Ice Ice Baby: A new bar where everything is on the rocks

Shanghai may have a lot of things we don't like -- traffic, pollution, tons and tons of people, the list goes on -- but there is one thing about the city Shanghaiist particularly likes: nothing is impossible here.

Enter the bar Taste of Scandinavia, where everything is on the rocks -- even the customers. Billed as the first ice bar in China (and Asia, they claim ... but what about Russia?), it has definitely added more diversity to the Shanghai scene. Sitting in a not-so-convenient location near Zhongshan Park, the ice bar idea comes straight from Stolkholm, Sweden, where we guess it's not already cold enough already? The 30 square-meter place is built entirely on ice, from the wall to the bar, the stools to the glasses, which are actually big ice cubes. And then there are the decorations -- ice sculptures, of course.

Customers are provided giant Eskimo-style silver parkas and black leather gloves upon arrival, as the temperature inside that bar holds steady at a criisp –11° C -- which, Shanghaiist thinks, sometimes seems to be the average temperature of a Shanghai apartment during winter. Then you're led through two thick, heavy doors you would expect to find outside a bank vault. The place holds 20 people max, so better make a reservation before you give it a shot. The cover charge -- RMB 120 -- is a bit high, but then so are the costs of running a place like this. Ice in the bar melts slightly from daily use and body warmth and will be changed every six months (assuming the novelty of this bar doesn't melt before then). The cover charge includes one drink, if you can finish it before you can no longer take the cold. Good luck! Fortunately there is also a spacious, warm restaurant and bar outside, serving Scandanavian style food and normal drinks. Since Shanghaiist attended the grand opening party last Friday, where drinks were on the house (the way we like them), we don't know how much stuff costs at this place yet. We will keep you posted.

Taste of Scandinavia, 99 Huichuan Lu, by Changning Lu (汇川路99号，近长宁路). Tel: 5273 7177.