Heated igloos still a cozy way to eat, drink and enjoy the outdoors at local restaurants

Kerry Clawson, Akron Beacon Journal
·5 min read

The weather's been on the balmy side lately. But whether it's snowy or not, several Akron-area restaurants continue to offer the option of eating or drinking in an outdoor igloo.

Dining igloos started popping up in Northeast Ohio more than two years ago during the first winter of the pandemic, out of necessity, for those who still wanted to dine out in a small social bubble. But the unique experience, which offers a great opportunity for a small get-together with a cozy and private vibe, is a trend that is continuing for a third winter.

Here's a sampling of local igloo dining options.

Nauti Vine Winery in Green

Nauti Vine Winery's heated wine bubble, an outside igloo under a pergola that overlooks the water on Thursday.
Nauti Vine Winery's heated wine bubble, an outside igloo under a pergola that overlooks the water on Thursday.

At Nauti Vine Winery in Green, bubbles aren't just about sparkling wine. Folks who want to sip wine outside with a great view of Miller Lake can do so from a wine bubble under a picturesque pergola. That's the name the Portage Lakes winery has given its one igloo offering, after starting off two years ago with four wine bubbles on its patio.

"It's catchy," owner Erica Wathey said of the wine bubble name.

The pergola wine bubble, which has wisteria vines above and situated on the far left corner of the property, is perched on a hill overlooking the lake. Wathey considers it the best view on the property at 3950 S. Main St.

"It's pretty neat. It's just something different. Especially when it's snowing, it's warm and cozy out there" with propane heaters, she said.

The wine bubble is also the only spot at the winery that offers full table service. Guests just need to press a button on a battery-operated flashing light they're given so staff will know they need more food or drink.

Winery goers can use a flashing light for service at Nauti Vine's wine bubble outside under a pergola in Green.
Winery goers can use a flashing light for service at Nauti Vine's wine bubble outside under a pergola in Green.

To reserve the wine bubble, see Nauti Vine's Eventbrite page at winebubble.eventbrite.com. Rentals are from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 3 to 6 p.m. or 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

Wine bubbles can seat up to eight people, with reservations for three hours. Reservations require a nonrefundable $25 down payment, with $20 credited toward the final bill.

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Minimum purchases are $100 on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and $150 on Fridays and Saturdays.

Guests can bring their own food or order from Nauti Vine's menu of artisan flatbread pizzas and appetizers, including meat and cheese plates. Wine bubbles are disinfected between groups.

A party of four enjoy Nauti Vine Winery's heated wine bubble that overlooks Miller Lake in the Portage Lakes Thursday.
A party of four enjoy Nauti Vine Winery's heated wine bubble that overlooks Miller Lake in the Portage Lakes Thursday.

For another view of the lake, the winery also has an vinyl-enclosed, heated deck that seats 50.

Lagos and Smoke on the Water in Portage Lakes

Heated dining igloos are new at both Lagos and Smoke on the Water in the Portage Lakes in Coventry Township.

Lagos, a casual fine dining spot that opened in October upstairs from Pick's at Portage Lakes, offers two igloos in front of the restaurant at 5 or 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It is located at 530 Portage Lakes Drive.

Lagos at Portage Lakes has a pair of igloos for diners in front of the restaurant.
Lagos at Portage Lakes has a pair of igloos for diners in front of the restaurant.

Both Lagos and Smoke on the Water next door, which opened in July, are owned by Donnie Boyer II.

The three Smoke on the Water igloos are on the restaurant's back deck, with a view of West Reservoir. They were just put up about two weeks ago at 562 Portage Lakes Drive.

Smoke on the Water's lakefront igloos have a view of the West Resevoir.
Smoke on the Water's lakefront igloos have a view of the West Resevoir.

Folks can reserve waterfront igloos outside this barbecue, bourbon and beer joint at 5 or 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 12, 5 or 7:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Call 234-571-0031 to book Smoke on the Water igloos, which have no spending minimum.

The igloos at both restaurants, which seat up to six for a two-hour rental, offer comfortable seating and complimentary blankets. Reservations cost $50, which is nonrefundable.

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To book a Lagos igloo, call 330-794-5340 or see OpenTable at https://www.opentable.com/r/lagos-at-portage-lakes-akron. When booking, reserve for a party of one, which equals a reservation for one igloo for up to six people.

The spending minimum at the Lagos igloos is $100 Monday through Thursday or $200 Friday-Saturday.

Smoke on the Water's lakefront igloos have a view of the West Reservoir.
Smoke on the Water's lakefront igloos have a view of the West Reservoir.

Darby's on Fifty-Nine in Cuyahoga Falls

At Darby's on Fifty-Nine, you can enjoy the warmth of a heated igloo while sipping on a wintry Moscow mule and noshing on gastropub fare that include new appetizers such as jojos with Darby's IPA beer cheese and big pretzel dippers served served with beer cheese and chive sour cream.

Guests can reserve one of four igloos to eat outside on Darby's back patio at 2764 Front St. in Cuyahoga Falls. There's no charge for reservations, which begin daily at 4:30 p.m. for two-hour time blocks.

Dorie Beltram, left, and Linda Olds converse as they wait for other friends to arrive for a Christmas gathering inside one of the three outdoor igloos at Darby's on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021 in Cuyahoga Falls.
Dorie Beltram, left, and Linda Olds converse as they wait for other friends to arrive for a Christmas gathering inside one of the three outdoor igloos at Darby's on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021 in Cuyahoga Falls.

There is a $100 minimum tab per igloo, which can seat up to six people. The restaurant reserves four igloos at a time and keeps another open for overflow needs.

Guests also can reserve an enclosed high-top table on the patio that seats six to eight people.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call 330-922-7540 for reservations. For more information, see www.darbyson59.com.

Blue Heron Brewpub in Montville Township

Blue Heron Brewpub invites guests to get cozy in one of its eight heated patio igloos, which offer full-service dining for up to eight guests. These igloos, which offer a woodsy view at the site of a former golf course, can be reserved for two hours.

The igloos, each of which have two heaters inside, will be available through March at 3227 Blue Heron Trace, Montville Township.

The igloos feature lounge-style seating with couches, chairs, end tables and a coffee table. They can be rented between 4 and 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 4 and 9 p.m. Friday, noon and 9 p.m. Saturday or between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday.

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Rentals cost $25 Sunday through Thursday or $50 Fridays and Saturdays. Food and beverage minimums are $100 Sunday through Thursday and $150 Friday and Saturday.

No refunds are offered for cancellations and dates can not be rescheduled. Igloos are sanitized with a fog bomb in between groups.

To reserve, see blueheronmedina.com/brewpub or call 330-870-2583.

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Where and how to reserve heated igloo dining spots in Akron area