Eating in a restaurant made from snow and ice was something we wanted to try during our daughter's 14th birthday weekend in Lapland. We'd already stayed overnight at the Arctic SnowHotel on an earlier trip, so this time we returned for the Ice Restaurant without booking another night.
We chose a visiting package with return transfers from Rovaniemi, SnowHotel admission and a three-course dinner. That made it more of an evening out than simply arriving, eating and leaving, which is important when you're deciding whether the price is worth it.
The price recorded for this review started at €124 per adult for dinner with SnowHotel admission, with transfer packages also available. That's a significant amount for a meal, but we spent several hours exploring the hotel and grounds as well as eating.
Here's what our evening was like, what we thought of the food and who I'd recommend the Arctic SnowHotel Ice Restaurant for.
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⭐ Our rating: 5/5 for the overall evening
💰 Prices recorded for this review: Dinner with SnowHotel admission from €124 per adult and €72 per child; transfer packages available separately
⏱️ Time we'd allow: Around 4.5 hours for an evening package, depending on the booking
📍 Location: Arctic SnowHotel, Sinettä, roughly half an hour from Rovaniemi
🍽️ Our meal: Three courses inside the Ice Restaurant
🚌 Our booking: Included return transfers from Rovaniemi
💙 Best suited to: People who want the setting and wider SnowHotel visit as well as dinner
The prices above aren't live quotes. Check the current menu, child ages, admission arrangements, transfers and any extra charges for the option you're booking.
For us, it was worth booking because we enjoyed the whole evening, not only the meal. If we'd judged it purely against the cost of three courses in an ordinary restaurant, it would have felt expensive.
We had time to explore the snow rooms and carvings, look around the Ice Chapel, visit the Ice Bar and spend time outside before dinner. We also saw the reindeer, used the sledges and warmed up beside the fire in the kota.
We were even lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights, although that was an unexpected bonus rather than something included or promised.
By the time we sat down to eat, we'd already enjoyed a proper outing. That's why I'd compare it with an evening experience rather than only a restaurant bill.
It worked well for our daughter's birthday, and we came away very pleased we'd chosen it.
We booked a visiting package with transfers, which made it straightforward to get there and back without hiring a car or arranging separate taxis.
Our evening included:
During our visit, we could also see the resident reindeer, use sledges on the snowy hill and warm up in the kota. Those details added to our evening, but I'd check what is available during your own visit rather than assume the grounds will be set up exactly as they were for ours.
Drinks and any other experiences should be checked against the selected package. Access to the Ice Bar doesn't automatically mean a drink is included.
SnowHotel admission was part of the dinner arrangement described in this review. If you're already staying at the resort or comparing another rate, check how admission and meals are handled so you know the full total.
We booked the visiting package with return transfers during our daughter's 14th birthday weekend in Lapland. After collection in Rovaniemi, we arrived with time to look around before dinner.
Although we'd visited the hotel before, it was lovely seeing a different winter's design. The snow-and-ice structure is rebuilt, so the themed rooms and carvings weren't simply a repeat of our earlier stay.
We spent plenty of time wandering through the corridors and looking into the rooms. There was a lot to photograph, and I was glad we hadn't arrived with only enough time to head straight to the restaurant.
Outside, we visited the reindeer and borrowed sledges before having a warm-up by the fire in the kota. We also bought a drink in the Ice Bar, where the ice glasses added another little detail to the visit.
The Northern Lights appearing while we were in the grounds was one of the highlights. We hadn't booked expecting to see them, so it felt like a lovely extra on an already enjoyable evening.
Dinner then became another part of the outing rather than the only reason we'd travelled there. That balance was what made the package work for us.
I wasn't expecting the food to be quite as good as it was. With so much emphasis on the surroundings, I'd wondered whether the setting would be doing most of the work, but we enjoyed the meal too.
Our menu started with creamy parsnip soup, followed by a choice that included elk, Arctic salmon, chicken or a vegan falafel dish. Menus can change, so those are the options from our visit rather than a promise of what you'll be offered.
Our daughter had an adult ticket but preferred the children's Pasta Bolognese. The staff were happy to make that swap, which we appreciated. If you have dietary requirements or a particular meal concern, I'd ask before booking rather than rely on the same change being available on the day.
