I did, and I give a lot of the credit to NA....it is a shame it is not in more locations or better funded.
But this is about this ice bar...some like it, some are really turned off when they try it
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1335 6th Ave
New York, NY 10019 Midtown West, Theater District
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Cassandra H.
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"My friends and I didn't stay for the shows, but I can speak to the
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- Valerie G.
- New York, NY
- Elite ’13
- 263 friends
- 524 reviews
The only reason anyone should ever come to Minus 5 is for the novelty OR if it's 100+ degrees outside.
I've been to Minus 5 twice, one for each of the reasons mentioned above. My first time was within their first month or so of opening. Arrived around 7pm on a weekday and was treated to a minimal wait. We opted for the general package (no pimpin' fur coat for me!) and went in for 2 drinks before hightailing it out of there with my toes about to freeze off. I almost asked my companion to take off his socks so I could wear them in lieu of my sandals!
The second time I went was on a Friday night around 11:30pm... in like 96 degree weather. This time around the line was obnixously long! We opted for the same general package as before, but this time around was smarter to wear flats! The drinks are ~$15 and pretty weak but novel in that they come in these ice cups that I always try to lick and get my tongue stuck on. This time that I came there was a small group of REALLY rowdy people who actually knocked over and broke an ice sculpture!!! Luckily they got away with it - but be careful!
PS - they don't allow cameras inside but if you sneak your phone it and are stealth enough, you should be able to take a photo or 2 :) -
- Bekah H.
- Sellersville, PA
- 1 friend
- 9 reviews
I'm a fan of the Nordic chill so staying in this ice bar for hours was no problem for me!
I purchased the VIP package which included a Russian hat, cocktail, 5x7 photo and the fur coat upgrade. Definitely worth it! It's a smaller ice bar for sure but everyone is so friendly and excited to be there that it doesn't matter. The ever changing lights and pop-y dance music keep the place upbeat all night. The drinks are expensive however, about $15 for a small glass. (They even have an ice luge.) You ARE allowed to bring in cameras and phones to take photos - just no flash. You can also leave and go back in if you can't stand the cold.
Overall, I loved it and would definitely go back with a group of friends. -
- Elena K.
- Manhattan, NY
- 67 friends
- 69 reviews
COME PREPARED!
It's f-n cold in here so if you'd like your $20 entry fee to last a bit longer than 15 minutes then a) bring a sweater. don't count on that "parka", the layers are a must, b) bring a hat which is not included in the steep $20 fee, c) bring your own mittens because what they give you is crap, d) do NOT come in sandals. Unlike in Vegas they won't give you boots so make sure to bring boots or at least thick long socks. Ideally bring your own coat as well although I am not sure if it's possible to waive $20 entry fee.
The place is tiny. Drinks' prices are not listed anywhere but it's at least $15 and is a very limited menu.
Cool experience but come prepared. -
- Ashley G.
- Lebanon, PA
- 0 friends
- 2 reviews
Saw one of these bars in las vegas but never made it in. so when i was in nyc I saw this one. I def enjoyed myself the drinks were $15 which was alot but in pa drinks are $4-6 so its a difference but your also in nyc so you should expect them to be more. I told lots of friends about this place and hope to go back again ! -
- Fran S.
- San Jose, CA
- 0 friends
- 4 reviews
RIP OFF, RIP OFF, RIP OFF - the only way to describe the Minus 5 Ice Bar. Don't patronize this place. $152.00 for a 20 minutes time and a drink in a way over-rated tourist trap environment. Stay away, unless you have money to burn... Nothing special about this place. I have never felt so violated in my life...
For starters the check-in experience is a joke - nobody can clearly explain what you get for the fees you pay. MAJOR, MAJOR New York attitudes working full time from all of the employees.
The only person who was half way decent was the bartender from Seattle! A west coaster! -
- Liz R.
