AFTER WORK SOIRÉES AT THE ICE BAR
FULL PROGRAMME AT CAROUGE PATINOIRE
by Chené Koscielny
THE ICE BAR at the Carouge Patinoire is one of the coolest places to be this winter, whether you’re into ice-skating or not.
Personally, I’d much rather be next to the ice with a glass of something sinful or strong than trying not to face plant in front of the little ones on the ice, won’t you?
Luckily for me, the Ice Bar has been revamped this year, turning it into one of the cosiest places to hang out in Carouge.
Wintry and Christmas decorations, fairy lights and an irresistible fireplace help to create a warm and welcoming chalet-style ambiance.
It’s the perfect place to escape with your book, enjoying a sneaky hot chocolate, while the kids (including husband) work off some energy on the ice. The location is just perfect – right next to the parking Sardaigne. The big outdoor terrace is beautiful on a sunny day – with a view over the ice.
AFTER WORK SOIRÉES
This week we tested the first after work soirée at the Ice Bar with some friends.
From 17h30 (or maybe a little bit later in reality) as the families start heading home, the ambiance becomes more trendy and adult – with after workers socialising over a cocktail or a vin chaud, sharing a plate of charcuterie or enjoying a meal.
LIVE MUSIC
We enjoyed getting up close and personal with this week’s guitarist who sang some golden oldies and some of our sing-a-long favourites, including the one that starts with… “Sitting on the dock of the bay… you know the one!”
The music is not too loud and the atmosphere is intimate – think more private concert at home than noisy bar.
For a bit of Swiss tradition, we’re looking forward to the traditional Swiss accordion and Longeole (typical Swiss sausage) evening.
THE MENU
Although the restaurant is small, they offer a good selection of food and snacks, which have to be ordered at the bar.
So far we’ve tried the tartiflette with bacon, which was delicious, as well as the Longeole sausage served on a generous bed of lentils. It is the first time we tried this Swiss specialty and it was delicious. We enjoyed our first vin chaud of the season and chased it with a few glasses of Chasselas.
Other options include the usual suspects – raclette, fondue and baked vacherin. The nutella crépes and other snacks are popular with families!
We had a lovely evening – great for meeting up with some friends or colleagues in a relaxed, intimate, cosy atmosphere.
FOR SKATERS – THE PATINOIRE
If you’re into skating – you’ll love this cute rink, which is just the right size, i.e. not the postage stamp sized artificial ones that pop up around this time of year, but also not so overwhelming that you’ll lose your children or friends.
The programme for children includes 5 disco evenings, a Kid’s day, a charity skating event and more.
See the full programme on the website – listed below.
WHEEL-CHAIR FRIENDLY
For this first time this year, the Carouge ice-skating rink welcomes wheelchair users with two platforms equipped for wheelchairs.
MORE INFO
For more information about opening hours, events and the Ice Bar,
visit this website.
