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The China Daily recently reported that we are soon to see the opening of The Absolut Icebar, billed as Asia's first ice bar. The concept is that there's a lot of ice and ice sculptures, and it's really cold inside. Absolut says that the ice being used isn't just any old ice, but the pure stuff from the Torne River in Sweden.
The problem is that this place is being billed as "Asia's first ice bar," which seems to us as not completely true. In Shanghai, for example, we had Taste of Scandinavia as well as part of Binjiang One, both of which boasted similar set ups, the parkas, subzero temperatures, etc. Check out pictures out pictures of some of the cool cats that hung out at Taste of Scandinavia last year.
This newest one, which is still under construction (the sculptors are still working on the ice sculptures that will adorn the inside) is located on Huai Hai Lu. Sinosplice has some pictures from the outside. It seems that the only way you could really call this place the first ice bar in Asia is if you say all the non-Absolut ones don't count.
Also on Shanghaiist:
Ice Ice Baby: A new bar where everything is on the rocks
Photo from Trig's Flickr page
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There is an icebar in Singapore, right near Boat Quay. This is definitely not the first one.
I'm trying to work out where this place is billed as Asia's first ice bar. Certainly not in the story you linked to. Is it Absolut itself saying this?
Actually, the linked article bill's it as the city's first ice bar, from the 2 seconds I got to look at it. From the photo caption
" has been transported from northern Sweden to build city's first ice bar, which is scheduled to open next month."
Upon further reading, I think they mean it's the first "Icebar" (notice the captial I), as in chain of bars owned by Absolut, in Asia.
Sorry. We linked to the wrong story the first time around. I have changed the first link to the correct one.
Hmm - in this global-warming world, I wonder how much energy it takes to keep that ice from melting.....just so people can have a drink in a place with a bit of novelty...sigh.
Just got back from Binjiang One, in Pudong, and surprise surprise, they claim to be the only icebar in Shanghai too!