When we finally sprung for a bar cart. Yes, yes, it sounds dramatic, but for a crew who loves a good cocktail hour, not having a signature bar cart made it feel like there was a missing piece.
And nothing pulls a party together like a beautiful bar cart except one that's perfectly organized, so we're sharing a few pointers for how to make your bar car stand out. Here are ten tips for styling a gorgeous bar cart:
First things first, you need said bar cart to style it! Make sure you get one that fits your style and fits well in your space. If you plan on putting it in a room with a lot of square tables, go for a round or oval-shaped bar cart. If you want it to be a statement piece, go for a modern lucite number or something that's a looker.
The only thing we insist upon? That your cart has wheels because: a) it's not really a bar cart without wheels and b) our ultimate entertaining dream is having a cocktail party where the bar comes to you!
Even before the team at Pantone declared Greenery the color of the year, we were totally onboard. From our office chairs to our vintage ice bucket and vases, we were drawn to this color long ago, which is why our summer bar cart is centered around that very color.
But you don't need to reshop your whole home to make your bar cart stand out. Just pick a central color palette (ours are greenery, copper, and grey) and run with it.
Unless you drink one cocktail ever, most bar carts likely won't hold everything you need. So don't try to fit every bottle you ever bought and instead go in with a game plan that works both in terms of visuals and for making a cocktail or three. Just make sure it's properly stocked with these bar essentials.
Speaking of less is more, we believe the best bar cart is one that revolves around a signature drink (or two) like, say, this Basil Citrus Berry Smash Cocktail.
For more inspiration, check out our picks for Cocktail Party-worthy drinks.
If you're having a party and drinks are involved, you'll also want to keep your guests well fed. That's why you'll want to have at least one snack on the bar cart so people can mix and munch all night long.
Need some inspiration? Here are a few of our favorite cocktail party appetizers though you could 100% get a great storebought snack (like the addictive Truffle Pipcorn pictured here) and we'll never pass any judgement — promise.
Even when the bar cart is not in use, it should be in use. Meaning, it should be one of the standout pieces in your dining room or living room. So pull out your most unique and/or vintage glassware (we love most everything from Juliska) and place it on the cart so it's on full display.
Between shakers, muddlers, bottles, and glassware, there's nonstop hard surfaces on most bar carts. Counteract all that with some softness be it in the form of linen cocktail napkins or a vase of delicate flowers.
Add some height to your shelves by using books to prop up bowls such as ashtrays or catchalls. And, if you're looking for books that actually serve a purpose (which you should!), we suggest stocking up on a couple classics: The Bar Book or The PDT Cocktail Book.
The number one way to personalize your bar cart is to bring in some homemade bar elements. A few we're partial to are these Hibiscus Ginger Syrup, this Saffron Cardamom Tincture, or these Orange bitters.
Speaking of personalization, we fully believe any relevant personal tchotkes (like our vintage Limoges food and wine collection), are another great addition to the cart.
Now that you've got your bar cart down, check out these summery garnish ideas to make your Happy Hour extra Insta-worthy!
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Aida is a food and travel expert, author, chef, Food Network personality, founder of the travel services company, Salt & Wind Travel, and partner at the creative agency and educational platform, Border Free Media. She has made her career in food travel media and hospitality and has crisscrossed the globe to search out the best food destinations.
After graduating from the Cornell Hotel School and Le Cordon Bleu Paris, she joined CHOW Magazine where she ran the test kitchen and worked as Food Editor. Aida then moved to television, hosting the Food Network show, Ask Aida, FoodCrafters on the Cooking Channel, In The Pantry on Yahoo!, and the TasteMade series, Off Menu. Her cookbook, Keys To The Kitchen, is a go-to for home cooks who want to become more adventurous cooks and the Travel Guides For Food Lovers series she has co-authored are beloved among food travelers.
Through Border Free Media, Aida shares the lessons she’s learned as an entrepreneur with other creative businesses. From teaching our Cooking Club classes to cohosting our group trips, in all that she does Aida aims to help discerning travelers taste the world.
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