BRAIN FREEZE
San Antonio's first ice bar gives the River Walk shivers
Have a Pleistocene party at Alamo IceBar.
Talk about frozen assets. San Antonio’s first ice bar has opened underneath the Aztec Theatre at 200 River Walk, a frosty new attraction where heat-stricken tourists can down a shot, take a few selfies, and leave with a slightly numb tush.
Unlike the city’s many ice houses, Alamo IceBar is more of a quick-hit destination than an all-day hangout. The entire environment is made of frozen water, including the tables, benches, and hand-carved walls. Guests are given parkas and gloves to ensure no one gets frostbite in the brisk 13-degree environment.
Once bundled up, polar explorers are ushered to two environments. One has a rock-and-roll theme, with records and album covers embedded in the walls. The other is an indigenous stew vaguely combining Mayan and Navajo motifs.
The drinks (included with the cost of admission) are served in frigid receptacles. One might yearn for hot cocoa, but the menu leans towards flavored liqueurs and spirits like Dough Dough Bird churro whiskey, Svedka cherry limeade vodka, and Rumple Minz. During family hours, kiddos can slam sodas or juices.
It’s unclear why someone decided to plunge Alamo City into the Pleistocene. But ice bars have increasingly become an international phenomenon since the concept was first dreamed up inside Jukkasjärvi, Sweden’s famous ICEHOTEL in 1994.
Of course, Jukkasjärvi is north of the Arctic Circle, where subzero climes are the norm. Alamo IceBar uses commercial-grade insulation to essentially create a giant walk-in. It says it minimizes energy consumption through heavy insulation and timed sessions that minimize blasts of cool air.
Tickets for the experience start at $22.50 for adults and $15 for ages 10-20. Kids nine and under receive complimentary admission with a paying grown-up. Hours are 1-10 pm Sundays and Tuesdays through Thursdays, with an extra hour on Fridays and Saturdays. The glacial lair is 21-plus after 5 pm.
