Fruity drinks you can order at any bar

Do you ever have the slightest moment of panic whenever it's finally your turn to order at a bar and the bartender goes, "What can I get you?" Maybe it’s your first time getting into a bar legally after turning 21 (Happy bday queen, if so!). I mean, I’m sure this isn’t your first sip of alcohol, but it may be the first time you’re actually ordering it for yourself. Or, you might have a big date coming up and want to look ~profesh~ ordering your drinks at the bar. Totally get that. It could just be that you haven't been to a bar in a while and you need a lil refresher course to mix it up (pun intended), even if you have a go-to drink order already.

Don’t even worry if you don't have an exact drink in mind before you step up to the bar. If the bar isn't super busy, Kenta Goto, owner of Bar Goto and Bar Goto Niban in New York City, suggests chatting up the bartender to find out what the signature cocktails or most popular drinks on the menu are, and letting them guide you based on your own fave flavors and taste preferences.

To get you started before you get to bar hopping, we gathered all the best cocktails in existence: There's something for vodka drinkers, for tequila lovers, even if you don’t know if you are one yet, and some drinks for people who like their alc a liitttle bit lighter. "All of the drinks I’m mentioning here are classic cocktails, and most bartenders should know how to make them well. These classics never go out of style, and more importantly, they are delicious," Goto says. We would never steer you wrong, would we?

Whether you’re looking for sweet drinks, fruity drinks, or drinks that are a little more on the boozy side, here are the best drinks to order at a bar.

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Just so you don't get it twisted, we are not referring to a frozen daiquiri mix here. "A classic daiquiri is made with rum, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup. It’s very easy to drink," Goto points out, adding that it's a go-to for off-duty bartenders when they hit up a bar.

If you follow anyone who studied abroad in Italy ever, you've probably seem them Instagram their Aperol spritz. "In its classic form, the Spritz is a cocktail made with Italian aperitivo, sparkling wine, and sparkling water, though there are now many variations on that recipe," Goto says. For example, this one from Bar Goto is called a Kishu Spritz, made with sparking Japanese plum wine, aperitivo, gin, and lemon. Basically it's the perfect brunch or HH starter.

Did you really think we’d tell you what to order and not include a classic Cosmo? Of course not. A typical Cosmopolitan is made with vodka, an orange-flavored liqueur called triple sec, cranberry juice, and lime juice. So maybe not for the very beginner drinkers, but you can def work your way up to this one.

Idk about you, but I feel classy just saying this one. "A French 75 is made with gin, lemon, simple syrup, and topped with champagne. It is a great cocktail for when you feel like celebrating, but also good to order on any night out," says Goto.

If you've never had a paloma, get yourself to a bar ASAP. "It's made with tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda," explains Goto. It's even better with fresh grapefruit juice, too.

Summer is not possible without sipping mojitos. The basic recipe is rum, simple syrup, lime juice, club soda, and mint, but lots of times there are other fruits added to the mix, like pineapple, mango, strawberry, or cucumber for ultimate tropical vibes.

If it's your absolute first time ordering a drink out, this is not exactly where you should start. "It's a classic that is definitely worth trying. An Old Fashioned is made with either bourbon or rye whiskey, angostura bitters [essentially a mix of herbs and spices dissolved in alcohol], and a touch of sugar," Goto says. It's def meant to be sipped, not chugged.

Goto calls out this bubbly cocktail made with Campari Italian liqueur, sweet vermouth, and prosecco (pronounced spahl-yah-toe, btw) as a perfect first date order. "These cocktails are sophisticated, so you’ll look good but without looking like you’re trying too hard, and are generally not too boozy, so you can assess how your date is going after the first drink or two before you decide what to order next." Honestly, that's the move.

We know, we know, it's not technically a cocktail, but it's a classic option for when you're sitting at a bar waiting for your date, or a friend to arrive, and easy to sip on before dinner or apps. The last thing you want is to be nervously chugging tequila and waiting for your Hinge match!

Wanna order something slightly less college than a vodka cran? "A Vodka Gimlet is a vodka, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup (You can also make a gimlet with gin)," says Goto. "It's like a daiquiri, but the rum is replaced with vodka".

Need something yummy to order during brunch? You can never, ever go wrong with a bellini, which is typically made with prosecco and peach puree, or in this case, pear. It's a drink order you will absolutely not regret.

The mimosa is the legitimate queen of brunch cocktails—you will be able to down an entire pitcher of these champagne/OJ combos, promise. Pro tip if you're doing bottomless brunch: Do not schedule anything for the rest of the afternoon, because you will fall asleep face down on your bed immediately post-mimosa.

Here's another great brunch option, esp if you were gonna order coffee anyway. "If you are someone who likes to drink black iced coffee, this cocktail is for you. It is made with vodka and coffee liquor, and served over ice," Goto says.

The G&T is another staple you could literally order at any bar on earth. Its basic version just has gin, tonic water (pretty much club soda with a lil added sugar), and some lime, but fancier versions might have other fruit and mint in it.

Don't think we need to convince you to order a margarita, aka the greatest mixture of tequila and lime ever invented (and necessary to accompany chips and guac always). Just keep in mind that these catch up to you fast, so sip them with food if possible.

This is the second greatest tequila mixture ever invented. You can barely taste the tequila when it's mixed with orange juice and grenadine (the stuff that's in Shirley Temples). These go down like juice, jsyk!

You can never go wrong with a Moscow mule anywhere you go. It's just vodka, ginger beer, lime juice, and a fresh sprig of mint. That signature copper mug will always keep it ice cold for ya.

Speaking of going down like juice, sangria wins at that too. Traditional sangria from Spain was always made with just red wine, some spices like cinnamon, and citrus fruit, but bars take allll kinds of liberties and often add other alc like rum or brandy, berries, etc. (which taste great!). Just be aware if you think you're only drinking fruity wine.

Need to temporarily transport yourself to a beach somewhere? Order a Mai Tai. It's made with rum, orange liqueur, fresh lime juice, and an almond syrup called orgeat. If you drink one, you are obligated to post it on your story. We don't make the rules.

Have you ever been like, 'I need a milkshake, but with booze in it?' That's what the mudslide was created for. It has basically everything: Bailey's, Kahlua, vodka, and either heavy cream or ice cream.

Prob the most Instagrammable drink ever, the aviation gets its pretty purpley-blue color from crème de violette, made from the violet flower. There's also gin, maraschino cherry liqueur, and lemon juice in it.

This is a super easy one to order and drink: A sea breeze is just vodka, cranberry juice, grapefruit juice, and a lil bit of lime.

You'll feel fancy ordering this and sipping it at the bar. A brandy alexander has cognac, crème de cacao, aka chocolate, and fresh cream. Just FYI, it's a dessert drink, so don't order it for HH.

Here's another classic vacay (or pretend you're on vacay) cocktail from the British Virgin Islands. The ingredients are pineapple juice, dark rum, cream of coconut, orange juice, and a dusting of nutmeg. How cute is it though?!

If you wanna go for a classy after dinner drink, get a grasshopper. It has a minty liqueur in it called crème de menthe, plus crème de cacao and fresh cream. Think of it like a boozy mint chocolate chip milkshake.

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