The Coziest Restaurant in Every State

When you dream of your wedding day, the backdrop is probably something like what SpringHouse offers. It’s surrounded by forests of pine; there are rolling hills and stables. The main dining hall is cabin chic in the most restrained of ways, and everything about it is Instagrammable—the verdant view outside its windows; the pork legs that hang for curing, ready to offer themselves up to chef Rob McDaniel’s prowess. There’s bacon and eggs and biscuits of course, in true Southern style, but also hickory smoked sweetbreads with jalapeno white barbecue sauce, and Brussels sprouts with nduja vinaigrette. You would be remiss not to experience it all. On a roundup such as this one, it’s tempting to dismiss SpringHouse as making the cut for its aesthetics, not its food. But we assure you, the food is the reason you’ll want to return.

Moose-AKA’s was exactly what you were craving on your way back from Denali National Park. Located in downtown Denali, this Serbian restaurant is a respite from the endless iterations of overpriced pasta and pizza that are so prevalent in the tourist-heavy area. Inside the dim, wood paneled interior, underneath chandeliers crafted from silver spoons, sit down to a cup of thick Turkish coffee. Once you’re warmed through, follow it up with a hearty meat-stuffed pepper, and generous tears of pita bread. Sadly, there isn’t a fireplace, but the service offers warmth enough.

Founded in 1909, this century-old cafe is actually on the National Register of Historic Places. Though it’s had more than a handful of owners over that time, they’ve tried to keep the rustic ethos of the place constant. The walls are covered with black and white photos commemorating the restaurant’s history; one side of the restaurant is exposed stone for a more rustic feel. As far as food goes, it’s diner style in comfort and quality. The cafe is probably best known for its deep-fried burger and Excalibur, a half-pound burger patty between two grilled cheese sandwiches. If you’re looking for something a little less over the top, their omelets and steaks are the best go-to orders. If you’re driving through Arkansas, there might not be a homier place to settle into on a Sunday morning.

Like so many of the bars and restaurants you’ll find on this list, Mix Up is nestled within a hotel: the Royal Palms Resort and Spa, in this case. Hotel bars often have a higher design bar because budgets that allow for really plush build outs—and Mix Up is no exception. The cream colored walls soften the experience as the fireplace lures you in; plump leather couches beckon, and a hot buttered rum is the only thing you should be ordering. You’re welcome.

The dining room at the Majestic Yosemite Hotel, and the hotel itself, exemplifies the most romantic ethos of the West. Founded in 1927, it quickly became the place for the well-heeled to experience the beauty of Yosemite’s cliffs and valleys; in the almost one hundred years since, it’s hosted heads of state like Eisenhower, Kennedy, Reagan and more. Although the hotel rooms still cost a pretty penny, weekend brunch here is a more affordable way to luxuriate in the grandness of its Parkitecture (as architecture at America’s National Parks are termed). The ceilings in the grand dining room are 34 feet high and studded with chandeliers.If you can snag a window seat, you can stare out at the park’s iconic cliffs while noshing on smoked trout and eggs benny. Really, there are few experiences more sublime.

Although the age of the Western is over, our obsession with the West—and its landscapes—still hold. To that end, the Ranch House at Devil’s Thumb Ranch does not disappoint. Just an hour and a half away from Denver, it feels like a whole world away: wind through mountain passes and find yourself amidst wide verdant fields, speckled with pine. Many resorts that provide activities and spas—as Devil’s Thumb does—can sometimes let the quality of their cuisine slip by the wayside, but that’s not the case here. The Caesar salad might be the best item you can order, perfectly balanced with the salt of anchovy and pucker of lemon. Sit outside on the terrace for a stunning view of rolling hills and purple mountains majesty; inside, wood beams beckon with warmth for chillier days.

According to many, the Griswold Inn holds the title as the oldest continuously operating inn in the country. Having opened in 1776, it was briefly occupied by the British during the War of 1812; today, it continues the tradition of a Sunday hunt breakfast, although these days the titular hunts are no more. The dark, wood paneled dining room sports New England nautical themes to great effect; there are black and white photos too, and whole walls of bookshelves in the dining room. Of course, there’s a fireplace: the perfect backdrop for a dark ale and a lobster roll, with a side of creamy carrot soup.

