Xtracold Icebar Amsterdam, 3 Drinks Included

Amsterdam’s Xtracold Icebar turns a drink into a piece of theater. You start in a regular lounge, then pull on borrowed thermal clothing and enter a room kept at 14 F, or minus 10 C, where the walls, bar, glasses, and sculptures are made of ice.

I like the simple three-drink setup and the fact that you can use your welcome drink before or after the cold room. I also like the colorful ice carvings and the silly novelty of drinking from a glass made of ice. The catch is clear: the room is small and very cold, and the drink selection inside is narrower than many people expect.

Key points before you book

• Three drinks are included: one welcome cocktail or large Heineken, plus two flavored shots or beers inside the ice room.
• The cold-room visit is limited: plan on roughly 20 to 30 minutes, with about 25 minutes used as the health and comfort limit.
• Thermal coats and gloves are provided: still wear warm clothes, long trousers, and proper shoes.
• The ice bar can feel crowded: the room is compact, and drink service may create a queue.
• The lounge is part of the experience: you can warm up there and use the welcome drink before or after the ice room.
• The price is about $24.30 per person: fair for a first ice-bar visit, less attractive if you have already visited a larger one.

Starting in the warm lounge

The visit begins in a normal bar area, which is important because the cold room is not the whole outing. You receive your drink tokens and can generally choose to take the welcome cocktail or large Heineken before entering the ice room or after coming back out.

That flexibility helps. If you rush straight toward the cold room, you may spend your first few minutes checking the entry process instead of enjoying your drink. Taking the first drink in the lounge gives you time to settle in, study the menu, and get your coat and gloves sorted.

The lounge also provides the social part of the visit. This is where the mood can be lively, particularly on a Friday evening around 7 p.m. Seating may be limited when the bar is busy, so do not expect a long, relaxed cocktail session. Think of it as a staging area with drinks, Wi-Fi, and a chance to warm up.

The first drink is not necessarily the strongest cocktail you will have in Amsterdam. Several drink choices are sweet and easy to drink, while some people find the flavored shots syrupy. If you are booking this for serious cocktail quality, the nearby regular bars will offer more choice. If you are booking it for the ice setting, the lounge drink does its job.

Pulling on the coats and gloves

Before you enter, you receive special thermal clothing for the ice-bar visit. Gloves are particularly useful because you hold a frozen glass, and the cold quickly reaches your fingers. They also help when you touch or steady your drink.

Do not arrive in shorts and sandals and expect the supplied clothing to solve everything. Several people found the provided coats insufficient, especially when standing still for a long time. Wear layers underneath, cover your legs, and use closed shoes. A warm hat may also help, though the included clothing is the main protection provided.

The coats have drawn mixed comments because some do not fasten fully. That is not ideal in a room at minus 10 C. The practical answer is to treat the supplied gear as an extra layer, not as a complete winter outfit.

You will also want to think about your phone. Gloves make it harder to take photos, but bare fingers become uncomfortable quickly. Take a few pictures early, then put your gloves back on. The ice glasses are part of the fun, but they are cold enough to make photography a minor wrestling match.

Entering the minus 10 C ice room

The main attraction is a compact frozen room filled with ice walls, an ice bar, ice furniture, and carved figures lit with changing colored light. The current design has included a pirate theme, which gives the space a playful story rather than leaving you in a plain frozen box.

The room is best understood as a quick spectacle, not a full evening venue. You enter with a group, receive your drink, take photos, look at the carvings, and make the most of your limited time. There is little room to sit, and one corner may hold a large ice carving such as a polar bear.

The advertised visit lasts about 45 minutes overall, but only part of that time is spent in the cold room. A practical expectation is 20 to 30 minutes inside, with 25 minutes used as the stated comfort or health limit. For most people, that is enough. Once your hands and feet begin to lose feeling, the novelty wears off fast.

The room’s size creates two opposing effects. A small space makes the temperature feel intense and keeps the experience focused. It also means that a larger entry group can make it hard to move, find a clear photo angle, or reach the bar quickly.

The booking information gives a maximum of 15 people for the activity, but the entry process can still feel crowded at busy times. If you are visiting on a popular evening, allow for a queue and do not expect uninterrupted access to the bar.

Three drinks, three different expectations

The included drinks are a major part of the value calculation. You receive one welcome cocktail or large Heineken, then two flavored shots or beers in the ice room. The second and third drinks are served in glasses made of ice, which is the visual trick that makes the package memorable.

Inside, the menu is more limited than in the lounge. Choices have included vodka-based drinks, flavored shots, and Heineken. The shots can be sweet, with flavors such as coconut or nut and nougat. Some people enjoy the novelty and find the vodka shots tasty. Others find the syrupy flavors unpleasant.

You should not book this expecting three strong drinks. The short visit, sweet mixers, and modest alcohol strength mean that you are unlikely to become tipsy from the package alone. That may be a benefit if you want to stay comfortable in the cold, but it can feel disappointing if you are measuring value by alcohol.

There is also a small practical issue with the glassware. You may be allowed only one glass at a time inside. If you choose a shot first and a beer second, you need to finish and return the first drink before taking the next. The ice glass can also begin to melt, especially if you take too long over your drink.

Order with the room in mind. A beer gives you something to sip, but it may be awkward to manage in a frozen glass. A shot is quicker, which can be useful when your fingers are cold. The best choice depends on whether you care more about the drink itself or the ice-glass photo.

