or a table where additional heat lamps will keep you warm as you enjoy a meal in the heart of this historic, Italian-American neighborhood.

Whether you’re looking for a casual bite or hoping to throw a larger shindig, the patio at Harvest is well-known for its coveted seats by the outdoor fireplace. This refined Harvard Square stalwart has led the local farm-to-table charge with locally-sourced seafood and meats plus homemade pastas, all meticulously and imaginatively prepared—and perfect for warming up outside.

Talulla in Cambridge has always embodied a sense of intimacy—from their 12-table, 28-seat dining room, which is transformed into a heated greenhouse in the winter months, to the chef-owner’s personal connection to winemakers and farmers. If you’re looking for a special date night, try the Tuesday night wine dinner series, where the themed menu focuses on a specific region from plate to bottle.

In the Seaport, 75 Liberty on Wharf offers a cluster of igloos that they adorably refer to as their seasonal “Bubble Village.” The heated, sanitized igloos, which overlook scenic Boston Harbor, are reservable for one hour and 45 minutes during either lunch or dinner—and with no requirements of minimum spend. On weekends, you can treat yourself to a brunch in the bubble, dining on typical breakfast dishes made with a distinctly New England twist, like the Seaport lobster toast or Maine lobster omelet.