Minus 5 Ice Bar

Minus 5 Ice Bar is one of those "do it once for the novelty" Vegas experiences that's exactly what it sounds like—everything in the bar is made of ice. The walls, the bar itself, the glasses you drink from, even some of the furniture. It's kept at 23°F, they give you a parka and gloves, and you spend 30-45 minutes marveling at the fact that you're drinking vodka out of a glass made of frozen water while slowly losing feeling in your extremities. Is it practical? Absolutely not. Is it memorable? Undeniably.

The Experience Logistics

This isn't a traditional bar where you walk in and order drinks. You buy a timed entry ticket (usually $25-40 depending on package and time), which includes the parka/gloves rental, entry to the ice room, and usually 1-2 drinks served in ice glasses. There's no happy hour pricing in the traditional sense—you're paying for the novelty experience, not for cheap drinks. Think of it more like a tourist attraction that serves alcohol than a bar with structured deals.

What Actually Happens

You check in, get suited up in provided winter gear (because again, it's literally freezing in there), and enter a room where everything is carved from ice. There are ice sculptures, ice thrones for photo ops, LED lighting making everything glow in different colors, and bartenders serving drinks in glasses carved from ice blocks. You take photos, drink your included cocktails, marvel at how weird it is, and after 30-45 minutes you're ready to leave because you're cold as hell despite the parka. The ice glasses are cool for exactly one drink, then your hands are numb and you're over it.

The Drink Situation

The included drinks are usually vodka-based cocktails because they're less likely to freeze solid. They're fine—not incredible, not terrible, just functional beverages served in an unusual format. You can buy additional drinks once inside, but you're already cold and kind of over it by then, so most people stick with what's included. The novelty wears off faster than you'd think, which is probably why they time the sessions.

Who This Is For

Tourists who want a unique Vegas story and photo ops. Bachelorette parties looking for something different. People who've done everything else and want to check this off the list. First-time Vegas visitors building the full experience. This is not for locals looking for a chill happy hour or anyone who gets cold easily or has circulation issues. Also not great for drunk people—slippery ice floors plus alcohol is a liability waiting to happen.

Reality Check

Minus 5 Ice Bar is a tourist novelty experience, not a serious drinking destination. You're paying for the Instagram content and the story, not for drink quality or value. The ice sculptures are actually pretty cool (pun intended), and the photos you get are genuinely unique. But after 30 minutes, you're cold, slightly buzzed, and ready to go somewhere with normal temperatures. It's fun exactly once. Don't come back thinking it'll be better the second time—it won't. The magic is in the novelty, and novelty doesn't repeat well.

Do it if you're a tourist checking boxes and want something weird to talk about. Skip it if you're looking for actual happy hour value or a place to spend your evening. It's a 30-minute detour, not a destination.