The Best Outdoor Bar Carts for Entertaining Al Fresco
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You were going to take your drink outside anyway, right?
Food and Wine / West Elm
If you have a backyard, or even just a spacious patio or balcony, it’s probably where you spend most of your free time during the warmer months. Maybe you’ll hang some lights and have a few friends over for a grill party, or maybe you’ll just mix up a cocktail and relax after work on your outdoor furniture. Either way, wouldn’t everything be so much easier if you had everything you need for liquid refreshments right there at hand?
An outdoor bar cart doesn’t have to take up a lot of room nor cost an arm and a leg. We’ve collected our favorites — each chosen for its durability, aesthetics, and value — to help bring some inspiration to your outdoor space this year.
Best Overall: Christopher Knight Home Ishtar Outdoor Bar Cart
Pros: This cart offers storage, portability, and good looks.
Cons: Wood isn’t the best surface for navigating spills.
With its reasonable price and convenient storage solutions, the Ishtar is our pick for best overall outdoor bar cart. This cart looks great, too — and acacia wood is known for its durability and weather resistance, so you can count on the Ishtar looking great for years to come. This cart has four separate storage shelves (including the top), giving this cart the most storage options on the list. Apart from its practical storage shelves, we appreciate the drawer and three-bottle bottle holder to keep things secure and organized. While we wouldn’t exactly push the Ishtar around for fun, it is mobile with two wheels and a handle, so you can maneuver it into just the right spot.
To keep this bar cart clean and in the best shape possible, wipe clean with a soft cloth and use a teak sealer if desired. If you live in a particularly wet area, keeping this bar cart inside during heavy rainfall or winter is a good idea.
Price at time of publish: $182
Dimensions: 22.25 x 43.75 x 33 inches
Material: Acacia wood
Storage: Yes
Best Overall, Runner Up: West Elm Portside Outdoor Bar Cart
Pros: It’s solid wood and has a removable serving tray and hanging stemmed wine glass storage.
Cons: We wish there was a drawer for more storage.
If you’re looking for a slightly more elevated option but still want the practicality of durability and storage, we like this West Elm Portside Bar Cart. You can feel comfortable investing in this weather-resistant cart made from moisture-resistant mahogany and eucalyptus wood. Hang wine glasses from the built-in glass racks and keep bottles secure with the stationary bottle rack on the bottom shelf. Two large, rubber-coated wheels aid in moving the cart, and we especially appreciate the lift-out tray, which makes poolside service even easier. And at almost 50 inches wide, this is one of the larger options on our list.
The chic bar cart comes in a brown Driftwood or cool Weathered Gray and has been sealed with moisture-resistant oils and a protective polyurethane topcoat. With all wood furniture, it’s best to store or cover furniture when not in use. As a bonus, as part of West Elm’s White Glove Service, this piece will be brought to your home fully assembled and with all packaging removed, making this piece ready to go as soon as you're ready to start serving.
Price at time of publish: $479
Dimensions: 45.75 x 24 x 31 inches
Material: Mahogany and eucalyptus wood
Storage: Yes
Best Value: Tangkula Outdoor Acacia Wood Serving Cart
Pros: A nicely affordable bar cart that won’t take up your whole patio.
Cons: The two shelves are the only storage.
If you’re reluctant to drop a bunch of cash on furniture that will sit outside and hold bottles, Tangkula has you covered with this budget-friendly bar cart that we love for its modest good looks and footprint. It’s made of weatherproof Acacia and is equipped with two wheels to help move things around, and while we wish it had more storage, there’s plenty of space on both the upper and lower shelves to hold bottles. You’ll even be able to fit a few accessories like a cocktail shaker and some festive glassware.
This one is easy to assemble upon arrival. It's a good idea to use a wood sealer on this one, and to clean, wipe clean with a soft cloth.
Price at time of publish: $65
Dimensions: 19.5 x 25 x 33 inches
Material: Acacia wood
Storage: No
Best Teak: Terrain Outdoor Teak Trolley
Pros: This is made from solid, weatherproof teak wood that is built to last while offering a modern, chic aesthetic.
Cons: There are no wine racks to keep bottles secure.
