Warm drinks offer comfort at a time when we all could use the beverage equivalent of a hug. Here are 15 spots serving steaming mugs of happiness—some boozy, some not—either to go, or to imbibe outside on heated patios. Cheers!
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Circa Clarendon
Circa is serving alcoholic drinks for take-away, but its large, heated patio also has plenty of room for enjoying warm drinks in the open air. Its signature hot spiked cider is made with Averna Amaro (an herbal, caramelly digestif) and Basil Hayden’s dark rye, warmed with brown sugar, cardamom, cloves and nutmeg, and topped with whipped cream. Pair it with Circa’s pumpkin ravioli or rich braised short rib. // 3010 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
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Sense of Place Café
This small coffee shop off of Arlington Boulevard uses house espresso beans and cinnamon syrup for its Cinnamon Toast Crunch latte. The not-too-sweet coffee drink can be made with almond milk—the cafe doesn’t carry soy milk—and all drinks are being served to go. Grab a house-made blueberry muffin, macaroon or scone and go on a morning walk through nearby Lubber Run Park. No phone or web orders. // 4807 1st St. N., Arlington (Arlington Forest)
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Taco Rock
Mike Cordero’s boisterous taco joint in Rosslyn has added a hot toddy to its winter menu. Baby its Covid Outside is made with Wild Turkey American Honey, fresh lemon and cinnamon. Grab a seat on the patio and pair it with drippy birria tacos, made with braised beef and served with a warm side of beef consommé for dipping. // 1501 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Rosslyn)
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The Lot
The popular Clarendon beer garden is decked out in Christmas finery with holiday trees, a giant snowman, seating in private igloos and dozens of heaters laid out across the outdoor space. Bartenders are serving three warm cocktails to drink on site or take to go from Thursday to Saturday. Try the Fire Cider made with cinnamon whiskey and rum; spiked hot chocolate with your choice of peppermint schnapps, Kahlua, Bailey’s Irish Cream, salted caramel vodka or amaretto; or the Candy Cane Crush hot chocolate with Kahlua, peppermint schnapps and whipped cream. Closer to New Year’s Eve, the same team is aiming to open an indoor-outdoor pop-up winter-themed bar in the former Clarendon Ballroom space down the street. // 3217 10th St. N., Arlington (Clarendon)
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Sloppy Mama’s BBQ
In October, owners Joe and Mandy Neuman introduced an outdoor whiskey garden in the parking lot of their Lee Highway restaurant, where they are now encouraging patrons to bundle up and embrace the Nordic tradition of friluftsliv (which translates as “open air living”), even in sub-zero temperatures. Guests who elect to eat on site are offered free hot cider, to which adults can add a shot of Virginia’s Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye, Irish whiskey or spiced rum for a few extra bucks. // 5731 Lee Highway, Arlington