Food Bar Ideas: When it comes to party planning, setting up a food bar can be the overall theme and is an easy way to feed your guests!
Food Bar Ideas
I’m a sucker for a good food bar at a party. I’ve thrown a LOT of parties in my lifetime, and usually the first thing that I think about is a party theme.
Friend, if you’re having a hard time coming up of a theme for your next party, it can be as simple as deciding what food bar you want to have. Your food bar can BE the theme!
Do you or the guest of honor have a favorite food item? Odds are, you can create the whole party theme around that. Here are a few food bar ideas, and a collection of my favorites to get ideas from, for your very own party!
Savory Food Bars Ideas
- Hot Dog Bar
- Nacho Bar
- Pizza Bar (Make bagel pizzas or even Texas Toast Pizzas for individual servings!)
- Baked Potato Bar (Especially with this shrimp baked potato as an option!)
- Taco Bar
- Burger Bar
- Dip Bar
- Salsa Bar (Make your own with this salsa recipe!)
- Salad Bar
- Pancake Bar
- Waffle Bar
- Biscuit Bar
- Chili Bar
- Fajita Bar
- Popcorn Bar
- Ramen Bar
- Veggie Bar
- Sushi Bar
- Omelet Bar
- Crostini Bar
- French Fry Bar
- Chicken Wing Bar
Sweet & Dessert Food Bar Ideas
- Chocolate Bar
- Chocolate Fountain Bar
- S’mores Bar
- Cereal Bar
- Bagel Bar
- Yogurt Bar
- Pudding Bar
- Waffle Bar
- Pancake Bar
- Biscuit Bar
- Pie Bar
- Donut Bar
- Candy Bar
- Ice Cream Bar Party
- Fruit Bar
- Candy Apple Bar
- Crepe Bar
Drink Bar Ideas
- Fresh Juice Bar
- Hot Cocoa Bar
- Champagne Bar
- Mimosa Bar
- Italian Soda Bar
- Apple Cider Bar
- Smoothie Bar
- Martini Bar
- Margarita Bar
- Bloody Mary Bar
- Lemonade Bar
- Root Beer Float Bar
- Spa Water Bar
- Vodka Bar
Food Bar Party Ideas
Now that you have a TON of food bar ideas, here are my favorite parties that feature food bars, so you can get more ideas for your own get-together!
Hot Dog Bar
Kids AND adults love a good ole hot dog bar. Planning a bonfire? Let guests roast their hot dogs and head over to the toppings table to make it their own creation.
Nacho Bar
When throwing my son’s second birthday party, I knew a nacho bar was the perfect option. A party full of adults called for something where they could come and go, and snack as they pleased!
Taco Bar
Cinco de Mayo or bust! (Or any other time you want to host a taco bar of course!) Maybe you want to throw a party for on Tuesday, just because you love tacos! Don’t forget to send me an invite please!
Coffee Bar
A low key girls brunch makes the perfect setting for this coffee bar party idea! Different flavors of coffees, creamers and pastries MAKES this a party your gal pals will remember!
Cereal Bar
I just don’t think it gets easier than a cereal bar. Whether it’s a morning party or a late night snacking station, a cereal bar is going to be a HIT.
Chocolate Bar
Chocolate lovers unite with this chocolate bar. An assortment of chocolate candies can fill your table, and even offer hot chocolate as a beverage to match!
Chocolate Fountain Bar
Want to spiff up your chocolate bar? Add a chocolate fountain and serve all the goodies for your guests to dip and go!
Bagel Bar
Hosting a brunch? I love the idea of a bagel bar because guests can pick out of an assortment of bagel flavors AND cream cheese, jellies and butter flavors!
Yogurt + Pudding Bar
If you’re hosting for kids, you better believe they’re going to love fixin’ up their own yogurt and pudding cups!
I also love the option of a yogurt bar for a bridal or baby shower, with the options of classy toppings like fruit, nuts, and drizzles.
Dip Bar
What party is complete without dips!? So why not create a dip food station!? Offer an assortment of dips with dippers like chips, veggies, crackers, pita bread and more!
Fresh Juice Bar
Looking to offer something “out-of-the-box” and healthier than your typical food bar? A fresh juice bar is IT! Set out your juicer with fresh veggies and fruit to let your guests experiment and juice their own juices!
Hot Cocoa Bar
A warm comforting option during the colder months is a hot chocolate bar like a Bride on a Budget styled!
Baked Potato Bar
Plowing Through Life had a great idea to create this baked potato bar. How easy is this!?
Salad Bar
There are salad bars in restaurants EVERYWHERE! Why can’t we have one in our own homes, for parties!? We can! Love this idea from Spa Bettie.
Pancake Bar
Oh mylanta. How I’d LOVE to host or even attend a party with a pancake bar. I love what Neighbor Food did with this!
Waffle Bar
Ok, so I could make myself sick if I attended a party with a waffle bar. The toppings ideas are endless and they’d definitely be endless if I was making a waffle from it! How cute is this one from Frog Prince Paperie!?
Biscuit Bar
Ok, why haven’t I hosted a biscuit bar party yet! Savory, sweet… what a treat from Shrimp Salad Circus!
Italian Soda Bar
Tidy Mom’s Italian Soda Bar is making me SWOON! I love this idea so much and can you even imagine how much fun this would be!?
Salsa Bar
How easy a salsa bar could be, right? And what a great way to experiment and test out new salsa flavors!
S’mores Bar
Get in my belly! I know my kids would adore having this at a party!
Crepe Bar
I love a good crepe, and being able to experiment with fillings and toppings would be to die for with a crepe bar like on Ashlee Marie!
Kebab Food Bar
What!? How fun is this kebab party idea from Gluesticks?! From savory to sweet, guests will have fun customizing their own kebabs!
More Food Bar Ideas
Alright, what am I forgetting!? Is there a favorite food item that you’d like to see turned in to a food bar? I’d love to hear it so I can consider it for my next party! Drop your ideas in the comments below!
BEST Party Supplies Websites
Since you’re thinking about your party, you might as well go ahead and think about the items you’ll need for this shindig you’re throwing!
Here are my favorite party supplies stores to get everything from decor, to food trays, adorable cups and so much more!