Favorite Portable Home Bars

This wood bar is one of my favorites because when it's folded it looks like the average end table or cabinet and can be a regular fixture anywhere in the house. When it's time to entertain, simply swing open the two sides and you have a bar, complete with brass foot rails that you can pull a few bar stools up to for a comfortable and casual temporary bar setting. The middle panel is the only storage space so that is limited but the mobility makes up for that and it's on rubber casters so you can roll it around. You can, however, lock up your liquor and take advantage of the glass rack and drawers to fit almost all of your bar tools. For around $600 it's a great deal and with the optional finishes it can fit any decor.

The Lexington is similar to the swing open bar because by day it looks like the average living room cabinet, but by night when you pull out the two extensions you have a full bar in a beautiful wood finish. The bar can store a full stock of liquor and wine bottles, has pull out drawers for storing tools and a built in glass rack for all your stemware. Some sellers include matching bar stools for guests to pull up to the bar. This one combines elegant, traditional design with function and saves a lot of space.

An armoire with a wine and liquor cabinet hidden inside, this is the ultimate in classic-style furniture with a hidden function and that's what I love about it. The wood cabinet from the esteemed Howard Miller collection features a 22 bottle wine rack, storage for all your liquor bottles and glassware. It's beauty is reflected in the mirrored back and wood finish while its function goes on and on including a laminated pull-out shelf, drawers and ample counter space. What more can you say than "WOW"?

Designed as a wine bar, I like to think of this bistro as a whiskey, brandy or tequila barrel because it has the aesthetics of those just as much as it does the vino. It is crafted from a used wine barrel with a door that accesses the "spirit cabinet" for bottles, glassware and tools and the pine tabletop and foot rail are the finishing touches for a unique piece of bar furniture. For those who prefer small, intimate affairs with a little whimsy, this makes a great centerpiece and for under $1000 it's a great deal.

If you have a pool or large outdoor patio and host a number of summer parties this portable bar is great. I love the mobility and the stainless steel finish, but that's not the best part. This mini outdoor bar cart is on wheels and includes a refrigerator and ice chest, which does raise the price to around $4000, but is worth it if you need to keep things chilled. It is also outfitted with a Corian bar top, 2 bottle wells that can fit liter bottles, a condiment tray and the ability to hold up to 100 cans in the fridge. This little cocktail cart is a dream for any outdoor entertainers - imagine the talk at the next neighborhood barbecue you host.

For less than $400 this bar cart is perfect for occasional, casual entertaining. The black PVC is sleek and has a modern style adorned with tempered black glass. Storage is limited but there is a speed rail and bottle holders on the counter to display your premium wines and spirits. This economical bar can be neatly stored anywhere when not in use and the racks underneath are great for storing garnishes and mixers while the built in hanging glass rack keeps your stemware safe and accessible.

I find the Lynx to be one of the most versatile portable bars available but it is certainly not the least expensive. It's stainless steel finish is very modern and it's commercial casters make it very portable. The Lynx includes a sink with faucet and water filter, an insulated ice bin with cover, removable cutting board, bottle opener, speed rail, lots of extra storage and, the best part, the two shelves on the sides can be removed, flipped and used as serving trays. There are optional accessories including a 3-tier top shelf that make bartending even easier and this is absolutely a great investment for private party bartenders and anyone who does a lot of serious cocktail entertaining.

If you do a lot of entertaining, maybe hiring a bartender, or are a private party bartender looking for some extra income on your jobs, this simple but stylish bar is perfect. Not only does it look good (4 colors available) but it is a miniature version of the commercial bar. This one is easy to clean up after every use and can be easily transported or stored and includes all the features a bartender needs including built in cutting board, speed rail, 15 gallon ice bin and a lot of storage for all of your back up ingredients and glasses.

I've bartended at many private parties that rent a unit like this for the event and they're great for intimate affairs with a single bartender (two people behind this and you begin to run into each other). For the price of a rental and if you plan on entertaining often, the $2800 is a great investment and these models have a bit more style than those I've found at rental centers. Features of this bar include a speed rail, 80 pound ice sink, ample counter space for all your condiments, storage for anything else you need to keep in stock and sturdy casters to move it anywhere it has to go. This particular bar has a few models and can include soda guns and all are easy to clean and waterproof - great for outdoor events.