In the mood for a festive drink? Also check out the best wintry pop-ups this Christmas and beyond.
Our guide on where to eat, drink and be merry in igloos, globes, domes and other such transparent structures at bars and restaurants in London this winter — ideal for Christmas parties, meeting friends, and cosy date nights.
Igloos next to the Thames at Coppa Club, Tower Bridge
The OG igloos which sent London into an Instagram frenzy have gone permanent. Yep, you can now dine in an igloo next to the Thames all year round — but it's that little bit more magical at Christmas, with Tower Bridge and the London skyline twinkling in the background.
Up to eight people can share an igloo, though do take note of the minimum spends: £200 per igloo during weekday peak times (rising to £250 at weekends), and £35 per person at other times. Themes tend to update seasonally and we're waiting to see what winter brings for the nine boltholes.
Blankets are provided, but you're still advised to wrap up well on very cold days. Oh, and these igloos are VERY popular and get booked up as soon as bookings open (usually a month at a time —it's a case of checking the website regularly for when your date becomes available).
Coppa Club igloos, Tower Bridge. Available now, throughout winter.
Igloos at Coppa Club, Putney
The smaller, newer and lesser-known branch of Coppa Club in Putney also offers igloos (as do locations outside of London including Brighton, Cobham Sonning and Haslemere).
Though it only has three of the transparent domes compared to Tower Bridge's nine, the minimum spends are slightly less here — £25 per person for all bookings — making it a more affordable option if you're willing to venture out of central London slightly.
Coppa Club igloos, Putney. Available now, throughout winter.
Igloos at Aviary, Finsbury Square
Limited edition Grey Goose cocktails and Nordic-inspired nibbles await at the igloos atop Aviary, which overlooks Finsbury Square — and the view of the City is pretty dreamy too, in a high-rise kinda way. Nordic Nights is the inspiration for this year's winter terrace, which includes igloos surrounded by silver birch and blue spruce trees, all of which are illuminated with light projections resembling the Northern Lights.
Each igloo can seat up to 12 people and the igloos are heated, and come with furry blankets for extra comfort, but seeing as you'll be dining on a rooftop, wrapping up snuggly is still a sensible idea. Various drinking and dining packages are available, including a dinner for two, including two Grey Goose cocktails and a three-course set menu per person for £195. Otherwise, book your igloo and dine from the a la carte menu, but note the minimum £75 per person spend for a two-hour slot.
Aviary igloos, Finsbury Square, Available from 20 October 2023.
Igloos at Wagtail, Bank
Sister venue to Aviary (above), Wagtail is also getting in on the Nordic Nights action. It's a similar set-up (Grey Goose cocktails and Nordic-inspired food, inside igloos that seat up to 12 people) in a different location. It's situated on the old House of Fraser building at the top of London Bridge, so offers views over the bridge, and towards landmarks including the Shard and the Monument.
Igloos at Wagtail, 68 King William Street, EC4N 7HR. Available from 20 October 2023.
Igloos at Skylight, Tobacco Dock
Views of Tower Bridge are all well and good, but what about the entire London skyline? Tobacco Dock once again hosts Skylight, with private rooftop igloos and Alpine huts available to hire. A 'twinkling urban igloo village' is what we're promised: book ahead for a heated igloo, seating up to 10 people, with table service offering a festive drinks menu and Alpine-themed street food, and curl up with with faux-fur rugs and thick blankets as the London cityscape twinkles in the distance.
One level down, the venue also has heated Alpine Huts, hosting up to 14 people, and that rooftop ice rink is back for the winter too (10 November-7 January).
Rooftop igloos at Skylight. Open now.
Snow Globes at Fire and Fromage (Jimmy's Pop Up), South Bank
It wouldn't be winter in London without one of chef Jimmy Garcia's pop-up restaurants on South Bank. Fire and Fromage, an homage to French Alpine ski resort Courchevel, is back for a second season.
Private dining igloos are known as Snow Globes here, and are available to hire, for either lunch, pre-theatre or dinner sittings, each with their own set menu, and minimum spend is £700 per igloo for lunch or dinner, and £450 for pre-theatre. You'll fit up to 10 people in your igloo, and menu options include traditional Alpine fondue with mixed charcuterie, a steak sharer cooked on a hot stone, and boozy hot chocolate topped with cream and marshmallows. Mmm... all the best bits of skiing, basically, without having to do any actual work.
Private dining igloos at Fire and Fromage, 2 November-31 December 2023.
Riverside igloos at Winterland Fulham
Riverside venue Winterland has a frankly dizzying choice of seating and table options (Ski lift bubble? Moose cabin? Apline lodge?) but we also spy the return of its riverside igloos. Hire starts at £10 per person for up to eight people. This year's food options haven't been announced at time of writing, but in the past have included sharing platters, wood-fired pizzas, burgers and fondues, while the drinks menu usually features warm cocktails and special hot chocolates.
Igloos at Winterland, Wandsworth Bridge Road, SW6 2TY. From 27 October 2023.
