Where to drink by the fire in St. Louis

With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, a low-key weekend is in order. And what better way to relax than by sipping spirits near the fire? There are plenty of restaurants around town with beautiful fireplaces, but there’s something magical about imbibing in the cold while sitting around a roaring fire. This weekend, grab your winter hat, order your favorite drink and head outside. It’s time to get cozy.

The Scottish Arms – If The Scottish Arms' fire pit on the back patio doesn’t sufficiently warm you, the 100+ selection of whiskeys surely will.

The Royale – What's better than drinking by a fire? Eating s'mores. At The Royale, make-your-own s'mores kits are available for purchase. Bonus: Come on Sunday night after 9 p.m. for Cocktail Museum where bartender Robert Griffin features his own curated menu of classic cocktails.

Molly’s in Soulard – Order one of Molly’s spiked coffee drinks like Fat City Finish or Caffe Rue Royal, and grab a seat by the fire on the huge outdoor patio.

Diablitos Cantina – If the fire isn’t blazing when you arrive, just ask, and a bartender will get the flames going in no time. Not smoky enough for you? Add some mezcal to the equation with one of Diablitos’ new mezcal cocktails, such as Poison, featuring mezcal, muddled jalapeño, lime and cinnamon sugar.

EdgeWild Restaurant & Winery – Are you a bit of a cold-weather weenie? In EdgeWild’s glassed-in fire room, you can recreate the feeling of being in the great outdoors, minus the work. Order another glass of wine, shed your layers and stay awhile.

Taha’a Twisted Tiki – While this newcomer won’t be open this weekend, Taha'a Twisted Tiki in The Grove plans to open its doors on Monday, Dec. 30. Imagining yourself somewhere warm is much easier when you're sipping a flaming Volcano Bowl next to a fire pit adorned with tiki torches.