Stockholm Absolut Ice Bar: Everything on the Rocks

When I walk into a bar, my usual prepositional phrase is “I’ll have a whisky on the rocks.” The Stockholm Absolut Ice Bar, on the other hand, was my first experience with EVERYTHING on the rocks, including seating. I rarely drink scotch without ice, but on this particular day, I was planning to do just that. I thought to myself, “What an irony” as I entered Nordic C Hotel, the establishment that houses Stockholm’s only Ice Bar. This one-of-a-kind Bar is a fantastic place to unwind for a night of icy adventures. Something you should not miss while visiting Stockholm, Sweden’s capital.

This prevalent Swedish Ice Bar, near Stockholm’s central railway station, requires reservations. It’s nearly impossible to get a last-minute admission because everyone wants to hang out here. So I made a reservation and was given a time slot in the early evening. However, out of curiosity, I arrived a little early. I started by exploring the grand lobby of the Nordic C Hotel, which leads to this fantastic pub.

I was soon in the waiting lounge of the Absolut Ice Bar, which was distinguished by the opulence of signature candle stands and a stuffed reindeer. It was eerily still and appeared real.

Despite taking a few pictures with it, I couldn’t tell if it was a toy reindeer that looked unbelievably real. I wandered around their small shopping store and bought some interesting souvenirs while I waited for the staff to let me in. T-shirts, reindeer skin, sheepskin, caps, mugs, and other interesting items are available to take home. It wasn’t long before it was time to enter the ice realm. You can only stay inside for 60 minutes at the ideal temperature, which is why the management assigns you a schedule.

I was given a formal induction before being allowed inside and was formally introduced to the Absolut Ice Bar. After that, they offered me a coat to wear over my regular clothes, as well as gloves and boots. Absolut Ice Bar provides a thermal waistcoat with a hoodie, gloves, rubber boots, and a complimentary drink for SEK 205 (€20 or INR 1600). I strongly advise you to wear something that covers your entire body as your regular outfit. Because it’s extremely cold inside!

A staff member escorted me through a large, heavy metallic door that separates the icy arcade from the non-icy zone after I wore my coat and gloves. You’ve progressed past this point and are now immersed in a world of unconventional ice crafts. Absolut Ice Bar, made from the purest ice ploughed from the land of Jukkasjärvi, takes you on an unexpected tour of Lapland in under an hour. Wherever you look in the Absolut Ice Bar, you’ll find timeless art, whether it’s on the ceilings, walls, seating, drinking containers, or the salvers in which they serve food. Each one is made from ice collected near the Arctic Circle.

Every year, nearly 6000 tonnes of ice are collected to renovate the interiors of this Swedish Ice Bar. I remember touching everything, from the tables to the walls. Initially, I thought that 23 degrees Fahrenheit would freeze my brain, but it instead ignited my heart. When I went to the bar to get my complimentary drink, the thrill multiplied threefold. Since the Swedish vodka distiller purchased the bar’s naming rights, the menu has prominently featured alcoholic beverages containing Absolut.

I had an Absolut Berry Crush, which was delicious. Refilling your ice glass is less expensive than ordering a new drink. When you’ve finished drinking, smash your glass against the barmaid’s plunk, as the Laplands do. Do you have any idea who else here shatter their glasses? Pierce Brosnan and Stellan Skarsgård! Many celebrities are known to frequent Stockholm’s Ice Bar, which frequently makes the front pages of the world’s leading newspapers and magazines.

Despite its popularity, the Stockholm Ice Bar can only accommodate 30 people at a time. This is because too much body heat can damage the ice blocks, causing them to change shape and orientation. It’s best if only thirty people enter the bar during the one-hour time slot to maintain the perfect cooling of -5° centigrade. Polite staff, hot and steamy food, delectable cocktails, and impeccable designs made for an excellent experience.

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