The Best Winter Outdoor Dining Restaurants in New Jersey
Your Guide To New Jersey's Best Winter Outdoor Dining Restaurants
In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, many New Jersey restaurants have gotten creative and implemented new outdoor structures that will extend their seasonal winter outdoor dining.
Eating outdoors or "dining al fresco" is one of the nicest pleasures a restaurant diner can experience.
Restaurant owners with an outdoor patio or the availability of co-located grounds are in a unique position to take advantage of options to extend outdoor dining during the colder months.
In 2020, research from the National Restaurant Association found half of all full-service restaurants (49%), say they will take actions to adapt to winter outdoor dining, including adding tents, igloos, and three-sided enclosures in combination with a variety of outdoor propane and electric heating systems, outdoor furniture, and outdoor fireplaces.
Never have restaurants embarked in such a quick time frame to adapt to either an immediate threat to their business or trend.
What we are experiencing as we face the upcoming 2020/2021 winter season is a rush to adapt to the current need to expand winter outdoor dining.
Listed below, are some of the most successful New jersey restaurants that have expanded their winter outdoor dining season.
The Best Northern New Jersey Winter Outdoor Dining Restaurants
AC Hotel
Bridgewater, NJ
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The AC Hotel with an Euopean influence has extended their season with winter outdoor dining. They have added two heated igloos next to a fire pit on their outdoor patio, For added warmth, they will provide faux fur blankets. Up to seven guests of the same party can be seated in an igloo between 4–10 pm. The igloos are open for everyone, not just hotel guests. Reservations suggested.
Bridgewater, NJ
Website
The AC Hotel with an Euopean influence has extended their season with winter outdoor dining. They have added two heated igloos next to a fire pit on their outdoor patio, For added warmth, they will provide faux fur blankets. Up to seven guests of the same party can be seated in an igloo between 4–10 pm. The igloos are open for everyone, not just hotel guests. Reservations suggested.
Bloomfield Steakhouse
Bloomfield, NJ
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This steakhouse is setup for winter outdoor dining with 15 heated igloo bubbles with seating for up to 3, and 4 heated greenhouse tents with seating for 4-8. There is no minimum charge or rental fee, The is a $5 propane charge per tent and 20% gratuity for the staff.
Bloomfield, NJ
Website
This steakhouse is setup for winter outdoor dining with 15 heated igloo bubbles with seating for up to 3, and 4 heated greenhouse tents with seating for 4-8. There is no minimum charge or rental fee, The is a $5 propane charge per tent and 20% gratuity for the staff.
Fig and Lily Garden
Morristown, NJ
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This popular restaurant is a safe Covid-19 dining spot for both indoor and outdoor year-round dining. The restaurant features a terraced, secluded, spacious garden patio and in response to the global has extended its outdoor dining season through the winter with the addition of private, propane heated, plastic igloos for groups of up to eight diners. All igloos are sanitized after each guest.
Their year-round outdoor dining setup is as much a draw as their wonderful menu.
Restaurant Review
Morristown, NJ
Website
This popular restaurant is a safe Covid-19 dining spot for both indoor and outdoor year-round dining. The restaurant features a terraced, secluded, spacious garden patio and in response to the global has extended its outdoor dining season through the winter with the addition of private, propane heated, plastic igloos for groups of up to eight diners. All igloos are sanitized after each guest.
Their year-round outdoor dining setup is as much a draw as their wonderful menu.
Restaurant Review
It's Greek To Me
Ridgewood, NJ
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This Greek/Mediterranean restaurant offers winter outdoor dining on their sidewalk with a row of heated plexiglass tents set-up with seating for four diners.
Ridgewood, NJ
Website
This Greek/Mediterranean restaurant offers winter outdoor dining on their sidewalk with a row of heated plexiglass tents set-up with seating for four diners.
Il Tavolo di' Palmisano
Hoboken, NJ
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This Italian restaurant serves authentic Italian dishes prepared with a modern twist, has added heated igloos to their outdoor dining patio. Each igloo is disinfected with an industrial fogger to ensure the safety of guests.
Hoboken, NJ
Website
This Italian restaurant serves authentic Italian dishes prepared with a modern twist, has added heated igloos to their outdoor dining patio. Each igloo is disinfected with an industrial fogger to ensure the safety of guests.
