The Best Bar Carts, According to Bartenders

The workday is done, your at-home happy hour is nigh, and it’s time to fix up a cocktail (or several). Nothing helps you bring out the booze with more class and convenience than a quality bar cart, which not only keeps your bottles and barware well-organized but also makes it easier to move your bar setup throughout your home.

The key word there is quality, because not all bar carts are created equal. Some are too rickety to reliably relocate delicate bottles and glassware without fear of a smashup, others are bereft of functional features, and still others simply don’t look attractive enough to grace your living space. Whatever the case, we’ve got the solution. Below you’ll find the best bar carts for bringing home booze-mobility in 2022.

The Expert: Before I became a full-time journalist, I started out the way so many writers do: slinging drinks from behind three feet of wood. My tenure as a bartender spanned upscale cocktail lounges and resorts, bustling breweries and family restaurants, dark dives, rowdy clubs, and music venues. Accordingly, I’ve learned more than a little something about all-things bar-related, and I’ve shared what I’ve learned by writing about bars, bar gear, and booze in general for publications like the Los Angeles Times, Vice, Thrillist, Men’s Health, The Manual, The Daily Beast, and more.

The Best Bar Carts

What to Consider

There are a few essentials to nail down before you start shopping for a bar cart to ensure the one you buy suits your liquor collection and set of glasses, and works well within your space.

Carrying Capacity

“While having something pretty might seem like the best move, you really want something that can support a hundred or more pounds,” recommends Josh Lindley, a Toronto-based bartender and cofounder of Bartender Atlas, an online directory of the best bartenders around the globe. “Liquor bottles are heavier than you think. Avoid anything that looks at all delicate or anything with too much glass or shelving that isn’t supported well.”

Height

Ideally, your cart should be slightly taller than standard table height. “No one wants to be hunched over to make drinks,” Lindley says. “It will hurt your back and look weird. You want your cart to be about naval height or even taller.”

Surface Material

“Make sure that the surface you are making drinks on is easy to clean and durable,” Lindley advises. “Wood works great here and will develop a nice patina over time. Glass top bar carts are a disaster waiting to happen, no matter how pretty they are.”

Organizational Features

Although some bar carts opt for a highly minimalist design, it’s a smart idea to look for one that boasts organizational features like horizontal bottle slots or glassware holders that will keep things from falling and breaking when your cart is on the move.

How We Selected

To recommend the best bar carts, I drew on my personal experience, input from industry experts, and consumer reviews from Amazon and other retailers. I compared the carrying capacity, dimensions, construction, organizational features, and cost of each model. Keep reading to see which 10 made the cut.

Looking for more home accessories for cocktail hour? Check out our stories on the best wireless surround sound systems, the best nugget ice makers, and the best mini fridges.