We are living in a renaissance of incredible cocktail glasses. Maybe it’s just that the internet has given folks more access to some of the best unique cocktail glasses the world has to offer, but I feel like I can’t turn a digital corner without falling in love with a confetti-embellished Champagne coupe or a set of old fashioned glasses that look like Barbapapas in the best way possible. During lockdown, my roommates and I would throw weekly fancy cocktail nights with eclectic glassware and pretty, Dalí-esque pearl onion garnishes. Those lockdown moments may have faded, but our collective craving for Personality Glassware has only continued to develop.

This isn’t to say I don’t appreciate a no-fuss, workhorse set of cocktail glasses. Stainless steel coupe glasses, for example, are aesthetically spartan and virtually unbreakable, but still manage to bring some Sharon Stone energy to the home bar cart. But I’ve observed an increasing amount of whimsical cocktail glasses that don’t just come from the MoMA Design Store or your local shoppy shop (think Big Night or Coming Soon), but big name retailers such as CB2 or even Amazon. This wave of cool glassware has roots in the souped-up pandemic home decor trends of yore (think, Goober candles and DIY foam mirrors), which served as a visual shorthand to say, “I may be stuck inside, but my personality is still here.”

As a collector of cool dinnerware and glassware, I always keep an eye out for unique cocktail glasses that were made by doting human hands (or at least look like it). Individual quirks are chic. Knowing where your stuff was made is always a good idea. When shopping for cool cocktail glasses, ask yourself questions like, would I try and flirt with this cocktail glass at a bar? If the answer is no, it’s probably not doing enough for you. I want my cocktail glasses to look like they could cast a spell on me or speak several languages. The aesthetic could be anything — I love a mishmash of dishes on display in a kitchen hutch — so long as it’s not boring.

Below, I have rounded up a small taste of the many unique cocktail glasses out there for every budget and aesthetic.

Like Carnival in a glass

Someone call John Waters

You saw Dead and Company at The Sphere

Pierrot Doremus Wave Glasses (Set of 2)

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Abask is a wonderful place to shop for some serious glassware, including this set of hand-blown French glass tumblers by Pierrot Doremus, who uses a Renaissance-era technique of intertwining colorful glass rods around a cylinder so that they can be twisted and blown into unique shapes.  

Look for unexpected color combinations

You’re a Pinterest-pilled romantic

Galactic Craft Gifts Custom Shell Cocktail Glass

Prices taken at time of publishing.

RIP to every Victorian person who would have loved these custom seashell cocktail glasses. They’re not that practical, but that’s not the point. (The point = drinking Cynar like a powerful sea witch.)

The bow trend looks good in black

Maison Balzac Black Bow Coupes (Set of 2)

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Bows have been everywhere lately, both in fashion and home decor. And as delightful as that is, there’s something particularly refreshing about Maison Balzac’s moodier take on the trend. (If you’re not into a slightly moody set, however, there’s also a chic transparent bow glass at Anthropologie for only $35.)

This expensive-looking set of versatile glasses

Bormiolo Rocco Cocktail Glasses (Set of 4)

Prices taken at time of publishing.

I get nervous about splurging on fancy everyday glassware that will inevitably be broken or chipped by myself, a roommate, or a house guest. But this Italian-made set on Amazon looks way more expensive than it is, and is ready to serve up everything from mojitos to orange juice.

Part Parker hotel, part Beetlejuice dinner scene

You always forget which glass is yours

Ichendorf Milano Deco Tumblers (Set of 6)

Prices taken at time of publishing.

An easy way to make sure you never pick up someone else’s drink again? Make your drinking glass less forgettable. I love the handmade touches that are visible on these glasses from Ichendorf Milano, which has been making quality glassware for nearly a century in a small town outside of Cologne, Germany.  

You’re the king of your castle

You had an Ancient Rome hyperfixation as a child

Bollenglass Hand-Blown Glass Tumbler

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Again, some of the most beautiful glassware out there right now embraces an intricate and handmade look (see: the Paris-based glassblowers at La Soufflerie). I love to shop for pieces that look like long-lost Etruscan glassware, such as this funky little tumbler.   

Tortoiseshell will never go out of style

CB2 Franklin Double Old Fashioned Glass

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Tortoiseshell is a great example of what I like to call sober-whimsy: a motif or pattern that has personality, but is anchored by a more grown-up, sophisticated feel. (If you’re all set on old fashioned glassware, check out CB2’s tortoiseshell martini glasses, too.) 

This set of tulip-inspired cocktail glasses

Stemless martini glasses (with built-in olive garnishes)

Anthropologie Garnish Stemless Martini Glass

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Listen, stemless wine and martini glasses can come with a lot of peace of mind, if only because it means my cat won’t knock it off the table as easily. This option from Anthropologie comes with either a glass cherry or olive at its base. 

Cheers.