Little Miss Adventures samples the icy delights of the world’s coolest restaurant on an Arctic adventure to Finnish Lapland.

DRESSING for dinner takes on new meaning in Finnish Lapland.

If planning to dine in Snowland’s Lumimaa restaurant, leave the little black dress and heels at home.

Warm layers (preferably made of wool) and sturdy boots are essential if you don’t want frostbite nipping at your ears, fingers and toes.

Almost everything inside – including the walls, floors and ceiling, the tableware and dazzling sculptures adorning the entrance – are made of ice extracted from the adjacent Salmijärvi Lake. Up to 60 metric tonnes of ice is harnessed each year.

Construction of the igloo restaurant, situated in Rovaniemi ‘s Pöykkölä district, starts in November and takes four weeks to build using snow cannons. Traditional Lappish buildings, lean-to campfire spots, a Lappish kota (BBQ) hut and traditional nili food cache can are also be found on the Snowland grounds. Before we tuck into dinner, my children test out beds of ice, blanketed with fur throws.

Inside the restaurant up to 270 guest bottoms are kept dry and reasonably warm on wooden seats covered in reindeer pelts. Storm lanterns strung from the frost-encased ceiling and candles on the tables flicker warmly, adding a truly festive ambiance to our icy domain. It’s Boxing Day and we’ve plenty of Christmas cheer still to enjoy.

My gloved hands are soon gripping a cup of traditional hot spiced wine known as Glogg, while soft drink is ordered for the Little Misses. In hindsight, a hot chocolate would have been better. We sip and marvel at our crystalline surroundings for a few minutes more, but eventually the sub-zero cold starts to bite and we become impatient for the first course (of three) to arrive. Thankfully, it’s a warming bowl of creamy tomato soup, served with a basket of crusty bread and placed on a thick wooden board to help insulate it. The next welcome course is a hearty beef stroganoff – a favourite winter dish in these Nordic climes. The atmosphere turns convivial once again as the conversation focuses less on our frozen toes and more on the wonders of our five-day Arctic adventure.

Tonight’s meal is the unforgettable final highlight of our Bentours’ Christmas in Lapland tour.

The Little Misses have had the white Christmas of their dreams having spent the short winter days and long nights catching perfectly formed snowflakes on their tongues, picking snowball fights with elves, listening to fireside fairytales, making friends from around the world and decorating almost a forest of fir trees.

Friendly husky dogs, sleds, snowmobiles and sleigh rides, a trip to Santa’s forest hideaway for a few elf selfies as well as a meet and greet with the man with the flowing white beard and presents to give have enthralled us. We’ve survived temperatures as low as -28° C and we’re now officially life members of the Arctic Circle Club – with the certificate to prove it.

It’s been an endless procession of firsts for our family now also sporting reindeer driving licences and diplomas from Elf School where we learned the secrets to elf espionage at Santa Park. And while the Northern Lights, which regularly dance above Santa’s hometown of Rovaniemi, eluded us we’ve still managed to witness the enchantment of their ethereal light at the Arktikum Science Centre and Museum where Lappish culture and history is displayed across several levels.

In a year or two my children will grow too old to believe in fairytales, but I am quite certain that the magic of this Christmas will stay with them, and me, forever.

Trip Notes

Getting there: Fly to Rovaniemi via Helsinki with Qantas (13 13 13, http://www.qantas.com.au) and Finnair (1300 132 944, http://www.finnair.com).

Stay: The 4.5 star Santa Claus Hotel is located in the centre of town, within walking distance to an ice skating park, shops and the riverside. http://www.hotelsantaclaus.fi/en.

Book: The Christmas in Lapland tour with Bentours,1800 221 712, http://www.bentours.com.au. The 1.5hr dinner in an igloo is optional and costs around $238 per adult and $168 per child.

Play: Enjoy a host of snowy activities from dog sledding to snowmobile adventures with Lapland Safaris. They’ll also kit you out in essential winter clothing for the duration of your stay. http://www.laplandsafaris.com

For more information: http://www.visitrovaniemi.fi/