15 Spectacular Restaurant Fireplaces (Slideshow)

Known just as much for the breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Pier as for its contemporary California coastal cuisine, this beach brasserie provides a beautiful environment in which to enjoy an authentic Santa Monica dining experience. As if the views weren't enough, the restaurant centers around a dazzling fire pit that burns on sparkling crystals.

This ultra-popular Logan Circle joint offers up sizzling, spicy Spanish tapas along with tannic tempranillos and bold garnachas to keep the cheeks of D.C.'s hippest diners aglow. In addition to heat lamps and blankets, the trendy patio also features a massive outdoor fireplace to allow guests to enjoy their meals as they would during a Barcelona summer. Salud!

An ultramodern glass-wall fireplace lights up the sleek, elegant Aspen restaurant, making it the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion, a great accomplishment out on the slopes, or perhaps the last night of a family ski trip. Syzygy serves modern American fare with contemporary European touches.

Enjoy a warm bowl of the restaurant's signature quail gumbo or a hot apple cider toddy in the sitting room of this picturesque Provençal auberge. Chef John Besh's La Provence restaurant features rustic stucco-work, an antique French bar, and a beautiful French country home fireplace that helps create the warm, welcoming atmosphere that this New Orleans establishment is known for.

Located on the 19th floor of the Hyatt at The Bellevue, XIX Nineteen has been very accurately named Philadelphia's highest restaurant, offering sweeping views of the city's skyline. For those looking to grab some oysters and a flute of bubbly at the bar, there is a beautiful antique fireplace with golden flames to help set the mood.

Hunker down with some fish and chips and a two-minute pour of Guinness to listen to live music at The Grafton, a casual and quite snug restaurant located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. Guests are welcomed to the back room and encouraged to sit back and relax in overstuffed, grandpa-style sofas near a stone fireplace.

Boston can be quite the icebox during these long winter months. Thaw out at Deuxave, a comfortable yet chic neighborhood restaurant, located in the trendy and chic Back Bay neighborhood. Relax in the warmth of their gas fireplace, as sommelier Jason Irving chooses the ideal wine to match your mood. Upscale Bostonian chic in style, the interior exudes cultural sophistication, with the perfect fireplace to match.

After a windy walk around Pier 39, this standout seafood restaurant is the perfect place to relax and warm up. The cozy fireplace near the waiting area makes it the perfect environment to do so. So indulge in steaming bowl of what has been called San Francisco's best clam chowder or tear into a whole Dungeness crab while staying toasty warm and dry.

The name says it all. Chef and owner Jim Solomon serves classic New England fare, specializing in seafood dishes, at this cozy establishment. The restaurant's namesake is the main event, with a large stone fireplace placed prominently in the main dining room.

After a long day of hitting the slopes, there's nothing better than warming up with a fireside meal. Luckily, guests at the Viceroy Hotel in Snowmass Village can dine at Eight K, where an extra-long, double-sided, fireplace gives the restaurant a cozy and romantic atmosphere.

This venerable Georgetown restaurant maintains the old-school sense of formality that it always has, although the owners recently loosened up their dress code from jackets required to jackets suggested. A grandiose marble fireplace adds a warm touch to the dining room.

This date-night hot spot serves an array of tapas-style dishes inspired by a host of Mediterranean cuisines, from Spanish to Greek. The romantic vibe is reflected in the décor as well, with a stone, wood-burning fireplace serving as the central focal point of the restaurant.

This Old Town bar and restaurant has an antique air about it, from the timeworn mirrors hanging on the walls to the restored wooden fixtures and exposed beams. On particularly blustery days in the Windy City, Chicagoans escape to Old Town Social to sit by their carved wooden fireplace.

Apart from being regarded as one of the best restaurants in the country, Thomas Keller's East Coast flagship is known for its stunning aesthetic beauty as well. Juxtaposed against the crisp white tablecloths and the outstanding view of Columbus Circle are touches of Per Se's sister restaurant, The French Laundry — the iconic blue door and a cozy fireplace.

Between the breathtaking views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains and the elegant fare created from seasonal ingredients, it's easy to overlook Six Seven's understated décor. However, the restaurant's stunning wood and stone fireplace demands more than a passing glance.