As the seasons change and the weather begins to cool, restaurants and bars that have utilized their patios (or built temporary outdoor spaces) for pandemic-friendly dining will have to adapt and implement new ways to offer safe options for their guests to eat and imbibe.
And downtown's The View at Shires' Garden is prepared to transform their rooftop patio for winter.
The restaurant and bar, which offers panoramic views of the city and riverfront 10 stories above the street, is bringing back their rentable igloos this year in addition to a new accommodation option: dining greenhouses.
The dining greenhouses, an idea inspired by a restaurant in Amsterdam that implemented them for social distancing, are enclosed "garden rooms" that seat two to four people.
The restaurant will also have three heated igloos available, which seat six to eight people each. The igloos offer blankets, a bluetooth speaker and board games to share.
And while the structures are sure to keep the cold out, as well as germs from surrounding tables, we would suggest not booking an evening in either with strangers.
Both seating options offer full table service with a designated server and are available by reservation.
The igloos and garden rooms will be available beginning the first week of November until March.
To reserve your seat, fill out a request on the restaurant's website and a representative will discuss the accommodation guidelines and details.
The View at Shires' Garden, 309 Vine St., 10th Floor, Downtown. More info: theviewatshiresgarden.com.
