{"id":6789,"date":"2026-05-22T19:02:03","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T19:02:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/4guysmagazine.com\/?p=6789"},"modified":"2026-05-22T19:17:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T19:17:08","slug":"the-20-most-popular-drinks-to-order-at-a-bar-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/4guysmagazine.com\/?p=6789","title":{"rendered":"The 20 Most Popular Drinks to Order at a Bar in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Picture this: You just got off work after a long day of circling back and touching base. You want to kick back with some friends and some drinks. You walk into your favorite neighborhood watering hole, and the bartender asks what you want. Let\u2019s get real. You always order the same thing, don\u2019t you? I\u2019m not judging. I always ask for a dirty vodka martini, no matter where I am. But recently, a server at a craft-cocktail spot rolled their eyes at me in response\u2014and I get it. It might be time to ask for something new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think people should be scared to order any cocktail,\u201d says Robert Lam-Burns, bar manager at LenLen<\/a>, a retro-themed Thai spot in Gramercy, Manhattan. \u201cThe bartender should be scared if he doesn\u2019t know how to make it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNormally, if people don\u2019t know what kind of drink they like, I ask, \u2018Do you like something refreshing or bright or sour?\u2019\u201d says Rob Scott, beverage director at Almanac<\/a> in Philadelphia, a Japanese-American fusion bar. \u201cDo you want a drink you can crush, or do you want a drink you can sit and chat over for a while? Through the process of elimination, we can narrow down to your perfect drink.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you need a little extra help deciding what to order, we\u2019ve rounded up a list of the best drinks to order at the bar in 2026. You\u2019re likely familiar with some of these options, like the espresso martini or the tried-and-true Negroni. Others might be new to you. But we promise that no matter what your spirit of choice is, there\u2019s a drink you\u2019ll enjoy. And in case you\u2019re the hands-on type, we\u2019ve included recipes for each cocktail. (By the way, need a new drinking spot? Check out our recs for the best bars in America.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014Recipes by Sarah Rense<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"closeup<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Espresso Martini<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This coffee-and-vodka cocktail is a viral sensation and surprisingly simple to make. \u201cWe add cardamom to the one we make at LenLen. Use the coffee to enhance the flavor and texture of this cocktail,\u201d Lam-Burns says.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ingredients<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n