Turn a cocktail hour with friends into a cool caper inside an ice carved kingdom.
This is, admittedly, unusual advice to receive upon entering a bar. But when the glasses are made of solid ice, it is advice that’s wisely heeded.
Frost Ice Bar is one of Boston’s newest—and undoubtedly coolest—establishments.
In fact, it’s downright frigid. Opened in August 2013 at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Frost says it’s the largest permanent indoor ice bar in the world.
For folks on the North Shore, intricately carved ice is nothing new; ice sculptures are staples of First Night events from Newburyport to Boston, and Lawrence is home to the renowned ice art company, Brilliant Ice Sculpture. But ice bars take ice art to another level, where everything—from the cups, to the walls and furniture, and even to the bar itself—is made out of glittering solid ice.
Ice bars originated in Sweden in the mid-1990s, and in the years since,popularity has surged through Europe, Russia, and now, North America. Although temporary, outdoor ice bars have popped up at places like Maine’s Portland Harbor Hotel. Frost Ice Bar is New England’s first permanent one, says general manager Grier Colella. And it’s an experience that you’ll find nowhere else in New England.
“It’s a magical, beautiful attraction that you can go into and just do something that’s completely unique,” Colella says.
Walking into Frost Ice Bar is, indeed, like venturing to another world. A cool, bluish glow emanates from every icy surface, thanks to blue lights embedded within the ice sculptures themselves. A huge chandelier made of strung-together crystal-like ice cubes hangs from the ceiling. Visitors huddle together as they sit on faux-fur–padded ice booths and ice couches. Bartenders pour cocktails, like the ginger-infused 1912, into solid-ice glasses that keep the drinks crisply cold and pleasantly thickened, too. The décor gives nice nods to Boston culture with images of JFK and the city skyline adorning the walls, baseballs frozen into the middle of an ice sculpture, and even the words “Boston Strong” carved in block letters right by the door. And lest you freeze in the 21degrees Fahrenheit space,bFrost Ice Bar outfits all of its patrons with gloves and purple knee-length, insulated capes that are so large and voluminous that a Frost employee actually puts it over your head for you before you walk inside the frigid bar.
Although 21 degrees is certainly cold, “it’s a totally different cold than it is outside,” Colella says. Unlike a North Shore morning in January, there’s no wind chill or moisture in the air at Frost Ice Bar. For that reason, Frost’s brand of indoor cold is easier to take than a blustery day in the elements (sipping cocktails helps in that regard, too). Still, Frost isn’t the kind of place where people hang out for the whole night. Instead, it’s more of a novelty attraction that’s tailor-made for photo-ops and fun. In fact, Colella says the average visit is about 45 minutes long. And since it’s located right in the heart of Boston’s tourist epicenter, Frost is a great place to start the evening before heading somewhere else, such as out for dinner in the North End or to see a show in the Theatre District.
Ice Weekends Away
Boston isn’t the only place in the Northeast to experience the strange chill of an ice bar. New York City punctuated its steamy summer with the July 2013 opening of Minus5° Ice Bar at the New York Hilton Midtown. Minus5°’s New York location marks the first East Coast branch for the ice bar chain, which also has locations in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino. Another Minus5° is slated to open at the Pointe Orlando in Florida.
Ice bars are fun attractions that people are always eager to check off their bucket lists, says Minus5°spokesperson Ken Langdon.
 |
Minus 5’s ambient lounge
“It really is unlike anything else. It’s like visiting the largest ball of yarn,” he says. “Most of our customers use it as an attraction. It’s really an entertainment experience.”
But Minus5°has little in common with kitschy attractions like the largest ball of twine.
“It looks like a winter wonderland. Minus5° celebrates the art of ice,” Langdon says. “You really get taken away into a different place. It’s really truly like escaping reality.”
In addition to the general admission option, which includes entry to the bar and the use of a parka and gloves, Minus5° also has a “VIP” admission package, which includes gloves and a white fauxfur coat to borrow, a cocktail, souvenir photo, and a white faux-fur Russian-style keepsake hat.
