Gioia Cafe and Bar

Gioia's rooftop bar closes each winter and reopens as a heated, fully enclosed holiday-themed pop-up separate from the restaurant's regular menu downstairs. The space is decked out with holiday lights and decorations through the season, serving its own seasonal drink and food menu apart from the main dining room. The bar's own site says the rooftop transforms for the holidays every year. Order a seasonal cocktail built around classic wintry flavors, such as peppermint or spiced rum, alongside a shareable plate from the pop-up's own kitchen.

Picks from CT Bites and New Haven Arts Paper

Modern unfussy Italian. Wood-fired vegetables, daily-made fresh pastas, plus rotisserie chicken with crispy potatoes, grilled lemon, and salsa verde. Aperitivi upstairs.

Picks from CTbites and Connecticut Magazine