As the weather seems to turn down a few degrees more each day, San Francisco increasingly becomes a place for cozying and cuffing. At the same time, as family flocks into the city or city-dwellers steel themselves to head back to their small towns for the holidays, it’s also a critical time for a nourishing meal and a stiff drink. Therefore, now’s the perfect time — isn’t it always the right time? — to find a restaurant or bar with a roaring fire. Try any of these 17 throughout the city for a soul-warming hearth to keep things toasty.
Read More17 Cozy Fireplaces in San Francisco Restaurants and Bars
A guide to San Francisco's warmest bar and restaurant fireplaces
Kokkari Estiatorio
Kokkari Estiatorio’s white tablecloths and oversized banquets might feel a bit stuffy on a warm day. But on a cold and wet day, its dining room is like a fine-dining featherbed. The fireplace is located in the main dining room, making the big table right in front of it the best seat in the house. Bring your friends for a feast of Greek dishes and bask in the glow.
Wayfare Tavern
Tyler Florence’s Wayfare Tavern has the star power of a celebrity owner to keep fans of the bold-faced name quite cozy. Or maybe that’s the restaurant’s fireplace, which does a nice job keeping the brick-lined spot warm enough to make even its chilled raw bar menu items palatable in cold weather.
House of Prime Rib
With two fireplaces to choose from, the House of Prime Rib brings the heat to those drawn to its thick and tender cuts, and Yorkshire pudding. Keep an eye out for Caitlin Elliott, the restaurant’s first female carver in its 70-year history.
Zeki's Bar
With a blazing fireplace and beers on tap, it’s hard to think of a reason not to go to Zeki’s. The Nob Hill neighborhood bar doesn’t serve food, but they’ll more than make up for it in drinks.
Spruce
In Spruce’s front dining room (they call it the “Library”), patrons ask to be seated in front of the fireplace as they enjoy the award-winning restaurant’s excellent burger or fixed-price brunch.
Heritage Restaurant & Bar
This Clement Street go-to for powerful burgers — sometimes from smashburger superstars Maillards — is as homey as they come. Stopping by for a pint or cocktail on a wintery night is a smart choice for anyone in and around the city’s west side.
Kitchen Istanbul
Kitchen Istanbul offers tables right next to its back-wall fireplace, so diners who want a solid Turkish meal and a warm, rosy glow — from something other than just wine — they should request one of those slots by calling in advance.
Park Chalet Garden Restaurant
A massive brick fireplace heats the glass-walled Park Chalet to the point of bathroom-level steaminess, a sharp pivot from the Ocean Beach breezes that blow just outside.
Kezar Pub
Sports fans from across the globe pack Kezar Pub some early mornings to catch matches and games played by teams overseas. That makes its fireplace especially handy, as some days it seems like San Francisco gets chilliest in the hour right before dawn.
The Little Shamrock
The Little Shamrock's fireplace is lit any time there's inclement weather, and it’s seen a lot of cold days since it opened in 1893. Cozy up with an Irish coffee and a board game for the perfect afternoon.
Fireside Bar
It’s in the name: Fireside boasts an enormous, neon-shrouded fireplace that warms patrons from the afternoon until the early hours. Enjoy a non-fussy drink with the locals and bask in the heat while it’s cold outside.
Last Call Bar
Castro neighborhood dive Last Call Bar is all about keeping things consistent. Relax in the comfort of a lived-in bar, complete with retro fireplace, and enjoy the company of the locals.
The Homestead
The Homestead's been in business for practically 120 years, making for a history of skullduggery and shenanigans. The bar’s age-related nicks and scratches all look positively charming when lit by the warm glow of its fireplace.
Foreign Cinema
At this iconic restaurant and arts hub, walk down a long, dark hallway to find the glowing dining room with the kitchen at one end and the bar at the other, with a big fireplace centered between.
White Cap
White Cap’s fireplace is small but mighty, attracting savvy Parkside/Outer Sunset drinkers to its back area and away from the oft-chilly front bar. With a seasonally-rotating cocktail list, it’s more than just a spot to fight the westside chill.
The Riptide
The Riptide rose from the ashes of a major fire and brought back its roaring fireplace, too. Grab a drink and check out the entertainment, while staying warm indoors.
Wild Side West
Since 1962, Wild Side West has served as a lesbian bar, a mixed-crowd Bernal Heights dive, and a place to watch the game (big or small). Drinkers keep coming back for its saloon-like vibe, which includes pool tables, a fireplace, and a backyard garden.