Dinner in an Igloo: Pier 500

If you haven’t been to Hudson, Wisconsin, I can’t recommend it enough!  Located on the Wisconsin side of the Wisconsin/Minnesota border, it’s one of my favorite small towns in the Midwest.  Unique boutiques, eclectic dining and scenic river views: what’s not to love?!

However, when I think of Hudson, I usually think of it in terms of summer weather: drinks on a patio, window shopping on Main Street, strolling the riverside, laying on the beach.  Overlooking the river, Pier 500 is one of my favorite places to go for brunch or for a patio happy hour after a day on the beach.  When I heard Pier 500 had come up with a way to enjoy their patio in the dead of Wisconsin winter, I knew I had to try it for myself!

Their patio now features four “igloos”: two for a casual gathering over drinks and two for a sit-down dinner.  Since we were celebrating a birthday (mine!) when we visited, we reserved one of the dining igloos.  The dining igloos are available for reservation in two hour increments and seat 6-10 people.  A space heater inside keeps the temperature nice and toasty while you overlook gorgeous, wintry views of the winter.  I highly recommend trying to reserve a time when you will capture sunset!

The full menu is available in the igloo (brie cheese curds, yes please!) but they also have a small menu specific to those dining in the igloo.  If you like martinis, the Coconut Snowball martini was delicious and the perfect touch to the winter-chic ambiance.  Icicle lights dangled from the top of the igloo while you wined and dined by “candlelight”.  I also loved that it felt like we had our own private dining room!

Winter has always been my least favorite season: pretty the first few snowfalls, then something to get through so I can enjoy the rest of the Midwestern seasons.  Dinner in an igloo has given me a whole new appreciation for winter!  Join me for a Coconut Snowball anyone?

Have you ever eaten in an igloo?  What’s your favorite part of winter?