So you bought a bar cart. Now what? You need stuff to put on it and you want it to look cute, right!? I recently bought a bar cart and faced the same dilemma. I’ll show you all the bar cart essentials I found to have a fully functioning stylish mobile bar (cart).
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These are my favorite acoutremon that will instantly elevate your bar cart. With these essentials plus your favorite bottles of booze, you’ll be ready to toast any special occasion – or even just for making it through Tuesday!
With these essentials plus your favorite bottles of booze, you’ll be ready to toast any special occasion – or even just for making it through Tuesday!
This post is all about what you need to create a chic and modern bar cart.
Essential #1: Glassware
Since different libations call for different glasses, having your bar cart stocked with a variety will make sure you’re ready for any drink request.
My rule of thumb is to have wine glasses (a few for red and a few for white), coupe cocktail glasses, and double old-fashioned glasses on hand, which should cover most common bevvys you might pour.
I’m a huge fan of CB2 glassware in general. They hit all the right notes on modern aesthetics at a reasonable price range.
My picks from their collection are the Muse red and white wine glasses, the Marie Coupe Cocktail Glasses, and Buchanan Stacking Double Old Fashioned (for a little visual interest, I like the low profile and pressed glass).
[slide-anything id=”85″]Essential #2: Ice Bucket
While you likely won’t have an ice bucket filled on the daily, having one on your bar cart is essential when you are hosting an event. Don’t forget to have a scoop or tongs nearby so your guests can easily help themselves hygienically.
A new addition to my cart is this gold ice bucket. The mid-century modern design is sleek and yet familiar. I appreciate that it makes our bar cart look like it has been collected over time, rather than stocked with all shiny new things.
[slide-anything id=”96″]Essential #3: Tools
A pretty set of bar tools does wonders for making a stylish and functional bar cart. Rather than having a bunch of mismatched tools scattered about, a set will keep your cart looking neat and you ready to mix.
I have and love this gold bar tool set. I’ve also linked a few more that I have my eye on for gifts (or to refresh my cart look at some point in the future).
[slide-anything id=”105″]Essential #4: Shaker & Mixing Glass
To shake or to stir? That is the question. To make any cocktail recipe, have both a shaker and a mixing glass on hand.
With a mixing glass, you can easily serve neat beverages up – chilled but not on ice. Simply put ice in the mixing glass, pour your libation of choice over the ice, and then pour from the mixing glass into your old-fashioned glass, leaving the ice in the mixing glass. I adore this cocktail mixing glass, which makes a set with the old-fashioned glasses from essential #1. This one from Amazon is great too.
To be a proper bar cart tender, you also need a shaker. This is really jewelry for your bar cart – so many pretty options – but also functional. This oval shaped shaker with post-modern vibes is stunning. If you love copper as much as I do, you may like this copper Boston shaker. (This would also make a great gift since it comes in a nice box!)
[slide-anything id=”185″]Essential #5: Decanters
Decanters aren’t just for wine. You can also decant liquor. I especially like to do this when a bottle label doesn’t go with the room aesthetic (because we can’t have our bar cart clashing with our home decor, right!?).
There are some really beautiful decanters available that will instantly up your bar cart game. I personally have and love a wine decanter very similar to this one, and I’m on the market for a tall liquor decanter. A few on my wish list are linked below.
[slide-anything id=”126″]Essential #6: Napkins & Coasters
Now that your guests (and you) have drinks in hand, you may want a napkin or coaster in case someone would like to put down their glass.
It’s no secret around my house that I kind of have a thing for themed napkins. We have paper napkins for pretty much every occasion. My bar cart is no exception. This set of cheers paper napkins in an acrylic holder is just the thing for any bar cart.
My absolute favorite coasters are these Anthropologie Agate Coasters. I have given them as gifts, and have several in use in my own home. Personally, I like the white quartz color because it blends seamlessly into any holiday or decor theme. I also have slate coasters very similar to these that are great everyday options for your bar cart accessories.
[slide-anything id=”135″]Essential #7: Trays & Boards
I like to keep a larger tray on the bottom shelf of my bar cart. It really serves two purposes. First, it corrals glassware and other items, which helps the cart feel neat and organized. Second, it doubles as a serving tray to carry multiple glasses out to serve guests. My favorite trays are the Grant Serving Tray from Crate & Barrel. They are reasonably priced and come in several colors.
This leather tray from Target is a recent addition to my tray collection. Right now, it’s being used as my kitchen table centerpiece. But I think it would also look great on a bar cart!
On the top shelf of a bar cart, have a small cutting board at the ready to slice garnishes. These modern slate boards also from Crate & Barrel come in multiple sizes and start at around $10. (Bonus: You can also use them for cheese boards, as I did in a post on secrets to creating a simple cheese board.)
[slide-anything id=”148″]Essential #8: Dishes
The next bar cart essentials we need to cover are dishes. While glassware is the star houseware on a bar cart, a thoughtful extra touch is a small dish for little waste, such as caps and wine bottle seals. Obviously, this is not meant to collect a lot of garbage. But it’s just a convenient way to collect small things that can be discarded later.
I keep a small bowl on the top shelf of our bar cart. You can change it out seasonally or to coordinate with your party theme. A few I have and a few on my wish list are linked below.
[slide-anything id=”154″]Essential #9: Picks & Stirrers
Picks are needed when you’re adding garnish to a beverage and don’t want it to float in the glass. I recently picked up these wood and matte gold picks from Amazon and am a big fan. They are pretty neutral, so they can tie in with many different events. They can also double as picks for appetizers and cheese boards, as we did in this post[link to post].
If you’d like an alternative to disposable, this set of gold cocktail picks is divine. The shape is interesting but understated.
While maybe not always necessary, a fun detail for your bar cart are stirrers. Contain a collection of stirrers in a vessel so they are at-the-ready. I have my eye on these gold cheers stirrers. The sentiment would cover many different types of events so you could get a lot of use out of them.
Essential #10: Bartender Book
Sure, we have all the knowledge in the world at our fingertips by Googleing or asking Alexa for cocktail recipe instructions. But there is something lovely about having an actual book on hand as well. Plus, it serves as decoration when the bar cart is not in use. Flip through it to get inspiration for your next speakeasy.
[slide-anything id=”169″]Bar Cart Essentials: The Bar Cart
If you’re on the hunt for a bar cart, this is the exact one I purchased from Target. It was fairly easy to assemble, and I think the nod to mid century design makes it look far more expensive than it actually was. Oh, and the leather handle is everything.
There you have it, folks. Ten bar cart essentials you need to up your game. I hope you found this useful and will help make your next party a smashing success.
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Cheers!
This post was all about bar cart essentials.
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