Want a location for a spectacular get together or a special occasion? Pier One Hotel's Igloos on the Pier have an igloo to suit every event whether it be a dinner for six, a cocktail party, a sleepover or just a birthday lunch for two!
It was Mr NQN's birthday and the middle of winter. We usually time a vacation so that we are somewhere warm for it but needed to conserve his annual leave for a November trip. This led me to searching for ideas for a wintery fun birthday idea for him.
Enter the igloos at Pier One. You may have seen these all over Instagram. They were first established during the winter season to make the most of the patio area facing Sydney harbour. They've proved so popular that they make an appearance every winter since and they can be yours until August 31st.
People can rent the igloos for two hour sessions and there is a minimum spend involved depending on the day. There are more than half a dozen igloos to choose from and one of the most photographed is the Snow Globe Igloo. This igloo is new for 2019 (along with the Dream and Dining igloos) and actually sits on the water with its own deck area outside. The rest of the igloos sit on the deck and are similarly outfitted (apart from the hot tub igloo and the dining igloo) but I'd recommended doing a looksee if you're thinking of booking one so you can choose the igloo to your liking.
The hot tub one is a good way to try the igloos and for $100 you can book this for 6 people for a period of two hours with towels, robes, slippers and access to a change room (food and additional drinks is extra). At the other end of the scale is the Dream Igloo where you sleep in one of the igloos overnight. Booking is recommended but they also accept walk ins for the igloos. Each igloo has a minimum food and drink spend attached to it and they're reasonable if you're in a group especially from Monday to Wednesday.
We make our way down the Pier One pontoon's grassy incline to the igloo and walk into the Snow Globe igloo with lanterns above. It's cosy warm in here and like a glasshouse which suits me just fine (although I can see why they don't do these in summer).
There's a bluetooth speaker so that you can link up your music and to the side there was water, plastic cups, plates and napkins to help yourself to to lay the table so it's a bit self service in that respect. You can also order bottles of wine, cider, beer and food from the igloo menu with the staff. The minimum spend for this igloo is $400 from Monday to Wednesday and $750 from Thursday to Sunday and is an adults only igloo that seats 12 people.
The only thing about the snow globe igloo is that because it is on the water it can sway a bit back and forth. For that reason they recommend booking it at night and high heels are not recommended. It is particularly photogenic at sunset too.
Mr NQN has a Rye Punch with Archie Rose White Rye, Oleo Saccharum (citrus oil), passionfruit puree, soda while I go for a strawberry soda.
Well you know me and popcorn right? I had to order it, even if I'm not completely in love with Vegemite. And this is very tasty with real Vegemite butter on the popcorn. Vegemite lover Mr NQN loves this.
There are three different types of jaffles on the menu and I went for the black truffle and cheese jaffle with shaved black truffle and oozy cheese inside the toasted jaffle. On the side are truffle and pecorino fries and a pot of tomato sauce.
Pizza is available in the igloos before 5pm and this is a margarita pizza with tomato and mozzarella as well as a sprinkling of dried herbs. I add some of the salami from the meat plate below.
It was a hard choice between the cheese board or the meat board but meat won. There is prosciutto and two salamis with a pot of pickles on the side and a plate of thick, crunchy and toasted sourdough.
And just because we are on the harbour we order some seafood. The fried school prawns are sprinkled with lemon myrtle and chilli salt with sliced chillies. I squeeze some lemon on them and they make for a tasty snack.
And for dessert, a chocolate ganache and caramel mousse with a thin layer of chocolate encircling it and a Happy Birthday for Mr NQN!
So tell me Dear Reader, what do you think of the igloos? Which igloo sounds the most suited to you?
NQN and Mr NQN were guests of Pier One Sydney but all opinions remain her own.
Pier One Sydney Harbour, Autograph Collection
11 Hickson Road Walsh Bay, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 8298 9999
pieronesydneyharbour.com.au/igloos-on-the-pier/
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