Salla VartiainenToday, when I was on my way home from work, I decided to stop and have a drink at the Ice Bar. I sometimes do this – go somewhere after work alone, just to sit down and reflect on things, before going home.
The weather in Stockholm was a sunny 20 degrees celsius on this beautiful september day, and most people were cramming up around the tables in the few restaurants that still have tables outside. I had just left a networking event and needed some peace and quiet, when I just happened to walk by the Ice Bar. “Why not?” I thought to my self. “It’s probably less crowded than the outdoor restaurants..”
The Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi
You might have heard of the famous Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi. A magical hotel made of ice, filled with ice-art by various artists.
The Ice bar in Stockholm is like a child of the Ice Hotel, a small autonomous unit but with the same cold atmosphere.
It´s quite surreal to be in a room made of ice. It´s like visiting Narnia!
Admission and good to know
The bar is located inside a regular hotel and people are still hard at work, staring intensely at their laptops, when I walk across the lobby.
There are two types of entrance fees. The first type comes with a drink containing alcohol and costs 280 kr (approx. 25-26 euro). And the second type comes with a non-alcoholic drink and costs 255 kr (approx. 23-24 euro).
I went for the non-alcoholic one and after the admission was paid, the staff helped me get dressed into a big, cosy, jacket and a pair of thick gloves.
Fancy
The Ice bar
Dressed like a deep-sea fisherman I step into the cold room and the frost immediately caresses my face. It is like being outside in the middle of the winter!
The seats and tables are made of ice, and so are the thick walls and the lit up ice-sculptures glow alluringly in the dimmed room. Luckily the floor is normal so there is no risk of slipping.
The bar is rebuilt every year and every year it has a new theme. This year’s theme is “Archipelago” and the interior design is made of 40 ton solid ice from the Torne river.
I head to the bar with my ticket. All the drinks on the menu are named after places and islands in the Stockholm archipelago. I go for “Dalarö”, a drink based on ginger beer and lime with some blue curacao.
The drink is served in a glass made of ice and I’m glad I’m wearing the thick gloves!
I walk around with my drink and look at the art. Some sculptures have like an inner layer with a thick clear coat of ice on top. I sip on the Dalarö and look at an icy flamingo, or is it a vulture? How is it connected to the archipelago?
When my drink is finished I notice that the warmth of my mouth has left it’s mark on the icy glass. My head also feels cooler and it’s time to head home.
xoxo/Salla V