17 Stylish Event Bar Ideas to Wow Attendees and Boost Networking

Skift Take
Whether or not you are serving food, event bars should be seen as a separate entity. They can serve multiple purposes: a social hub, a place for branding, and even a space for people to relax while you transition the venue from one phase of the event to the next.
For a corporate event, a wedding, or a festival, your event bar can either blend into the background or become a focal point that enhances the overall experience.
Bars can help extend the event's atmosphere, giving guests a chance to relax and interact. These 17 stylish event bar ideas are designed to add value, personality, and a touch of creativity to your event space.
A Quick Glance at Different Types of Event Bar Ideas
Non-Alcoholic Setups | Mobile and Flexible Bar Ideas |
Coffee Bar Smoothie Bar Pre-Made Drink Stations | Smart Bar Farm Bar Conversion Modular Bars |
Themed and Creative Bars | Interactive Entertainment Bar Ideas |
Smugglers’ Mini-Bar Martini Bar Beer Bath French Drink Tower Saloon Bar Optic Stand | Drink Skirts Combination Bars |
Stylish and Unique Event Bars | |
Signed/Branded Bars LED/Light-Up Bars Ladder Bar |
1. Signed/Branded Bars

A branded bar is an effective way to marry marketing with social interaction. Whether you’re hosting a corporate event or a trade show, adding your logo or message to your bar setup creates visibility and brand recognition.
- Custom signage: Use backlighting for bold logo displays or screen projections to create dynamic branding. This would also be an excellent sponsorship opportunity that you could include as part of a recurring package to tie in with the theme.
- Interactive elements: Set up screens or a photo booth where attendees can share branded content on social media, increasing engagement.
- Drink-specific branding: Give each drink its own custom branding with the logo printed on cups or glassware, or name drinks after company products or slogans.
With the right design, your bar can be a marketing tool and a conversation starter, helping guests associate your brand with a fun and positive experience.
2. Smugglers’ Mini-Bars
You can place cute hidden bars throughout the venue providing a fun and easy access to chilled drinks and bottles for guests. These tiny, whimsical bars could be disguised as barrels, crates, or even as a secret door.
- Surprise factor: Hidden bars invite curiosity and spark joy when guests stumble upon them.
- Social media potential: Mini-bars often become a photo-worthy feature, encouraging guests to share their discoveries online.
Where it works best:
- Trade shows or festivals where people tend to roam from booth to booth.
- Outdoor events, where the mini-bar can be hidden behind bushes or trees, creating an “adventure” for guests.
By choosing quirky and unconventional mini-bar setups, you can create a memorable and fun experience for your guests.
3. Martini Bar

James Bond’s signature drink is the martini, and while he likes it ‘shaken, not stirred’, there are a multitude of ways to serve and mix one.
Hire a mixologist who specializes in martinis or signature cocktails to showcase their talents. Let guests pick from a variety of martinis - whether they like them dirty, dry, shaken, or stirred.
With sleek glassware, custom garnishes like olives or twists of lemon, and a classy setup, your martini bar will feel like a VIP experience.
Pro Tip
Pair the martini bar with an elegant lounge area where guests can relax and enjoy their drinks.
4. Smart Bar (a bar on the move)

Designed to move, smart bars are great for outdoor events where setups change based on weather or event needs. Integrate tablets for guests to order drinks or play games as they wait. Allow sponsors to brand the mobile bar with dynamic signage or digital ads that change throughout the event.
A smart bar is ideal for large, dynamic events, including festivals, corporate conferences, or anything requiring flexibility.
5. Beer Bath
Why not make your bar an interactive experience? A beer bath is a unique way to serve chilled drinks, giving guests the option to serve themselves from a vintage tub filled with ice-cold beverages.
The visual of a giant tub filled with beer or other drinks is fun, playful, and sure to grab attention. You can fill the bath with different types of beverages, such as wine, beer, or even non-alcoholic options like sparkling water. Guests can pick their drink, reducing waiting times and encouraging mingling.
6. Farm Bar Conversion
Convert a vintage horse trailer or farm cart into a fully operational bar housing bar staff while taking up minimal room.
Perfect for outdoor events, this bar is mobile and adaptable to the venue (although stationary for the duration of your event) which can give you flexibility and easier set-up than a traditional bar.
With the right decorations, like string lights, mason jars, and hay bales, your farm bar can become the heart of a rustic, laid-back event.
7. Walking Bars
Who says event bars have to be stationary? With drink skirts, servers can transform into walking bars, offering drinks to guests while they mingle. Decorate the skirts to match your event’s theme or branding for extra flair.
They can be more interactive and offer unique photo opportunities for attendees while also being able to hold more drinks than a traditional tray layout with minimal spillage when used by seasoned professionals.
Walking bars can interact with the attendees and be a first line of customer service simultaneously, positively promoting your brand or event. It's perfect for corporate events, galas, or cocktail parties where you want to keep things fun and fluid.
8. French Tower

