Xtracold Icebar Amsterdam, 3 Drinks Included

Amsterdam’s Xtracold Icebar turns a simple drink into a short Arctic-style stunt. You begin in a warm lounge, then put on supplied thermal clothing and enter a room held at -10°C, or 14°F, where the walls, furniture, glasses, and sculptures are made of ice. It is a fun photo stop and a good change of pace from Amsterdam’s museums and canals.

I like the three included drinks, especially since you can use the welcome drink before or after the frozen room. I also like the simple novelty: colorful lighting, ice sculptures, and a beer mug that slowly melts in your hand. The catch is space. The ice room is small, queues can form, and some people find the supplied coats too thin for the cold.

Key points to know before you book

• Three drinks are included: one welcome cocktail or large Heineken, plus two beers or flavoured shots inside.
• The ice room reaches -10°C: coats and gloves are supplied, but layers and closed shoes still matter.
• Your visit lasts about 45 minutes: only around 20 to 30 minutes is usually spent in the frozen room.
• The warm lounge is part of the experience: it gives you time to settle in and enjoy the first drink.
• The ice bar is compact: expect an unusual photo opportunity, not a large room with seating and lots of space.
• The booking is capped at 15 people: busy periods may still feel crowded around the bar and entrance.

What the Xtracold Icebar experience is really like

The Xtracold Icebar is a novelty attraction built around one clear idea: have a drink in a room cold enough to make you think twice about touching the walls. It is not a traditional Amsterdam pub, and it is not meant to replace an evening of good cocktails. You are paying for the setting, the photographs, and the small thrill of holding a drink in a glass made from ice.

Your total visit takes about 45 minutes. That sounds short, but the format works best as a compact stop between other plans. The frozen room is deliberately limited in time, with the full experience usually giving you about 20 to 30 minutes inside. For many people, that is plenty. Fingers grow numb, phones become awkward to handle, and the novelty begins to wear off once the first frosty photos are done.

The attraction is operated by Tours & Tickets, and confirmation is provided when you book. The activity accepts mobile tickets, which keeps the arrival process simple. You arrange your own way there and back, since transportation is not included.

Starting with a drink in the warm lounge

The experience begins in a regular, heated lounge. This is an important part of the visit, not just a waiting area. You receive one welcome cocktail or a large Heineken, and you can generally choose to have it before or after the frozen room.

I recommend taking this first drink slowly in the lounge. It gives you time to get comfortable, look over the drink choices, and prepare for the cold. It also means you do not have to rush straight from the entrance into a -10°C room.

The lounge creates a more social mood than the ice room itself. It is where you can chat, mix with your group, and take a few ordinary photos before putting on the thermal gear. The atmosphere may suit a night out more than a quiet afternoon sightseeing plan, particularly if you enjoy playful attractions and group activities.

There may not be much seating during busy periods, so do not count on settling in for a long rest. The lounge can also feel crowded when several groups arrive close together. That matters if you prefer a calm bar where you can order at your own pace.

Putting on the coats and gloves

Before entering the ice room, you receive special thermal clothing for the visit. Gloves are provided as well, and you should use them. The ice glasses and beer mugs are genuinely cold, not just decorative, so bare hands become uncomfortable quickly.

The supplied coats help, but they are not a substitute for sensible clothing. Several people found them insufficiently warm, especially when wearing light outfits. I would arrive in layers, long trousers, warm socks, and closed shoes. Shorts and sandals are a poor match for this attraction.

The coats may not fasten fully, according to one detailed account, so a jumper or fleece underneath is useful. Gloves make taking photographs harder, but numb fingers make photography harder still. You can remove a glove briefly for a picture, then put it back on before handling the drink.

This is also the point to decide how much time you want inside. The official experience limits cold-room time for comfort and safety. You do not win anything by forcing yourself to stay until the last minute. Around 15 to 20 minutes may be enough for many people, while some hardy visitors manage roughly 25 minutes.

Entering the -10°C ice room

The main attraction is a small frozen room built entirely from ice. Ice sculptures are lit with colored lights, giving the space a theatrical look. A pirate theme has been used, and an ice polar bear carving has also been noted. The design is playful rather than grand.

You receive two drinks for this section. Choices include flavoured vodka shots and beer, with the exact selection presented at the bar. The drinks are served in ice glasses, which are one of the best details of the experience. A beer mug made from ice gives you the perfect photograph, although it also starts to melt as you hold it.

The drink selection inside is narrower than in the warm lounge. Some flavoured shots are sweet and syrupy, with coconut and other dessert-like flavors available. If you prefer a dry beer or a standard cocktail, ask what is available before choosing your tokens. The included drinks are designed for fun and speed, not for a serious tasting session.

Pay attention to the order of your drinks. You are allowed one glass at a time inside the ice room. If you choose a shot first and then a beer, the second drink may be poured into the remaining ice shot glass rather than a fresh beer mug. It is a small detail, but it can affect the presentation and your photographs.

The room’s size is the biggest limitation. It can become difficult to move, pose, or reach the bar when a full group is inside. The supplied information sets a maximum of 15 people, but busy entry periods can still create a compressed feel, especially when everyone wants a drink and a picture at once.

How the drinks affect the value

At $24.30 per person, the price is reasonable if you want a distinctive short attraction with drinks included. You receive one large Heineken or cocktail, followed by two beers or flavoured shots. Free Wi-Fi and thermal clothing are also included.

