15 of North Carolina's Coziest Spots to Eat and Drink
With relatively mild winters, NC makes a great winter vacation destination where you can hike, ski or explore one of our historic, charming cities in 50-degree temperatures by day, then cozy up to a fire at night when the temperatures drop. To help you get the most of your next winter getaway, we’ve curated this list of restaurants that know how to up the cozy factor with blazing fires, fun winter cocktails, seasonal craft beers and flavors born from the season. Add in some twinkling lights and plush couches and you’ll have a winter dining experience to remember.
About the Author
Shawndra Russell
Shawndra, a travel writer and novelist based in Asheville, loves NC for its craft beer and outdoor adventures. She's written for Forbes Travel Guide, BeerAdvocate, and Travel + Leisure.
Introduction Text
With relatively mild winters, NC makes a great winter vacation destination where you can hike, ski or explore one of our historic, charming cities in 50-degree temperatures by day, then cozy up to a fire at night when the temperatures drop. To help you get the most of your next winter getaway, we’ve curated this list of restaurants that know how to up the cozy factor with blazing fires, fun winter cocktails, seasonal craft beers and flavors born from the season. Add in some twinkling lights and plush couches and you’ll have a winter dining experience to remember.
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Edison Craft Ales + Kitchen
Asheville
The Omni Grove Park Inn has achieved worldwide recognition for its many welcoming attributes, and this oversized mountain lodge shines brightest in the winter. Huge fireplaces greet visitors in the stunning lobby, and several more can be found blazing down the hall inside Edison Craft Ales + Kitchen, Grove Park’s trendiest restaurant. The seasonally rotating menu consists of upscale comfort foods sourced from local farms and purveyors. Pair with one of the seasonal local craft brews on tap for the perfect winter meal. Sunset Terrace is also a popular option for spectacular wintry sunset views.
Snuggle up in a luxury guest room at Old Edwards Inn And Spa in downtown Highlands. Calming qualities of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains inspire spa treatments. Wellness and rejuvenation are the goals here, as is reconnecting with a warm or spiked beverage by the fire.
Nestled in the Land of the Waterfalls — plenty of which freeze for spectacular winter hiking opportunities before your meal — The Square Root has long been named Brevard’s best restaurant. Enjoy winter-inspired specials such as gingerbread-encrusted pork loin or rosemary Dijon-rubbed prime rib in this beautifully restored historic building.
Beloved locally owned restaurant Over Yonder, which used to call an old farmhouse in Valle Crucis home, has now settled in Rhodes Motor Lodge in Boone. The boutique hotel features 54 guest rooms, all with mountain views, and offers cozy seating both inside and outside. Will you be dining on Appalachian cuisine by the fire pit on the patio or the chalet-style fireplace inside?
Gamekeeper Restaurant offers a memorable blend of upscale mountain charm in a century-old cabin with ultra-cozy fireplaces. Gamekeeper’s menu showcases expertly prepared game, fish, and vegetarian options using humanely raised meats and locally sourced organic produce. Start with the unique Emu Adobo and end with a hearty dish like Pekin Duck, Elk Leg, or a comforting sweet bread pudding.
The Boro offers a laid-back vibe for a calm sunset dinner right by the Intracoastal Waterway. With spacious outdoor courtyard seating and firepits, it’s a perfect spot to enjoy live music every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. Start your meal with flash-fried calamari, shrimp or tostadas, and don’t miss the signature Icehouse Grandwich. There's also a rotating selection of local beers on tap, making it easy to sip and savor the flavors of the coast while you soak up the cozy atmosphere.
Floriana is a lively dining spot that blends Italian cuisine with a coastal twist. With charming — individual! — outdoor balconies adorned with twinkling lights, it’s the perfect place for a romantic dinner straight out of your classic romcom. The menu features locally sourced ingredients, including standout dishes like house-made pasta, seasonal risottos and the popular Floriana salad.
Talk about inviting. The Village Table & Tavern’s fireside lounge is often filled with the sound of live music as guests nibble on the day’s fresh catch or heart-warming seasonal offerings such as seafood pot pie, chicken and gravy, or winter pasta.
This candlelit dining destination resembles an oversized beach shack on the outside, but inside awaits a romantic vibe and warmth that comes with an open kitchen concept. Go for hearty choices such as roasted rack of lamb with butternut squash and Mediterranean-influenced roast half chicken, and be sure to pair your choice with one of the generously poured, seasonally motivated martinis.
With blazing torches and string lights reflecting off the Pamlico Sound, Cafe Pamlico provides a winter haven during the offseason for visitors who want to experience the best seasonal cuisine on Hatteras Island. They also whip up plenty of special winterized libations, too.
Chez Genese — the “Place of New Beginnings” — is a French-inspired downtown bistro that employs adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Enjoy heartfelt service in a cozy setting filled with plants, flowers, pillow-lined benches and natural sunlight. Not only can you go for delicious breakfasts and lunches (the croque monsieur and specialty pancakes are favorites), but the bistro also hosts workshops ranging from the Power of Disability Integration to macaron-making. Want cozy by nightfall? Order a seasonal cocktail at Muddle and snuggle into velvet sofas and oversized chairs.
Sure, winter dishes make for a fun evening out, but what about a cozy home-cooked steak right beside the fire? Angus Barn brings that same warmth and charm to your dining experience, all in an iconic red barn that’s been a Raleigh favorite since 1960. With an award-winning wine cellar boasting more than 1,600 selections, outdoor firepits perfect for relaxing and a famous chocolate chess pie so good they even share the recipe. There’s even the Wild Turkey Lounge, up in the rafters, where you can unwind with a cocktail.
Located in a building that originally opened as a store in 1893, “Al Mike’s” has been a beloved local tavern in Charlotte’s historic Fourth Ward neighborhood since 1983. Influenced by European pubs, this homey gem is stuffed full of character with wooden booths, old-timey touches, seasonal decorations and a circa-1920 beer cooler. You’ll know you’ve found it when you see the antique truck parked outside. Pro tip: The “What It Is” — Cajun chicken pasta — is a favorite here.
We’re firm believers that more restaurants and bars should have fire pits, and in Durham, the place to go for a fireside night out is JuJu. The menu is always evolving, but steamed buns are always a great option — perfect for warming your bones.
The village of Fearrington, a former dairy farm, certainly exudes a picturesque winter setting, and The Fearrington House Restaurant's seasonal menu is equally as inviting. Select a four-course meal at a set price or opt for a chef's tasting, both offering an optional wine pairing. Add a stroll through the gardens hand-in-hand with your dinner companion for a cozy evening to remember.
