We've come up with a list of places in London that will warm the very cockles of your heart, not to mention your extremities. Try any of the eating places on our list in the sure knowledge there’ll be an open fire of sorts, somewhere on the premises, to keep you toasty while you dine.
The Dysart
Richmond - 135 Petersham Road, Surrey TW10 7AA
What better way to follow a yomp through Richmond Park than a meal by the fireside at The Dysart? Formerly a Georgian farmhouse, there are four tables that benefit from the warmth of a real fire here. It's a perfectly cosy place to enjoy the Michelin-starred cooking of chef Kenneth Culhane.
Pinna
Mayfair - 43 Curzon St, London W1J 7UF
New Italian restaurant Pinna is already packing them in, making it a cosy spot any night of the year. But those in the know ask for the table for four beside the fire. You can also use this position to work out which of the many digestifs arranged on the mantelpiece you're going to go for as a post-prandial tipple.
Albert’s Schloss
Piccadilly - 20-24 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 7EU
If you love a cosy spot by the fire but aren't all that organised at booking ahead then the firepit table at Albert's Schloss has you covered. It's for walk-ins only and you get to dine on schnitzel and fondue at the warmest communal table in town.
The Hero
Maida Vale - 55 Shirland Rd, London W9 2JD
Every floor of The Hero has a real fire, from the ground-floor pub and first-floor dining room to the rather fabulous cocktail bar at the top of this popular Maida Vale spot. So whether you fancy a Scotch egg and pint in the pub or an expertly made martini beside the fire in The Library this is the place to go.
Dovetale
Mayfair - 1 Hotel Mayfair, London W1J 8DJ
Tom Seller's glamorous Mayfair restaurant has almost as much space outside in its courtyard garden as it does inside. But this is no ordinary alfresco space as it features a retractable roof, heating and a roaring fire at one end. On top of that, there's another big open fire in the middle of the main dining room inside.
The Devonshire
Soho - 17 Denman Street, London W1D 7HW
Technically the fire at The Devonshire's restaurant is part of the kitchen and not the dining space. But as it roars into action, with the kitchen team feeding wood into it, the rest of the room certainly feels the benefit.
William IV
Islington - 7 Shepherdess Walk, London N1 7QE
Take the stairs at the rear of this pub off City Road and you'll find yourself in a gorgeous panelled dining room. Order a pint of Guinness, some oysters and a good pie and - if you're lucky - enjoy them at one of the tables beside the roaring fire here.
Luca
Clerkenwell - 88 St John Street, London EC1M 4EH
When it's not being hired out as a perfect party space, the terrace at Luca is used as an overspill for the main restaurant. It's a gorgeously cosy spot with the fire adding to the general ambience as you order another plate of perfect pasta.
The Pelican
Notting Hill - 45 All Saints Road, London W11 1HE
Previously namechecked by Dan Levy as one of his favourite places to eat in London, good luck trying to get any seat at all at this West London gastropub, let alone a coveted one by the fire.
Campania and Jones
Hackney - 23 Ezra St, London E2 7RH
Tucked away off Columbia Road in a former dairy, this picture-perfect Italian restaurant features a wood-burning stove in its dining room. Order a bowl of risotto and a large glass of Amarone and settle in for the duration.
Gauthier Soho
Soho - 21 Romilly St, London W1D 5AF
Chef Alexis Gauthier's vegan fine dining restaurant runs over three floors of a Regency townhouse in Soho that boasts a roaring fire on its ground floor.
Decimo
King's Cross - 10 Argyle St, Kings Cross, London WC1H 8EG
The food isn't the only thing at Decimo getting a roasting on the open fire - the huge 1970s-style fire in the centre of the dining room here keeps guests pretty cosy throughout the winter. Try to nab a table close to it and be sure to order that amazing caviar tortilla.
Daphne's
South Kensington - 112 Draycott Ave, London SW3 3AE
At Christmas, the fireplace in Daphne's wonderful conservatory is liberally festooned with decorations, but from mid-autumn onwards it's lit pretty much all the time to make this a particularly toasty room. If the truffle menu is on, order a plate of pasta under a mountain of shaved white truffles and settle in for the longest of lunches.
Belvedere
Holland Park - Holland Park, Abbotsbury Rd, London W8 6LU
There are three tables that benefit from the glow of the real fire at one end of this Holland Park restaurant where chef Lello Favuzzi serves up an excellent Italian menu. But, as you can see from the photo above, one table for two in particular has the perfect spot. This would be a great place for a proposal...
Clos Maggiore
Soho - 33 King Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 8JDS
Regularly referred to as London’s most romantic restaurant, you can blame your blushing cheeks on the roaring open fires at Covent Garden’s Clos Maggiore. Both its dining room and glass-roofed, blossom-filled conservatory have log wood fires in the winter months. Add to this simple, Provencal food and an award-winning wine list and it’s easy to see how a little bit of romance may be kindled.
Egerton House Hotel
Knightsbridge - 17-19 Egerton Terrace, London SW3 2BX
Our picture may show a lovely cup of tea with homemade shortbread, but by far the more fun way to encounter the fire in the lounge at this hotel just off the Brompton Road would be with one of their legendary martinis. Even better, book in for a martini masterclass and you'll get super stiff drinks AND cheese toasties to enjoy.
More about Egerton House Hotel
L'Escargot
Soho - 48 Greek St, Soho, London W1D 4EF
Score a table in the front dining room looking over Greek Street and you'll find a lovely fire adding to the tonnes of atmosphere this historic restaurant already has in spades. Obviously, you're going to have the snails, but to ward off the cold we'd recommend the pistachio souffle too.
Noble Rot Bar
Bloomsbury - 51 Lamb's Conduit St, London WC1N 3NB
Stick to the bar rather than the restaurant and if you're lucky you'll nab a table by the fire in this lovely space which doesn't look like it's changed much since Dickens was knocking around. Right now, a glass of something rather lovely with a plate of Comte beignets sounds like utter heaven.
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