Everything You Need to Create and Stock a Basement Bar
Updated: Nov. 09, 2022Create the ultimate hangout spot right at home.
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With colder months ahead, staying in can be more appealing than going out—especially if you’ve got the feel of a cozy neighborhood bar right downstairs. Whether you’re looking to recreate a moody cocktail lounge or a classic corner bar, you’ll love these 20 basement bar essentials.
Mixology & Craft Bartender Kit
To make your signature cocktails at home, you’re going to need a bartender kit. This 15-piece set from Mixology & Craft covers all the basic tools for whipping up cocktails at home. The set includes the obvious: A cocktail shaker, Hawthorne strainer, bar spoon and corkscrew. It also comes with a few less-expected items like pouring tips, a zester and knife tool, a fine strainer, two different size jiggers and more.
You don’t have to worry about getting your hands sticky with handwashing this set, either. It’s dishwasher safe. Plus, it comes in gold, gunmetal, copper and silver with a black or classic bamboo stand—so you can choose a set that matches the rest of your bar décor.
Barillio Crystal Mixing Glass
Complete your bartender kit with this 20-oz. cocktail mixing glass on Amazon. The glass has a weighted bottom and diamond pattern for gripping, so you can mix old fashioned drinks in style.
Olympus Oval Bar Cart
Another must-have for your basement bar is a bar cart. We prefer one with wheels and style, like this bar cart from Rosdorf Park.
This decorative metal and glass 2-tier bar cart will instantly add a bit of sophisticated glam to your at-home bar. It’s perfect for holding all your favorite bar items, cocktail glasses and shakers.
Nabors Bar Cabinet
If you need a little more storage than what a bar cart can offer, consider a bar cabinet. This midcentury-modern-inspired bar cabinet from Bay Isle Home has eight bottle storage cubbies and an open shelf for additional items. Its two doors with rattan inlays and gold detailing pull open for more storage, including racks for bar glasses.
A bar cabinet is also a great way to store and conceal less aesthetically pleasing bar items that you might not want on display on a bar cart.
Antique Brass Wine Rack
Speaking of brass bar accessories, if you’re someone who likes to keep a few bottles of wine on hand, this Thea Wall Mounted Wine Rack from Anthropologie is a stunning and practical statement piece. This highly-rated rack holds six bottles of wine and doesn’t take up any counter space, as it hangs vertically from any wall or cabinet.
Dual Zone Wine & Beverage Refrigerator
While a simple minifridge or refrigerator can keep your beverages cold at home, this dual zone refrigeratorfrom Avallon has a touch control panel and will immediately elevate the look of your home bar.
Yes, it’s a splurge—but if you’re serious about your basement bar game, we recommend investing in a fridge like this one. It can be left freestanding or built into cabinetry. Its blue or white LED lights and clear glass doors look incredibly sleek, too.
Home Styles Bar
If you don’t already have a built-in bar at home, you could have one custom built—but, of course, that requires time, money and expertise. But there are also plenty of options for buying and assembling freestanding bars, like this Americana Black Bar.
Freestanding bar pieces can be a few thousand dollars, but this bar on Amazon is 42% off right now and will cost you less than $500. Plus, it’s a great solution for a small space you want to convert into a functional hangout space.
Upholstered Bar & Counter Stools
Every bar needs bar stools—and right now you can shop Black Friday deals on stools at places like Wayfair.
These bar stools from Mercury Row are crafted on a black metal frame and add transitional appeal to any room. The ergonomic seats are upholstered in a variety of colors and padded with soft cushions. Plus, a lower footrest keeps your feet supported from the first drink to the last.
Hayworth Upholstered Modular Banquette
If you’re working with a larger space for your basement bar, you might consider adding bench seating for true cocktail lounge vibes. These modular banquette bench seats come in straight, curved and corner styles, so you can create the ultimate drinking nook however you like. Add a round, marble-top pedestal dining table for a timeless European pub feel.
Black & White Cocktail Wall Art
Add finishing touches to your basement bar area with art. We like the way black and white prints bring a classic café feel to a bar space. You can download high-resolution digital prints like this Martini in Los Angeles from MMC Photo Co. instantly on Etsy. Put the photo in a DIY frame, and voilà!
Light Up Cheers Sign
In addition to wall art, you might also want a fun neon sign for your basement bar. We love this handcrafted ‘Cheers’ sign from Pottery Barn. You can mount it on the wall behind the bar or spruce up a bar cart by putting it on the top shelf.
Philips Hue Play White and Color Ambience Light Bar
Speaking of lighting, these smart lighting bars can be laid on the floor, stood on cabinets or mounted on the wall for high-tech mood lighting effects. Choose from 16 million colors and 50,000 shades of light controlled with Siri using your Apple HomeKit.
With a connection to the Hue Bridge, you can use the Philips Hue app on your iPhone or iPad to control your smart lights, set timers and routines, add or remove lights and more.
Canvas Cross Back Heavy-Duty Apron
Make your guests take you seriously as a craft cocktail maker with this canvas apron from Amazon. It has large front pockets reinforced with metal rivets and it comes in a wide range of colors. We like the black canvas with brown detailing for a serious cocktail expert look.
Open Kitchen Extra Small Tumblers
You’re going to need something to hold all the drinks you’ll be mixing in your basement bar. These utilitarian tumblers from Williams Sonoma are multi-purpose and perfect for casual entertaining. Use them for wine, water and even drinks on the rocks. They’re made in Portugal and crafted of thin glass, so they give a clean, modern look.
Schott Zwiesel Pure Glassware Collection
Shop other bar glassware at Williams Sonoma with this line from Schott Zwiesel. You can mix and match from a selection of angular glasses, including a variety of stemmed and stemless wine glasses, champagne flutes, coupes, goblets, highball glasses, shot glasses and more. You can even add a wine decanter to this collection!
Libbey Craft Brews Assorted Beer Glasses
If beer is more your thing, then you’ll want to snag this set of assorted beer glasses from Amazon. Beer aficionados will be right at home in your basement bar knowing they can enjoy their Belgian Ale in the proper glass. Plus, each of these glasses is durable and dishwasher safe.
Viski Admiral Decanter Set
Upgrade your basement bar with this elegant decanter set crafted from cut glass. This set includes a 30-oz. decanter and two 9-oz. crystal glasses. The decanter features cross-hatching and exudes a Mad Men vibe.
Thousand Oaks Barrel Cocktail Smoking Kit
Wow guests with this cocktail smoking kit made by Thousand Oaks Barrel Co. in Virginia. This kit includes a high-grade torch, butane, cloche and a foghat that fits over most cocktail glasses. Smoking kits are ideal for adding smokey flavor to whiskey, bourbon and scotch cocktails.
Marble & Brass Dip Bowls
No home bar is complete without pub snacks. These marble dip bowls from West Elm are perfect for hummus, olives, nuts and more. They come in a variety of marble colors and have a brass bottom.
If you haven’t been able to tell by now, we love a basement bar with brass detailing. But seriously, your guests will likely be hungry after a few drinks, so better to stay on top of your snack game than be sorry.
The Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique
Named Esquire’s best book for home bartending, The Bar Book from well-known bartender Jeffery Morgenthaler offers over 60 manageable drink recipes. Plus, each drink-making technique is illustrated with how-to photography to provide inspiration and guidance.
We think this is a must-have item for your basement bar, and friends will enjoy being able to order whatever drink they please, as you learn mixology techniques like juicing, garnishing and shaking.
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