(Photo: Fireplace at Black Mountain Winehouse, via So Much To Fall In Love With)

Mother Nature has truly shown her wrath this winter by blanketing our streets with non-stop snowfalls, blowing bone-chilling wind and dishing out icy temperature.  But we won’t let that stop us from venturing outdoors, so we’ll see you soon at one of these cozy spots where you can escape the cold and enjoy great drinks and dinner.

Black Mountain Winehouse | 415 Union Street | Carroll Gardens
Cozy up at this Gowanus-area wine spot (shown above).  It’s tiny size, rustic decor, and crackling fireplace will warm you up almost as fast as the wine. They are refined enough to offer extraordinary Provencal comfort food, but unpretentious enough to have Miller High Life tallboys on the drink menu under ‘sparkling’.  You won’t want to leave.

Northeast Kingdom | 18 Wyckoff Avenue | Bushwick
Off the beaten path , with rustic cabin decor, Northeast Kingdom serves up a small, but diverse menu offering house specialties such as duck fat tater tots and chicken liver pate on sesame toasts.  Don’t miss the sunchoke and roasted pepper salad with red endive and creamy fourme d’ambert dressing. Dine upstairs in the bustling and hip lodge-style main room, then head down to the den for cocktails and sit by the kitschy gas stove.

Pacifico | 269 Pacific Street | Boerum Hill
This charm of this Boerum Hill staple never seems to wear off.  It is the toastiest little oasis in the area complete with a heat-cranking fireplace and killer margaritas. With a fun vibe and inexpensive, delicious Mexican food, you might forget how cold the walk home will be.  As for house specialties, try a bloody maria and don’t skip the guacamole. 

Oxcart Tavern | 1301 Newkirk Avenue | Flatbush/Ditmas Park
A relative newcomer to the neighborhood, Oxcart Tavern moved into the space where the beloved Pomme de Terre used to live and is more a gastropub than tavern.  It’s a welcoming friendly bar with more than just plain old tavern food and is charming without being cutesy.  Try the crabcake poppers with homemade ketchup and ask for a table by the window so you can watch the snow fall.

Oak Wine Bar | 361 Graham Avenue | Williamsburg
A lesser-known Williamsburg gem, this place boasts a pleasantly refined Mediterranean-inspired menu with seasonal and local ingredients and a diverse wine list.  Prices are moderate and their happy hour is a bargain.  The ambiance is warm, maintains a stylish, urban feel, and isn’t overly woodsy, with exposed brick and modern fixtures.  It’s a great place for dinner and drinks or just an afternoon drop in.  The staff is friendly and knowledgeable.