Minus5°’s location in the lobby of the New York Hilton Midtown makes it a convenient spot to anchor a weekend Manhattan getaway, and since it’s kid-friendly and serves “mocktails,” a weekend trip for the family is doable, too.
Those who want a taste of Sweden’s ice hotel without traveling to Europe can experience it at the Hôtel de Glace, North America’s only ice hotel, which is located in Quebec City, Canada, just a few hours’ drive from the North Shore. This ice hotel, which first opened in 2001, is newly built with a different theme every year, says Hôtel de Glace’s marketing adviser, Marie-Pier Daigle. The hotel is open for the 2014 season from January 5 to March 23, and this year’s theme is “Myths and Legends of the World,” which is reflected in the ice carvings in the hotel suites.
According to Daigle, there are 44 standard rooms and thematic suites, where the ambient temperature is always between 27 and 23 degrees Fahrenheit, no matter the outside temperature. And in case you’re wondering, yes, even the beds are made of ice.
“To get the highest level of comfort, all the Hôtel de Glace’s beds are equipped with a strong base made of ice, a wood bed base, and an isolated mattress,” Daigle says. “When the night comes, a warm sleeping bag, an isolated sheet, and a pillow are delivered to the rooms. The typical stay is one night.”
Since the Hôtel de Glace is located only 10 minutes from Quebec City, a one-night stay at the ice hotel can simply be the very cold highlight of an otherwise warm weekend away in the Old World European-flavored capital of Quebec. Or, for those who prefer their hotel rooms warmer than 23 degrees, the Hôtel de Glace also offers the option to simply visit, tour, or have a cocktail at its ice bar.
Cold Hearted
When it comes to the laws of attraction, ice bars might be the ultimate equalizers. It’s sort of impossible to look sexy while clad in a billowing, insulated cape; the hooded, caped visitors waiting for drinks at the bar look totally indistinguishable from each other from behind. And needless to say, skimpy outfits are inadvisable. But that’s not to say ice bars don’t see their share of romance. The extreme cold naturally lends itself to snuggling; Colella says she’s seen people “have a nice little cuddle” while all wrapped up in their capes and huddled into some of Frost Ice Bar’s cozy little nooks. For instance, one of the most romantic spots inside Frost is undoubtedly its huge icecarved replica of one of Boston Public Garden’s swan boats, which comes complete with a seat for cuddling.
At Minus5°’s Manhattan location, visitors can reserve a VIP chamber, which Langdon says has lavish little touches such as an ice chandelier and fleur-de-lis embellishments.
“It can be very romantic,” Langdon says. “You feel like you’re tucked away inside an old Manhattan apartment.”
Minus5° also kicks lavish romance up a degree with The Monica (named for an oft-engaged Minus5° bartender), a very special cocktail that costs $10,000 and has been ordered just once at one of Minus5°’s Las Vegas locations, Langdon says. Why the hefty price tag? Because the Jewel of Russia Ultra Vodka martini comes with a diamond engagement ring from Aaron Lelah Jewelers embedded in either an ice cube or the ice glass. Langdon says Minus5° can accommodate requests for The Monica with just 48 hours’ notice.
“We can make anything available anywhere,” he says.
For those who want to take a “white wedding” to another level, Quebec City’s ice hotel, Hôtel de Glace, is happy to accommodate. According to Daigle, the hotel hosts about 20 weddings per season. Couples can get married in the hotel’s stunning ice chapel, and several wedding packages are available.
“When there is a wedding, there is always a big crowd around the chapel,” Daigle says. “This a very romantic place to get married: This is a magic destination, with a fairy-like atmosphere.”
Plan Your Trip
Frost Ice Bar
Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston
617-307-7331
Driving time from the North Shore:
Less than 1 hour
Minus5° Ice Bar
New York Hilton Midtown
1335 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY, 212-757-4610
Driving time from the North Shore:
Approximately 4.5 hours
Hôtel de Glace
9530, rue de la Faune
Québec (Québec) G1G 5H9, Canada
877-505-0423
Driving time from the North Shore:
Approximately 6.5 hours