The Ultimate Mimosa Bar Guide

Nothing says "brunch" like the Ultimate Mimosa Bar! We've got everything you need to know to set up a gorgeous DIY spread. This set up is effortlessly easy on the hostess and suits any occasion that calls for bubbly. The steps in this guide will help you perfect a swoon-worthy mimosa bar for brunches, Easter gatherings, showers, or Mother's Day.

I've hosted well over a thousand gatherings—many of them bridal and baby showers—and I can tell you from experience that nothing takes the stress off a hostess like a self-serve drink station. This simple mimosa bar setup comes together in less than 30 minutes and is one of the easiest ways to entertain and actually enjoy your party.

For the Mimosas

The key to an unforgettable mimosa experience starts with the right ingredients—champagne or sparkling wine, fresh juices, and beautiful garnishes that take every sip to the next level. Having a well-stocked mimosa bar makes it easy for guests to mix, match, and sip their way to the perfect drink while you can focus on sipping with them, too!

• Champagne or Sparkling Wine
• Liqueur(s)
• Fruit Juice
• Fresh Fruit + Garnishes
• Ice
• Sparkling Water (Optional)

What Kind of Alcohol to Buy for Mimosas?

The type of bubbly is largely dependent on your budget. Don't feel like you need to spend an arm and a leg on a cocktail station, especially when the cocktail is watered down with fruit juice. A great example is our cranberry mimosa, which features Brut champagne or Prosecco. However, a dry or semi-dry sparkling wine or sparkling rosé are also fine options for a mimosa bar.

How Much Alcohol Should You Buy for Mimosas?

Allow approximately seven mimosas per 750ml bottle. Guests will have an average of two mimosas; however, it's always wise to take your crowd into consideration, and ask yourself if this estimation is accurate to your crew.

To determine how many bottles you need, multiply the number of your guests by two (e.g., average number of mimosas consumed per guest). So, if I have 20 guests coming, the total estimated number of mimosas is 40.

Then, divide the number of estimated mimosas by seven (e.g., the number of mimosas in a single bottle of champagne) and round up. This means I'll buy six bottles of bubbly to accommodate 20 guests. However, my worst nightmare is to run out of something, so in all honesty, I'd probably buy eight.

What Kind of Juice Do You Put in a Mimosa Bar?

We love fruity cocktails around here and look for any celebration to share them with our guests. Some fan favorites, especially for springtime, that we use fruit or fruit juice for are our blueberry cocktail, strawberry basil cocktail (definitely add this one to your list if you're a champagne lover!), or my famous pineapple margarita.

Point of the story: a variety of fruity flavors is where a mimosa bar can get really fun! Select at least three juice options to pair with your champagne or sparkling wine. Think orange juice, grapefruit juice, peach purée, cranberry juice, apple cider, pineapple juice, strawberry purée, pomegranate juice, watermelon purée, or mango purée.

Don't Forget Alcohol Alternatives

Mocktails are all the rage these days, so to ensure everyone feels thought of and included, consider providing a small variety of sparkling waters that can be used as a substitute for champagne.

Liqueurs

On the other hand, you can elevate your mimosa bar to the level of mixologist status by incorporating a few specialty liqueurs alongside your setup. My favorites for mixing with sparkling wine are Chambord (a raspberry-flavored liqueur that would be delicious paired with watermelon syrup), St. Germain (an elderflower-flavored liqueur commonly paired with champagne), and Cointreau (an orange-flavored liqueur we use in many of our margaritas and white wine sangria).

For this kind of pairing, use about a ½ ounce of liqueur, 1 to 1 ½ ounces of juice, and fill the rest of the glass with bubbly.

Fruit + Garnishes

Blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries add a burst of natural sweetness and gorgeous color to each glass but to the table, too! They give that extra special touch to each glass. Orange and lemon wedges bring a zesty citrus kick, enhancing the bubbly goodness with a refreshing twist.

For an elegant touch, fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, mint, and basil infuse each sip with subtle, sophisticated vibes. And not to mention the added greenery to your spread is a beautiful touch. Whether you mix and match or keep it simple, these beautiful add-ins will take your mimosas to the next level!

