Nestled between the Santa Monica Mountains and Malibu Beach, Saddle Peak Lodge feels like an otherworldly beauty. The massive 15,000-square-foot property has a restaurant designed to look like a rustic hunting lodge, with a dining room that has a stone fireplace, antlers, and old saloon paintings of nude women. Fitting in with the theme of the restaurant, the menu offers a game trio of rabbit, elk, and bison short rib.

This idyllic hideaway, with its rustic garden set against the backdrop of the Santa Monica Mountains, makes for a storybook romantic dinner date. In the colder season, sidle up next to a fireplace inside Inn of the Seventh Ray and enjoy dishes like creamy truffle risotto, seared scallops with wild mushrooms, and braised short rib with a rosemary-accented polenta. 

Elephante is the kind of hip rooftop restaurant where the cool kids hang out while taking in sweeping views of Santa Monica beach. But it’s also a place to get excellent pasta (from a squid ink gemelli with Dungeness crab to cacio e pepe), pizza, and cocktails. Its indoor restaurant has a comforting fireplace that fits in nicely with its boho-chic decor.

The side bar at Dear Jane’s, a newcomer to Marina Del Rey, has a similar 1960s throwback vibe to its sister restaurant Dear John’s. The dimly lit, cherry wood-walled room has a brick fireplace, plush red velvet seating, and an old-school collection of paintings of women — a nod to the restaurant’s name. It’s a great place to grab classic cocktails like martinis before dinner, then dive into a seafood-focused menu with options like shellfish towers, fancy fish sticks with caviar, and oysters Rockefeller.

A posh afternoon tea experience takes place at Beverly Hills’s Peninsula hotel from Wednesdays through Sundays. Just past the lobby is the aptly named Living Room, with a blazing fireplace, comfy couches, and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook a garden. The fancy three-tiered set comes with finger sandwiches, desserts, tea, and a glass of bubbly. 

Firefly is the epitome of warm and cozy, with its dim candlelit lighting, vine-covered walls, cabana-like dining tables, and a roaring fireplace centered in the space. The Studio City restaurant that’s perfect for a romantic date offers charcuterie boards, crudos, and bone-in pork chops, and an impressive after-dinner menu with desserts, amari, and ports. 

A.O.C. has two fireplaces on its property, one indoors and another on the patio. Helmed by the James Beard Award-winning team of Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne, the iconic restaurant has become a staple for cocktails, brunch, and dinner, with dishes like spiced fish tagine and hanger steak with a nicoise olive butter. 

Earlier this month, the Den, a 13-year-old mainstay on the Sunset Strip, debuted its complete makeover to fit in with the neighborhood’s swanky vibes. Its stunning outdoor patio has a free-standing fireplace under twinkling strung-up lights and is adorned with artfully placed tiles. The Den’s new chef Ronnie de Leon brings in more upscale dishes like charred octopus with romesco, salmon crudo with caviar, and a seared Niman Ranch flat iron steak. Batched cocktails are made daily with fresh juices, and are a perfect accompaniment to the space’s weekend DJ dance nights. 

Last year, the Superfood Food + Bread chain took over the space that previously housed the original Cat & Fiddle in Hollywood, and it has since transformed the sprawling 6,500-square-foot property into a comfy all-day restaurant. One of its coziest tables is flanked by plush couches next to a relaxing fireplace. It’s a place where folks can get brunch and fresh-baked pastries, as well as dinner fare like grilled pork chops, roasted chicken, and wine and beer.

The High Low debuted earlier this year with a 1970s design in mind. The cozy bar is home to a roaring fireplace; it’s centered in a den that’s surrounded by leather banquettes and plush velvety chairs. The Tex-Mex menu includes dishes like puffy tacos and nachos, while there’s also an unfussy cocktail menu focused on fresh juices and local beers on tap. It’s a full choose-your-own-adventure experience with a pool table, a room for karaoke and movie nights, and a lounge area for live music.

This century-old Scottish steakhouse has long been an institution in Atwater Village, whipping up dishes like Scotch rarebit, prime rib, and chicken pot pie. Its inviting atmosphere hearkens back to old-world tavern life, complete with painted portraits, rows of flags, and a few roaring fireplaces. To get even cozier, sip some glasses of whiskey and scotch from the restaurant’s robust collection.

It’s been a decade since owner Steve Massis opened the Attic, and it’s become a Long Beach favorite for brunch and dinner. Inside a 1920’s Craftsman-style home, the restaurant’s homey atmosphere is accentuated by its crackling fireplace. Whimsical dishes like a Hot Cheetos mac and cheese may have put the restaurant on the map, but it’s also a lovely spot for short rib poutine, gumbo, and chicken and waffles.

Dining at the Raymond is a transportive experience. The cozy restaurant with a down-home fireplace is situated inside a historic Craftsman-style home, and it was once part of the Raymond Hotel that ushered in celebrity guests like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. It’s known for its stellar cocktail program, and comfort dishes like short rib with mashed potatoes and roasted chicken breast with herbed polenta.