Not just your drink, the bar’s on the rocks

Gurgaon might soon get India’s first ice bar, where everything from the glasses to the décor will be made up of ice. Sanjeev K Ahuja tells us more.

Gurgaon might soon get India’s first ice bar, where everything from the glasses to the décor will be made up of ice.

HT Image

Hoteliers are exploring the possibility of opening one after new provisions allowing it were incorporated in this year’s Haryana excise policy.

Ashok Sharma, deputy excise and taxation commissioner, told HT: “Hotels and restaurants already having bar licence would be allowed to open ice bars. They’ll have to pay an additional annual fee of Rs 1 lakh.”

The temperature inside ice bars is around -5 degrees Celsius. “Guests are given special attires and shoes,” he added. London, Melbourne, Stockholm, Shanghai and Dubai already have such bars.

Rajneesh Malhotra of Park Plaza Hotel said: “An ice bar would be an added attraction.” Sanjay Mehta of Hotel Bristol said they were exploring the possibility.