The price looks less attractive if you judge it only as three drinks. The cocktails and shots are not presented as a refined bar menu, and the frozen-room selection is limited. Some drinks are quite sweet, and the alcohol may be mild. You should book this for the ice setting, not because you expect three strong or carefully crafted cocktails.

For a first ice-bar visit, the novelty gives the admission more value. You get the cold room, illuminated sculptures, ice glasses, thermal gear, and a built-in social activity. If you have visited several ice bars already, compare the size and style first. This Amsterdam version may feel modest beside larger ice bars found elsewhere.

The package is most useful for a couple or small group that wants an easy shared activity. You do not need to plan separate drinks or decide where to go next immediately. The included tokens give the visit a clear rhythm: one drink in the lounge, two in the cold room, then back into Amsterdam.

Timing, crowds, and the 45-minute format

The short duration is both a strength and a weakness. I like it as an add-on because you can fit it around museums, canal time, or dinner. You are not giving up half a day for a single attraction.

The drawback is that the frozen room can feel rushed. If you spend the first few minutes waiting for service, you have less time to enjoy the sculptures. A single serving point can create a queue, and you may need to move quickly to collect both included drinks before leaving.

Try to arrive with your group ready to enter. Have your phone charged, decide who will take photographs, and avoid spending the first minutes sorting out coats or bags. A little preparation makes the cold-room time feel longer.

The attraction can be lively, but that energy is not always gentle. Some people have found staff brisk or unhelpful, while others describe the team as friendly, funny, and accommodating. Service quality may vary during busy periods. If you need a leisurely conversation with a bartender, this is not the right setting.

Who will enjoy Amsterdam’s Icebar

This experience fits adults who like unusual city attractions, quick photo stops, and a bit of theatrical fun. The minimum drinking age is 18. It can work well for a birthday outing, a couple looking for something different, or friends adding a playful stop to an evening in Amsterdam.

You do not need to be a heavy drinker. The drinks are part of the format, but the cold room and ice sculptures are the main event. You can focus on the beer option if sweet shots do not appeal to you.

Older adults can enjoy it too, provided they are comfortable with the cold and the limited time standing. The attraction does not offer much room to sit inside the ice room, so anyone who finds cold temperatures or standing difficult should think carefully before booking.

I would skip it if you dislike crowded attractions, want a substantial cocktail experience, or are already familiar with several larger ice bars. It is also a poor choice if you plan to arrive in summer clothes and expect the provided coat alone to keep you comfortable.

Practical tips for a better visit

• Wear layers rather than relying only on the supplied coat.
• Choose warm socks and closed shoes. Shorts and sandals will make the cold much harder.
• Use the gloves, especially when holding an ice glass.
• Consider having the welcome drink in the lounge before entering the frozen room.
• Ask about the available shot and beer choices before spending your tokens.
• If you want a beer mug photo, drink it fairly quickly because the ice begins to melt.
• Keep your phone accessible, but protect your hands while taking pictures.
• Expect limited seating and possible queues at busy times.
• Do not feel obliged to stay for the maximum cold-room time. Fifteen to 20 minutes may be enough.
• If you feel unwell after drinking, seek medical advice.

The attraction is generally suitable for most people, but the cold is real. You should also remember that the three included drinks arrive within a short visit. Drink at a sensible pace, even if the alcohol is not especially strong.

Booking, cancellation, and group size

The maximum group size is 15 people, and you receive a mobile ticket with confirmation at booking. Transportation is not included, so you make your own way to the Amsterdam Icebar.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off follows local Amsterdam time.

Should you book the Xtracold Icebar?

Book it if you want a short, funny, photo-friendly Amsterdam stop with three drinks and a setting you cannot reproduce in an ordinary bar. The pirate details, colored ice sculptures, loaned coats, and ice glasses give you plenty to talk about afterward.

Go in with the right expectations. This is a compact novelty attraction, not a spacious frozen palace and not a destination cocktail bar. The room is small, the drink menu is limited, and the cold can be severe despite the provided clothing.

For a first ice-bar experience, I think the $24.30 package offers fair value, especially for a group. Dress warmly, use the lounge drink to get comfortable, and treat the frozen room as a brisk burst of fun rather than a place to linger. If you have already tried several ice bars, you may find this version too small for the price.

FAQ

How long does the Xtracold Icebar experience last?

The full experience lasts approximately 45 minutes. Time in the frozen room is limited for comfort, and many people spend around 20 to 30 minutes there.

How cold is the ice room?

The ice room is maintained at -10°C, which is about 14°F.

How many drinks are included?

Three drinks are included: one welcome cocktail or large Heineken, followed by two flavoured shots or beers inside the ice room.

Are coats and gloves provided?

Yes. Special thermal clothing and gloves are provided for the ice-bar visit.

Can I choose when to have the first drink?

Yes. The welcome drink in the main lounge can be taken before or after the ice-room visit.

What is served inside the ice bar?

The included choices inside include flavoured vodka shots and beer. The selection is more limited than the choices in the warm lounge.

What is the minimum drinking age?

The minimum drinking age for this activity is 18.

Is transportation included?

No. You are responsible for transportation to and from the Amsterdam Icebar.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded.