Get this look! Party Rental Ltd. products featured: All Purpose Champagne Coupe Glass 5 oz., All Purpose Champagne Coupe Glass 8.5 oz., Dolores Votive Clear, Eleanor Platinum Rim Flute Glass 6 oz., Nick and Nora Cocktail Glass 5.5 oz., Cordial Pony Glass 1 oz. Styled by: Wolfgang Puck Catering and Amaryllis Designs at The Howard Theatre.
Whether you’re hosting a small cocktail party or a formal sit-down dinner, a festive bar is a sure way to serve up some holiday cheer. We’re sharing the list of essentials, the glassware guide and some tips and tricks to set up the perfect bar at your next gathering.
But first: The Bar.
The first — and perhaps most important choice to make when placing your bar rental order is what type of bar you will be using for your event. Standard tables can be used as bars with linens to match the event design, often setting the table height to 42” using leg extensions, which are perfect for standing. (Need help choosing the linen size for your bar? We’ve got you covered.)
You might also consider using a lower, smaller table behind the taller bar table to act as a shelf or an additional standard table to act as a back bar where bartenders can keep readily-accessible items like bottles, extra glasses, bottle openers, and cocktail shakers.
Want to spruce up a standard bar table? Bar Screens can be used to give a bar a cohesive, sleek appearance.
Get this look! Party Rental Ltd. products featured: Grey Rattan Bar Screen, Pandora Clear Glass 12 oz., Pandora Orchid Glass 12 oz., Madison Double Rocks Glass 13 oz.
Our Portable Bars are a great one-and-done bar option, as they assemble easily and come with a built-in-shelf.
Get this look! Party Rental Ltd. products featured: Bar 6′ Maple, Cypress Green Goblet 15.5 oz.
For a more stylized look, the bars in our Furniture Collection are the perfect pick. Available in Illuminated, Chalkboard, Distressed Grey, and Maple, these premium bars add instant luxe style to any event.
Get this look! Party Rental Ltd. products featured: Emerson Bar, Roma Amber Goblet 8 oz.
Bar Carts
Portable Bar Carts are perfect for cocktail service in smaller spaces.
Get this look! Party Rental Ltd. products featured: Aiden Bar Cart, Noa Glassware Collection, Brandy Snifter Glass 9 oz., Martini Glass 7 oz.
Clink! Choosing Glassware
Get this look! Party Rental Ltd. products featured: Berlin Goblet 15 oz., Dolores Votive Clear, Hearst Votive Smoke, Regency Clear Compote Glass 9 oz., Stockholm Tinted Smoke Glass 15 oz., Tinted Goblet 14 oz. Ruby Red, Venice Highball Glass 11 oz.
Glassware in general can be very versatile, which leaves lots of room for creativity, but here’s a selection of the most common glasses found at a bar and how they’re typically used.
Get this look! Party Rental Ltd. products featured:
AP Wine 10.5oz, Round Highball Glass 12oz, AP 11oz Bar, Classic Flute 7oz, Round Rocks Glass (Single) 9oz, Round Rocks Glass (Double) 14oz, Tray Stainless Double Wall Round 13.5″
Wine Glasses — One of the most popular glasses for bars are wine glasses, which can be used to serve a variety of beverages, from wine to water, soft drinks, or cocktails. The AP Wine 10.5oz glass is a bar staple, but the Bowery or Premier collections are great options for a more premium feel. More discerning crowds may require both red and white glasses, but one glass is often used to serve both.
Water Glasses — Glasses with shorter stems, like the AP Bar 11oz glass, are good for serving water, soft drinks, cocktails, and even beer.
Highball Glasses — Highballs are a great all-purpose glass, perfect for serving cocktails, juices, soft drinks, water, and more.
Rocks Glasses — Single Rocks glasses are a good choice for serving whiskeys, scotches, and bourbons both neat or on the rocks. Double Rocks glasses can be used for serving greater quantities of the same liquors or for a variety of cocktails. (For more premium styles, check out our Stockholm Crystal and Madison options.)
