Create a fun and welcoming outdoor space with these garden bars (2024)

Summer is here, and we’re looking forward to a sunny sprinkling of garden parties and barbecue invites in the months ahead. If you’re hosting said gatherings, you’ll need somewhere practical to keep all your drinks — and that’s where a garden bar comes in handy.

'Creating an outdoor bar area is the perfect way to elevate your outdoor space, opening it up for alfresco entertaining,’ says Etsy's trends expert, Dayna Isom Johnson. Not only will an outdoor bar delight your guests with convenience and spectacle; it also provides you with an open air workstation to carry out your hosting duties, which, in this case, means mixing co*cktails and looking sophisticated.

Types of garden bars

There are plenty of garden bar styles to suit all budgets and outdoor areas.

For smaller spaces, there are foldaway options that won't impose when they're not in use, or drinks trolleys that can be wheeled out for entertaining and then back inside once the party's over.

There are also larger, more permanent builds with plenty of shelving for households possessing an enviable spirits collection, and home tiki bars that will create a beachy vibe wherever you are, from Peterborough to Polynesia.

Styling your garden bar

Dayna says incorporating a garden bar into your scheme allows you to lean further into the indoor/outdoor living trend. ‘Remember that your property’s outdoor space is an extension of its indoor one,’ she explains. ‘The two areas don’t have to match exactly, but using items from the kitchen or dining room outdoors, like pretty glasses and bowls for garnishes, will create a cohesive look and feel.’

Adding fresh flowers, succulents or potted plants to your garden bar’s worktop or shelving will also give a nice nod to its outdoor surroundings. Dayna adds: ‘It’s a nice idea to set it up close to your herb garden if you have one. Then you can easily add a sprig of fresh mint, basil or rosemary to your drink as a garnish.’

Once your bar is all set up, it’s time to stock it with your bottle collection, glasses, coasters, paper straws and a co*cktail shaker. ‘More is more when it comes to garden bars,’ Dayna advises. ‘Don’t be afraid to play with coloured glassware, patterned co*cktail shakers and fun napkins.’

You’ll also need somewhere to sit, and no bar setup is complete without a couple of stools and a table to perch your tail and co*cktail on, respectively. Some garden furniture sets even have integrated ice buckets and troughs to keep beers and wine chilled through the day.

13 garden bars to gather around on lazy weekends

Keep scrolling to shop our edit of the best garden bars for 2024.

Rather than searching for a seat outside at your local, go super-local with this fun, contemporary outdoor bar. Considering it’s twice the size of most on this list, it's reasonably priced and comes unfinished, so you can paint it however you'd like. Add some charm and personality with a string of fairy lights, colourful bunting and a personalised sign. Also, be mindful that this bar arrives as a flat-packed kit.

Pop this fun tiki bar on your lawn and transform your garden into a heavenly beachfront in Hawaii (well, almost). To finish the look, hang colourful paper lanterns, serve piña coladas from coconut cups and fix on a tiki-style carved bar sign.

Try this clever foldaway option if you don’t have room for a standalone garden bar — hang it on a fence or wall to turn a bijou garden, patio or summerhouse into a mini home bar. And for truly spitired parties, you can add an optic rack and cover for an extra £60.

This foldaway bar will slot easily into your shed or garage after use — if you prefer not to keep it against your garden wall or fence. Between parties, it would also make a great potting table, giving you a space to grow herbs such as mint and basil to use as garnishes.

This wooden drinks cabinet becomes a stylish bar setup when paired with matching stools. It has seven roomy shelves for bottles and glassware, and it folds flat when not in use, making it a convenient option for small balconies and gardens.

This luxe furniture set has six bar stools, a spacious round table and an integrated ice bucket to keep bottles cold while you chat. It’s made from waterproof, UV-resistant rattan, so it shouldn't look after outdoor use. A set of shower-proof cushions comes bundled in.

With its straight lines and sleek black finish, this outdoor bar cart is an excellent choice for fans of modern style. It’s got plenty of space for your bar essentials (including storage for up to four bottles) and glossy glass shelves, which dial up the chic factor. A white version is also available if you’d prefer a lighter colour.

This bijou trolley should easily slot into small spaces and tight corners, making it ideal for balconies. Suitable for indoor and outdoor use, it wouldn't look out of place as a side table in your living room (at least, when you don't need it in the garden).

This smart BBQ table doubles up as a compact garden bar, with an integrated cabinet and shelf for glassware, bottles and garnishes. It has wheels, making it easy to move in and out of storage come winter, and durable weather-resistant resin surfaces that can be cleaned easily with a damp cloth.