- New York, NY
- 8 friends
- 35 reviews
Great experience! My coworkers and I lasted for 1 hour and we were over the cold. It's something different and a memorable time. Nice place for fun pictures. -
- Yukiu C.
- Chicago, IL
- 28 friends
- 14 reviews
This bar is a complete tourist trap - grab your wallet and run far far away!
We went on a Saturday night and there was a line to get in. You have to "check-in" and leave all your belongings in a locker (with a sign that they are not responsible for any loss from the locker, how comforting). No phones or cameras, because they are "heat-emitting." Admission is $20, and $15 per drink. You put on a parka (or a fur coat if your are willing to shell out $45) to keep you warm in the bar.
Once you are in the actual ice bar, you realize how small a space it is - it's actually just the size of a one bedroom apartment. The ice sculptures are kind of cool, but nothing that amazing. The drinks are served in ice glasses, but are a complete rip-off. I got the mojito which was basically 95% sprite and 5% rum; it will costs you hundreds to get a slight buzz.
All in all, I will never come back to this place. When I left, I was very tempted to grab someone from the line and persuade them to spend their money elsewhere. -
What a cool experience (pun intended)!
Though entry into Minus5 is a bit expensive ($20 for a parka and gloves, or $45 for a faux fur coat and gloves), this is one fun night out! Go with a small group of friends, take lots of pictures, sip on vodka cocktails (or mocktails) out of glasses made of ice, and pretend you're in an ice castle in Russia!
The ice bar is 24 degrees, so don't worry if you only last an hour or less...it is really COLD in there. There space isn't huge, but they keep the crowds down so that people can safely move around and enjoy their drinks. There are really cool decor effects carved into the ice, including some NYC-specific highlights.
Tips:
Wear pants, no shorts, dresses or skirts.
Wear real shoes (preferably with socks). We saw way too many women in flip flops with their gloves on their feet (also, eww).
Kids are welcome before 6pm every day. -
- Caesar R.
- Brooklyn, NY
- 852 friends
- 934 reviews
The entry fee is quite steep, but it is a novelty. And right in the heart of a touristy area.
Definitely worth a trip for one drink. You won't be in there long though as it is really cold even with the parka ($20) or the Pimp Daddy Fur Coat ($45) and gloves. You can go out and warm up if you want, but what's the point.
The drinks are generous pours but expensive as well.
I'm grateful to my friend's sister for hooking us up while visiting from Columbus, OH.
Come in and cool off. -
- Christine T.
- New York, NY
- Elite ’13
- 107 friends
- 83 reviews
Yes, it's touristy. Sometimes you gotta be a tourist in your own city, right?
So we went all the way with their VIP package which comes with a photo, drink, a head wear of your choice to keep and "premium" outerwear rental -- (faux) fur. I went for the white fur coat and the fur halo (to keep). Go big or go home!
The inside was smaller than I expected but the experience was still pretty fun. I mean its not everyday you can just sit in an igloo and sip on a cocktail, out of a cup made of ice, and sit on an ice bench covered with a fur pelt.
The prices are up there, you can't bring in any electronics. They have lockers. There is also a photographer in there to snap pics that you could purchase later at check-out.
Do it for fun! -
- Krysia K.
- Clifton, NJ
- 11 friends
- 123 reviews
This was so much fun! We went with group of friends. The entry fee is a $20+tax. They give you coats and gloves to wear in the bar.
If you want a fur coat, and hat you must pay more. They have 3 different package. The staff were friendly and informative and I think it is well worth visiting. Everything is made of ice, wall, the sculptures, benches, the banches, glasses. After some 15 - 25 mins you are just too cold to stay longer. I would recommend the long pants, warm boots, no sandals and your own gloves.
Inside you can take the phone but not other electronic(they have a lockers). You can take pictures with your phone. They will take photo for you and you can buy on line it.
You can buy drink inside ($15 + tx each) but you don't have to buy. -
- Emily G.