One of my favorite drinks to go all out on garnishes besides a mimosa is a Bloody Mary. You really can't have too many garnishes for these cocktails--for the fun touch they add to the drinks and the elevated boujieness they add to your setup!

Ice

This one is often overlooked or forgotten altogether. Don't forget a bag or two of ice! You won't need it in the mimosas, but you will want it to keep your bottles of champagne chilled.

Mimosa Bar Serveware Basics

Champagne or Beverage Bucket | A large beverage tub is ideal for holding multiple bottles of champagne, ensuring they stay cold throughout your gathering. Look for stainless steel or acrylic buckets, as they retain cold temperatures well and add a stylish touch to your setup.

Decanters, Small Pitchers, or Carafes | These items make serving juices easy, stylish, and organized. Instead of bulky juice cartons, these sleek containers create an elegant presentation while allowing guests to easily pour and mix their drinks. Consider glass carafes, as they offer a classic, upscale look that showcases the vibrant colors of the variety of juices. Small pitchers with spouts also make pouring effortless and mess-free.

Glassware | Nothing beats real glassware for an extra special touch to any occasion. Pretty champagne flutes or coupe glasses are a lovely statement. If you don't have enough champagne flutes for the number of guests you're expecting, small plastic cups or disposable flutes are great alternatives, too.

Bowls for Fruit + Garnishes | The size of the bowls depends on the type of garnishes you choose. I like to use small compote bowls for items like berries and orange wedges. I also like tall, pedestal-style bowls to house whole oranges and strawberries. Pretty fruit is great for doubling as decor, adding gorgeous pops of color and visual appeal to the table.

Serving Utensils | To make it easy for your guests to serve the fruit and garnishes, have a small set of tongs, cocktail picks, serving spoons, and other serving tools on hand.

How to Set Up a Mimosa Bar

1. Chill the Champagne + Juice | Buy your champagne a day in advance, so it's thoroughly chilled by serving time. Keep in the refrigerator until it's time to move to the ice bucket or wine chiller

2. Pick Your Location | First off, choose the perfect mimosa bar location. To do this, consider where the party is taking place and choose a spot for your mimosa bar that's nearby, so guests can discreetly and easily help themselves without feeling like they've left the building to do so. Consider a kitchen island, a bar cart, or a console table as the perfect spots to set up your mimosa bar.

3. Bring Out All the Pieces | To keep from forgetting any details, set out all bubbly, juices, fruit, and garnish options before you begin setting up your table. Make sure you have all the necessary serveware to house each item. Cocktail napkins, ice buckets, and florals can come out now as well. We follow this same practice in setting up our Bloody Mary bar. This way, you get a feel for the items you have, ensuring they all make it to the table and are balanced beautifully.

4. Prep Juice Decanters + Garnishes | Transfer your juice to small pitchers or decanters. Have a pitcher for every juice you intend to serve. This instantly adds elegance to your mimosa bar. Add fruit garnishes to bowls and any herb garnishes you might use to bud vases or small decanters.

5. Prep the Space | If using a tablecloth, lay it down. Begin setting up your mimosa bar by placing the weightiest, largest pieces down first. This might be a large floral arrangement, a large beverage tub to house multiple bottles of bubbly, or even a tray you plan to use to group together champagne flutes.

6. Fill in the Table | Once you have your largest items down, begin filling in the spaces with the sparkling wine, juice decanters, liqueurs, and smaller items to follow.

7. Decorative Touches | Add in any themed banners or smaller florals you'd like to incorporate in your party spread to make it more inviting and festive.

8. Use Signage | Optional, but an extra special touch--use tags or place cards to indicate the name of a juice or recommended champagne/liqueur/juice pairings.

9. Add Ice + Serve | Add ice to your beverage tub or champagne bucket and serve. All that's left to do is sip, relax, and enjoy your party!

Remember, as the hostess, it's always a good practice to encourage the responsible enjoyment of beverages.

4 More Fruity Cocktails You'll Love

• Peach Margaritas
• Pineapple Mojito
• Strawberry Gin Cocktail
• Watermelon Martini