Having opened in 1913 and built in Italian Renaissance style, Hotel Du Pont was intended to rival the gilded beauty of Europe’s finest hotels. Today, it’s probably one of the most ornate backdrops for a wedding–—or, as it were, a weeknight dinner. And The Green Room is the place to do it. Dark with an oak-beamed ceiling and gold chandeliers, there are also thick draperies and Italian mosaics to offer a sense of opulence that is at once cozy. Even if you’re not craving food as rich as the surroundings, the wedge salad here does not disappoint.

Unlike many of the restaurants on our list which nod to the tradition of the Wild West, Casa Tua goes in another direction entirely. The dining room has maritime blue striped cushioned seats and a clean white vibe that’s beach-forward. Venture out on the patio, and that’s where it’s really at. Amidst a canopy of trees, there are lanterns strung all about to transport you to another world: and we want to go there. A roaring fire pit might not make sense in Miami’s humidity, but, in Florida, this is as cozy as it gets.

With its dim lighting and dark décor, Kevin Rathbun’s Krog Bar is an intimate ode to a Spanish-inspired wine bar. In colder months, grab your Cab Sauv and head outside to snuggle up beneath the heat lamps; there, get warm from without and within. When hunger strikes, order pimento cheese dip and spiced Marcona almonds for the best of Spain and the South. We wouldn’t blame you if you had to get the coppa and beef carpaccio as well.

This exposed-brick restaurant isn’t what you might traditionally think of as “cozy”: there’s no roaring fire or overstuffed couches. But, at night, the mood lighting’s just right, and it’s an intimate place to duck into, if a bustling one. And if you’re craving autumnal flavors, the menu is worth the trip alone. There’s a pork belly with hen of the woods mushroom doused in truffle vinaigrette, topped with a poached egg and frisée. The root vegetable hash with grilled octopus and gremolata is also promising. Livestock Tavern may be the best of new American comfort cuisine, and definitely more than just bar food—despite what the name may imply.

Calling all Hemingway fans: believe it or not, this restaurant actually used to be the author’s hunting cabin. Hemingway visited Sun Valley for the first time in 1939; he later bought a house here and spent long seasons hunting and fishing over the next twenty odd years until he sadly took his own life. Today, the cabin is a testament to how the author would have wanted it: a rustic escape from the hustle and bustle of what is still a very desirable ski town. Accessible by sleigh (or car, if you insist), it’s the perfect place to gaze out onto Bald Mountain. The fire is sure to be crackling closeby as taxidermied birds are caught in mid-flight. However you get here, the food here is worth the trek: cedar-plank wild salmon and Teton Waters Ranch steaks await, along with a rib-sticking root vegetable Shepherd's pie.

With a James Beard Award-nominated flagship location in Miami, this second iteration of Broken Shaker channels the original’s culinary cocktail approach: the Cocoa Puff Old Fashioned is made with bourbon that’s been infused with cereal, for example, and is a super popular pick. While the Miami location has more of a beach-forward vibe, the Chicago spot is apt for Midwestern winters, featuring dark and intimate interiors craveable in the Chicago cold. Aesthetics aside, the food here goes beyond buffalo wings and tortilla chips: both the naan nachos and chilled soba noodles with peanut sauce are highly recommended.

Built in the 1880s, the log cabin structure that is now the Meridian still features some of its original woodwork. The dining atrium is large and airy, but still manages to clinch that cozy feeling with a rich woodwork interior and chandeliers. There are white tablecloths, but it’s not stuffy; just refined to the right level. To dine on, there are silky smoked corn soups with bacon, bien sur; prickly pear risotto with walnuts; charcuterie boards with housemade terrines, and foie gras with honey oat granola. Like much of the natural world, we believe fall is a time to fatten up for the impending winter, and we welcome the opportunity to do it here.

At first, Flatted Fifth might seem like a jumble of contradictions: New Orleans-style jazz and southern BBQ at a historically midwestern grist mill (that’s 170 years old). But it works. Order the burnt ends, a mainstay of Kansas City barbecue featuring flavorful morsels of brisket. They come over a bed of fries, which soak up the gravy in just the right way if you demolish them quickly enough. There’s also traditional cuts of brisket and prime rib; save room for the plates of bread pudding as big as your face. If you can’t roll yourself home—and we wouldn’t blame you—a room for the night is just up the stairs at the adjoining inn.

