New England Bars Worth Toasting | Winter Comforts
Yankee editors’ pick their favorite cozy watering holes in this roundup of the best bars in New England to visit this winter.
A schoolhouse built in 1735 found a lively second calling when it was relocated to Connecticut’s historic Griswold Inn and remade into the spacious Tap Room.
Photo Credit : Mark FlemingPhoto Credit : Mark Fleming
Best Cozy New England Bars to Visit This Winter
The Tap Room The Griswold Inn | Essex, CT
In winter, the Tap Room is warmed by an old stone fireplace, the glow of a vintage popcorn machine, and a twinkling year-round Christmas tree. But on Mondays, when patrons join the Jovial Crew band in rounds of sea chanteys, this historic barroom fills with the warmest kind of cheer. In honor of the Griswold’s 1776 founding, order the inn’s own Revolutionary Ale, or opt for something even stronger: George Washington might not have slept here, but he did run one of the largest whiskey distilleries of his time. 860-767-1776; griswoldinn.com
The Lion’s Den
@ the Red Lion Inn Stockbridge, MA
In this 80-year-old pub a half-flight underground, servers have to maneuver a bit to deliver rounds of beer and chicken potpies, and cellphones rarely catch a signal. But the brick-red tin ceiling, lace curtains, and rosy lighting combine to shut out whatever weather’s howling outside, and live music is a 365-day-a-year promise—which means you can always get those tingling toes a-tapping. 413-298-5545; redlioninn.com
The Lounge The Library Restaurant | Portsmouth, NH
Part of a swanky steakhouse situated in a 1785 brick mansion and boasting French mirrors lined with silver and hand-carved mahogany paneling, this English-style pub is equally lavish—from its vodkas (touted as the largest selection north of Boston) to its martinis (96 in all). Plant yourself at the marble bar or claim a leather chair by the fire, then find a good read among the hundreds of books lining the walls. You’re going to want to be here for a while. 603-431-5202; libraryrestaurant.com
Skunk Hollow Tavern Hartland Four Corners, VT
This Vermont country outpost could double as the template for the perfect small-town New England tavern. Housed in one of the village’s oldest buildings, it has a solid restaurant upstairs—but if it’s cozy you seek, hit the downstairs pub, where rough-hewn ceiling beams are strung with lights and the fireplace radiates a mellow glow. Order yourself a local brew and (if you’ve planned your visit wisely) heat up with some live jazz. 802-436-2139; skunkhollowtavernvt.com
Baldwin & Sons Trading Co. Woburn, MA
The locale is a bit unlikely (upstairs in a Sichuan restaurant deep in the ’burbs) and access is limited (open Thursday–Saturday), but we’d still trek through a snowstorm for Ran Duan’s virtuosic cocktails. The vibe is luxe library—deep leather couches, paneled walls, crystal—and a reservations-recommended policy means you’ll have room to sit back, sip, and savor. 781-935-8488; thebaldwinbar.com
Broad Arrow Tavern The Harraseeket Inn | Freeport, ME
Here’s a recipe for a toasty tavern that feels custom-made for a rustic Maine sporting lodge, even though it sits just two blocks from Freeport’s shopping district: Take a roaring fireplace, forest-green walls, a wood-fired oven turning out hearty pub fare, and decor that includes vintage snowshoes and a moose head. Add six beer taps, specialty cocktails, and a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, and stir. 207-865-9377; harraseeketinn.com
The Avery Providence, RI
We love the Avery’s dimly lit Art Deco interior, with its hand-carved plaster walls and cushy banquettes—and we’re not the only ones, as the word is out on this once-“secret” little bar. Yet even when it’s packed, the Avery still feels like the handsomest hiding place we know, utterly sheltered from daily cares and dismal weather. And it still has that insider vibe, thanks in part to a hidden whiskey cabinet stocked with gems like 20-year Pappy Van Winkle and 30-year Laphroaig, poured only for patrons who know to ask for them. 401-751-5920; averyprovidence.com
The Cave The Omni Mount Washington Resort | Bretton Woods, NH
Compared with today’s crop of hipster speakeasies, the Cave stands out because, well, it really was a Prohibition-era watering hole. Located deep in the bowels of a grand hotel, this den of granite and brick was once an illicit saloon on a bootlegging route that stretched from Canada to Boston. Of the hotel’s A-list guests of yore—including Winston Churchill and Babe Ruth—surely a few ducked in here, drawn by a secretive, subterranean allure that remains just as strong today. 800-258-0330; omnihotels.com
The Parlor The Farmhouse Tap & Grill | Burlington, VT
Winter brings out another side to beer: darker, spicier, almost primal. ’Tis the season of porters and stouts and barrel aging, and it’s all ideally showcased here. The fireplace, barn-board farm table, game collection, and eclectic seating (leather booths, old church pews) will appeal to all, but beer geeks may never want to leave. Thirty taps dispense the likes of Hill Farmstead and Lawson’s Finest Liquids; there are at least 100 bottles, too. Plus, the Farmhouse regularly hosts beer-centric events—and we hear the industry pros like to mingle in the Parlor afterward. 802-859-0888; farmhousetg.com
What cozy winter bars would you add to the list? Let us know in the comments!