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With our relatively mild winters, North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 at any of these lovely spots.
Mountains
As you can imagine, our mountains are a magical place to be during the winter months, when log cabins, welcoming resorts and decked out farm inns come alive with the colors that make the season bright. But we’re here to guide you to the flavors of the season, too, showcasing Western North Carolina chefs who like to get creative with seasonal produce.
1 Edison Craft Ales + Kitchen
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1 Edison Craft Ales + Kitchen
AshevilleSee on map
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.
2 Timberlake’s Restaurant
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2 Timberlake’s Restaurant
Blowing RockSee on mapWhen your waterfront dining establishment was formerly called the Manor House Estate, you know the stakes are high for the culinary team to deliver an experience on the plate that’s as great as the historical building’s mountain lodge ambience. They also don’t shy away from embracing the crispness of winter, with lakeside bonfires throughout the winter season where you can roast your own s’mores, too.
3 Over Yonder
3 Over Yonder
Valle CrucisSee on mapOver Yonder, a farmhouse-turned-beloved restaurant, delivers the best scratch-prepared flavors of the season and doubles as a fresh market focused on honoring the history of Appalachian cuisine (think fried frog legs, potlikker gumbo and brown butter North Carolina rainbow trout). Plus, the charming village of Valle Crucis feels like a comforting hug itself, virtually unchanged for more than 200 years.
4 Cozy Countywide Stops
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4 Cozy Countywide Stops
Jackson CountySee on mapFrom your morning coffee to your delicious dinner, Jackson County is filled with cozy options dotting its mountain towns. For lunch, try Cornucopia Restaurant, which prides itself on being “Cashiers’ favorite porch” for comfort eats. Afternoon calls for a relaxing drink at Innovation Brewing or Sante – the Wine Bar. And look no further than the Library Kitchen + Bar (every book-and-art lover’s dream decor) or for an intimate dinner experience.
5 The Square Root
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5 The Square Root
BrevardSee on mapNestled 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.
Coast
The mountains aren’t the only place to spend a snuggly winter’s night out in North Carolina. Along the coast, winter visitors can enjoy smaller crowds and bundling up for a walk along our beautiful beaches before hitting one of these atmospheric eateries.
6 The Village Table and Tavern
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6 The Village Table and Tavern
DuckSee on mapTalk 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.
7 Ocean Boulevard Bistro and Martini Bar
7 Ocean Boulevard Bistro and Martini Bar
Kitty HawkSee on mapThis 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.
8 Cafe Pamlico
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8 Cafe Pamlico
BuxtonSee on mapWith 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.
9 Caprice Bistro
9 Caprice Bistro
WilmingtonSee on mapNever been to a sofa bar? What better time than the winter to cozy up at Caprice Bistro, named one of the "Most Romantic Restaurants in America" according to OpenTable. Opt to dine in the upstairs sofa lounge as you enjoy French decadence like escargot, savory crepes and moules, or try one of the outstanding daily specials or a house-selected flight of tapas.
10 The Blue Post
10 The Blue Post
WilmingtonSee on mapFor a completely different vibe, head to the alley bar at The Blue Post, which looks bewitching year-round with paper lanterns and the night’s sky comingling between two brick buildings. Inside has its own dive bar charm, with cozy nooks throughout the cavernous space.
Piedmont
North Carolina’s urban center has plenty of intimate dining hotspots perfect for sipping on a winter cocktail or basking in the glow of a fire pit or twinkling white lights. Of course, expect seasonal menus at many of these chef-driven locales.
11 Chez Genese
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11 Chez Genese
GreensboroSee on mapChez 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.
12 Alexander Michael's
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12 Alexander Michael's
CharlotteSee on mapLocated 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.
13 JuJu
13 JuJu
DurhamSee on mapWe’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.
14 The Fearrington House Restaurant
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14 The Fearrington House Restaurant
FearringtonSee on mapThe 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.
15 Herons
15 Herons
CarySee on mapSure, winter dishes make for a fun evening out, but specialty seasonal cocktails can also chase away the winter blues. At Herons, one of only 78 Forbes 5-star restaurants in the world, you’ll select four courses as part of the seasonal prix fixe that should be accompanied by one (or more!) of the handcrafted, winter-spiced drinks.
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