Located along a tree-lined street, Waverly Kitchen and Bar channels the ambiance of a historic hotel. With a fire blazing in the marble fireplace and big, open windows, you’ll instantly feel at home at this charming neighborhood restaurant. Come for comforting American and bistro dishes like chicken pot pie, steak frites, and mushroom gnocchi. No meal here is complete with an order of the Parker House rolls.

The brainchild of chef Robert Sisca and restaurateur Chris Himmel, The Banks Seafood and Steak serves elevated coastal New England favorites in an elegant setting. Come for the warm fireplace and cozy room with industrial-chic chandeliers draw you in, stay for the top-notch menu of premium steaks and seafood. Grab one of the cozy booths for an all-out New England feast of East Coast oysters, lobster rolls, and fancy steaks topped with truffle butter or seared foie gras.

Overlooking Public Gardens, Bistro du Midi brings French bistro vibes to Back Bay. Striped blue and white awnings with flower boxes flank the entrance, while yellow chairs and floor-to-ceiling windows add to the cozy ambiance. Expect a menu of knockout French dishes with seasonal New England ingredients like the house bouillabaisse, salmon crudo with chanterelle mushroom, and filet mignon with black truffle bordelaise.

For warm hospitality and soul-satisfying Southern comfort food, head to Hunter’s in South Boston. With taxidermy pheasants, oil paintings of hunting dogs, and vintage license plates covering the wood-paneled walls, the interiors resemble a country hunting lodge. Warm up with a glass of bourbon at the inviting bar, or dig into the country-fried steak smothered in gravy at a table by the fire. Other standout dishes include gumbo and signature biscuits with Vermont honey butter.

Step back to the roaring ‘20s at 1928 Beacon Hill, a speakeasy-style bar filled with antiques, gilded portraits, and leather furniture galore. Grab a seat at an intimate two-top and then settle in for a feast of elevated American fare starring New England seafood—think lobster tortellini and seared scallops with oven-braised leeks and truffle risotto. If you’re drinking, try a glass from the deep wine list or one of the classic cocktails like the vieux carre or French 75.

With Pammy’s, wife-and-husband team Pam and Chris Willis bring charming Italian trattoria vibes to Cambridge. One of Boston’s most beautiful restaurants, the space is a destination for its scene-stealing Greco-Roman decor and hearty Italian American dishes. A cozy, 14-seat communal table lined with flower vases and a gorgeous tiled hearth set the stage for choose-your-own-adventure meals starring dishes like gochujang lumache with bolognese sauce and lobster gnocchi.

Open since 1975, Harvest is an iconic Harvard Square institution known for its farm-to-table fare with a New England twist. The crackling fireplace in the gold-accented dining area and the soft, amber lighting make it one of the best cozy restaurants in Boston. Stay off the chilly air with one of the restaurant’s exquisite housemade pastas or hearty dishes like the boar sausage pinwheel. Ask for a seat on the charming, heated patio.

With velvet chairs, polished tabletops, and moody lighting, Carrie Nation goes all in on speakeasy-era glam. Take a seat at an intimate table for two or bring your crew to dig into elegant, made-sharing New England fare like seafood platters, grilled oysters, and fried shrimp. Main dishes include one of the city’s best burgers and pub favorite fish and chips. Don’t miss the oyster happy hour and standout craft cocktails that make this a Boston date-night favorite.

One of the best cozy restaurants in Boston, Sycamore has been a Newton favorite since it opened in 2012. Come for a compact but stellar menu of Mediterranean-inspired dishes starring local ingredients—think like spiced cauliflower falafel, Moroccan seafood stew, and housemade gnocchi sardi—in a farmhouse chic space with rustic black chairs and exposed brick walls. Don’t miss the drinks menu, which includes grower wine, local craft beers, and stellar cocktails and zero-proof drinks.

The patio’s red brick façade and rattan-style bistro chairs welcome guests to La Voile, a French bistro serving a brasserie menu with Parisian and Méridional dishes. Cozy up in the compact space for a meal of bistro favorites like duck breast, mussels, and escargots bourguignon with garlic and parsley butter. Linger with a glass of wine from the stellar, French-forward list.