Xtracold Icebar Amsterdam, 3 Drinks Included

Amsterdam’s Xtracold Icebar turns a simple drink into a brief polar expedition. You begin in a regular lounge, then put on supplied thermal clothing and enter a room held at 14°F (-10°C), where the walls, furniture, glasses, and sculptures are made of ice.

I like the clever split between the warm lounge and the frozen room, and I like that your package includes three drinks: one cocktail or large Heineken, followed by two beers or flavored shots inside. The main drawbacks are the small ice room, limited drink choices, and a cold that some people find more punishing than fun.

Key points to know before booking

• Three drinks are included: one welcome cocktail or large Heineken, plus two beers or flavored shots in the ice room.
• The cold room stays at -10°C: coats and gloves are provided, but warm layers still matter.
• You spend only about 20 to 25 minutes inside: the full visit lasts roughly 45 minutes, including the lounge.
• The ice glasses are part of the fun: they look great in photos, but hold only one drink at a time and can begin to melt.
• The room can feel crowded: groups may enter together, and a single serving point can create a queue.
• Best for first-time ice-bar visitors: repeat ice-bar customers may find the Amsterdam version smaller and less elaborate.

What the Xtracold Icebar experience is really like

The appeal is simple and easy to understand. You get a drink in a normal bar, then step into a room made from ice and try to enjoy another drink while your fingers slowly lose interest in the plan.

This is not a long guided tour or a major cultural attraction. It is a compact novelty stop, built around temperature, lighting, ice sculptures, and the amusing sight of drinking from a frozen glass. You can expect a visit of about 45 minutes, though the actual time inside the ice room is usually closer to 20 to 25 minutes.

The experience is capped at 15 people for the booked activity, but the ice room itself can still feel tight when a group is being served. If you want space for careful photographs or a quiet drink, choose your timing with care. Busy evening periods, especially Friday nights around 7 p.m., can feel lively rather than relaxed.

Starting in the warm lounge with your first drink

Your visit begins in the regular bar area. This is the part where you can settle in, get your bearings, and use your first drink token. You choose either a welcome cocktail or a large Heineken, with the option to have it before or after the ice-room visit.

That flexibility is useful. If a queue forms for the frozen room, you do not necessarily need to rush through the lounge drink first. You can take a little time in the warmer area, then go inside when your group is called.

The lounge sets the social tone. It is a place to mix with your group and other people before the temperature drops. The atmosphere may be lively, but seating can be limited when the bar is busy. If you are expecting a comfortable cocktail bar with a wide menu and plenty of chairs, adjust that expectation.

The drink package is best understood as part of the admission rather than a serious bar tab. Three included drinks sound generous, but the cocktails and shots are not designed to be especially strong. Some flavored options are sweet, including coconut and other dessert-like profiles. You may enjoy them, but do not book this as a way to sample Amsterdam’s finest drinks.

Putting on the thermal gear

Before entering the frozen section, you receive special thermal clothing for the visit. Coats and gloves are supplied, and you will want both. The gloves are particularly useful because the drinking glasses are made of ice and become uncomfortable to hold with bare hands.

Bring warm clothes beneath the supplied coat. A cold-weather day in Amsterdam gives you a helpful head start, but shorts, sandals, and thin clothing are poor choices here. The supplied coats have been described as not especially warm by some visitors, and the cold reaches your hands first.

The gloves create a small practical problem for photographers. Taking pictures with bulky gloves is awkward, but removing them for a few photos can make your fingers painfully cold. Plan to take quick pictures, then cover your hands again.

The room is kept at a constant -10°C. That is not a decorative claim. After 15 to 20 minutes, many people feel ready for warmth, even if the experience is going well. The time limit is sensible, and it prevents the novelty from turning into simple discomfort.

Entering the -10°C ice room

The frozen room is the main event. The walls and furnishings are made of ice, and detailed sculptures are lit with colorful lighting. The current theme has included pirate elements, giving the space a playful rather than serious feel.

You receive two more drink tokens for this section. Choices can include beer or flavored vodka shots, depending on the selection offered that day. Each drink is served in an ice glass, which is the detail that makes this more than an ordinary bar with a cold thermostat.

The glass is fun to hold and photograph, but it also affects how you order. You are generally allowed to have one drink at a time. If you choose a shot first and then a beer, the beer may be served in a smaller shot-style glass rather than a full beer mug. Ask about the serving sequence before using your token if that matters to you.

You also need to keep an eye on the glass. Ice melts, especially as the drink warms it, and one drink can begin to soften the container before you finish. This is part of the gimmick, but it means you should not linger over the drink as if you were in a normal bar.

The room has sculptures and photo opportunities, though it is not enormous. One commonly noted feature is an ice polar bear carving. With several people waiting for drinks, space can become limited, making it hard to pose or frame a clear photograph.

The drinks: novelty first, flavor second

The included drinks are a mixed part of the value. The first lounge drink gives you the widest and most familiar choice, including a large Heineken. Inside, the menu is narrower, with beer and flavored shots forming the main options.

Some people enjoy the sweet vodka flavors, while others find them syrupy or unappealing. Flavors such as coconut and nougat may sound playful, but they are not a safe choice if you prefer dry, classic drinks. If you are sensitive to sweet alcohol, take small sips and do not feel obliged to finish quickly.

The three drinks are also spread across a short visit. You are unlikely to become seriously tipsy from the included selection, especially because the shots are not notably strong. That is useful if you have evening plans afterward, though anyone who reacts poorly to alcohol should still take care.

