Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Introducing Minus5 Ice Bar, A New Place To Get Wasted While Shivering In A Parka
By
John Del Signore
Published Dec 12, 2012
Modified Dec 12, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Getty
By
John Del Signore
Published Dec 12, 2012
Modified Dec 12, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Finally, a frigid basement where you can pay big bucks to pound icy booze and get your photo taken making shivering duck faces with your blue frostbitten lips! This spring, the place to be in midtown is Minus5° Ice Bar, coming to the New York Hilton Hotel. How excited are we? Not as excited as Florence Fabricant at the New York Times, who begins her report by declaring, "Global warming won’t matter once you step into the Minus5° Ice Bar." Man, we can't wait until Spring when everyone can finally stop caring so much about climate change... oh, right.
At Minus5°, which can already be found at two hotels in Las Vegas, all the furniture is made of ice, and even the glasses are made of ice. What's next, street signs INDOORS? Whatever! Wait, it gets better: at some times, in some locations, there is a giant bull carved out of ice. Here are many photos of model Laura Croft riding it. Here is America.
The Paper of Record reports that visitors "are given boots, hats and parkas, some with faux fur. There’s a basic fee (starting at $17 in Las Vegas), and various packages that include one or more drinks, and perks like photographs, for up to $75. Vodka is the specialty, but other libations, including beer, will also be served." If you can't wait until Spring to remind yourself what life was like before winter became extinct, here's our handy guide to other frozen bars around town.
Tagged
bars
drinking
minus5
new restaurant and bar radar
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Oct 19, 2026
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .