At the three Minus5 Icebars on the Las Vegas Strip, it’s always a cool experience

Winter’s coming! OK, so it’s always winter inside all three Minus5 Icebar locations—The Linq Promenade, The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian and The Shoppes at Mandalay Place. It’s freezing, the temps kept at 23 degrees Fahrenheit, but it’s totally fun. As your nose slowly turns cold, you’ll warm your body with cocktails, and the fact that admission includes your choice of wearing a parka or faux fur coat and gloves. Stepping inside any of the Icebars is such a cool experience (yes, literally and figuratively!) as you’ll spot all manner of ice (90 tons of it!) from the walls and seating to the sculpture and glassware. The company procures the clearest ice possible, created by a special process that removes all air bubbles, and all the ice sculptures start off as 250-pound blocks of ice that are then carved by professional ice carvers. Return visits are a must, as all three locations refresh the sculptures and themes quarterly.

Each Minus5 Icebar is designed with playful sculptures and interactive scenes; gloves will be hard to keep on because you’ll constantly want to conduct photo shoots so the folks back home can check out such a cool Las Vegas experience. Fun for the whole family is welcome from opening till 9 p.m.; after 9 p.m. each location is 21+.

“There is no time limit at Icebar, and we often see guests vying for longest stay, but I’d say our average guests enjoy the Icebar for 45 minutes to an hour,” says Blake Nightingale, Minus5 Icebar general manager and marketing director. “We provide all the gear to keep you warm, as well as keep each bar full of so many ways to engage and entertain within the experience, that many don’t realize just how long they’ve lasted. … Our founder discovered the concept cruising around the globe and instantly knew that Las Vegas was the perfect place to literally bring the coolest bar to the Strip! Our goal is to bring a truly unique and immersive experience to Las Vegas with unbeatable hospitality and great value. I believe we should be on everyone’s itinerary because we accomplish all that in the coolest and freshest way we know how!”

Minus5 Icebar at The Shoppes at Mandalay Place

This location is the longest running of all three locations, opened in 2008. When you first walk in, you’ll discover an ode to the Arctic, with pictures set in ice of animals and scenery native to that part of the world. As you explore, check out the re-creation of the Zoltar Speaks game, made completely of ice, from the movie Big. There is a section tucked away that takes guests under the sea with floating jellyfish everywhere. There is a Viking ship you can sit in, decorated with Viking swords and flags. Take a pic while sitting on a throne made of ice with a giant bear carved into it. And the coolest feature of this Icebar is the new vintage arcade section with images of old-school games, Nintendo controllers and an actual video arcade machine set in ice, on which you can play games like Pac-Man, Space Invaders and Dig Dug.

Our cocktail pick: Frosted Berries, a light and fruity cocktail made with Skyy vodka, peach schnapps and white cranberry juice.

702.740.5800. mandalaybay.mgmresorts.com

Minus5 Icebar at The Linq Promenade

The largest of all three locations, this Minus5 Icebar has a ton of cool activations. The minute you walk in, you’ll be greeted by a very Vegas-y display with slot machines made of ice and a roulette wheel and cards set in ice. Any fans of horror movies? Don’t skip taking photos with the ice display dedicated to horror movies with ice carvings of characters like Pennywise and Leatherface. Fans of music festivals? Check out the DJ booth and speakers set in ice, trippy rave-like graphics and a TV displaying videos of festivals from around the globe. The mock fireplace with a giant tiki head made of ice is perfect for a group shot and check-in for your mission to Mars, with space-inspired ice carvings including a huge spaceship. A bonus of this Icebar is its lounge-like space right outside along the Promenade, perfect for people-watching and enjoying another cocktail.

Our cocktail pick: Arctic Sunset, a fruity punch of Bacardi dragon berry rum, pineapple juice, lemon lime soda and a grenadine float.

702.586.8925. caesars.com

Minus5 Icebar at The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian

Any Kenny Chesney fans? The country superstar begins his highly anticipated residency at neighboring Sphere this week, and in honor of the occasion, Minus5 Icebar recently carved out a section made of ice dedicated to the music star and his spirit brand, Blue Chair Bay rum. The section is Chesney vibes, with beach-inspired surroundings like Adirondack chairs, palm trees and surfboards and one of the coolest ice sculptures, an ocean wave with ocean spray. Another new feature is the 1923 Speakeasy Lounge. Sneak past the red curtains of ice and hang out inside this li’l speakeasy with whiskey and gin bottles and vintage photos, all set within ice. Don’t miss the corner dedicated to Japan with a full-size ice samurai, the ode to Krylon spray paint with graffiti painted in the ice, a throne with a shark head carved into it and the dedication to Vegas’ Atomic Age in conjunction with the Atomic Museum, with photos of atomic bomb blasts, gas masks and more, all set within ice.

Our cocktail pick: Ice in da Coconut, in honor of Chesney, made with Blue Chair Bay rum, lime juice and lemon lime soda.

702.293.3388. venetianlasvegas.com

More tips!

• Look for the QR codes frozen in ice and scan for videos and photos of cool stuff like some of the most popular ice carvings, how a snowflake forms and the ice caves of Iceland.

• At The Grand Canal Shoppes location, on the door to the entrance, look out for the QR code and scan it to pull up a fun scavenger hunt game with clues all around the bar.

• All three locations offer Dole Whip and vanilla soft serve cocktails like the Apple Pie with Crown Royal apple whiskey, Fireball whiskey, soft serve and cinnamon, and the Going Bananas with Howler Head whiskey, Dole Whip, chamoy, banana chips and Tajín.

• All cocktails and nonalcoholic cocktails are served in glasses made completely of ice!

Exclusive tips from Blake Nightingale

• Each location has a unique bundle experience that really builds in value to experience all three Icebars. Combine an ice experience with a yacht rock show at The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian or with The Booze Cruise cocktail experience at The Linq Promenade. The Fire and Ice Package gets you an Icebar experience, access to 1923 Prohibition Bar and daiquiri cocktails, as well as a couple of take-home souvenirs.

• Recently launched is the “Ultimate Polar Passport.” The biggest bundle available gets you three experiences and three cocktails! It includes entry into all three Icebars, as well as a pass to Dreambox360 and the High Roller observation wheel at The Linq Promenade.

• The Minus5 Icebars at The Shoppes at Mandalay Place and The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian are linked to 1923 Prohibition Bar, and Minus5 Icebar at The Linq Promenade is connected to DreamBox360, an immersive projection experience cocktail room.

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