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The Best Colorful Glassware of 2024, According to an Interior Designer

Our list includes editor-favorite picks from Material, Riedel, and Sophie Lou Jacobsen.

Colorful Glassware
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Food & Wine / Material

It’s official: Colorful glassware is here to stay. Drinkware in moody shades of smoke and amber adds a certain je ne sais quoi to a dinner table setting or cocktail hour. But colorful drinking glasses aren’t just for martinis and margaritas. As we researched the best colorful glassware, we found plenty of versatile picks, like tumblers that can handle everything from your morning juice to your favorite evening nonalcoholic spritz.

We also spoke with interior design expert Mikel Welch about what to consider when shopping for the best colorful glassware, including size, material, and care. He even shared a couple of favorite personal picks — he’s got a soft spot for olive green coupes, as it turns out. And unlike many decor trends, every one of these colorful glassware sets is timeless. Read on for the best pieces to grab, including editor-tested picks we know and love.

These drinking glasses are exactly what you think they are: everyday cups you can use for almost anything. Whether it’s a glass of water, whole-lemon lemonade, or a mixed drink you want to enjoy, these glasses range from eight to 12 ounces and can handle your glugs of water, juice, and cocktails easily.

They come in classic colors like smoke, amber, and grass, plus a couple of surprises like stunning hues of marine and sapphire. If they weren’t already uniquely shaped enough to catch your eye, each of these glassware sets is durable, too. After use, they’re safe to wash in the dishwasher.

Never has the phrase, “I’ll have one of each,” felt more appropriate. This dazzling array of hobnail glassware includes tumblers, goblets, and martini glasses — a tactile dream come true. Demanding attention whenever in use, these glasses cater to those who want to build the color palette of their dreams. We’re thinking olive, amber, and iridescent color options, among many others. 

Averaging at about a 10-ounce capacity per piece, these textured beauts will carry plenty of your iciest cocktails. They start at $10 a glass, an attractive price for handmade glassware, making it a great start to your colorful glassware set. Pay attention to seller instructions on care, as some of these glasses are best hand-washed for longevity.

Short on cabinet space? By no means does diversifying your glassware collection sentence you to kitchen disarray. Our favorite stackable cups are made of strong, dishwasher-safe materials like soda-lime and borosilicate glass, so they can handle vertical storage and harsh wash cycles without shattering. However, the durability of our selections here is first only to their dreamy hues, which include fun and moody options like malachite, sunset, and twilight.

The classic quality we’ve come to expect of brands like Riedel and Oneida gets married with lighthearted playfulness in these colorful stemless wine glasses. Whether you need just a flash of color pooling at a sturdy base or want a light pastel to stretch across the entire glass, we have a selection perfect for happy hour, a dinner party, or a night on the sofa.

We recommend Riedel glasses for serious wine drinkers for various reasons, but the Happy O Wine Glass set is particularly clever, since the clear sides won’t interfere with the visual component of enjoying a quality bottle.

Not that it’s a beauty contest or anything, but these wine glasses are giving off strong vibes of reality (think Prom Queen). They’re beautifully shaped and made to accommodate a variety of wine types. Plus, we’ve got to talk about those colors! Pink enthusiasts will be pleased to choose between shades of rose and blush, and fans of cooler shades will gravitate toward unique tints of mint green, moss, amethyst, and cobalt among these glasses. For the true neutral lover among us, there are rust-toned hues, as well. These glasses are all hand-blown, which makes them more expensive than most and requires hand washing — trade-offs we’d happily accept.

These modern renditions of classic cocktail glasses have our hearts — and so do the color combos. Including coupes; martini, old-fashioned, and highball glasses; and a sturdy goblet, this is a selection of glassware with unbreakable confidence. From monochromatic glasses to multicolored sets, you may find yourself in a pickle trying to decide which of these glasses to buy first — or better yet, which colors you’ll choose. No matter your decision, these distinct glasses from luxury brands like L’Objet, Arhaus, and Ghia bring life to a bevy of your favorite drinks.

Drinkware doesn’t have to be made from glass to earn a spot in our favorites list. These sets of BPA-free acrylic glasses earn a solid 11 out of 10 gold stars for durability, and they still manage to look elegant. Colors like grapefruit, lilac, and sage set the tone for an intimate evening indoors and transfer seamlessly to an outdoor soirée — small children, party fowls, and all. When you have strong, shatterproof glassware like this on hand, you can use it for both special occasions and everyday hydration. Simply give it a whirl in the dishwasher for easy cleanup.

