09 December, 2019
When even the spiciest mug of mulled wine can't warm you up, the only thing that will do the trick on a blustery winter day is a roaring fire. These aren't so easy to come by in New York City, so we've scouted out the best bars, restaurants and hotels where you can snuggle up by a fireside with a good book (or cocktail) until your fingers have thawed.
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A hub for celebrities' children and A-list designers, The Bowery has a reputation for drawing a well-heeled crowd that's a touch too cool for school. The fire here is always roaring, so settle into one of the couches surrounding it and people-watch, read or chat to your best friend - all are highly recommended in this setting. If you get a bit peckish, Gemma restaurant is but a room away, serving sumptuous pasta dishes and fluffy pizzas.
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Nestled just off Union Street in Gowanus, this itsy-bitsy bar looks just like a wooden country house from the outside. Open the door to reveal a bottles of chianti lining the walls and folks clustered around tables and sharing charcuterie plates or heaping servings of Black Mountain mac and cheese topped with truffle oil. At the very back of the room you'll find a few coveted seats by the stone fireplace, where you can eat and drink yourself merry while a snowstorm brews outside.
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The Marlton is located right by Washington Square Park and draws a crowd that is equal parts jet-set visitors and chic students looking to read somewhere other than the library. The fireplace is the centrepiece of the hotel's living-room area, which is open to the public and one of the cosiest spaces to hang out come wintertime. Curl up in a cushy armchair, order an old fashioned and you'll be transported straight back to 1900, when the hotel was built.
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Even harder than snagging a reservation at Ralph Lauren's fabled Midtown restaurant, scoring a seat by the Polo Bar's fire is just about on par with getting tickets to one of the designer's fashion shows. Framed by paintings of horses and crowned by an image of a jockey, this corner represents the peak of RL style. Sit here in your softest cashmere sweater, order the burger and a glass of red, and you'll be enjoying the space as it was truly intended.
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An evening spent at Rose Bar is one spent partying, but that doesn't mean you can't hunker down by its massive limestone fireplace to watch the bi-weekly jazz band performance. Grab a flute of rose liqueur and champagne and perch on a fireside velvet stool until the DJ starts playing, when you'll maybe - just maybe - want to pry yourself away from your seat for a boogie.
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A far cry from the rustic log hearths that are the centre of many a cosy living room and pub, the chic masterpiece that is the fireplace at The New York EDITION is something to behold. The room itself is a contemporary architectural masterpiece, complete with a twisting silver staircase and mid-century-modern chairs. Grab a dry martini at the bar before ascending the stairs and taking a seat before the flickering fire framed by sleek dark-wood panels.
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While it's only open to members of Soho House, Ludlow House has one of the best fireplaces in town for those who are part of the club (or can tag along with a friend who is). Its hearth is supersized, rustic and always fully stoked with crackling logs. Snag a seat at one of the couches framing the fire or at a table flanking either side, and open one of Ludlow's board games. Order a pot of tea and some snacks and you'll be all set for an afternoon.
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Nothing screams classic New York quite like The Carlyle on Madison Avenue. An Upper East Side mainstay, it has a lobby area furnished with armchairs upholstered in tones of goldenrod alongside grand paintings and an intricate mirror topping the mantle - it's one of the city's most beautiful spots to enjoy a fire. Start your evening by greeting your group by the flames before moving onto Bemelmans Bar, the hotel's renowned drinking haunt decorated with murals painted by the author of the Madeline series.
