Features Restaurant Guide Outdoor Dining Best of CT Winter Dining Igloo Homepage CT Guide To Outdoor Dining Guide: Igloos, Fireplaces, Greenhouses + for 2023 Carly Terzigni January 24, 2023 Dining outside in the middle of winter may seem like a wild idea to some, but many Connecticut restaurants and bars are fully embracing the weather with everything from firepits to private igloos to keep you warm and cozy this season. In fact, moving the dining experience outdoors in the winter has been growing in popularity in recent years, with every kind of environment from firepits to heated patios to full-on private igloo villages. Listed below are restaurants across the state that offer some kind of winterized dining experience, proving that you do not have to move everything indoors just because the temperatures have dropped. Who knows, winter may soon become your favorite time of year to eat outdoors!Rizzuto's-Westport https://www.rizzutos.com/locations/westport/Enjoy outdoor dining under the stars in Rizzuto's in Westport with their heated igloos. These fun and comfortable dining domes accommodate one group at a time and seat up to eight guests. Festive lighting and 3,000 watts of heat assure an enjoyable environment that is popular for both an intimate date or a special celebration with a group of friends and family. Rizzuto's full menu is available and served in the igloos, too. Reservations are strongly recommended. No minimum spend or rental fee. And the best part, your dogs are welcome in the igloos!River: A Waterfront Restaurant and Bar-Wethersfield https://riverontheriver.com/At River: A Waterfront Restaurant, you will be warm all winter long with the Rolls Royce of heaters on their deck. With 28 infrared radiant heaters discharging 1.5 million BTUs of heat and over 600 degrees of warmth at all times, they simply do not compare to an ordinary heating system! You can also warm up with cozy menu items like their Clam Chowder, Braised Short Rib, or Lobster Macaroni and Cheese, or warm your ‘spirit’ with Red and White wine as well as cocktails and mocktails like their Spicy Virgin Bloody Mary. River has reinvented what outdoor dining is on cooler nights and at River, you can always dine in the great (heated) outdoors, every day of the year, right on the bank of the Connecticut River!Dockside Brewery-Milford https://www.docksidebrewery.com/Dockside Brewery in Milford, CT is the place to be all year round! Dockside’s Igloo Park is back this season with a waterfront view. The perfect place to make a winter reservation and dine is in one of their many themed igloos! From their “Into the Jungle” theme to “Grey Goose” or “Taylor Swift” themes, enjoy an immersive outdoor dining experience you’ll be ready to repeat! Dockside Brewery is equipped with an extensive full sized menu and beer list ready to please! Visit Docksidebrewery.com or follow @docksidebrewery on Instagram for more info!116 Crown-New Haven http://www.116crown.com/The private igloo village is back this season, complete with heated private dining and your own bluetooth speakers to control from your phones. Call or email ahead of time to book a reservation.314 Beer Garden-Norwalk https://314beergarden.com/314 Beer Garden is open all year round with fully enclosed and heated bar and pergola areas. They have a full bar, 314 Wood Fired Pizza, and a giant fire pit for s'mores making. Guests under 21 years old are welcome on weekends from 12p-6p, and they are always dog friendly. Aquila's Nest Vineyards-Sandy Hookhttps://www.aquilasnestvineyards.com/Aquila’s Nest Vineyards offers a variety of outdoor seating spaces, including Igloos, Fire Pits, as well as covered Pergolas with Fire Pits and a cozy ‘Forbidden Fireplace’ space that can accommodate up to 11 guests. Castle on Post-Bridgeport https://www.thecastleblackrock.com/Outdoor seating at Castle on Post becomes winter-friendly thanks to their heated tents. Private events for larger groups can also be reserved ahead of time.Fair Haven Oyster Co.-New Haven https://www.fairhavenoysterco.com/Perfect for chilly winter evenings, Fair Haven Oyster Co. offers their enclosed greenhouse. Advance reservations for the greenhouse are recommended. Private parties for up to 10 are available as well.Fairfield Social-Fairfield https://thefairfieldsocial.com/Keep warm when dining this winter at Fairfield Social next to their firepit or seated in their heated, enclosed patio. Fire at the Ridge-Middlefield https://fireattheridge.com/Fire at the Ridge in Middlefield offers outdoor dining this winter with heated igloos or communal seating around a firepit. Plus, enjoy the snowy mountain views at Powder Ridge. Reservations recommended. Gastro Park-West Hartford https://www.thegastropark.com/Gastro Park fully embraces all four New England seasons by providing outdoor seating all year. Warm up next to their large fire pit in the winter months. J Restaurant-Hartford https://www.jrestaurantbar.com/This winter, J Restaurant has several heated tents, each with tables available for parties of all sizes. Their gazebos are also transformed in the winter for heated private dining. Luce-Middletown http://lucect.com/Luce in Middletown has many seating options to accommodate our guests all year-round. This includes their standard dining rooms, along with their outdoor heated (all weather) tent. Millwright's-Simsbury https://www.millwrightsrestaurant.com/Their Greenhouses are currently available, and are the perfect private dining experience for parties up to 10 guests. Their covered bridge has tables that seat two guests, offering a private and cozy heated space with the best view overlooking our waterfall.Oyster Club-Mystic http://www.oysterclubct.com/Oyster Club, along with its Treehouse, will be reopening for the season on February 10th. The Treehouse space is a heated structure perfect for winter evenings. Advanced reservations are recommended as seating in the Treehouse is limited.Puerto Vallarta-Danbury https://puertovallartausa.com/home/danbury/The private igloos are back at Puerto Vallarta in Danbury for the winter. Advance reservations are recommended and come with a 1h 30m time limit. Must have a party of four to eight guests in order to reserve.Rebel Dog Tavern-Plainville www.rebeldogcoffeeco.com/plainvilleThe Tavern at Rebel Dog in Plainville offers a newly renovated all-weather deck to enjoy year-round, with patio heaters and vinyl drop down walls. Please call us to inquire about reservations or call-ahead seating at the Tavern. Reverie Brewing-Newtown https://reveriebrewing.com/Reverie Brewing offers a tented patio around the back of the main bar area, which is lit and heated throughout the winter. Seating is first-come, first-serve. Dogs are always welcome (must be on leash).Rosy Tomorrows-Danbury https://www.rosytomorrows.com/Eat outside all year long with Rosy Tomorrows’ covered and heated patio. There is also a fire pit outside to sit next to as you sip on your drink of choice and warm you up in the winter months.Sign of the Whale-Stamford https://www.signofthewhalect.com/Their rooftop heated igloos include lounge-style seating decked out with soft coverings and pillows and a space heater to keep everybody warm. Parties of up to 8 guests are welcome. Please make reservations ahead of your visit. The Kitchen in Prospect-Prospect https://kitchenprospectbarandgrill.com/The Kitchen in Prospect offers a heated patio all winter long, perfect for keeping cozy while you dive into their baked lobster three cheese mac n cheese topped with a truffle oil.Toro Loco-Farmington https://www.torolococt.com/Looking for a fun and private dining experience? Their igloos offer just that and more. Email torolocoreservations@gmail.com to book a private igloo for you and your party this winter.Wood-n-Tap-Farmington https://www.woodntap.com/menu/farmingtonEnjoy Wood-n-Tap’s seasonal winter menu while dining in one of their private igloos. Be sure to book your reservation ahead of time. They accommodate parties of up to eight guests.
