12 Outdoor Bar Ideas
Entertain with ease.
If you find yourself entertaining often, it’s time to discover the right outdoor bar for your space. Whether you are looking for a grand stationary patio bar or something smaller and mobile, we have a patio bar idea for you. Keep reading to learn more about our inviting outdoor bar ideas.
Outdoor Bar Ideas
1. Stock the Essentials
Opt for a bar with storage in the back to keep supplies tucked away. Stock your outdoor patio bar with all your entertaining essentials, like glassware, bottle openers, plates, and utensils. It will keep you from running inside everytime you need something.
Place your bar near an outdoor electrical plug so you can use appliances right on the bar. For example, you can use your blender to mix smoothies or frozen drinks. You won’t have to worry about going back inside to make more drinks – you can do it from the comfort of your yard. An outlet will also come in handy if you want to charge your phone or play some tunes from behind the bar.
Ready to get out of the sun and relax in a shady spot? This outdoor bar idea is for you! Add an umbrella next to your outdoor bar to create shade. It will keep your refreshments cool and your guests out of the sun, inviting them to stay longer. If you want to shade a large area, opt for a pergola with a canopy.
Tip!
To keep the party going well into the night, take the umbrella down and add lanterns or string lights. It will brighten up your bar and add ambience, creating the perfect hangout area, no matter the time of day.
If you find yourself entertaining often or desiring more room at the bar, opt for a patio bar table. It gives you a place to catch up with friends, enjoy dinner with your family, or take a relaxing afternoon break. Some tables offer underneath storage, creating the perfect place to store outdoor plates, cups, and any extra serving supplies.
Add patio heaters to your bar area to keep you warm on cooler days, allowing you to enjoy your outdoor bar longer. The heaters will keep you warm when your gathering extends into the night, letting you enjoy your bar at any hour. If you are looking for something smaller, opt for a tabletop heater. You still get the warmth without taking up too much of your patio space.
Keep your refreshments cold by storing them in a cooler. It not only keeps your drinks cold but is a great addition or alternative to an outdoor bar. Opt for a cooler with a bottom shelf to store extra glassware, bar tools, or even a book you want to read while you're outside. To make cleanup easier, opt for a cooler with a drain included, letting you drain the melted ice before your next gathering. If you want to move it around your patio, choose a cooler with wheels.
If you have an outdoor bar that has plenty of space, opt for an outdoor mini refrigerator. Store drinks, snacks, and whatever else you may need while you are outside.
If you are looking to take the bar with you, this outdoor bar idea is for you! If you don’t have space for a patio bar, utilize a bar cart. You can choose a bar cart with wheels, creating a mobile bar. It can hold your drinks and appliances, and you can easily move around when you need to. When you are not using the bar cart, you can add your favorite plants as decor.
Keep your bar area secluded with the use of outdoor privacy screens. Use privacy screens to denote a section of your outdoor space to completely enclose your bar area. For a less imposing layout, these temporary walls can be used to shade an area of your bar or use them as an art installation with a decorative design.
Switch up your seating arrangement by providing different accent chairs around your backyard bar. In addition to stylish, outdoor-friendly bar stools made from wicker or rattan, give your patrons a more comfortable spot to lounge. Opt for a plush papasan chair big enough for two, or a single hanging swing chair.
For a summer backyard bar bash, what’s more refreshing than a dip in the pool? Whether you need an inflatable pool for a quick set up, or want a more permanent solution with an above ground set up, you can transform your yard into your very own swim up bar.
Entertain your bar guests for hours with different outdoor games. Set up a zone for a table tennis or pong tournament, or get everyone into teams for a game of cornhole or giant Jenga®. When they work up a sweat while playing bocce, they can easily pop back over to the outdoor bar to rehydrate.
No space for an outdoor bar? No problem. Bring the bar to you! Utilize serving trays to create portable drink stations. Make your favorite refreshments inside and load up a tray with your favorites. If you are entertaining guests, opt for more than one tray and place them on side tables or an outdoor coffee table. You can set up different stations for drinks, snacks, and accessories like straws to create a bar-like experience.