Built in the early 1920s, this Tudor style mansion was once one of the most expensive in Topeka. It features imported timbers and stones from England; there’s also collection of surrounding guesthouses you can stay at, each compellingly decorated. Unlike almost all of the other places on this list, the restaurant at the Woodward Inn is open only to its overnight guests. Although we prioritize traditional restaurants on this roundup, The Woodward fits the cozy criteria so well that we are including it here. The larger living room conjures up feelings of being in an English hunting lodge, while the dark wood paneled dining room is more intimately inviting. Because it’s not a traditional standalone restaurant, there isn’t a set menu per se; but everything from the sugar cookies with lemon cream frosting to the more formal sit down dinners get rave reviews.

Let’s be clear: Kentucky is so much more than bourbon, but bourbon is still Kentucky. To that end, the tasting room at Barrel House Distillery is a great way to experience it. The microdistillery crafts small batch whiskey, vodka, and rum. Settle down with a glass of whiskey, neat. Sit in front of the fireplace, or on a chair repurposed from old barrels. If you’re not a fan of straight liquor, no need for embarrassment here: their craft cocktails are solid, and you can’t really go wrong with their Big Ass Mule (their words, not ours).

You might have seen the Columns Hotel in 12 Years a Slave, but its claim to fame goes beyond Hollywood. It was built in 1883 by renowned architect Thomas Sully, who shaped much of the design feel of New Orleans. Set apart from the chaos of the French Quarter, it was originally commissioned to be a private residence. Today, what once was the family dining room is now the Victorian Lounge bar. It beckons with twelve foot mahogany doors and fifteen foot paneled ceilings; it’s the perfect place to sip your mint julep in classic Southern style.

The Squire Tarbox Inn is ready and willing to fulfill all your Maine fantasies: nestled in the woods in the tiny town of Wiscasset, just forty five minutes from Portland, it’s as much of a getaway as they come. There are barns with chickens and goats on the property; nearby, a saltwater marsh offers itself up to rowboats. The restaurant doesn’t disappoint; tuck into farm fresh eggs in the morning, or enjoy a pizza from the outdoor forno at night. At the time of this writing, the inn is for sale from the owners who have owned it going on sixteen years. We hope that it goes to good hands to continue the tradition.

Cited by many as one of the most romantic restaurants in Baltimore, the patio room at the Ambassador Dining Room is where it’s at. Cozy up to one of two fireplaces by the big garage door windows, and get comfy; the chairs have thick fat cushions that we wish all dining room seating emulated. Grab a loaded plate from the weeklong midday buffet and cancel plans for the rest of the day: dhal makhani and fish tikka are calling your name. Dinner is à la carte, and just as cozy.

We have a pet peeve at bars and restaurants: super hard-backed seating. We can never quite get comfy on bar stools or chairs without cushions; we’re always shifting around. To that end, we dream of a place filled with overstuffed chairs and couches, the kind you can get lost in while you’re sipping your old fashioned. Wink & Nod is that dream come true. In the wood paneled den, there are plaid den reading chairs in which you can do just that. A speakeasy vibe permeates the place, although it’s not a hidden entrance bar; the cocktails follow suit, being heavy on the gin, whiskey, and rum. As far as bar bites go, Wink & Nod actually partners with a different chef every six months, so the menu rotates between substantially different concepts. Currently on offer are Basque-inspired plates of salt cod with potato and garlic, and pinxtos of olives and pickles to snack.

A stone’s throw from Yellowstone’s western entrance, Bar N Ranch is one of the better places to eat at if you’re near the park. The inn’s restaurant serves foie gras with huckleberries, elk tenderloin, and pork chops: they’re just what you’re craving after a day romping around Yellowstone’s plains and geysers. Vegetarians, for you, there are mushroom gratins and veggie burgers. Cozy up to entire taxidermied deer and elk in the main dining room.

On wintry days, cozy up near the fire at this cabin-esque restaurant, complete with antler chandeliers and mounted deer and moose heads. The fare is just as rustic as the aesthetic, featuring generous portions of fried chicken and mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese with sharp cheddar and pulled pork. Although Camp Ticonderoga is owned by a restaurant group with other similar concepts in the Detroit area, this place has a unique history. In the mid-1800’s, the building was a family home, and today is rumored to be haunted by a gentleman named Charles Blount who grew up there. Whether this is true or not, you’ll just have to see for yourself.