When you think of an outdoor bar cart, a natural wood finish often comes to mind. We absolutely love this trolley from Anthropologie made of teak wood, which is known for its durability and weather resistance. We like this cart’s practical (and deep!) drawer to hold loose odds and ends, and it's great for serving because its slotted top opens up even wider for an expansive serving area or a spot for guests to gather and hang out. Its four rubber-coasted wheels and wide handle make moving it around easy, and the handle can double as a tea towel rack for any mishaps or spills.
All in all, this bar cart is simply a stunner. To clean, use a damp cloth, mild soap, and warm water.
Price at time of publish: $1,198
Dimensions: 32.5 x 16.5 x 42 inches
Material: Teak wood
Storage: Yes
Best Wicker: Serena & Lily Riviera Bar
Pros: The top of this bar cart has a serving shelf that doubles as an ice chest underneath.
Cons: This cart does not have added features like wine racks.
While this one technically doesn't have wheels, hear us out. Although it needs two people to move around, this is a fantastic bar cart because it has two wide shelves, and the top doubles as an ice chest. The top shelf is split into two large wood planks that move independently. You can fill the galvanized metal bins with ice and drinks and close the tops to have a serving space or leave one top off and open the ice chest for easy access. The wide space between the bottom shelf and the bottom of the top shelf allows for tall bottles, such as spirits and wine, but it does not come with any added features like wine racks.
This one gets bonus points because it's extra cute with a white-checked wicker design offset by the solid wood — great for an accent piece in your outdoor space. To care for this bar cart, simply wipe clean with a soft, dry cloth.
Price at time of publish: $998
Dimensions: 39.5 x 15.5 x 37 inches
Material: Hand-woven resin wicker
Storage: Yes
Best for Prep: Cuisinart CPT-200 Outdoor BBQ Prep Cart
Pros: This spacious, versatile cart goes beyond the booze.
Cons: There’s no protected storage.
So this outdoor cart is technically meant for BBQ prep rather than use as a bar cart, but we say it can function as either (or both!). We appreciate the expansive workspace at 50 inches wide, the built-in paper towel holder, bottle opener, and garbage bag holder. You can also conveniently adjust the second shelf's height, adapting to your bottle size. There are even six handy hooks for hanging grill accessories — or whatever else — and with its simple construction, this cart will fit in with any backyard vibes.
To care, hand wash, and wipe clean.
Price at time of publish: $145
Dimensions: 50 x 22 x 36 inches
Material: Stainless steel
Storage: Yes
Best with Cooler: Permasteel 80 Qt. Patio Rolling Cooler
Pros: This portable ice chest eliminates the need for bending over to grab cold drinks. There's also a bottle opener and cap catcher on the side.
Cons: This is an ice-chest style bar cart meant more for storing rather than serving.
As far as ice-chest-style bar carts go, this one's a keeper. It comes in nine flashy colors and has a retro aesthetic. This bar cart is essentially an elevated, portable ice chest, and the large capacity allows for a wide variety of white and sparkling wine, beer (canned or bottled), ready-to-drink cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages that require consistently cold temps. If you're simply stocking cans, this cart can fit up to 110. The split-top opens from both sides, making drink division and access easy.
We like that the roller wheels feature locks to keep the cart in place, and while there isn't space for other tools or glassware, there is a nifty bottle opener and cap catcher on the outside, which we think is a nice touch. Because the inside is plastic, cleanup is easy; this cart can be hosed down, and a drain plug is underneath to facilitate cleanup.
Price at time of publish: $171
Dimensions: 36.5 x 18 x 33.5 inches
Material: Alloy steel
Storage: Yes
Best Folding: Cosco Outdoor Living Outdoor and Indoor Folding Serving Cart
Pros: This cart is foldable and comes in six colors. The alloy steel construction makes it very easy to clean.
Cons: This is a small cart with no extra storage.
This bar cart is simple, affordable, and a good option for small spaces. The entire piece folds up for when you're not using it, and it's weather-resistant enough to live outside. It requires no tools to assemble, so a quick setup is all that's needed to get this bar cart up and running.
