As the weather gets colder and nastier, we start going to restaurants not just for food, but for warmth and coziness. There’s something about having someone else cook for you while you either look out a window at the snow and rain, or hunker down in a comfortable corner. Here are some recommendations of places to find an inviting atmosphere along with your food and drink this winter.
Whatcom County
There’s nothing cozier than a fireplace, and Carnal has a massive one in its dining room. In spite of the blood-and-bone artwork, the overall ambience is very romantic, and the food can’t be beat.
Other local restaurants with fireplaces include the FireHouse Cafe, which has a real wood-burning fireplace for maximum ambiance with your coffee. Skylarks Hidden Cafe in Fairhaven has warm wood paneling and two fireplaces.
The Lighthouse Grill in the Hotel Bellwether has a comfortable lounge with windows overlooking the bay — a great spot to be during a storm. And for a real splurge, The Oyster Bar has incredible views over Samish Bay to go with your oysters and wild game.
Also worth mentioning is Bantam Kitchen & Bar, an excellent spot for fantastically crispy fried chicken and well-made cocktails. They’ve reopened their upstairs for dining and dubbed it the Bookhouse Bar, with a long bar and a fireplace in one corner. I love this space, which looks out onto the trees of Railroad Avenue and gives a sense of being somewhere quite different.
A similar feeling is produced at The Black Cat, where the third-floor location in a cool, old building gives you a bird’s eye view of Fairhaven. While their menu has a wide variety of dishes, a bowl of French onion soup and a cocktail just might take you (briefly) to France.
Although its location in the middle of Bakerview Square might be seen as a downside, the Fireside Martini and Wine Bar is remarkably cozy. Comfortable furniture arranged around a wood stove makes a nice place to hunker down, especially on Friday nights when they have live music. The bar serves delicious classic cocktails as well as other drinks, and the menu features a variety of snacks.
Skagit County
In Mount Vernon, you can grab a seat by the fire at both The Porterhouse Pub and at Temperate Habits Brewing, just a block away from each other downtown. Both are cozy neighborhood pubs with great beer lists and casual food. My favorite table at the Porterhouse is immediately in front of the gas fireplace, where it can get much too warm too quickly, but it’s still worth it.
Revival Lounge on Pine Square in Mount Vernon may not have a fireplace, but it’s dark and calming with vintage furniture, a fabulous cocktail list, plenty of snacks and doilies for coasters. Choose a seat in the front window if you want to people-watch, or settle at a table in a dark corner to sip your drink in flickering candlelight.
For proper coziness, I love a good restaurant booth, and Max Dale’s Steak & Chop House in Mount Vernon has the tallest and coziest booths of anywhere I’ve ever been. This place has been in business for decades, and is still turning out interesting new menus and house cocktails. They also have weekly trivia in their bar.
La Conner has some excellent places for escaping the weather: Nell Thorn has a relatively formal dining room, but also a more casual bar area with comfortable booths overlooking the Swinomish Channel. Just up the hill is Oyster & Thistle, where the downstairs pub is so aggressively cozy it’s sometimes difficult to get in and out of the booths (but it’s usually worth the trouble). Upstairs is roomier and has a fireplace.
In Anacortes, A’Town Bistro is my go-to for paella, burgers or fancy toasts in a welcoming space with a fire at one end. Nonna Luisa is also great fun on a cold day, where you can eat an enormous plate of pasta by candlelight.
Outdoor ideas
But maybe your idea of “cozy” is to be outside, all bundled up by a bonfire or fire table. Many restaurants have heated sidewalk seating, but some go the extra mile like the patio at B-Town Kitchen and Raw Bar, where they have some beautiful individual fire pits.
Galloway’s in Fairhaven has a covered outdoor seating area, and Keenan’s at the Pier has powerful outdoor heaters and waterfront views. Wander Brewing has an extensive outdoor area with fire pits (along with their excellent selection of food trucks), as does Gruff Brewing Co. Just remember to dress warmly and enjoy the season!
Jessamyn Tuttle is a freelance writer and photographer based in the Skagit Valley.
