Throwing together a Pinterest-perfect bar cart can be a surprisingly involved affair. Because it’s not always enough to buy a bar cart that fits seamlessly into your space—or even to have vague, social media-inspired ideas about your future bar cart’s aesthetic. You need to consider all kinds of things: what you like to drink, what your guests like to drink, how much money you’re willing to spend, how much space you have on the bar cart itself—the list goes on and on. This whirlwind of things to consider can seem overwhelming, but it also comes with a silver lining: Cute bar cart ideas abound.
Once you’ve settled on a bar cart to buy—or even before then—you need to sift through the mess of inspiration and pare things down to what you really want and need. The ideal bar cart is as functional as it is photogenic. It’s the corner of your house that starts the party every time you invite guests over. It’s the escape that sets the scene for your next romantic nightcap. It’s the respite you yearn for at the end of a long day. Were your bar cart simply aesthetic, it mightn’t be able to fulfill these many duties. But if you stock it thoughtfully—with your life, your desires, your needs in mind—your bar cart won’t simply serve as a backdrop to these delightful activities. It will straight-up inspire them.
So take a moment. Think about who you are—what you love to drink, what cocktails you’d like to learn more about, what activities you’re likely to engage in on weekends and weeknights, alike. And then start piecing together a bar cart that does everything you need it to. Some items are must-haves; others are negotiable. The formula for a perfect bar cart is, ultimately, yours to discover. But we’ve compiled a guide to the 16 core elements you should consider as you begin unearthing it.
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A Bunch of Cute Glasses
Glasses are the easiest place to start, because you probably already own a bunch. But even if you don’t (or if you simply want to upgrade what you already have), there are tons of cute glasses worth loading your bar cart with.
Opt for something that’s classic, fun—or some combination of the two. As long as you buy a set of glasses you like looking at (and drinking from), you really can’t go wrong.
Naomi Embossed Juice Glass, $16 at Urban Outfitters
A Bunch of Cute Glasses
Party On Wine Glass, $24 at Bando
A Bunch of Cute Glasses
Gilded Rim Wine Glass, $28 at Anthropologie
A Bunch of Cute Glasses
Martha Stewart Essentials 12-Piece Stemless Flute Set, $30 at Macy’s
A Bunch of Cute Glasses
Allover Fruit Glass (Set of 2), $12 at Urban Outfitters
Shot Glasses
Shot glasses are another easy step, because again, you probably already own a few. And while they may seem a little juvenile for your Very Sophisticated Bar Cart, remember: Bartenders use shot glasses all the time while mixing cocktails.
Throw a few of your kitschiest shot glasses onto your cart, or streamline things with a matching set. Either way, your shot glasses will look great alongside your regular drinking glasses—and they’ll add some range to what you can do in the cocktail-mixing department.
Pineapple Shot Glasses (Set of 2), $35 at Macy’s
Shot Glasses
Juvale Gold Confetti Party Shot Glasses, $15.99 at Amazon
Shot Glasses
Milliard 6-Pack Himalayan Salt Shot Glasses, $18.99 at Amazon
Shot Glasses
Mason Jar Shot Glasses (Set of 4), $10 at Target
Shot Glasses
Moscow Mule Shot Glasses (Set of 4), $19.99 at Amazon
A Cocktail Shaker
Now that you’re a few steps in, it’s time to level up: Score a cute cocktail shaker. (Or take things a step further, and snag an entire cocktail-making kit!)
Be sure not to feel intimidated by this bartending must-have. Even if you don’t use it to mix cocktails (and instead use it only as decoration), it’s still a worthy addition to your cart.
Godinger Dublin Martini Shaker, $19.99 at Amazon
A Cocktail Shaker
W&P Design Pineapple Cocktail Shaker, $80 at Macy’s
A Cocktail Shaker
Kate Spade New York Nolita Cocktail Shaker, $50 at Macy’s
A Cocktail Shaker
Copper Bar Set, $39.99 at Williams Sonoma
A Few Cocktail Books
No one’s expecting you to memorize all your favorite cocktail recipes and whip them up perfectly every time. It’s totally reasonable—and honestly, a little trendy—to stock up on cocktail books.
Buy a few that reflect your interests, and start playing around with recipes in your spare time.
The Art of Mixology, $7.16 at Amazon
A Few Cocktail Books
The Mini Bar: 100 Essential Cocktail Recipes, $20 at Urban Outfitters
A Few Cocktail Books
Floral Libations, $16.95 at Anthropologie
Your Liquor(s) of Choice
At this point, you have your basics covered. You have glasses to drink from. You have cocktail recipes to try. And you have stuff to mix drinks with. Now, all you really need is alcohol.
