Boston’s first big snowstorm of the year has arrived, and it’s time to dig the sleds and snow pants out of storage, plan some complicated baking projects, and figure out which local restaurants are serving boozy hot chocolate on their fire pit-bedecked patios.
Bookmark this page: Updated frequently throughout the season, this will be your place to find out how to make the most of winter in Boston — and beyond — in terms of what to eat, drink, and cook. Whether you’re looking for the best soups at Boston-area restaurants or a guide to a winter-friendly getaway in Portland, Maine, you’ll find it here.
Have a burning question about local winter dining that’s not yet answered here? Email boston@eater.com and we’ll do our best to help out.
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More to come. What do you want to eat when it’s cold? Let us know.
- A dozen hot new restaurants to try in January 2022, including Bar Volpe, Dear Annie, and Café Sauvage
- Boston’s best spots for hot chocolate, boozy and not, including Gâté Comme Des Filles at Bow Market, Alcove, and L.A. Burdick
- Superb soups in and near Boston, including khao soi and tom yum noodle soup at Dakzen, udon at Yume Ga Arukara, and spicy tomato soup at Sportello
- Or more specifically, the best ramen, udon, and chowder in and near Boston
- Or maybe you’d like to order a single slice of cake, dumplings, or hand-pulled nooodles
- In need of food or have extra to give? Here’s a growing database of community fridges in and around Boston
Looking for a winter-friendly road trip from Boston filled with good food and drink? Try one of these.
More extensive lists to come, but for now, here are a few top picks for heated patios open this winter, as well as igloo dining.
- Barra in Somerville, the best new bar, is taking a brief winter break but should be back by mid-January, at which point you’ll want to make a reservation for the hidden back patio, which will remain open throughout the winter. The uncovered space has several heaters and blankets available. “Last year people wore ski gear and were really excited about hanging out during snow storms and such. We will be game for it and go with the flow!” the Barra team tells Eater.
- Dear Annie in Cambridge will keep its patio open all winter; it’s enclosed, but not covered, and has heaters and blankets. Seating is first come, first served, and pub-style, so you can move tables and chairs as needed. The wine bar features a pescatarian menu.
- Forage in Cambridge plans to seat outdoors throughout the winter. There’s space for large groups, the area is heated, and each table also has its own heater. Wool blankets are available, and diners can make reservations specifically for outdoor seating.
- Semolina Kitchen & Bar, a Medford favorite from the Dave’s Fresh Pasta team, has a heated tent that will be open all winter. It’s fully enclosed, so those uncomfortable with indoor dining at this time might find it a bit too similar to being indoors, but a representative for the restaurant notes that the seating is kept “pretty spacious.”
- 75 on Liberty Wharf in Boston’s Seaport has a “bubble village” of 10 heated igloos; reservations are available for up to one hour and 45 minutes, with no minimum spend, rental fee, or deposit.
- The Bowery Bar in Dorchester fills its outdoor space with five private heated yurts for the winter, each seating up to eight people; find full guidelines and booking information here. Open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, with various minimum spends per yurt (starting at $100) depending on the day and time. Reservations required.
- Tambo 22 in Chelsea offers heated igloo dining on its patio, with the full dinner and cocktail menus available. Each igloo seats up to six. Minimum spend of $400 or $450 required, depending on the day. Book online.
- Woods Hill Pier 4 in Boston’s Seaport offers heated igloo dining with waterfront views for groups of two to six; the minimum spend starts at $300 and goes up to $550, depending on the day and time. The regular menu is available, and diners are encouraged to pre-order wine so it’s ready upon arrival. Reservations required.
Get ski lodge vibes without leaving the city.
- Après Skate Bar at Time Out Market Boston (401 Park Dr., Fenway, Boston): There’s a skating rink at Time Out Market Boston, and the Skate Bar will be operating through March 6 on Fridays (4 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and weekends (11 a.m. to 9 p.m.). On the menu: hot drinks with and without alcohol, including hot chocolate, hot apple cider, hot buttered rum, and more, as well as non-hot drinks like local beers. For food, there are soft pretzels and Liege waffles from Eastern Standard Provisions Co.
- The Lodge at Publico Street Bistro (11 Dorchester St., South Boston): The South Boston restaurant is continuing its annual tradition of turning its interior courtyard into a ski lodge-inspired space; it’ll be operational through the end of March, open Thursday through Sunday. There are flannel blankets, fire pits, heated lounge areas, and artificial snow to set the mood, with a menu of lodge-inspired snacks and drinks (including a Shot-Ski and hot drinks).
- Snowport (88 Seaport Blvd., Seaport District, Boston): WS Development, which is behind Boston Seaport (a giant development project within Boston’s Seaport District), is hosting Snowport through February 28, a lineup of winter activities (like curling), events, markets, and more. Find a full schedule and other details, including information on other Snowport activities, at the Boston Seaport website.
Between snowstorms and COVID surges, it’s a great season to spend some time cozying up at home and enjoying some cooking projects as well as takeout and delivery from your local favorites.
- Buy a cookbook from a local restaurant or two to make your favorite dishes at home.
- Sign up for a local food or drink subscription package to get spices, oysters, wines, and lots more delivered right to your doorstep.
- Here are some of the takeout and delivery options that kept the Eater Boston team going in 2021; maybe you’ll find a new favorite or be reminded of an old standby.
- Take a virtual cooking class from a local restaurant or business. A more extensive list is coming soon, but for now, browse the options at places like Mei Mei, Flour Bakery & Cafe (via MasterClass), and Curio Spice Co.
- Visit Eater at Home, Eater’s headquarters for recipes, cooking advice, entertaining ideas, and more.
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