Kindling Community: A Guide to Finding Rochester’s Cozy Fireplaces

When winter arrives in Rochester, it covers everything in a monotonous white blanket and sends forth a whipping wind that seems to whisper, “Stay inside.” But there’s a secret to enjoying these snowy days without having to hide away at home. I’ve curated a list of spots around the city perfect for quiet reading or community engagement next to a comforting fireplace.

From libraries, cafes, and bars to restaurants and hotels, these locales invite you to curl up with a cozy mystery, engage in deep conversations, or enjoy quiet contemplation while gazing into the fireplace’s warm glow. Nourish your interests while you relax with a beverage beside a crackling fire. Before resigning to the solitude of home during the colder months, let me guide you to Rochester’s warmest spots.

What is Hygge?

Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) is a Danish concept that describes a feeling of comfort, contentment, and well-being. It can also refer to a certain aesthetic of neutral tones, serene spaces, and anything associated with the word cozy. Hygge can include: 

• Feelings of security, appreciation, and togetherness with others
• Enjoying the simple things
• Surrounding yourself with things that make life good, like friendship, laughter, and security
• More concrete things like warmth, light, seasonal food, and drink

Meik Wiking, the author of The Little Book of Hygge, created the Hygge Manifesto, which quantifies hygge into ten ideals: Atmosphere, Presence, Pleasure, Equality, Gratitude, Comfort, Togetherness, Harmony, Truce, Shelter.

The Little Book of Hygge: A Cozy Hygge Gift (The Happiness Institute Series)

Please let me know if you know of other spaces I should consider adding to this list. While I have been to some of these spaces, many have been recommended by Day Trips Around Rochester community members on Facebook.

Libraries with Fireplaces

Our local libraries aren’t just buildings full of books; they’re like communal living rooms where the glow of the fire welcomes everyone. With comfy seats and the quiet buzz of friends and neighbors sharing stories, these spaces offer a warm escape from the winter’s frosty grip. Some libraries may also have coffee, tea, and other beverages and snacks available for patrons.

Monroe County Libraries

• Chili Public Library
• Fairport Public Library
• Irondequoit Public Library
• Mendon Public Library
• Penfield Public Library
• Pittsford Community Library
• Rush Public Library

Greater Rochester Libraries

• Avon Free Library Avon
• Caledonia Library Caledonia
• Lancaster Public Library Lancaster
• Livonia Public Library Livonia
• Richmond Memorial Library Batavia
• Seymour Library Auburn
• Skaneateles Library Skaneateles
• Wood Library Canandaigua
• Woodward Memorial Library Leroy

Other Spaces with Fireplaces

Bars & Restaurants

From rustic taverns to upscale dining establishments, Rochester’s bars and restaurants embrace the allure of fireplaces to create inviting spaces for social gatherings or intimate dinners. They offer a warm and inviting atmosphere that encourages patrons to linger, fostering a sense of community while relishing the pleasures of good food and conversation.

City of Rochester

• Bill Gray’s Port of Rochester
• Dragonfly Tavern
• Elmwood Inn
• Heroes Brewing Company
• The Inn on Broadway
• Record Archive
• Rooney’s
• Salena’s
• The Sheffield
• Wegmans, East Ave

Monroe County

• Aurora Brewing Company Bushnell’s Basin
• Bar-Bill East Penfield
• Fireside Grill & Sports Bar Henrietta
• Hedges Webster (closed in winter)
• Knucklehead Brewery Webster
• Mayers Lake Ontario Winery & Cidery Hilton
• McColley’s Spencerport
• Mendon 64 Mendon
• Monroe’s Pittsford
• Mulconry’s Irish Pub Fairport
• Next Door by Wegmans Pittsford
• Olives Pittsford
• Panera Bread Multiple Locations
• Preservation Beer Company Fairport
• Richardson’s Canal House Bushnell’s Basin
• Simply Crepes Canandaigua, Pittsford, and Webster/Penfield
• TP’s Irish Restaurant Penfield
• Union Tavern Sea Breeze
• Wood Kettle Brewing Hilton

Greater Rochester

• Caledonia Village Inn
• The Distillery Restaurant Victor
• Ember Woodfired Grill Livonia
• Flaherty’s Three Flags Inn Multiple Locations
• Nolan’s on Canandaigua Lake Canandaigua
• Okay Beer Co. at West Main Lanes Honeoye Falls
• Tavern on the Ridge (formerly Tillmans Village Inn)
• Warfield’s Restaurant, Lounge & Bakery Clifton Springs

Cafes

Enjoy a latte and pastry by the fireplace while reading or playing board games with friends.

• Pure Imagination Cafe Gates
• Union Street Coffee House Spencerport

Ice Skating Rinks

There’s no need to freeze while watching a hockey game! Stay warm by the fire while cheering the action across multiple rinks.

• Tim Horton’s Iceplex MCC, Henrietta

Hotels & Spas

Seeking a luxurious escape from the cold? Rochester’s hotels and spas provide a haven of comfort and relaxation, often adorned with welcoming fireplaces. Places like The Strathallan Hotel or the Woodcliff Hotel & Spa pamper guests with lavish amenities and create an ambiance that encourages unwinding and connecting with others in a serene and cozy setting.

City of Rochester

• Char Steak & Lounge | The Strathallan Rochester Hotel & Spa – a DoubleTree by Hilton
• Lila’s | Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Rochester Downtown

Monroe County

• DoubleTree by Hilton Henrietta
• Residence Inn by Marriott Rochester West/Greece
• Rochester Airport Marriott Greece
• Woodcliff Hotel & Spa Perinton

Greater Rochester

• Inns of Aurora
• Sherwood Inn Skaneateles
• Fireplaces are available in the common areas of ski resorts such as Bristol Mountain, Hunt Hollow, Holiday Valley, and Greek Peak.

Universities

Rochester universities embrace the cozy charm of fireplaces on their campuses, offering students and visitors tranquil spaces to study, collaborate, or unwind. Their libraries and student centers provide warm nooks where academic pursuits merge seamlessly with the comfort of crackling fires, fostering productivity and relaxation.

In Rush Rhees at the University of Rochester, the cozy, quiet Welles-Brown Room is on the left before you enter the main hall. It offers comfortable seating and beautiful paintings around a warm fireplace.

Nazareth University has the Garth Fagan Fireplace Lounge outside The Woods Cafe (there may be two fireplaces in this space) and a fireplace in the O’Connor Complex.

Roberts Wesleyan University offers two fireplaces in the B. Thomas Golisano Library.

More Spaces

Beyond the traditional, Rochester boasts numerous other spaces that feature fireplaces, such as a community center, hospital, mall, and seasonal farm market.

• The Center at Greece Town Hall (membership fee)
• The Dog Eared Book Palmyra
• Eastview Mall, a four-sided fireplace near Von Maur
• Kelly’s Farm Market, during the apple-picking season in September and October
• Monroe Community Hospital
• A community member recommends Letchworth State Park’s Trailside Lodge at the bottom of the snow-tubing hill near the Humphrey Nature Center. No rentals are available, and sleds are prohibited, so bring your own inflatable. Get Directions

I’d love to add to these lists and welcome your suggestions in the comments below.

Where are your favorite libraries and other spaces with fireplaces?

Please support your local libraries by volunteering, teaching, making donations, or simply frequenting them and using their services.

Your insights and experiences are valuable. Please share them in the comments.