The real value of $24.30

At about $24.30 per person, the price is reasonable for a first ice-bar visit if you value the setting and the three included drinks. You are paying for admission, thermal clothing, the themed room, and the novelty of ice glassware, not for a sophisticated bar menu.

The price feels stronger when you use both parts of the visit well. Take the welcome drink in the lounge, enjoy the room without rushing, and use both indoor tokens. The free Wi-Fi is a small extra, but it can be handy for sending photos while you warm up.

The value weakens if you compare the package with a normal Amsterdam bar. Two tickets may buy several drinks elsewhere, with better cocktails, more seating, and no frozen fingers. The ice room is the product here, so the purchase makes sense only if that is what you want.

It is also less compelling if you have already visited a larger ice bar in Orlando, on a cruise ship, or elsewhere. The Amsterdam room may feel small by comparison, with fewer places to sit and a more limited selection. For a first visit, though, the idea still has enough novelty to justify the cost for many people.

Timing, queues, and the 45-minute visit

The overall duration is about 45 minutes, but do not read that as 45 minutes of continuous entertainment. The schedule usually includes arrival, the lounge drink, preparation, group entry, drink service, photos, and time to warm up afterward.

The main time pressure comes inside. A queue can form when one bartender is serving a group, and you may spend part of your cold-room visit waiting for the next drink. This matters because the room time is limited. If you enter during a busy period, getting the first drink quickly becomes more important than choosing the perfect flavor.

You may also be told that you have only a few minutes left and need to collect the second drink. Keep your tokens organized and decide what you want before reaching the bar. Do not leave an included drink unused simply because you were distracted by photos.

The experience is easiest when you treat it as a short stop between other Amsterdam activities. It does not need a whole day, and transportation to or from the attraction is not included. Plan your own route and allow enough time to arrive without having to race through the lounge.

The activity is generally open to most people, and the minimum drinking age is 18. The booking size is listed as a maximum of 15 people, though the room can still feel tight when several groups arrive together.

Staff, atmosphere, and the mixed experience

The staff experience can shape this visit more than the ice sculptures do. Some people find the team friendly, funny, and helpful, especially when explaining the process or dealing with schedule problems. Others have encountered brusque behavior at the door or at the bar.

That inconsistency is worth keeping in mind. The setting is playful, but the process can feel controlled: group entry, limited time, one drink at a time, and a firm exit when the cold-room period ends. If you prefer a relaxed bar with patient service, this may feel hurried.

The best atmosphere comes when you arrive with friends or family who are happy to laugh at the situation. The pirate theme, frozen glass, odd flavors, and shivering photos give you plenty to talk about. It is less successful if you want quiet conversation or a polished cocktail experience.

The experience may suit a wide age range, but the mood tends to appeal especially to younger adults and people treating Amsterdam as a social city break. An older parent can enjoy it too, provided they are comfortable with the cold and the short standing period. The important question is not age. It is tolerance for cold, crowds, and a bit of organized silliness.

Ways to make the visit better

• Wear real winter layers. The supplied coat and gloves help, but do not depend on them as your only protection.
• Use the lounge drink strategically. You can take it before or after the ice room, so choose the order that keeps you comfortable.
• Decide on your first ice-bar drink quickly. This saves precious cold-room time.
• Keep your gloves on except for quick photos. Frozen glass and exposed fingers are an unpleasant combination.
• Do not linger over a melting glass. Ice drinkware looks great but is not designed for a slow cocktail hour.
• Expect a compact room. Go for the atmosphere and the photo, not for seating or personal space.
• Book ahead if your date matters. The experience is often booked around 19 days in advance, so a popular evening may not remain open.
• Use the cancellation window wisely. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that period are not accepted for a refund.

Who should book Xtracold Icebar Amsterdam?

I would recommend it to a first-time ice-bar visitor, a couple wanting a memorable photo stop, or a group that enjoys novelty more than refined drinks. The three-drink package gives the visit a clear structure, and the ice glasses make the experience more than simply looking at frozen walls.

I would be more cautious if you dislike cold, have already visited a much larger ice bar, or want a spacious place to sit and drink. You may also feel the price is high if your main goal is quality cocktails.

The strongest part is the combination of theater, frozen surroundings, and a drink served in actual ice. The weakest parts are the compact room, limited menu, occasional queue, and uneven service. If you arrive dressed warmly and keep your expectations focused on fun rather than luxury, the visit can be a good short addition to an Amsterdam evening.

FAQ

How long does the Xtracold Icebar Amsterdam experience last?

The full visit lasts approximately 45 minutes. The time inside the ice room is shorter, usually around 20 to 30 minutes, with 25 minutes used as a stated limit for comfort and health.

How cold is the ice bar?

The ice room is kept at 14 F, or minus 10 C.

How many drinks are included?

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

Are coats and gloves provided?

Yes. Special thermal clothing is provided for the ice-bar visit, including coats and gloves.

Can I choose when to have the welcome drink?

Yes. The welcome cocktail or large Heineken can be taken before or after the ice-room visit.

Are the drinks served in ice glasses?

Yes. Drinks served inside the ice bar use glasses made of ice.

Is there a minimum drinking age?

Yes. The minimum drinking age is 18.

Is transportation included?

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

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes, you can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded or accepted.