Which catering glassware will you choose in 2026? From beer glasses and wine glasses to cocktail glasses and stackable glasses — discover what to look out for when purchasing glassware for your restaurant, café, or bar.
Glassware is one of those things that, as a hospitality entrepreneur, you don't really think about for too long — until you see a table set with glasses that just don't feel right. Too light, too common, or simply not matching what you are serving. Then you feel it. And your guest does too, even if they don’t say anything.
After years of supplying hospitality businesses with glassware, we notice time and again that the choice of glass does more than most people expect. It determines how a drink tastes, how a table looks, and how guests remember your establishment. Below, we share what we know — category by category, honestly and practically.
Beer glasses: less boring than you think
The Netherlands drinks beer. You know that, too. But the question of which beer glass you put down deserves more attention than a standard flute or tumbler.
For a pub or brasserie, a sturdy 500 ml tumbler is the safest choice — robust, recognizable, and easy to stack. Want just a little more style without driving up the price? Take a look at the Onis Munique Beer 400 ml. A glass that looks sleek for less than €3 each — and you wouldn't know it from the quality.
For specialty beers or a specialized beer menu, tulip glasses or a goblet are worth it. They instantly give your establishment a different feel, and your guest the idea that some thought has been put into what is in front of them.
Wine glasses: the balance between appearance and reality
Wine glasses are the most sensitive part of your glassware assortment. They break faster than you'd like, but they also largely determine the look of your table.
The most practical choice for busy restaurants is a good universal wine glass — one model for both red and white. That saves a tremendous amount in storage and service. The Royal Leerdam Bouquet Wine 290 ml is a strong example of this: classic in line, sturdy enough for intensive use, and with over 700 units in stock, you can reorder whenever you want.
Do you have a serious wine list? Then distinguishing between red and white wine glasses is worth the effort. And for champagne or cava by the glass, a good flute or coupe is simply a must. The Royal Leerdam Experts' Collection Coupe 270 ml is in a great segment in terms of design and price — and gives every table something festive immediately.
Cocktail glasses: this is where you make the difference
The cocktail market is growing, and guests are increasingly aware of what is placed in front of them. An Espresso Martini in an average tumbler just feels different than one in a sleek coupe glass. That’s not imagination — that’s experience.
A few glasses that we often recommend:
- The Pasabahce Timeless Nick & Nora 160 ml — compact, elegant, and currently very popular for classic cocktails like a Martini or a Gimlet.
- The RCR Opera Champagne Coupe 240 ml — versatile for both champagne and cocktails, with a luxurious look that is well worth its price.
- The Luigi Bormioli Backdoor '20S Great Gatsby 300 ml — for those who want a bit more character behind the bar. Roaring twenties style, and it shows.
- The Luigi Bormioli Backdoor'20S Gin Tonic 800 ml — for the gin & tonic lover who wants room for ice, garnish, and a beautiful presentation.
Long drink glasses and stackable glasses: don't underestimate them
Not every glass needs to be a statement. For water, soft drinks, and beer at the table, robust long drink or stackable glasses are actually the smartest choice. They take up little space, are easy to replace, and last a long time. The Onis Kentucky Hi-Ball 311 ml is a good example — solid, stackable, and for less than €2 each.
Do you work with a terrace or a busy brasserie? Then it really pays to look at tempered glass. Breakage costs eat through your budget faster than you think.
What to look for when purchasing
A few things we always pass on:
- Buy more than you think you need. Count on 20 to 30% extra as a breakage buffer. That seems excessive until you run out of glasses halfway through a busy evening.
- Check dishwasher safety. Not every glass survives intensive machine washing. Especially glasses with prints or thin rims can be damaged quickly.
- Keep lead times in mind. Glasses you order from APS are shipped from our own warehouse in the Netherlands. No waiting weeks for a shipment from abroad.
- Price per piece counts, not the box price. A €2.90 glass can look just as good as an €8 one — if you make the right choice for your concept.
In conclusion
The best hospitality glasses are not the most expensive ones. They are the glasses that fit your establishment, your guest, and your way of working. Sometimes that is a robust stackable glass. Sometimes it is a hand-blown coupe. Usually, it’s somewhere in between.
View our full range of hospitality glasses at apssopply.com — available for direct delivery from our warehouse.
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