- Manhattan, NY
- 36 friends
- 19 reviews
came here in July after going the Rain Room at MoMa. I was very disappointed how small it was...and there was not much going on inside. Filled with tourist and their children. I wish they had something interactive... like an ice luge or something... -
- Skoolly T.
- Newport Beach, CA
- 16 friends
- 102 reviews
Not bad place, it was nice to cool off.. Its fun place, but be prepared its expensive. The drinks are bout the same price as any other bar in nyc -
- Know Sheeeeeet S.
- KNICKERBOCKER, NY
- 0 friends
- 7 reviews
DON'T GO!!!
Total tacky tourist trap run by phony acting employees!
We foolishly went to check it out because at 90+ degrees, the idea of an ice bar was tempting. I should have listened to my fellow Yelpers and not wasted my time/money.
No prices on the specialty cocktails, no price list at the sad looking bar should have been a warning. I even asked the bartender for something "cheap and strong" and he would only say that "most drinks are $15". Guess what? EVERYTHING WE ORDERED WAS $15!!! Even my drink which would have been $5 tops at a regular bar. The photos from the website make it seem more luxurious then it is. When we walked in, it was partially empty and sad looking. Mostly poor tourists wearing shorts and flip-flops.
There's a photographer walking around trying to take your picture for $20 a pop.
If I were you, I would try to sneak in my cellphone and snap my own photos for free. There is a security camera inside the bar so be discreet... they try to scam you by saying that no electronics are allowed in the bar due to the cold...but WHAT ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S CAMERA?!?!?
Don't believe the hype, don't go unless you want to waste your money and be sadly disappointed like we were. -
- Sharon F.
- Downtown, Seattle, WA
- 0 friends
- 2 reviews
$20 to get in. You get a parka which is necessary and gloves that your local butcher wears in the freezer. Not the place to go to feel sexy especially in the white faux fur coat. Don't go for the faux fur you won't be any warmer. The bar is bad...I was expecting some really good premium vodkas but all they had were the usual suspects and they were all grain based. It's tiny and the lights are very bright. The staff are young....seemed like teenager young and are very inexperienced. $130 for 15 minutes of non-entertainment for 3 of us...we only had one drink and left. There are plenty of fun bars and clubs in NYC this is not one of them. But, if you choose to go wear shoes and socks and bring your own gloves. -
I mean if you are from NYC I'm not sure why you would go here, it's like a theme park. You go in, pay $20 to get in pp, then have to lock up all your things (no phones or cameras allowed) they give you a parka and gloves then they escort you in to a bar with drinks that are $15+ in an ice made glass. Everything is ice which is cool for like 5 minutes until you realize it's July and you're wearing a dress and sandals. We had to chug our drinks so our toes didn't get frost-bite. If you wanted to look cook you could rent a fur coat ($45) or a hat ($20 or $40). Then they take your photo inside ($20) or three photos ($40). We came here as sort of a joke after work and it was expensed but I'm not sure why anyone would spend their own money?
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- C B.
- Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, NY
- 0 friends
- 1 review
Very disappointing - saw the advertisement for the opening during a cab ride yesterday and decided it was the perfect place to visit on a hot quiet weekend. We didn't do enough research and realized once getting there that there was an admission fee (includes coat and gloves rental) and a drink card for another $20.
The place is very small, Our friend's ice cup broke twice, and we were annoyed to end up at tourist trap (our own fault) where we couldn't even take pictures because no electronics are allowed.
The positive: they did a great job with decorations, we can check off our bucket list sitting on ice furniture and drinking out of ice cups, and the staff was very sweet.
We are still debating if the picture that we now value at around $200 (after all our fees for 5 ppl for 20 minutes) was worth it (complimentary after our friend's cup broke). It is definitely not a New Yorker hot spot, perfect for tourists. The staff was very sweet and we wish them the best. We are glad we saw it once but will not be returning. -
- Sarah F.
- ASTORIA, NY
- 7 friends
- 25 reviews
~ this bar is so cold
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