Elevate your event bar with a French drink tower, a showstopper made up of stacked glasses that create a cascading effect. Traditionally used for champagne, this tower can be adapted to fit any drink, providing an elegant, self-serve option for guests.
Use different drinks, such as wine, champagne, or colorful cocktails, to make the tower pop. This setup is perfect for weddings, New Year’s Eve parties, or any event where you want to add a little flair.
Pro Tip
If you are concerned about it falling over, children at the event, or it being knocked, you could opt to create this same illusion with Perspex platforms that the glasses sit on, rather than each other so that the aesthetic is there, without the risk!
9. Ladder Stand Bar
Incorporate the bar into the décor and theme by making it more low-key and designer using the ladder effect idea.
Easy to use and with a neat layout, this bar could be a self-serve idea or work in conjunction with the bar staff as a way of organizing drinks if you are low on actual bar space at the venue.
This bar works well for intimate dinner parties, smaller weddings, or corporate mixers.
10. Modular
A modular bar offers ultimate flexibility, allowing you to create a completely customized bar setup. Use interlocking pieces that can be arranged to fit any space or configuration.
For multi-day events, change the bar’s shape to keep things fresh and interesting. With modular bars you can repurpose an entertainment center into a bar. Ideal for trade shows, conferences, and large-scale events where flexibility and design are essential.
11. Coffee Bar on Wheels

A coffee bar on wheels is the perfect option for non-alcoholic events or for early-morning gatherings. Whether it’s a conference, wedding, or a casual brunch, offering high-quality coffee and espresso drinks can elevate your guests' experience.
What to include:
- Variety: Offer coffee, lattes, espresso, and even iced coffees for variety.
- Customization: Let guests add their own syrups, milk options, and toppings.
- Cozy atmosphere: Use warm lighting and rustic décor to create a welcoming vibe.
A unique bar idea for morning conferences, brunch events, and any gathering where guests will appreciate a caffeine boost.
12. Mix it Up
Why choose just one bar at your event when you can have several options?
For example, have a larger manned bar and then a smaller self-serve station like ‘bubble barrel’ with wine or champagne available to guests.
This works particularly well if you have a lot of guests and are looking to avoid queues and negative experiences. The combination bar idea makes it easier for guests to grab a drink without feeling like they’re missing out on the fun.
13. Pre-Made Drink Station

For a low-budget solution to event bars, this simple table idea offers a hassle-free alternative to having bartenders.
Pre-made drink stations can be stocked with pre-mixed drinks, which guests can pour themselves into cups or glasses without waiting in long lines. Save time with pre-measure drinks and there’s no need for a full bar setup, which can be costly for large events.
This is particularly useful for soft drinks or measured out glasses in preparation for a toast as they can be easily distributed but sometimes providing alcohol in this way can be more costly as attendees will consume it as it is available and on display rather than having a limit.
Just make sure that all drinks are adequately labeled and that there are no underage attendees if alcohol is being offered in this way.
14. LED/ Light Up Bar

Create a stunning visual effect with LED or light-up bars that shine brightly in the dark. These bars can change colors throughout the night, adding an extra layer of energy to your event.
This event bar helps maintain a cool, intimate ambiance while making the bar area stand out. Use lighting to highlight logos, names, or event themes for a custom feel. Perfect night bar event idea for parties, receptions, or any venue where lighting can set the mood.
15. Saloon Bar
A saloon-style bar is a fun, themed way to engage guests. Think old-western décor, swinging doors, and rustic wood. The saloon bar allows guests to step back in time while sipping their drinks.
Serve cocktails named after famous western movies or characters. This bar setup is perfect for themed parties, western-style weddings, or corporate events looking for a lighthearted and immersive vibe.
16. Optic Stand

For something truly unique and creative, an optic stand gives guests the chance to pour their own drinks. This DIY bar idea is built around a self-service optical dispenser, allowing attendees to serve themselves and could even be used for a participatory activity.
Why it's fun:
- Interactive: Guests enjoy the hands-on experience of mixing their own drinks.
- Engagement: People can experiment and try new combinations, leading to more conversations and socializing.
- Customization: Set up a station with different liquor options and mixers for guests to create personalized cocktails and/or mocktails.
17. Smoothie Bar

Health and wellness event trends are on the rise, so providing health conscious catering and drinks will go down a hit, just like a smoothie bar.
Using big bold images on the front also attracts attention and shows attendees what they can buy which makes this a good idea if you are in competition and looking to gain more foot traffic to your event bar.
What to offer:
- Fresh ingredients: Use seasonal fruits, veggies, and healthy additives like protein powder or chia seeds.
- Variety: Offer different smoothies for different dietary preferences—dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, etc.
- Fun toppings: Let guests add their own toppings like granola, coconut shavings, or nuts.
Featuring a wide range of fruit and vegetable options, these bars allow guests to create nutritious drinks tailored to their tastes.
Embrace the Fun of Stylish Event Bars

It’s not all about the food at events anymore and drinks can be just as useful as networking and facilitating tools that can help keep you within budget.
Whether you go for a rustic farm bar, a sophisticated martini setup, or a smart mobile bar, the key is to integrate your bar seamlessly into the overall event experience.
You can set the tone of your entire event just by choosing the right bar concept, ensuring your guests are engaged and having fun from the first sip to the last.
And, it is not always about the alcohol, soft drinks or non-alcoholic beverages can be just as much of a hit too. So go ahead, explore these ideas, and let your event bar shine!