It comes in six colors and has plenty of room to hold a large ice bin on its bottom shelf if needed. The basic two-tier bar cart is a good entry point for those who want to take fewer trips to the kitchen when hosting outdoor gatherings or do not have room for a permanent bar cart in their outdoor space. When you're ready to use it, just grab all your supplies and stock the shelves for guests to enjoy. To clean, hose down or wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Price at time of publish: $85
Dimensions: 61 x 19.3 x 42.5 inches
Material: Alloy steel
Storage: No
Best Metal: Crate & Barrel Dune Bar Cart
Pros: The top serving shelf is removable for easy cleanup and service, and there are bottle holders.
Cons: Care is required, as water exposure to the stainless steel can create rust.
The Dune Bar Cart has a great modern look and a lot of nice functionality. A couple unique features make this bar cart very practical: the top can be lifted out of its frame in case you need to take a tray of drinks to a table, and the bottom shelf features bottle holders. We like the half shelf in the middle that creates a great space for smaller glassware or mixers and liqueurs and leaves the bottom shelf to occupy the larger spirits and bottles.
Because this bar cart is stainless steel, the care is a bit more than some may bargain for — be sure to read the care instructions before committing to this one. We recommend wiping any spills or stains with a damp cloth. For long-term care, keep dry and out of the rain (either cover or store) to avoid rust, and do not use an abrasive cleaner.
Price at time of publish: $749
Dimensions: 33 x 25.5 x 32.75 inches
Material: Outdoor-grade stainless steel and powder-coated aluminum frame
Storage: Yes
Best for Small Spaces: Foundstone Calla Straight Bar Cart
Pros: We love the affordable price of this cute wooden cart. There are four bottle holders.
Cons: This compact design is best for smaller gatherings or everyday use rather than large parties.
While this cart is smaller than others on this list, it's mighty. There are four convenient bottle holders on the bottom shelf, so you can wheel the cart around without fear of losing a bottle or two. The bottom also has a shelf space to place an ice bucket, glassware, wine openers, cocktail shaker set, or whatever else you may need. We like the tray-style top that offers a lipped edge for placing glassware and other service supplies; it's also removable, making it easy to distribute a tray of drinks to guests.
Acacia wood means it'll naturally distress over time, and its subtle size and looks mean you can wheel it away and place it on the corner when not using it. To clean, we recommend wiping with a damp cloth, and to store, keep it dry and out of the rain by either covering or storing it elsewhere. All in all, this is a very practical, affordable option and great for small spaces.
Price at time of publish: $136
Dimensions: 35.7 x 23.7 x 35.5 inches
Material: Acacia wood
Storage: Yes
Best for Wine Lovers: Williams Sonoma Dometic MoBar 300S Outdoor Mobile Bar Cart
Pros: This is an ultra-luxe bar cart perfect for entertaining.
Cons: It’s certainly a splurge.
If you’re ready to go all out with your outdoor bar cart, this one from Williams Sonoma is our top pick. It's professionally designed to be durable and weatherproof, and its stainless steel construction makes it sleek and modern. You’ll find an illuminated refrigerator with tempered glass that holds up to 19 wine bottles or 70 cans, an insulated ice basket that can chill up to 22 bottles or 32 cans, plus a separate compartment for dry storage and four rolling casters. All of these features fit into its compact design. To use, plug the bar cart in with its detachable power cord. It can also keep beverages cool for an extended time if you'd like to wheel it away from the outlet. Set the fridge to anywhere from 36 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit to dial in your preferred wine or spirit storage temperature.
Two of the four wheels lock into place, so you need not worry about it rolling away, and its top handle makes it easy to push around. To clean, we recommend hand washing the tray, speed rail, and extension table and a simple wipe down of the exterior.
Price at time of publish: $4,000
Dimensions: 28.25 x 24.5 x 38.5 inches
Material: Stainless steel and glass
Storage: Yes
Our Favorite
The Christopher Knight Home Ishtar Outdoor Bar Cart is our pick for best overall outdoor bar cart thanks to its combination of value, good looks, and practicality. The Cuisinart Outdoor BBQ Prep Cart is a great choice for versatility if you also like to grill, and if grab-and-go is more your style, the Permasteel 80 Qt. Patio Rolling Cooler will keep your beer cold for hours.
