I never knew I needed a dessert cocktail bar in my life—until I stumbled upon one during my recent trip to Atlantic City. Like a bakery for sweet alcoholic drinks, a dessert cocktail bar offers the perfect setting to sit back, relax, and enjoy a sweet treat. From an intense orange Chocolate Old Fashioned to a chocolate-inspired espresso martini, I found the concept of a dessert bar to be especially intriguing. Not only can you order a sweet, after-dinner cocktail here, but you can also order the perfect dessert to pair it with. When you put it like this, who wouldn’t want to end the evening at a dessert cocktail bar?
The vibe of dessert cocktail bars
“Dinner and drinks” is a commonly paired duo for an evening out, for the drink atmosphere usually implies a standard bar setting. Unlike your standard cocktail bar that’s focused solely on before-or-after dinner drinks, the atmosphere of a dessert cocktail is more laid-back and focused on the dessert experience. If you’re not looking for a high-energy bar atmosphere, the dessert cocktail bar serves as the perfect after-dinner spot when you don’t want the night to end.
At Bar 32 in Atlantic City, the atmosphere was cool and relaxed — yet not sleepy. Rather than your typical bar experience, I’d describe the atmosphere as more of a coffee shop atmosphere, yet for desserts and dessert cocktails. What I like about this laid-back atmosphere is that it doesn’t put pressure on every person to drink. For non-drinkers, a whole selection of mocktails and desserts awaits, unlike a typical bar setting that revolves around drinking. For those who do drink, a spot like this delivers a more indulgent selection of beverages instead of rounds of tequila.
Bridges the gap between dinner and nightlife
Dessert cocktail bars also fill the gap for the time after dinner, where you’re not quite ready to drink but still want to keep the party going. After dinner, skip ordering dessert at the restaurant, and you can enjoy a dessert-inspired cocktail with a dessert on the side (to me, this is truly heaven). For some, the night might end here, elevating the traditional nightcap. But others may use the dessert cocktail bar as an “in-between” stop, bridging the time period from after dinner to nightlife when you’re not quite ready to hit a traditional bar just yet.
I can also see the concept of dessert cocktail bars taking off from a social aspect alone. Much like coffee shops showcase new flavor innovations that are as picture-perfect (and aesthetically pleasing) as they are delicious, dessert cocktail bars give mixologists a spotlight to experiment with cocktails and desserts that appeal to those with a sweet tooth. At the dessert cocktail bar I visited in Atlantic City, menu options included fun creations like chocolate-covered bacon and chocolate martinis.
Although this was my first experience at a dessert cocktail bar, it was enough to get me hooked on the concept. I only hope other business owners are paying attention and follow suit. Dessert cocktail bars aren’t just a trend — they’re a whole new way to unwind.