Northern Soul Kitchen & Bar
Hoboken, NJ
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This downtown Hoboken restaurant serves healthy food with winter outdoor dining in their heated, well ventilated, green house style Soul Shacks. Each Soul Shack has its own infrared heating, LED lights, and Bluetooth speakers. Sanitizing is performed between parties
Hoboken, NJ
Website
This downtown Hoboken restaurant serves healthy food with winter outdoor dining in their heated, well ventilated, green house style Soul Shacks. Each Soul Shack has its own infrared heating, LED lights, and Bluetooth speakers. Sanitizing is performed between parties
River and Rail Cantina
Cranford, NJ
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This popular Mexican restaurant specializing in tequilla and margaritas offers winter outdoor fireplace tables with built-in fire pits, and patio heaters. Reservations are needed for 4-8 guests for 90 minute seatings.
Cranford, NJ
Website
This popular Mexican restaurant specializing in tequilla and margaritas offers winter outdoor fireplace tables with built-in fire pits, and patio heaters. Reservations are needed for 4-8 guests for 90 minute seatings.
The Kitchen Step
Jersey City, NJ
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This contemporary American bistro with acclaimed chef Ryan Depersio has opened for winter outdoor dining with 6 fully heated, private greenhouse tents, decorated with attractive hanging lights and soft candle lit tables. Reservations recommended.
Jersey City, NJ
Website
This contemporary American bistro with acclaimed chef Ryan Depersio has opened for winter outdoor dining with 6 fully heated, private greenhouse tents, decorated with attractive hanging lights and soft candle lit tables. Reservations recommended.
The Stirling Hotel
Stirling, NJ
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This very casual, rustic, fun, and energetic place, has an outdoor beer garden with garden igloos that can seat up to eight guests, for 2 hour seatings. They all have heaters and will be aired out and sanitized in between each reservation.
The rental fess are: Tuesday - Thursday $25, and Friday - Sunday $50.
Stirling, NJ
Website
This very casual, rustic, fun, and energetic place, has an outdoor beer garden with garden igloos that can seat up to eight guests, for 2 hour seatings. They all have heaters and will be aired out and sanitized in between each reservation.
The rental fess are: Tuesday - Thursday $25, and Friday - Sunday $50.
Town Bar and Kitchen
Morristown, NJ
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For outdoor winter dining thay have added "The Pods", private heated igloo tents. Each pod has a maximum of six guests with individual heaters, with seatings for 90 minutes. Pods are completely sanitized between each seating and aired out for at least 15 minutes
Morristown, NJ
Website
For outdoor winter dining thay have added "The Pods", private heated igloo tents. Each pod has a maximum of six guests with individual heaters, with seatings for 90 minutes. Pods are completely sanitized between each seating and aired out for at least 15 minutes
The Best Central New Jersey Winter Outdoor Dining Restaurants
The Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten
Asbury Park, NJ
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The Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten is modeled after the biergartens that are popular throughout the Austria and Hungarian regions of Europe. This huge two-story festive venue is set in an old, renovated warehouse that includes an outdoor roof top biergarten. Outdoor dining is open year-round weather permitting, for full-service dining only. Dining will be available in the private, heated igloos for parties of 4-8 people.
Restaurant Review
Asbury Park, NJ
Website
The Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten is modeled after the biergartens that are popular throughout the Austria and Hungarian regions of Europe. This huge two-story festive venue is set in an old, renovated warehouse that includes an outdoor roof top biergarten. Outdoor dining is open year-round weather permitting, for full-service dining only. Dining will be available in the private, heated igloos for parties of 4-8 people.
Restaurant Review
Game Time Bar and Grill
iPlay America
110 Schanck Rd,
Freehold, NJ
Website
Game Time Bar and Grill, located inside iPlay America, is NJ's largest indoor amusement park with a boardwalk on the Jersey Shore theme. Their Game Time Bar is more than a great sports bar to watch a game. Winter outdoor is a real treat. Their outdoor patio is equipped with patio heaters and heated igloos. The igloos are available for 2-hour reservations with 4 to 8 guests. Each party must spend a minimum of $200 on food and beverages.
Restaurant Review
iPlay America
110 Schanck Rd,
Freehold, NJ
Website
Game Time Bar and Grill, located inside iPlay America, is NJ's largest indoor amusement park with a boardwalk on the Jersey Shore theme. Their Game Time Bar is more than a great sports bar to watch a game. Winter outdoor is a real treat. Their outdoor patio is equipped with patio heaters and heated igloos. The igloos are available for 2-hour reservations with 4 to 8 guests. Each party must spend a minimum of $200 on food and beverages.
