If you are exploring ideas for food bars for parties, you have landed in the right little house on the Internet! Use these food bar ideas for weddings, for birthdays, for graduations, or any other gathering big or small. Food themed parties can go beyond the well loved taco bar party (though we LOVE those too). Try a burger bar theme, a baked potato bar, a bagel bar party, etc.
Food bars are so fun and are the perfect self-serve format that many like for weddings, birthday parties, etc. These days there are popcorn bars at weddings, ice cream sundae bars at graduation celebrations, s’mores bar themes at baby showers, mac and cheese bar themes with mac and cheese bar toppings galore at work meetings, etc. Mimosa bar ideas are hot for bridal showers and bridal luncheons.
Consider Time of Day When Selecting the Best Theme for Food Themed Parties
The first thing to do when narrowing down types of food bar parties is to consider the time of day. Will you be hosting a food themed party at breakfast or brunch? Will this be a lunch party or a dinner party? The time of day matters because it will allow to remove the options that don’t make sense for that time of the day.
Ideas for Breakfast Food Bars for Parties (Also Brunch Food Bars)
Choosing breakfast or brunch food bars, you might want to consider the audience first. Is this breakfast food bar for a group of 12-year-old girls at a sleepover? Or a group of college kids who love cereal? If so, a cereal bar or a donut bar might be your best bet!
Are you hosting a group of coworkers or clients for a brunch? Maybe you require something a bit more grown up like a crepe bar, a waffle bar, or bagel bar with a bonus mimosa bar or Bloody Marys station.
Ideas for Food Bars at Lunch or Dinner
The sky is the limit for food bars during the latter two meal times! You can set up a burger bar with all the favorite burger bar toppings. Likewise, you can set up a quesadilla bar or a fajitas bar in similar fashion to a taco bar.
A baked potato bar is always a popular choice. At my school, our PTO often sets up a baked potato bar with all the yummy baked potato bar toppings for us on those 12 hour parent-teacher conference days. Sometimes they set up a soup bar or a pasta bar.
Dessert Bars and Snack Bars
If your party or wedding is not going to occur during the typical lunch or dinner hours, consider setting up a dessert bar like a s’mores bar or ice cream sundae bar, or try a savory snack bar like a popcorn bar or a pretzel bar. My fall wedding was held at 2:30 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon. We planned the most adorable dessert bar with a s’mores bar and mini desserts rather than a traditional dinner.
Drink Bar Themes
For a cute drink station, set up an apple cider bar as seen below in fall or a hot chocolate bar in winter (or fall). In the summer, a cute lemonade bar would be perfect!
Best Ideas for Food Bars for Parties
No matter what time of day your food themed party is set for, we've got the best ideas for food bars! We have bagel bars, sundae bars, waffle bars, burger bars!
Breakfast Bar or Brunch Bar
For a breakfast or brunch bar, look no further than this fun idea for a bagel bar and a mimosa bar - all in one!
Salty Canary has such a posh idea with her bagel bar and mimosa bar! This is the perfect lady's brunch idea!
Lunch or Dinner Food Bar Ideas
The ideas for food bars for parties can be used in the lunch or dinner hours.
This hot dog bar is the cutest! From the display to the toppings, the idea of a hot dog goes upscale!
What guest would turn down a fajita bar like this one from Foxes Love Lemons?!
This build your own flatbread bar puts a sophisticated spin on pizza night!
Who can pass up a taco bar party? It's one of the most widely used food bar themes for a reason!
The easy thing about a slider bar is that you can use various different meats, cheeses, and breads of your choosing.
A baked potato bar is the perfect option for feeding a crowd!
How to Make a Quesadilla the Easy Way - Serve up a DIY Quesadilla Bar
A quesadilla bar is a way to allow even the pickiest of eaters to create a quesadilla they love at your party!
This loaded pup chips bar is the perfect food bar idea! With an assortment of toppings, everyone should be satisfied!
A make your own burgers bar is sure to satisfy all the burger lovers out there!
A mac and cheese bar is not your typical food bar theme yet it offers the comfort food so many people enjoy! It's the perfect food bar to consider as you narrow down ideas for food bars for parties.
Don't discount the power of a walking taco bar for a casual affair!
Maybe rather than a true food bar theme, you would like to prepare a grazing table for your guests full of various meats, veggies, cheeses, and sweets!
Snack Bar Ideas and Dessert Bar Ideas
Maybe you aren't planning your party during a meal time. If not, consider some of these dessert bar ideas and some of these fun ideas for snack food bars.
This pretzel bar is a fun way to feed kids and adults alike!
This popcorn bar is customizable with so many add in choices. It's a great food bar theme to offer any time of year!
What a perfect way to allow guests to try different caramel apple flavors! A caramel apple dipping bar allows for such customizable options!
This idea for an ice cream sundae bar will tickle everyone's fancy at your party!
Nothing says fall likes s'mores! Treat your guests to a fun dessert with this DIY s'mores bar set up!
Themed Drink Bars for Parties
Themed drink bars are popular for parties. Try a hot chocolate bar, a cocktail bar, or an apple cider bar for a fun drink station!
An apple cider bar is perfect for fall, and the tablescape can come together beautifully with the colors of the natural fruit.
Any fall or winter calls for a cozy hot chocolate bar for parties!
Hopefully, you found plenty of ideas for food bars for parties! Surely, there are enough occasions to try out several of the ideas over time.
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