In order to make every basic cocktail in the book, you should stock up on every kind of liquor: gin, whiskey, vodka, rum, tequila—maybe even brandy. But let’s be honest: You probably have one or two go-to liquors, and your friends most likely do, too. Instead of spending a fortune stocking your bar cart, focus on buying the liquors you’re most likely to need. And remember, you can always add stuff later on, as necessary.
(And—this goes without saying—now is the moment to add all your favorite wines to your cart, too.)
Absolut Vodka, $33.99 atDrizly
Your Liquor(s) of Choice
Espolon Blanco Tequila, $24.99 at Drizly
Your Liquor(s) of Choice
Havana Club White Rum, $20.99 at Drizly
A Few Liqueurs
Liqueurs feel a little fancier than the average handle of liquor. But the truth is, with just a few liqueurs, you can make all kinds of basic cocktails.
This is another great place to remember what you—and your friends—actually like to drink. Focus on scoring the must-have ingredients, and save the extra stuff for later.
Bols Triple Sex, $9.99 at Drizly
A Few Liqueurs
Campari, $36.99 at Drizly
A Few Liqueurs
Angostura Bitters, $9.99 at Drizly
A Few Liqueurs
Dolin Dry Vermouth, $14.99 at Drizly
Some Non-Alcoholic Basics
Sparkling water. Lemon juice. Simple Syrup. These easy ingredients will carry you through a lot of cocktails, so they’re usually worth having on hand.
At this point, you know the drill: Focus on what you need to make the cocktails you love to drink, and ignore the rest. (Although, it doesn’t hurt to keep lemons and sparkling water on hand at all times. Not only do they look great, but they’re also an excellent thing to serve when you’re not in the mood for alcohol.)
Some Non-Alcoholic Basics
Q Mixers Club Soda, $13.20 at Amazon
Some Non-Alcoholic Basics
Schweppes Tonic Water (Pack of 6), $27.85 at Amazon
Some Non-Alcoholic Basics
Stirrings Pure Cane Simple Syrup Cocktail Mixer, $9.85 at Amazon
An Ice Bucket
Ice buckets are kind of like cheese boards—you don’t need them, but they’ll elevate any wine and cheese night you host. Impress your guests by putting your favorite bottle of white on ice after you pour it. And revel in the fact that your ice bucket will add some serious visual interest to your bar cart.
Kate Spade New York Nolita Ice Bucket, $100 at Macy’s
An Ice Bucket
Party on Ice Bucket, $34 at Bando
Some Way to Serve Big-Batch Cocktails
Pitchers and punch bowls are always good to have on hand for parties. If you’ve acquired one, find a spot for it on your cart. If you haven’t, now might be the time to get one. What the ice bucket is to wine and cheese nights, the pitcher is to cocktail parties.
Goldinger Pineapple Beverage Dispenser, $39.99 at Amazon
Some Way to Serve Big-Batch Cocktails
Pink Pressed Glass Pitcher, $13.99 at World Market
Some Way to Serve Big-Batch Cocktails
Blue Pheasant Dylan Pitcher, $178 at Anthropologie
A Few (Environmentally Friendly!) Straws
On most bar carts, you’ll find a cup full of straws—usually reusable metal ones. These are a great way to keep things environmentally friendly while adding some aesthetic flair to your cart.
That said, they can be pricey. If you’re hosting a larger group, remember that you can score similarly cute, similarly eco-friendly paper straws in bigger batches, too.
Sugar & Cloth Paper Straws (12 Count), $5.05 at Amazon
A Few (Environmentally Friendly!) Straws
Pastel Stripe Paper Straws, $6 at Anthropologie
A Few (Environmentally Friendly!) Straws
Stainless Steel Straw Set, $12 at Urban Outfitters
Some Coasters
You might not be a coaster person. But if you are, your bar cart is a great place to display your favorites. (It’s also a great excuse to buy a brand new set.)
Olivewood Coasters (Set of 4), $14.99 at World Market
Some Coasters
Square Marble and Wood Coasters (4 Pack), $19.99 at World Market
Anything Else You Need
In this piece, we’ve covered the basics: the glasses, the alcohol, the party supplies. But we haven’t touched on those little must-haves you use every time you drink. If you’re a wine person, make sure you have a corkscrew. If you’re a beer person, get a bottle opener (or maybe even a kitschy cooler—the beer drinker’s equivalent of the ice bucket). If you’re really into cocktails, get a mortar and pestle.
These go-tos vary enough from person to person that it doesn’t make sense to prescribe them. But just take a moment to mentally run through your drinking necessities, and make sure all of them have a spot on your incredibly delightful, incredibly functional bar cart.
Mako Flat Bottle Openers (Set of 2), $5.36 at World Market
Anything Else You Need
Connected Goods Wood Pestle and Mortar, $36 at Anthropologie
Anything Else You Need
Swan Cocktail Picks (Set of 4), $24 at Anthropologie
Anything Else You Need
Marble and Gold Metallic Dot Corkscrew, $9.99 at World Market
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