Built in 1889, the building currently housing WA Frost and Co. is on the National Register of Historic Places. It features original tin ceilings and a stained glass window that’s a copy of a Tiffany design. The back bar and marble tables were both salvaged from buildings in Superior, Wisconsin. Their lounge area is probably our favorite, however: filled with overstuffed wicker chairs amidst a natural stone wall interior. Best of all, it’s not just for cocktails; you can get the full menu down there. There are plates of roasted mushrooms with Fresno chile and coddled duck egg; seared scallops with brown butter and sage; and burrata in a compelling vanilla vinaigrette which is calling our name.

Some say King’s Tavern dates back to 1789; others, 1769. Regardless, almost everyone agrees that it’s the oldest building in Natchez. It was originally settled as a British fort, and then, over the next two hundred-odd years, it operated as an inn and a private home. It became a restaurant and tavern in 1973, closest to its current iteration, and has remained that way since. Some say it’s haunted; we believe it. Still, despite over two centuries of compelling history, the food and drink don’t take a backseat to their settings. Get the woodfired brisket-topped flatbread, which is closer to a pizza in its substantialness. It’s drizzled with horseradish cream. There are also woodfired crawfish pot pies and traditional pizzas, with fresh mozzarella and basil, or brussel sprouts and bacon.

Inside the Cheshire Hotel, Fox & Hounds is a tiny tavern that’s an ode to its titular British hunting ethos. There are overstuffed red plaid chairs, a crackling fire, a robust list of Irish and Scottish whiskeys, and yes, fish and chips. The chicken wings doused in a hot sauce of Newcastle Brown Ale aren’t bad, but the lamb sliders on brioche buns are the go-to. Even though hotel bars sometimes dismissed as being choices of convenience, make no mistake, Fox & Hounds is a destination by itself.

Inspired by the monasteries sprinkled throughout California, restaurateur Loren Koch aspired to create a theme restaurant that compiled the best of the best. There’s Gregorian chant that plays through loud speakers as you walk up to the restaurant; servers wear monastic-inspired robes. Underneath dim lighting, there are plush booths cozied up to bookshelves; there are also wine barrels decorating the walls. One might be tempted dismiss Brother Sebastian’s as derivative or kitsch; but it’s been around for four decades, and that’s no easy feat.

Originally the site of an 1830s farmhouse, it was developed approximately a century later to be an inn. In subsequent decades, it became a hot après ski spot for those having spent the day on Cannon Mountain’s slopes. Today, its tavern bar and dining room preserve what is so beloved about New England ethos: a tangible sense of history, a nod to the British influence that was culturally aspirational even as it was politically oppressive. The tavern’s bar is the original 1946 construction; it features mounted antlers that are a nod to founder William Ruxton’s love of hunting culture in England, where he “ran the hounds.” Today, there’s also a garden out back that grows herbs and a small amount of vegetables for the adjoining restaurant; the resulting dill brightens crab cakes and basil makes the perfect garnish for pepper-stuffed portobellos.

Unlike so many of the restaurants on our list which reflect a Wild West or New England aesthetic, The Pink Adobe manages to be cozy in characteristically Santa Fe style. Established in 1944, it sports classic adobe architecture with a New Mexico pops of turquoise and (of course) pink. The best spot in the house might be in front of the molded fireplace on a December day; warm up with the green chile stew, which as been a menu staple for almost 70 years at this point.

Rat’s Restaurant is situated on Grounds for Sculpture, a scenic park that’s probably best described as being inside some of your favorite paintings. There are full color, 3D sculptures of the couple from American Gothic, Manet’s Olympia and several Renoirs; many are larger than life. The whole outdoor museum is situated on verdant grounds with a lily pond inspired by Giverny, where Monet painted. Rat’s Restaurant—in equally fanciful fashion, named for a character in Wind in the Willows—mirrors the Impressionistic color schemes in some of the most recognizable sculptures. In the spring, patio dining feels like being in Giverny; in the wintertime, the best spot to be had is decidedly the spread of cushions in front of the fireplace. The menu reflects the French influence that permeates so much of the art: duck breast and thick, cheesy cauldrons of French onion soup make a welcome appearance.