Factors to Consider
Usage and Purpose
Deciding on an outdoor bar cart will depend on your usage and purpose. Consider if you will have nice glassware in your cart, and if so, how the glasses will be displayed and stored. If wine is your go-to, choose a cart with stemware racks and sturdy cylindrical slots for holding bottles of wine. For white wine bottles, you'll need space for a standalone ice bucket or a built-in one. If you're a regular beer drinker, you'll likely opt for a more ice-chest style bar cart with a large compartment for tons of ice to keep your bottles and cans cold. For the cocktail connoisseur, expert bartenders recommend a multi-tier cart so you have ample space for serving, storage, and ingredients.
Material and Care
The quality level of these outdoor bar carts is great, but some are easier to clean than others. Consider if you would prefer a quick hose-down clean or if you have the energy to grab a spray bottle and towel when your outdoor bar cart needs a spruce-up. Wood will clean up easily but requires a bit more care and drying. Wicker and metal can easily be hosed down and left in the sun to dry.
Features
A few features to consider for an outdoor bar cart include: two or three shelves, a wine bottle holder, a hanging wine glass shelf, an ice-chest style compartment, and size. Of course, shelf space depends on your usage and purpose (see above). Likewise, your favorite libations will impact the added features specific to wine or ice-required beverages. Size will matter for the space you envision putting your outdoor bar cart.
Portability
By nature, a bar cart should have wheels, making them very easy to move from place to place. And while we selected one on this list without wheels (it was just that good!), they are all relatively movable. Some have four wheels and can easily move around, while others have two and need to be lifted on one end and then pushed. The Serena & Lily option without wheels will require two people to move, but its stylish aesthetic and deep ice chest bin make it worth it.
Pro Panel Q+A
How do I use a bar cart?
A bar cart should be looked at as any other bar station, whether in your home or otherwise. Park your bar cart in an easily accessible place, though the beauty of it being a cart means you can move it if need be! Make the top shelf your serving space and any shelves below for stocking your bar and supplies.
What do I put on an outdoor bar cart?
A bar cart should be well stocked with spirits, wine, beer, and any bar tools you may need — depending on the type of libations you are serving. Some people like to also keep a few favorite glasses like coupes, wine glasses, or other favorite glassware, but at the bare minimum, it should have space for bottles and tools. If ice is needed for your drinks, add an ice bucket (or better yet, get a bar cart with a built-in ice bucket).
How can I style an outdoor bar cart?
Director of the Ready-to-Drink Program at Boardroom Spirits in Pennsylvania says, "Building an outdoor bar cart is like building a cheese plate. You need to keep in mind different flavors, textures, and balance, all within the confines of a small space. I like a three-tier bar cart, and some key tips include keeping the surplus of things on the bottom so one doesn't run out, supplemented by putting items like mixers and ice on the middle rack of the cart so the top can be reserved for garnishes, tinctures, bitters, and bottles." That said, keep in mind the essentials you need to best entertain and build from there. Having a few favorite spirits, an ice bucket, some favorite glassware, and perhaps a bowl of lemons or limes for garnishes and cocktails is a good idea.
What is the most durable type of outdoor furniture?
According to Melanie Marcus RD, a chef and dietitian from the greater Charlotte, North Caroline, area (where the weather is nice and outdoor entertaining is definitely A Thing), “Resin wicker is your best bet for minimal maintenance.” She says this material “offers resistance to the elements, is easy to clean, and can withstand seasonal temperature changes without cracking or warping.” If you prefer the look of wooden outdoor furniture, Marcus recommends teak for its classic good looks. In addition, metal does a good job holding up to weather (if kept dry from rusting), and it won't require the seasonal wood sealing some bar carts do.
Our Expertise
Years of tasting and writing about food, wine, and spirits guide Melissa Vogt's research. Read more of her writing on her website and in Napa Valley Life, Very Napa Valley, and Wine Country This Month. As part of her research, Melissa connected with several bartenders and drinks program directors from around the country.
Additional insights are from Summer Rylander, a food and travel journalist who has written about food, beverage, and cooking products for Food & Wine, Allrecipes, Serious Eats, and The Kitchn. She, too, connected with experts during her research and referred to personal experience with outdoor furniture for this article.
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