In a survey fielded in June, 35% of readers of restaurant development + design said expanding and designing for larger nonalcoholic beverage offerings is the top bar design trend of 2026.
Another 22% of readers surveyed identified smaller, more efficient footprints as their top bar design trend.
Related to the rise of nonalcoholic menu items, 16% of readers say the top trend is serving a wider range of dayparts, including coffee-to-cocktails beverage-focused operations. An additional 13% of readers said they are designing to showcasing the bartender to ensure preparation is visible to guests. Just 11% of readers say that the top trend is bar design with a social activation element (axe throwing, listening bars, etc.).
The final 3% gave a mix of answers, including creating a “distinctive concept.”
What does it mean? Americans are drinking less! And that has implications for bars. Bars continue to expand their nonalcoholic offerings and dayparts to include coffee, for example, but keep shrinking their footprints. That means the bar area must do more than ever and in tighter quarters.
rd+d regularly surveys subscribers on the state of restaurant development and design. Subscribe to The Pulse to get rd+d’s surveys and results delivered to your inbox six times a year and to contribute your opinions to the surveys.
