Ice bar and lounge opening soon in Toronto

Toronto is getting its first permanent ice house, bar and lounge. The Chill Ice House, from the same people behind Boston's Frost Ice Bar (plus about 20 other ice houses around the world), plans to open in the old Drake General Store space at 82 Bathurst this Spring. Expect minus 5 degree temperatures, ice furniture, ice cocktail glasses, ice plates, ice chandeliers, ice curtains, an ice bar and an ice DJ booth to be among the attractions. In fact, the entire 1300 square foot space will be made out of ice.

So how does that work exactly? From the outside, the Chill Ice House will look like any other building. But inside, once you get past the reception area and fit yourself with a loaned parka you'll enter a space built inside a giant freezer. The space will be open year round and cater to tourists, students (via ice carving classes) as well as those looking to chill out over cocktails and snacks.

Tickets to enter the space ring in at $20 for adults (see full price list here) and hours have tentatively been set as noon to midnight on Friday and Saturday and noon to 9pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. The rest of the week it'll be available to rent for special and corporate events.