Champagne Flutes — Champagne flutes are perfect for serving any type of bubbly, with our Classic Flute being the most popular pick. For a more 1920s-inspired feel, the Champagne Coupe glasses are a fun choice.
Pilsners or Pint Glasses — If you’d prefer to serve your beer in a glass, Pilsners, Pint Glasses, and Beer Mugs are classic options.
Get this look! Party Rental Ltd. products featured: Nick and Nora Cocktail Glass 5.5 oz.
Martini — Martini glasses are perfect for serving their namesake or similar cocktails. Want a different take on the classic glass? Try the vintage-inspired Nick and Nora Glass, Flared Glasses, or Stemless Martini Glasses.
Shot Glasses / Cordial Glasses — For small serves, specialty shots, and cordials, these petite glasses are a perfect pick.
Specialty Glasses — Hurricanes and Margarita glasses are great for tropical-inspired menus; Mason Jars are an all-purpose pick with rustic charm, and Copper Mule Mugs are right on-trend with specialty cocktails in any season.
Get this look! Party Rental Ltd. products featured:
Top of Bar: Paper Cocktail Napkins, Flared Cocktail Glass 8oz, All Purpose Wine Glass 10.5oz, All Purpose Bar Glass 11 oz, Round Highball Glass 12oz, Round Rocks Glass (Single) 9oz, Round Rocks Glass (Double) 14oz, All Purpose Flute Glass 7oz, All Purpose Champagne Coupe Glass 5oz, Martini Glass 7oz, Mason Jar 16oz, All Purpose Square Shot Glass, Hurricane Glass 15oz, Margarita Glass 12oz, Antiqued Copper Hammered Mule Mug, Stainless Double Wall Round Tray 13.5″; Bar Shelf: Wood Cutting Board Oval, Steak Knife Black Handle, Village Carafe 17oz, Village Carafe 33.25oz, Cocktail Shaker, Ice Scoop, Cork Screw and Bottle Opener, Kitchen Towel; Under Bar: Plastic Ice Tub, Ice Tub Strainer
Serve In Style: Pitchers, Carafes, and More
Get this look! Party Rental Ltd. products featured: Grey Distressed Loft Riser 6’L x 12″W x 12″H, Mason Jar Drink Dispenser 2.75 gal., Stockholm Crystal Rocks Glass 13.5 oz.
Whether you’re mixing large quantities of libations in advance, serving something special, or giving your wine some time to breathe, pitchers, carafes, and drink dispensers can be valuable pieces behind the bar. Some pieces – like our Village Carafes – can even be used as a vessel for flowers or decor.
When Life Hands You Lemons: Bar Fruit and Garnishes
Is there anything that makes a drink feel more special than a great garnish? If you plan to prep your bar fruit and garnishes on-site, you might choose to include a cutting board and knife on your rental order. Once your garnishes are good-to-go, we have several different vessels where you can keep them for easy-access from Bar Caddies, to Flaired Cocktail Glasses, to Rocks glasses, to Tasting/Mini Bowls and more. Our smaller plates can also be used for applying rim garnishes, like salt on a Margarita glass.
Get this look! Party Rental Ltd. products featured:
Wood Cutting Board Oval, Steak Knife Black Handle, Village Carafe 17oz, Village Carafe 33.25oz
The Little Things: Bar Accessories
Though they may be small, bar accessories can be a huge help during a busy service. Depending on your menu Cocktail Shakers and Bar Pourers can be invaluable cocktail-crafting tools. Bottle Openers are always great to have on-hand at nearly any bar, especially when wine is on the menu.
Get this look! Party Rental Ltd. products featured:
Wood Cutting Board Oval, Steak Knife Black Handle, Cocktail Shaker, Ice Scoop, Cork Screw and Bottle Opener, Kitchen Towel, Paper Cocktail Napkins
Chill Out: Ice Service
Ice tubs are bar essentials, as they’re great multitasking tools for holding large quantities of ice for service (don’t forget an ice scoop or two), chilling beverages, and emptying used glasses (Ice tub strainers will help strain out any stirrers or bar fruit for easy cleanup).
Looking for one of these bar styles to fit your holiday gathering? Chat with us online or call 844-GO-HIPPO.