I see the drinks as props in the experience. The ice glass, frozen air, and colorful room are what you are paying for. If your priority is a broad cocktail list or excellent mixology, another Amsterdam bar will give you better value.

Timing, queues, and crowding

The advertised duration is about 45 minutes. In practice, part of that time is spent in the lounge, part getting ready, and part inside the cold room. The frozen section itself is limited, commonly around 20 to 25 minutes.

That limit can feel short if you want to study every sculpture and take several pictures. It also feels entirely reasonable once the temperature reaches your hands and face. You are there for a sharp, memorable burst of cold, not an hour-long stay.

Crowding is the main operational weakness. Groups may be brought into the ice room together, and one serving station can create a line. If you spend much of your time waiting for a drink, the room feels smaller and the visit feels rushed.

The included lounge drink can help smooth this out. Use it before or after the ice room, depending on the flow when you arrive. A little patience helps, but do not expect a private or slow-paced experience during a busy evening slot.

Is $24.30 a fair price?

At $24.30 per person, the package is reasonably priced if you have never visited an ice bar and want the novelty of the setting, clothing, sculptures, and ice glasses in one stop. You are not paying only for three drinks. You are paying for a themed space that requires constant refrigeration, plus the equipment and staff needed to let you spend time inside it.

The value becomes weaker if you judge the outing by drink quality or quantity. The frozen-room choices are limited, the flavors may be very sweet, and the room is small. You could spend a similar amount at a conventional bar and receive more comfortable seating and better cocktails.

For a first ice-bar visit, the package makes sense because the admission and drinks are bundled together. For someone who has already visited larger or more detailed ice bars, the Amsterdam version may feel modest. The decision comes down to novelty, not nightlife value.

The free Wi-Fi and mobile ticket are handy but not major reasons to book. The practical benefit is that you can arrive with the ticket on your phone and keep the visit simple. Transportation is not included, so you arrange your own way to the attraction.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend the Xtracold Icebar to couples, small groups, and first-time visitors who want a memorable break from museums and canal sightseeing. It works particularly well as a short evening activity before dinner or another night out.

You will probably enjoy it if you like themed spaces, unusual photographs, playful drinks, and a little controlled discomfort. The experience can also suit a mixed-age adult group, provided everyone meets the minimum drinking age of 18.

I would hesitate if you dislike cold rooms, have difficulty standing in a queue, or want a spacious bar with a serious drinks menu. The cold is not a minor detail. Some people find the supplied clothing adequate, while others cannot wait to get back to warmth.

It is also worth skipping if you have already visited several larger ice bars and want something new. The pirate theme and sculptures add character, but the room remains compact and the visit follows a fairly fixed pattern.

Practical ways to make the visit better

Dress for winter even if Amsterdam happens to be mild. Wear long trousers, closed shoes, and warm socks. The supplied coat and gloves help, but they are not a substitute for sensible clothing.

Use the lounge drink strategically. If the ice-room queue is long, enjoy your first drink without rushing. If you prefer to get the cold section finished early, save the lounge drink for afterward and warm up while you relax.

Order carefully inside. Because you may hold only one ice glass at a time, decide whether you prefer beer or a shot before using each token. Drink efficiently, but do not gulp alcohol simply because the clock is running.

Keep your phone accessible for quick photographs, then protect your hands. The gloves make photography harder, but bare fingers become uncomfortable quickly. Your best pictures may come before the room fills up, so take a few early.

Book in advance if your schedule is fixed. This activity is often reserved about 19 days ahead, which suggests that popular time slots can disappear. You receive confirmation at booking, and free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Should you book the Amsterdam Icebar?

Book it if you want a short, unusual Amsterdam activity and have not tried an ice bar before. The ice glasses, colorful sculptures, thermal gear, and included drinks create a clear novelty package, and the first lounge drink gives you a warmer place to begin or finish.

Skip it if you want excellent cocktails, generous space, or a calm bar experience. The room is small, the cold is intense, and queues can reduce your time with the sculptures. At $24.30, I consider it fair for a first visit, but not essential sightseeing. Treat it as playful entertainment, dress warmly, and you are more likely to leave with a good story rather than frozen fingers alone.

FAQ

How long does the Xtracold Icebar experience last?

The full experience lasts approximately 45 minutes. Time is divided between the warm lounge, preparation, and the ice room, where you usually spend about 20 to 25 minutes.

How cold is the ice bar?

The ice room is maintained at -10°C, or 14°F. It is genuinely cold, not simply a mildly chilled bar.

How many drinks are included?

Three drinks are included. You receive one welcome cocktail or one large Heineken, followed by two beers or flavored shots in the ice room.

Are coats and gloves provided?

Yes. Special thermal clothing is provided for the time you spend in the ice bar, including coats and gloves.

Can I choose when to have the first drink?

Yes. The first lounge drink may be taken before or after the ice-room visit, giving you some flexibility if the entry queue is busy.

Are the drinking glasses made of ice?

Yes. Drinks inside the frozen section are served in glasses made of ice. The glasses can begin to melt, so do not expect to keep them for long.

Is the ice room large?

No. The room is relatively small, and it can feel crowded when several people enter together or wait for drinks.

What is the minimum drinking age?

The minimum drinking age for this activity is 18.

Is transportation included?

No. Transportation to and from the attraction is not included.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.