How to Create The Ultimate Outdoor Patio Bar Cart

Msg 21+: This post was written in partnership with BevMo. All opinions are all my own.

Can we all agree that springtime celebrations are among the best all year? Not only is the weather perfection, but after a long winter many of us are itching to get outside and celebrate! So what better way to get ready for an outdoor party than to dust off the grill, gather your friends and family and host a spring celebration. To help you get party ready, I’ve teamed up with BevMo! to show you how to set up the ultimate outdoor bar cart, stocked with some of our go-to beverages!

As much as I love a good party, playing host can be a full-time job. One thing I’ve learned over the years is how time-consuming being “behind the bar” can be. Not only do you miss out on a lot of the fun, but you also end up working more than enjoying your company. To help solve this dilemma, I’ve introduced an outdoor bar cart so I can keep my guest’s thirst quenched and enjoy the party as well! Here are a few key tips that I used that you may find helpful when arranging your own bar cart. This set-up is essential to keep the flow of thirsty partygoers moving.

What do you have to drink? This is one question that commonly is asked in repetition when your guests begin to arrive. Set your bar car up to answer this for you! When shopping for alcohol at BevMo! I often times will purchase several bottles of both wine and beer so that we can keep a few chilled and another set up on top for display. This is actually a win-win considering BevMo’s 5-cent wine sale and seasonal deals on liquor and beer. For springtime gatherings, Kev and I typically stick to wine that is more on the refreshing side and more commonly served chilled.

It’s also a good idea to purchase a variety of beverages, as most of us have different tastes. The great thing about BevMo! is how convenient they make the shopping process. We’re lucky enough to have a location down the street from us, but did you know they also deliver and ship? You can even place an order online and have it ready for pick-up within an hour!

Keep Ice Designated for Cocktails: No one wants to drink a cocktail that has ice from the beer bin! Keep a separate ice bucket on top of your cart for easy access and cocktail fans. You can keep it perfectly chilled and supply tongs or an ice scoop to avoid a mess.

Precut your Citrus: If you choose to add fruit to your cart set-up, always make sure to make pre-cut options available. We chose to keep it simple and just use limes; they are essential to vodka tonics, and also pair well with Coronas. Bonus: You can also use them as decor! I simply arranged the left over limes in a woven tray.

Depending upon what drinks you’re mixing up, you could also include herbs, like mint or basil, or even sugarcane sticks for a sparkling wine!

Arrange According to Taste: As general rules always arrange your beverages in a way that makes sense. For easy grab-and-go drinks, like beer and wine, place bottles in a tub of ice. This way guests can grab and go without waiting. You may also want to leave a few glasses on top for those who prefer to enjoy a cocktail.

Remember to have fun with it: One of the best things about setting up a bar cart similar to ours is how fun the process is! Think of creative themed cocktails, where your guest can mix their own. You can leave simple DIY instructions and frame them on top of the bar. Just remember to include the necessary barware needed to make them. We opted to leave a large handled bottle opener on ours, but you could leave a corkscrew and even a jigger for more accurate measuring.What celebrations do you have planned for this spring? I’d love to hear your party tips in the comments below!

Thank you again to BevMo! for sponsoring this post, and making our party a hit!