Easiest Drinks to Order at a Bar: Simple Cocktail Choices and Pro Tips

You’re standing three people deep at a packed bar. Sweaty palms. Bartender is zipping around at warp speed. Your turn is next—and your mind? Blank. The pressure to order something cool (and pronounce it correctly) is real. What if you just want to keep it simple and avoid a tongue twister or judgmental smirk? Let’s break down the easiest, no-fuss drinks to order at a bar and how to look like a seasoned bar-goer—even if you still mix up lager and ale sometimes.

Why Simple Drinks Dominate the Bar Scene

Simple drinks win for a reason. Bartenders love them; guests don’t have to fumble through menus or second-guess pronunciations. Think about it—how often do you hear someone order a flaming sambuca or an aviation at your local joint? Not so much. The most common orders are easy, fast to pour, and hard to mess up—both for you and the bartender. If you ask a bartender in a busy bar, most will tell you they want efficiency. When it’s slammed on a Friday and there’s a hundred glasses to wash, they’d rather pour a whisky and Coke than muddle herbs for a mojito. That means your order is more likely to be right if you stick to the classics.

The beauty of a simple order is you barely need to think. It cuts down on social stress—no rattling off a shopping list of modifiers, no risk of getting that “really?” look from your server. You’re in and out with a drink in hand. People always remember the time a friend stared at the menu for ten full minutes only to order “whatever you recommend”—don’t be that person.

Not only that, but basic drinks tend to be cheaper, too. A gin and tonic won’t break the bank, unlike those Instagrammable cocktails stacked high with fruit and mystery syrups. There’s even research behind how people gravitate towards what’s familiar or easy to remember when they’re in a hurry. In 2022, the Beverage Alcohol Retailers study found that over 62% of orders during busy hours were for “well drinks” or house specials—the classic, two-ingredient combinations.

easiest drink to order at a bar really depends on two things: the speed of prep and how common the ingredients are. If they have it in every dive, airport lounge, and backyard barbecue, you’re golden.

The Ultimate List of Easiest Drinks to Order

Let’s be real: no bartender ever rolled their eyes at a neat whiskey or vodka soda. If you just want a no-brainer choice, here’s where to look:

• Rum and Coke: It’s a staple. Two ingredients, sweet and smooth, and always available.
• Gin and Tonic: Light, crisp, and the bartender barely breaks a sweat making it.
• Vodka Soda: Zero sugar, zero hassle. Ask for a lime if you want bonus flavor.
• Whiskey neat or on the rocks: No mixers, just spirit. Looks confident, tastes classic.
• Margarita: If you say “no salt,” that’s your only modifier. Most bars have a mix on hand.
• Beer: Nothing’s easier than naming your favorite draft or saying “whatever’s on tap.”
• Tequila Sunrise or Screwdriver: Both are easy fruit juice combos—sweet, simple, done.

You can make almost any spirits-plus-mixer combination with a single request. Most major liquors (vodka, rum, gin, tequila, whiskey) mix with either soda, tonic, or juice. If you want to sound fancy but keep it simple, order a “vodka cranberry” (sometimes called a Cape Codder) or a “whiskey ginger.” Easy to remember, and you won’t get flustered repeating it.

For beer, don’t overthink it. If you’re not a craft brew expert, just say “lager” or “IPA,” or ask for the bartender’s recommendation. Even regulars at my local (the one spot I take Lennox for a root beer and Evanna for fries on weekends before the evening crowd drops in), believe me, order the regular. Don’t get caught squinting at a long list—go with what’s easy to say.

How to Order Like You’ve Been There Before

Ordering should look effortless. You want to blend in, look confident, and avoid holding up the line. Here’s the inside scoop on doing it right:

• Decide ahead: There’s nothing magical about reading the menu for five minutes. Have your pick ready when you step up.
• Project your voice: Bartenders can’t read lips across the crowd. Say it loud, clear, and with a smile.
• Know what you’re ordering: If you ask for a “rum and Coke,” don’t be surprised if you get “Coke or Pepsi?” or “light or dark rum?”
• No fussy specifics: Busy night? Skip extra instructions (like “shaken but not stirred,” unless you’re James Bond).
• Don’t wave cash: Most bartenders see you. Gently signal or make eye contact—that’s enough.

The big secret is that bartenders notice the confident, decisive orders. They remember the guy who keeps it short and sweet. A 2023 survey by Bartender Spirits Awards revealed bartenders find the “vodka soda” and “whiskey on the rocks” to be their two favorite drinks to serve—they’re done in seconds, and nobody complains about the taste. The same survey showed that customers who order like pros (clear, confident, polite) got their drinks 40% faster than those who mumbled or paused awkwardly. Want to look like you belong? Simplicity is your best friend.

If you want to try something new, do it at a quieter bar or when the place isn’t swamped. The bartender will actually have time to chat or explain what a “mezcal negroni” is (if you want to get fancy one day).

"The best guests know what they want and don’t second-guess themselves. They make our job smoother and their experience better." —Jill Filmore, veteran bartender at The Rusty Tap

Common Mistakes to Dodge at the Bar

Everyone remembers the person who held up the line with a complicated order or threw shade at the drinks menu. If you’re worried about looking clueless, pay attention to these rookie mistakes:

• Over-customizing: Asking for seventeen specific modifications (like “vodka tonic, but only with cucumber tonic, and three limes, not two”) slows everything down and gets you an eye-roll every time.
• Ordering rare drinks: The less common the drink, the more likely the bar doesn’t have the ingredients. Don’t ask for a Ramos Gin Fizz at a sports bar.
• Micromanaging glassware: Don’t nitpick about the type of glass—unless you have a genuine allergy or napkin-based phobia.
• Tipping too little (or not at all): Tip a buck per drink, minimum. Simple rule, no excuses. Bartenders remember.
• Trying to order complicated drinks for a big group all at once: Keep it short and stick to easy stuff if ordering for the squad.

My buddy Cal once spent five minutes ordering a “sidecar” with a sugar rim at 2 AM. I’ll never let him live that down. The bartender didn’t either—he got a whiskey sour instead. You don’t want to be the “story” the staff tells at closing time.

Quick Reference: Most Ordered Simple Bar Drinks

If you’ve ever wondered which drinks you hear the most at bars, here’s how it usually breaks down. Simple drinks win every time. Here’s a table pulled from numbers shared at the 2023 National Bar Show—actual orders tracked at hundreds of busy spots around the US:

As you can see, ordering the classics isn’t just about being lazy—it’s a sign you’re up to speed on what works. If you’re ever lost, glance at the drinks your neighbors are holding. Odds are, you’ll spot a highball or a frosty pint—the things both bartenders and customers love for their zero-stress prep.

So the next time you land a spot at the bar, skip the drama. Go for what’s easy, common, and quick. Your drink will show up faster, your bartender will thank you, and you’ll look like you know exactly what you’re doing—even if you’re actually just there for the fries, like Evanna.