Buying glass coffee mugs may seem like playing it fast and loose; however, these super-fun mugs are made from heat-resistant borosilicate and ceramic glasses that can stand up to your hottest cup of coffee or tea. Choose from short or tall mugs, but either way, you’ll get sturdy yet thin (even geometric) handles and some of the most richly-colored glass we’ve seen in our research. Not all these selections are dishwasher-safe, so be mindful of each mug's specific care instructions.

Would your glassware collection truly be complete without a nice set of shot glasses? We’ve researched dozens of the best shot glasses to find which ones are just as beautiful as they are functional, and these colorful models take the cake. Whether you’re looking for a heavy-bottomed set to slam down at special occasions or a sophisticated copita for sipping tequila, we found selections in amber, dark turquoise, and multi-colored sets that will suit your fancy. Given these glasses’ delicate, hand-blown nature, you’ll want to hand-wash each and store them safely in your cabinet or bar cart.

Breathtakingly thin and whimsically curvaceous, these pitchers defy our expectations for what “functional” barware should be. Ranging from 25- to 58-ounce capacities, there are oven-safe, shatter-resistant, microwave-safe, and dishwasher-safe options in this list. One of our favorites, the Material Kitchen Cloud Pitcher, doubles as a borosilicate mixing glass for making batched cocktails.

While not all of these colorful pitchers are dishwasher-safe, they’re tough enough for frequent handling. Anything without a handle is equipped with a strong construction or convenient grip-friendly features to prevent slippage.

Factors to Consider

Material

Don’t let the term “glassware” box you in. Welch says that unbreakable drinkware is a better fit for some scenarios. “Let’s not sleep on acrylic,” he says, “especially when keeping it low-key or taking the party outdoors.” That said, his personal preference is glass, which has a “timeless quality” that instantly elevates a meal or gathering. 

Versatility

If you have ample storage space consider investing in multiple sets of cocktail glassware, made for different drinks. Says Welch, “You'll catch me rocking etched coupe glasses, tumblers, double old fashioned glasses, wine flutes, martini glasses, juice glasses, and water glasses — all in vibrant, colorful shades.” If cabinet real estate or budget places a constraint on your colorful glassware collection, you’ll want to check out a moderately-sized tumbler, like the Our Place Night + Day Glasses: Although they may not be perfectly suited for every drink, they’re incredibly versatile. 

Size

Match the drink to the vessel, says Welch, who cautions against serving a small drink in a big glass, like a highball glass. “Etched coupe glasses are my go-to for those refined sips,” he says (and admits that they’re the item he’d save if his house caught fire). But for casual sips, he prefers a classic tumbler or double old-fashioned glass. The color of the glassware and the size affect the mood and style of your drink. Says Welch, “It's about curating the right glass for every vibe, with a colorful twist in each one, just like picking textures and tones for my designs.”

Care

Many of the glassware sets on this list are dishwasher-safe, so you don’t have to baby them. It’s less about the color and more about the style of the glass that dictates its care instructions. Hand-blown glass should always be washed by hand, as should any glassware with a delicate stem or thin rim. Hand drying, rather than draining in a dish rack, will take care of pesky water spots, too.

Color

If you’re in the research stage of shopping for colorful glassware, you’ve likely noticed plenty of amber and smoke tones. Those colors are incredibly on trend, and Welch says he has a soft spot for them, owing to their versatility and ability to complement many design styles. He also looks for blush and olive green glasses to use as accents for a subtle pop of color with a warm, inviting tone. Color definitely brings a more vintage glassware vibe to the table.

How We Chose Colorful Glassware

We began our selection process by choosing glassware from those we already trust from prior testing. Our editors have tested over 50 models of glasses, including drinking glasses, coupes, wine glasses, and more. With their insights in mind, our writer also sought the advice of an interior design expert to determine what is most important in searching for good colorful glassware. Later, we updated our selections to have more diversity in color, function, price, and style, while still adhering to the sophisticated and chic Food & Wine aesthetic.

Our Expertise

  • Rochelle Bilow is a food writer and commerce editor with over a decade of professional experience. Previously a senior associate editor and social media manager at Bon Appétit and Cooking Light magazines, Rochelle is also a novelist, a culinary school graduate, and a former professional baker and line cook. Rochelle has written extensively about home and kitchen products in the luxury space; in researching this article, she spoke with a professional interior design expert and researched dozens of glassware sets across various price points.
  • Food & Wine Updates Writer Dillon Evans selected new colorful drinkware to expand this roundup. He's a lifelong home cook and baker whose work can also be found in EatingWell. Dillon is a weekend winery worker who loves to try new glassware. In updating this article, he leaned on his experience pouring thousands of glasses of wine and researching glassware in the areas of outdoor dining, cocktails, and serveware.
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