One thing we noticed was how quickly the hot food cooled in the restaurant. I didn't spend as long taking photographs of each course as I might elsewhere because I wanted to enjoy it while it was warm.
The portions weren't enormous, but they were enough for us across the three courses, and we didn't leave hungry. Dinner took around an hour, which was quicker than I'd expected but didn't feel rushed after the time we'd already spent exploring.
Dessert was served on a plate carved from ice, which was a lovely finishing touch. It's the sort of detail you remember afterwards, even though the meal itself is only one part of the evening.
This isn't a restaurant where I'd change into a dress and leave my coat at the door. You're eating inside a snow-and-ice structure, so dress for the cold and follow the venue's advice.
We were already dressed for exploring the hotel and grounds, which made it easy to go straight into dinner. I'd prioritise being comfortable rather than worrying about dressing up.
The food lost heat more quickly than it would in a warm restaurant. I'd take a quick photograph if you want one, then enjoy the course rather than spend ages arranging the perfect shot.
Our meal lasted about an hour, but the package took around 4.5 hours overall. Check the timings of your own booking, including collection, dinner and the return journey.
I'd leave enough time to explore the SnowHotel as well as eat. That was a big part of why we thought the evening offered good value.
If you aren't hiring a car, compare a package with transport against arranging it yourself. We liked having the return journey organised, especially after spending several hours outside and in the ice buildings.
Between the rooms, carvings, restaurant and grounds, we took plenty of photographs. Cold weather can use up the battery quickly, so I'd keep the phone warm between pictures and have a power bank available.
It's a seasonal restaurant with limited sittings, so I'd check the meal options and availability before planning the rest of the day around it.
Our daughter's menu swap was handled kindly, but I'd confirm dietary needs and alternatives in advance. It gives you a clearer idea of whether the meal will suit everyone.
I'd consider it for a birthday, anniversary or a trip where you want one meal to be part of a bigger experience. It suited our daughter's 14th birthday weekend because it felt a little different from the other activities we'd booked.
Couples, friends and families with older children may enjoy the combination of exploring the hotel and having dinner somewhere unusual. I'd be more thoughtful about booking for very young children who might struggle with the cold or a longer evening away from the accommodation.
The menu matters too. You don't need to be an adventurous eater to enjoy the setting, but I'd want everyone to have something they're happy to eat, particularly at this price.
I wouldn't choose it simply because I wanted the best-value dinner in Rovaniemi. I'd choose it because I wanted to explore the SnowHotel and eat inside the ice setting as part of the trip.
Our Best Things to Do in Lapland With Teens guide includes more of the experiences we've enjoyed with older children.
You can check the Ice Restaurant visiting package here. Compare the selected date, meal, admission and transport details before paying.
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The original options recorded for this review included lunch from €59 per adult with SnowHotel admission, compared with dinner from €124 per adult with admission. Lunch was described as soup, bread and dessert, while dinner was a full three-course meal.
Those aren't live prices or guaranteed current menus, so check what's available for your dates. Transfers may also change the amount you pay.
Lunch could be worth comparing if you mainly want to try eating inside the Ice Restaurant and look around the hotel without spending as much as an evening package.
We've experienced dinner rather than both services, so I can't give a first-hand comparison of the meals. For our birthday trip, I'd choose the evening again because we enjoyed the illuminated setting and making a longer outing of it.
Having the transfers arranged helped too. We could enjoy the visit without needing to decide when to call a taxi or work out the journey back afterwards.
We were very happy we'd included it in our daughter's 14th birthday weekend. The meal was enjoyable, but it was the combination of the hotel, surroundings and dinner that made it worth the cost for us.
There are cheaper places to eat, and I wouldn't suggest it as an essential booking for every Lapland trip. If it fits your budget and you're excited about the wider experience, though, it's an evening I'd happily recommend considering.
We combined it with Santa Claus Village, ice karting, Snowman World and Lapland Winter Park's Sauna World during our winter break in Rovaniemi.
If you're considering sleeping there as well, our Arctic SnowHotel review covers our earlier overnight stay. For the full birthday weekend plan, you can read our 2-Day Rovaniemi Itinerary.
Whenever I spot great-value DIY Lapland flights and accommodation from UK airports, I share them with members of the Build a Break Travel Club. If you'd like to put together your own trip without paying package holiday prices, it's a useful place to find ideas.
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