Rare Bird Coffee
Grab a liquid gingerbread treat at this Falls Church City coffee roaster. Rare Bird’s spicy Gingerbread Latte has two shots of espresso, steamed milk and house-made gingerbread syrup. The coffee shop is open for takeout and curbside pick-up daily, but closes early—2 p.m. on weekdays and 2:30 p.m. on weekends. // 230 W. Broad St., Falls Church
Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery
Bayou Bakery owner and New Orleans native David Guas is serving a warm coffee cocktail to celebrate his hometown’s Irish Channel neighborhood. The Irish Channel Au Lait is made with Counter Culture coffee, Irish Cream liqueur and topped with whipped cream and cinnamon. Grab some piping hot beignets and sit out on the patio, or take your taste of NOLA to go. // 1515 N. Courthouse Road, Arlington (Courthouse)
Falls Church Distillers
The Little City distillery has five hot drinks on its “Steamy Spirits” menu this winter. All are available for imbibing on the patio, or can be ordered to go (in 12-oz. single serving portions or in Mason jars with enough for four). The Caramel Apple Cider, made with house-distilled brandy, and the Peppermint Snuggler—hot chocolate, peppermint and Frozen Falls Pepper Vodka—are the two top sellers. For guests who want to stay and enjoy live music on the weekends, the parking lot patio has several heaters, tents and fire pit seating. // 442 S. Washington St. A, Falls Church
Busboys and Poets
You probably know the song, but do you know the drink? Order a Can’t Tell Me Nothing—warm cider mixed with pumpkin syrup and Rye whiskey—at the restaurant’s Shirlington location. The cocktail can also be served cold, but there are no heaters on the patio, so get it hot if you aim to sit outside and people watch. Alternately, you can get it to go and wander around Shirlington Village, taking advantage of the neighborhood’s new Sip and Stroll program. //4521 S. Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)
Medium Rare
For a decade, Medium Rare has served warm apple cider infused with cloves, spices, lemon zest and cinnamon sticks (which you can spike with Woodford Reserve bourbon) during the colder months, but the belly-warmer has never been as popular as it is now. There are 60 seats and plenty of heaters available on the eatery’s Virginia Square patio, and the restaurant is also offering plush blankets to those who sit outside. Co-owner Mark Bucher has been donating meals to the elderly, first responders and elementary school children and their families across the D.C.-area since the pandemic began. You can support that effort here, including the restaurant’s donations of holiday meals this December. //3601 Fairfax Drive, Arlington (Virginia Square)