Best bar carts and ideas on how to style a drinks trolley

Jump to:

• Best bar carts to buy 2024
• What to consider when buying a bar cart
• How to style a bar cart

Best bar cart and drinks trolleys at a glance

• Best colourful bar cart: Novogratz metal bar cart, £38.99
• Best classic bar cart: M&S Milan drinks trolley, £199
• Best budget bar cart: Fairmont Park McCaskill metal bar cart, £35.99
• Best bar cart for use outdoors: John Lewis round garden bar trolley, £149
• Best luxury bar cart: Swoon Hansel drinks trolley, £499
• Best large capacity bar cart: Lifewit drinks trolley, £59.99
• Best round bar cart: Canora Grey Schaefer metal bar cart, £169.99
• Best wooden bar cart: Dunelm Naples serving cart, £59
• Best three tiered bar cart: Fairmont Park Ruth metal bar cart, £144.99

Best bar cart and drinks trolley styles to buy in 2024

Novogratz metal bar cart

• Available from Wayfair (£38.99)

Best colourful bar cart

While many drinks trolleys come in minimalist design choices of glass or metalware, this option from Wayfair is perfect for those who want a splash of colour in their life. Available in four bold shades of bright blue, yellow, orange or mint, the angular three-shelf design itself is simple to let the colour do the talking. At under £50, it is also a bargain.

Available from:
Wayfair (£38.99)

M&S Milan drinks trolley

• Available from Marks & Spencer (£199)

Best classic bar cart

This classic bar cart has a simple two-shelf design and is on wheels for easy manoeuvring wherever you want to host a party in your home. The silver drinks trolley has glass shelves and metallic detailing, plus it comes with an impressive 10-year guarantee. Coffee tables and side tables in the same range are also available.

Available from:
Marks & Spencer (£199)

Fairmont Park McCaskill metal bar cart

• Available from Wayfair (£35.99)

Best budget bar cart

Given the price of many bar carts we have seen, we were seriously impressed by the price point of this gold drinks trolley from Wayfair. At under £50, it has two generously-sized shelves for holding drinks and plenty of glassware within its glamorous, Art Deco-inspired gold frame. It has glass shelves and is on wheels to easily move around.

Available from:
Wayfair (£35.99)

John Lewis round garden bar trolley

• Available from John Lewis (£149)

Best bar trolley for use outdoors

Love to host a garden party? This wooden drinks trolley is the answer to your al fresco entertaining needs. The shelves are made from weather-resistant acacia wood, the frame is weather-resistant steel and the trolley is on wheels for pulling up to your garden table.

Available from:
John Lewis (£149)

Hansel drinks trolley

• Available from Swoon (£499, black and mango wood)

Best luxury bar cart

We love the luxe blend of marble, brass and mango wood in this minimalist drinks trolley, as well as the useful bottle rack underneath so you can stash spirits safely. The top shelf is smartly divided into two sections so you can easily store glassware on one side and cocktail kit on the other. It is an investment piece that will stand the test of time.

Available from:
Swoon (£499, black and mango wood)

Lifewit drinks trolley

• Available from Amazon (£59.99)

Best large capacity bar cart

This bar cart offers ample storage space so you won't need to have an extra cupboard stashing spare bottles or kit. Along with two long shelves, a bottle rack in the middle has space for nine bottles, so you can use your bar cart to store wine or plenty of spirits. We like the statement gold and the curved handle at one end for pushing, should you wish to move your trolley around.

Available from:
Amazon (£59.99)

Canora Grey Schaefer metal bar cart

• Available from Wayfair (£169.99)

Best round bar cart

Swap angular designs for this quirky round-framed bar cart. The marble shelves and gold ring frame make a glamorous combination for a slightly retro, boutique feel, but the two rectangular shelves still offer practical storage for all your cocktail essentials.

Available from:
Wayfair (£169.99)

Naples serving cart

• Available from Dunelm (£59.99)

Best wooden bar cart

If you're not a fan of the metal look, this wooden serving cart comes in oak, pine or painted grey. It does have wheels for moving around, but will easily act as a permanent sideboard for storing bar essentials. It has three shelves for extra storage, with the narrower middle shelf ideal for storing short glasses such as whisky tumblers.

Available from:
Dunelm (£59.99)

Ruth metal bar cart

• Available from Wayfair (£144.99)

Best three-tiered bar cart

Many bar carts have two levels, but if you want a little extra storage this tall bar cart offers three shelves. You might not be able to fit the tallest of bottles in the middle layer but it’s handy for glassware, cocktail making kit and shorter bottles of spirits or miniatures.

Available from:
Wayfair (£144.99)

What to consider when choosing a drinks trolley

There are a few key factors to consider when choosing a drinks trolley:

• Space: how much space do you want to dedicate in your home to your bar cart? Larger models can act almost as sideboards whilst smaller shapes can tuck easily alongside a sofa or into smaller gaps.
• Storage: on a similar theme, how much are you planning to store on your trolley? Some models come complete with bottle racks (particularly handy if you'd like to store wine as well as spirits) and some have three shelves for storage whereas more slimline models may have just the two and these could be smaller, for a curated selection of bottles and key glassware.
• Design: perhaps the most distinguishing factor separating drinks trollies is their design. Think about what will blend well into your space and the materials or colours that you like. Do you want a glamorous gold statement? Pop of colour? An antique look or modern feel?

How to style a bar cart

The most obvious way to style your bar cart is with your favourite bottles and tipple of choice. If you love to host, consider having a range of key spirits to be able to make a variety of cocktails – a gin, vodka, tequila and rum are good starting points. Keep your bar cart out of bright sunshine, to prevent this affecting your drinks.

If you're a whisky drinker, consider styling your bar cart with a decanter – check out our picks of the best decanters to buy for inspiration. Crystal decanters make a statement and are a smart way of storing whisky (particularly from any less attractive bottles). Pair with whisky tumblers to complete the look.

Add glassware to your bar cart to make it a one-stop station for pouring drinks. Our round up of the best cocktail glasses has glassware for every need, from delicate coupes (ideal for martinis) to chunky tumblers and even shot glasses. Gin lovers should check out our best gin glasses to buy – store your gin goblets on top of your bar cart to prevent them taking up space in the kitchen cupboard.

If it's cocktails you're after, make sure your bar cart is stocked with the essentials. Our cocktail accessories round-up covers our favourite picks: a good cocktail shaker is an essential, and many come with the extra bits of kit such as a strainer, jigger and measure.

Extra touches to finish styling your bar cart could include an ice bucket, fun cocktail napkins and cocktail cherries. When hosting, use ingredients as styling decor: add a bowl with lemon or lime slices ready to garnish drinks, or perhaps a small mint plant if you're making mojitos. The bar cart can also be used as storage for snacks to serve alongside your drinks.

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