As elevated hosting continues to trend, the bar cart has become an increasingly popular accessory. The best part about the bar cart is that it does not only have a functional purpose—a place to store and serve drinks—but it’s also fully customizable to your home and hosting aesthetic.
If you’ve had the chance to visit Mother Wolf in Los Angeles, chances are you’ve seen their iconic roaming digestif cart. The gold cart comes through the dining room, stocked with spirits and liqueurs that are perfect for after you’ve finished dinner. Adolfo Garcia, general manager of Mother Wolf and Bar Avoja, shares some of his recommendations and staples for curating a bar cart of your own.
“The foundation of a great home bar cart is having things you genuinely enjoy drinking, spirits that feel like a treat after a long day or during a celebration. It’s not about the price tag, but about taste, quality, and knowing your guests will enjoy what you pour. And, of course, I always like to include something unexpected—a bottle most people haven’t tried before, that challenges expectations and sparks conversation,” Garcia says.
The Essentials
While the best thing about the at-home bar cart is that it can be tailored to your personal tastes with your favorite liquors and brands, Garcia recommends the following if you’re looking for good, staple bottles.
“At the end of the day, the perfect bar cart isn’t about impressing guests, it’s about curating bottles that bring you joy, and bringing people together over them,” Garcia says.
Tequila: Fortaleza or Siete Leguas
Garcia always reaches for Fortaleza or Siete Leguas. These additive-free tequilas highlight the taste of agave, making them great choices to sip on and savor.
Mezcal: Ilegal Mezcal
To bring in a liquor outside the usual or expected options, mezcal is a great choice. According to Garcia, “every bar cart should have [a mezcal] to challenge the palate and add depth. Ilegal Mezcal is a great gateway option for anyone new to the smoky side of agave.”
Digestifs
Photo by Stan Lee, courtesy of Mother Wolf LA
The bar cart at Mother Wolf makes its way through the dining room after dinner service to offer patrons a selection of digestifs and post-dinner liqueurs that has been curated by the restaurant team to complement the meal of each guest. They can be paired with or served independently of dessert. The tradition of a digestif is popular globally, with different countries having various traditional drinks served. Italy has Amaros, Grappa, and Limoncello. Brandy and Cognac are popular in France. Portugal is known for port wine. All in all, digestifs are meant to celebrate the culmination of a good meal shared with good company. If you’re looking to translate that sense of hospitality to your at-home bar cart, check out these recommendations from Garcia.
“These bottles make up the backbone of our digestif program at Mother Wolf. Each expresses a different side of Italy’s herbal liqueur tradition and creates a thoughtful, memorable close to the evening. Even at home, keeping just a couple of these on hand can turn the end of a meal into a simple but meaningful ritual. Any of these will instantly elevate a home bar cart.”
Marolo Milla
“A grappa brings warmth and elegance to the end of a meal. One I fell in love with at Mother Wolf is the Milla Marolo, a beautiful grappa distilled with subtle hints of chamomile, the perfect way to finish the night.”
Amaro Montenegro
“It’s soft, floral, and citrus-driven. Montenegro is one of the most approachable amari out there, well-balanced, versatile, and an all around likeable pour for anyone. It sets a relaxed, convivial tone to close the meal.”
Fernet-Branca
“Bold, minty, and proudly bitter. This is a classic Italian digestivo and a staple on our cart, it’s invigorating and palate-cleansing—perfect for guests who want a more traditional, assertive finish.”
Centerba
“High-proof, intensely herbal, and deeply tied to Abruzzo’s mountain traditions. It’s always a conversation starter and brings an unexpected, rustic edge to the digestif lineup.”
Bar Cart Accessories
In addition to featuring your favorite bottles, you can really make a bar cart your own by the addition of items like bottle openers, coasters, glasses, and more.
Cocktail Making Set
A staple needed for every bar cart: a good cocktail making set. This one from Williams Sonoma comes in stainless steel, gold, copper, and gunmetal finishes to fit your personal home decor aesthetic and includes all the standard tools you’ll need to create classic cocktails at home.
Cocktail Glasses
Another staple of a functional bar cart is cocktail glasses. Depending on your favorite or most-served drinks, you can include coupes, short glasses, martini glasses, or any others. Glasses can also be used to display garnishes like olives or citrus peels.
Bottle and Wine Opener
Another functional addition to the bar cart is a wine corkscrew opener and a bottle opener. This set from Williams Sonoma has both. With small tools like these, it’s quite easy to find options in your favorite colors or metal finishes.
Coasters
Coasters are another great way to add character, personal flair, and color to a bar cart. These spiral coasters from Sophie Lou Jacobsen add a perfect amount of funkiness to a bar cart. If you’re looking for a gift for a friend who loves to host, personalized coasters are a great gift option.
We only recommend things we love. If you buy something through our site, we might earn a commission.
