The Igloo Experience

Last week, in an effort to try out a fun winter dining experience, I headed over to 116 Crown in New Haven, where they have three cozy igloos on their outdoor patio. Reservations are required, and they come in two hour blocks, but throughout the duration of our time there, we never felt like we were being rushed, and we definitely ended up staying past our two hours.

Each igloo is slightly different, but since we booked a reservation for dinner and drinks, ours came with a long wooden picnic table with benches draped in faux fur, in addition to a few other lounge chairs. The igloos also come complete with a small heater, blankets, games, and a portable bluetooth speaker. Although I went with a few friends, there was no denying the romantic atmosphere, as the igloos are lit entirely with candles, so if you’re looking for a unique place to take a date, the igloos are definitely worth checking out. Alternatively though, they are easily big enough to fit between six and eight people, so I would definitely go back with a larger group in the future.

We started our night out with a round of cocktails, and an order of truffle fries, which were absolutely delicious. 116 Crown has a pretty expansive cocktail list, so we each ordered something different and sampled everything. Our favorite drink was the Corpse Reviver, which is gin based, with maraschino liqueur, tonic syrup, and lime juice.

For dinner we decided to share three pizzas, which are personal sized, but more than enough for one person. We ordered the Margherita, the New Haven (a white clam), and the Principe, which had tomatoes, eggplant, and cherry peppers. Out of the three, the Principe was definitely the winner.

Overall, we loved our igloo experience, and would definitely go back again. For me, it’s important to find fun winter experiences that help make the cold a little bit more enjoyable, and igloos are definitely one of them. I also loved dressing for the night in my coziest sweater from Lou and Grey, my favorite velvet leggings, and a new pair of sherpa mules – needless to say, we were so comfortable, we could have stayed all night!