How to Choose the Right Mobile Bars for Your Event

Short answer: Start with coffee for any daytime or business event, then add one bar that suits the season and your guests: gelato, soft serve or slush in summer, hot chocolate in winter, a sweet bar such as waffles or candy for celebrations, and a pizza or prego bar when the event runs through a meal. Two bars cover most events; larger events can mix several.

Start with the occasion

Conferences, staff days and client functions almost always start with a coffee bar, because delegates want good coffee between sessions. Weddings often pair coffee with a dessert bar such as gelato or Belgian waffles, and add a gin and tonic or mocktail bar for the evening.

Brand activations and expos need a bar that draws a crowd and gets people talking: rolled ice cream, popsicles, bubble tea and slush are good at that, and the bar can be branded for an extra charge. Birthday parties and school events lean towards candy, soft serve, pizza, milkshakes and slush.

Then think about the season

South African summers suit cold bars: gelato, soft serve, frozen yoghurt, popsicles, slush, lemonade and iced tea. In winter, hot chocolate sits naturally beside the coffee bar. Coffee works all year round.

Match the time of day

Morning events suit coffee with a sweet bar like mini donuts or waffles. Events that run through lunch need something more filling, such as a pizza, prego and burger, or chip and dip bar. Evening functions can add a gin and tonic, rum, tequila or mocktail bar.

How many bars?

For most events, two bars are enough: coffee plus one treat that suits the occasion. Bigger events and longer days can mix several. You can tick every bar you are considering on our quote form and we quote them together, which makes it easy to compare.