Cold Jitters – Inside Rome’s Unique Ice Bar

Rome is home to some of Europe’s top nightlife. From the Gilda in downtown Rome to the Akab in the more rural area of the city, the after hours scene in Italy’s capital is as diverse as they come. However, one bar, in particular, is going to the opposite degree in order to waver attention.

The aptly named Ice Club is one of Rome’s more popular tourist destinations. For €15, you are granted a sub-zero experience like no other. Many visit Italy in search of some of the most iconic scenes known to man—with some traveling thousands of miles to see the likes of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the iconic gladiator Colosseum, and the eclectic Trevi Fountain. Little did these travelers know that wanderlust can be found from some of the most offbeat places, you only need look to see for yourself.

Practically everything in the bar is made from solid ice—everything from shelves, tables, to even the glass you are drinking out of. Because of this, the temperatures within the bar always have to remain below –5°C: a temperature which is sure to get customers shivering. Multiple ice statues line the bar with a sense of intrigue into Italian culture. An ice statue of a centurion guards the entrance, while the ice head of Julias Caesar looks on in anticipation from opposite the bar in all his glory.

Opening in 2007 to a less than stellar start, the bar was saved thanks in part to a cluster of positive ratings on TripAdvisor, and the dedication of its founders. Matteo and Daniele have lived in Rome their entire lives, and see the Ice Bar as their very own after hour’s sculpture, in Rome’s very standard nightlife display.

“We would often hear our friends talk about how all the clubs in Italy are all the same,” Matteo explains. “We decided to try something different, and do something that no one in Rome has seen before. Everyone always complains about how hot some of the clubs get—and I agree—you almost feel like passing out. So we thought, what is the opposite of warm? Cold! So here we are.”

Conditions limit your time inside to around an hour. Some have taken this ruling as a way of pushing one's limits, most likely due to an advantageous cocktail of self-pride and adrenaline. 47-year-old Artyom Rusev of Russia successfully beat the previous record of three hours by hiding from staff, changing hats with customers and pretending to tie his shoes constantly all to help avoid detection.

“I beat length of time in Ice Bar with a record time of four hours exactly,” Rusev boasts. “Many have tried to beat me but they won’t as I constantly try myself to beat my own record and even I cannot succeed.” Rusev's accomplishment is no small feat. The average time spent in the Ice Club is around 25 minutes depending on just how conditioned you are to the cold.

Many brave the Ice Club expecting an experience akin to a something you might see during a certain season. Keep in mind that this is still a club and that dancing will not only be encouraged, but it will also do its best in keeping you warm.

At its cold, cold, heart the Ice Club is a snowball of Italian history and intrigue that are only elevated by the passion of its sculptors Matteo and Daniele. It's not every day you get to enjoy a day in the sunshine and your night inside a kaleidoscope of ice infused neon. If you find yourself in Rome, visit the Ice Club and thaw expectation.