Vantage Rooftop Lounge and Conservatory’s Heated Igloos

As winter months bring frigid weather, most restaurant and bar patios close up their decks for the bitter season, unable to accommodate many in their area who enjoy the outdoor scene. However, Hotel Vandivort’s rooftop lounge and conservatory brought a creative approach to soak up the Springfield scenes this winter in their heated igloos.

Vantage, the rooftop bar located above the hotel, elegantly transforms their rooftop deck into an igloo wonderland when temperatures drop, for not only hotel guests, but for all of Springfield to enjoy.

Located on the fifth floor, Vantage offers a high-class sipping experience with extraordinary views in the luxury of a heated igloo. The igloos went up mid-October, replacing their summer patio furniture, and give guests the opportunity to take full advantage of the outdoors despite the cold.

Filled with soft couches, plush chairs, a table, and ambient lighting, the popular igloos have turned attention of both locals and tourists in the area and make a phenomenal addition to the diverse downtown scene with no reservation needed.

Director of Food and Beverage, Dylan Rauhoff, tells of the missing element the bar was designed to fulfill, describing, “[how it] was the rooftop bar that allowed Springfieldians to see their downtown from a different vantage.”

“The igloos were our way to ensure that piece of the experience could still be experienced in the colder months. The overall inspiration for Vantage came from our own personal experiences and what we thought downtown Springfield needed,” continued Rauhoff. “We went on research trips to larger markets such as Chicago, Dallas, and Kansas City in order to experience as many varieties of roof top bars as we could in order to ensure we added something truly special to Downtown Springfield.”

Vantage’s igloos are not only charming, but also extremely functional and hospitable. Suited for up to eight, guests never have to leave their seats as the waitstaff is happy to serve from inside the serene igloos. The bar additionally offers a wide arrangement of cocktails and appetizers ranging from snack mixes to charcuterie boards to satisfy every craving.

Rauhoff gives locals insight into their most popular menu items.

“The P.G.R. is one of our popular draft cocktail at the moment, which is a delicious blend of tequila, pomegranate and grapefruit and our Ahi Tuna dish and Braised Beef sliders are constantly flying out of our kitchen,” he said.

The rooftop igloos are a creative way to explore the bar scene during the winter months, but with spring shortly approaching, it will not be long before the patio is switched to cabanas. Grab your friends and cuddle up in the comfort of an igloo under the Springfield sky thanks to Hotel Vandivort’s innovative creation.

Article written by Cosette Spencer.