Kept at a constant minus ten degrees and built from more than thirty tonnes of sculpted ice, IceBar Melbourne offers a frozen experience that the venue promotes as the only one of its kind in Australia. Found in The Atrium at Federation Square, in the middle of the city's arts and sporting precinct, it invites guests to rug up in supplied capes and gloves before stepping through the doors of a themed entrance into a room where the bar, seating, glasses and decorative sculptures are all carved from ice. Inside, drinks are served in glasses made of ice, with cocktails and, for adults, shots poured down an ice luge, while the carved figures and furniture are periodically re-sculpted to keep the displays fresh. The novelty of the cold is the main attraction: most visitors last around half an hour before the chill sends them back to the warmth, and the venue is set up for photographs as much as for drinking. Younger guests are welcome during the day when accompanied by an adult, which makes it a family-friendly stop as well as a night-out curiosity, with non-alcoholic options available. The location could hardly be more central, directly across from Flinders Street Station and within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, the botanic gardens, the MCG and the Melbourne riverfront, so it slots easily into a day of city sightseeing. Bookings are generally advised, and sessions are timed to manage how long guests spend in the cold. As a quirky, weather-proof attraction that turns the idea of escaping the heat on its head, IceBar gives visitors a short, memorable contrast to the Melbourne outside its frozen walls. Entry is by timed session, with tickets that include the loan of a thermal cape and gloves and a drink or two depending on the package chosen, and bookings are recommended as numbers in the room are limited. The cold is real enough that most guests are happy to leave after twenty to thirty minutes, and the venue keeps a warmer lounge area for those who want to linger longer or wait for companions. Its novelty makes it a popular stop for tour groups, birthday outings and visitors ticking off a list of unusual things to do, and children are welcome at daytime sessions. Positioned at Federation Square beside the river and the main railway station, it sits at the crossroads of the city's attractions, an easy add-on to a day taking in the galleries, gardens and sporting precinct that surround it. Few cities offer the chance to step from a warm summer street into a sub-zero room of ice within a single block.

Type: Activity

Address: The Atrium, Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia

Telephone: (03) 9077 9716

Website: https://icebarmelbourne.com.au