Restaurant Review
Il-Nido
Marlboro, NJ
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Il Nido is a destination dining experience complete with high end food and stunning ambiance. It's in a romantic, cozy, rustic Italian farmhouse setting, Il Nido has their own version of a winter outdoor enclosures to offer private cozy, well ventilated, three-sided earth tone tents, with ground level propane heaters. Their private tents can accommodate small groups of 4-8 diners.
Restaurant Review
Marlboro, NJ
Website
Il Nido is a destination dining experience complete with high end food and stunning ambiance. It's in a romantic, cozy, rustic Italian farmhouse setting, Il Nido has their own version of a winter outdoor enclosures to offer private cozy, well ventilated, three-sided earth tone tents, with ground level propane heaters. Their private tents can accommodate small groups of 4-8 diners.
Restaurant Review
The Shore House Bar & Grill
Point Pleasant, NJ
Website
This Jersey shore tavern serves a good selection of tavern comfort food. Winter outdoor dining is available in a variety of heated seating options including a large heated tent, fire pits, and private snow globes. Reservations are not required but are encouraged for parties of six or more. Seating is first come, first served for smaller groups.
Point Pleasant, NJ
Website
This Jersey shore tavern serves a good selection of tavern comfort food. Winter outdoor dining is available in a variety of heated seating options including a large heated tent, fire pits, and private snow globes. Reservations are not required but are encouraged for parties of six or more. Seating is first come, first served for smaller groups.
The Best Southern New Jersey Winter Outdoor Dining Restaurants
Congress Hall
Cape May, NJ
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Once known as "The Summer White House," Congress Hall is a year-round seaside resort, a popular destination for vacationers. During the winter months, beginning with the weekend after Thanksgiving until January 2nd, as part of their "Winter Wonderland" Holiday spectacular, there is outdoor dining on the Grand Lawn in twelve heated snow-white igloos, providing private parties of up to eight with intimate, socially-distant, under the glow of our 30-foot Christmas Tree.
Cape May, NJ
Website
Once known as "The Summer White House," Congress Hall is a year-round seaside resort, a popular destination for vacationers. During the winter months, beginning with the weekend after Thanksgiving until January 2nd, as part of their "Winter Wonderland" Holiday spectacular, there is outdoor dining on the Grand Lawn in twelve heated snow-white igloos, providing private parties of up to eight with intimate, socially-distant, under the glow of our 30-foot Christmas Tree.
Josie Kelly's Public House
Somers Point, NJ
Website
This Irish public house has the ambiance, food, and brews of a coastal pub from the west coast of Ireland. For winter outdoor dining they have added a heated SunBubble Village. Each Sun Bubble is equipped with its own heater and can seat 2-8 people. Reservations suggested
Somers Point, NJ
Website
This Irish public house has the ambiance, food, and brews of a coastal pub from the west coast of Ireland. For winter outdoor dining they have added a heated SunBubble Village. Each Sun Bubble is equipped with its own heater and can seat 2-8 people. Reservations suggested
The Deauville Inn
Strathmere, NJ
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Located on the bay side of Corson's Inlet with scenic waterfront and sunset views, the Deauville Inn is casual yet upscale restaurant with 1920s and '30s nostalgia. The outdoor patio with an overhead canopy, and tented walls overlooks the bay. It includes a new 40-foot-long bar where customers will be seated for drinks and meals. A recently installed over head heating system will extend "outdoor style" dining year-round, weather permitting.
Restaurant Review
Strathmere, NJ
Website
Located on the bay side of Corson's Inlet with scenic waterfront and sunset views, the Deauville Inn is casual yet upscale restaurant with 1920s and '30s nostalgia. The outdoor patio with an overhead canopy, and tented walls overlooks the bay. It includes a new 40-foot-long bar where customers will be seated for drinks and meals. A recently installed over head heating system will extend "outdoor style" dining year-round, weather permitting.
Restaurant Review
Exit Zero Filling Station
Cape May, NJ
Website
A fun place to come for a well-executed casual style menu with bar service. Open year round with winter outdoor dining in seven tents that can hold up to 5-6 people. The tents are heated and decorated with cool ski props and are disinfected and sprayed between seatings. For a special treat, book the heated 1956 Airstream Bubble. Enjoy hit 50's and 60's music from a record player with vinyl records, while you privately dine.
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Cape May, NJ
Website
A fun place to come for a well-executed casual style menu with bar service. Open year round with winter outdoor dining in seven tents that can hold up to 5-6 people. The tents are heated and decorated with cool ski props and are disinfected and sprayed between seatings. For a special treat, book the heated 1956 Airstream Bubble. Enjoy hit 50's and 60's music from a record player with vinyl records, while you privately dine.
Read Review
