Bar Carts: Brass, Gold and Glass Carts, How to Choose and Style

Choose a bar cart by four things: the frame metal, the shelf material, the footprint and the wheels. Brass and gold-finish carts with glass or mirror shelves look lightest in a room. Wood shelves on a steel frame hide marks better. Whatever the style, check the shelf weight limit on the maker’s page before loading bottles.

What is a bar cart made of?

Most carts pair a metal frame with two shelves. The frame carries the look. The shelves decide how much care the cart needs.

Which bar cart should you buy: designer brass or wood and steel?

The pair shows how far apart two carts can sit while doing the same job. Both hold glasses, tools and an ice bucket on two shelves. Neither maker’s page lists a weight limit per shelf in its description, so ask the seller before loading either with full bottles.

Two-shelf bar cart	Premium pickJonathan Adler Op Art Bar Cart	Accessible alternativeViski Harrison Bar Cart
Frame	Polished brass framework	Stainless steel
Shelves	Two back-painted glass shelves	Dark wood shelves
Storage extras	Open shelves for decanters and tools	Built-in wine glass rack
Wheels	Rolls, per the maker	Rubber-lined wheels
Size	See the maker's page	30 x 15.75 x 34 in
Setup and care	See the maker's page	Assembly required; wipe with a damp cloth

Pay more if

the cart is a piece of furniture in a living room and you want brass and glass that read as design, not storage.

Save if

you want a working cart with a glass rack, stated dimensions and a finish that forgives fingerprints.

Jonathan Adler also makes the Jacques Round Bar Cart, in clear acrylic with brass accents, a mirror top and a glass shelf at the base, and the Trocadero, in ebonized oak with brass casters. Round carts suit corners. Rectangular ones sit flat against a wall.

Bar carts in brass, gold finish, glass and wood

Shop the range

Browse current bar carts on eBay, from $60.

Shop bar carts→

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• Brass and gold bar cartsShop on eBay →
• Glass shelf bar cartsShop on eBay →
• Wood bar cartsShop on eBay →

How do you style a bar cart?

Style it for use first. A cart that looks good but has no space to set down a mixing glass will not get used.

1. Top shelf: the glasses you reach for most, a tray with a jigger, bar spoon and strainer, and one clear working space.
2. Lower shelf: the ice bucket, a stack of napkins, heavier items and spare glasses.
3. Height: mix one tall piece (a decanter or a vase) with low ones so the top shelf is not a flat line.
4. Repeat one metal. If the frame is brass, a brass jigger or tray ties the cart together.
5. Edit. Leave a third of each shelf empty.

For the pieces that go on top, see our guides to cocktail glasses by size and to bar tools worth buying.

What about vintage and mid-century bar carts?

The bar cart is a mid-century fixture. Writer Wayne Curtis notes one playing a supporting role in the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch. Original carts from that period are a collecting subject of their own, with their own condition checks. Our sister site covers them in its guide to a mid-century home bar setup.

What should you check before you buy?

• Measure the space, then compare it with the maker’s stated width, depth and height.
• Find the shelf weight limit. If the page does not state one, ask.
• Check whether the casters lock, and whether the wheels suit your floor.
• Read the materials line: brass, brass-plated and gold finish are different things.
• Furniture often ships flat. Look for an assembly note.

A cart also makes a generous present. The home bar gift guide suggests one for a new homeowner, and the home bar setup overview shows where a cart fits among the other pieces.