It might sound a little silly to say nostalgia is trending, but it really is. We live in a culture that loves shiny, new things—always chasing what’s next. For many people (including me), the idea of a future that’s more tech-driven, with bigger digital footprints and less human connection, feels deeply unsettling.

In response, more and more people are looking back with longing to simpler, slower, less connected, and more personal times. You can see this wistful nostalgia in the return of streamlined ’90s styles on the runway, the comeback of “dumb phones,” and the revival of classic dishes like beef Wellington.

This pull toward the past is also showing up in travel. Analog experiences are on the rise, with travelers swapping devices for board games and books. Literary tourism is growing too—whether it’s tours that follow in the footsteps of famous novelists or staying in hotels where authors wrote their great works.

At restaurants, tableside service is making a comeback. Diners are once again delighted by the showmanship of cacio e pepe spun in a wheel of cheese, or Caesar salads tossed just inches from their plate. That same sense of performance and personal touch has found its way into bars, where a nod to the romance and elegance of the past has brought martini trolleys back into style.

“The cocktail trolley, or ‘strolling bar,’ first became popular in urban America in the late 1800s. But it really took off again in the decades after Prohibition ended in 1933,” says Jared Brown, co-founder and master distiller of Sipsmith. As nightlife evolved, bartenders started embracing more theatrical service, mixing cocktails right at the table.

Around the same time, across the Atlantic, bars in London and other cities welcomed locals and thirsty Americans looking to escape Prohibition-era restrictions. “In the UK, trolleys appeared in the libraries of gentlemen’s clubs, country houses, and in London’s fancier private homes.”

Fast forward to the early 2000s, as New York and London became hubs for bar innovation and the revival of classic cocktails, drinks trolleys started popping up again. Perhaps most famously, The Connaught Bar introduced its signature version in 2008.

The martini trolley at The Connaught Bar.
Photo: Lateef Okunnu

Today, this spirited tableside ritual is captivating a new generation of drinkers—both at places with a long trolley tradition and at a wave of upscale bars trying it for the first time. The tables at The Connaught Bar are busier than ever, with guests seeking the theatrical experience that turns a martini (an excellent, ice-cold one) into an event. The signature recipe—75ml of Connaught Bar Gin, 15ml of a secret vermouth blend, and a choice of aromatic bitters from the in-house selection (lavender, coriander seeds, black cardamom, ginseng and bergamot, or tonka beans)—is stirred and poured from a great height (think Moroccan mint tea at a luxury hotel in Marrakech) and finished with a twist. “It’s a very engaging and dedicated service that guests love completely, and it has created a truly timeless attraction,” Giorgio Bargiani, assistant director of mixology at The Connaught, tells Vogue.

Tapping into this timely revival—which Lucia Montanelli, bar manager at The Dorchester’s Vesper Bar, credits as a return to classic sophistication and wow factor that sparks engagement and conversation—The Dorchester, also in London’s polished Mayfair neighborhood, introduced a martini trolley in the beautifully renovated Promenade in late April. “Our London-style Gibson martini, made with Dorchester Old Tom Gin and a local vermouth from Highgate, lets guests choose and create their own pickle garnish.”

Back in New York, at The Knickerbocker—where you could argue it all began—If the story is true that bartender Martini de Arrma di Taggia invented the dry martini in the hotel’s ballroom, then the Martini Bar on the fourth floor at Charlie Palmer Steak IV has a martini cart. It lets today’s drinkers enjoy the same mix that F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Roosevelt family loved.

The Lounge at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills first introduced a martini cart—along with fun, indulgent “Press for Caviar” buttons—as part of a speakeasy pop-up in December 2024. The cart is brought right to your table, where a skilled bartender makes each drink exactly how you like it, whether that’s with Reyka vodka or Hendrick’s gin, shaken or stirred, dirty or dry, with a twist or olives. Since it’s Beverly Hills, where people love a touch of luxury, guests can upgrade to Point Reyes blue cheese or caviar-stuffed olives.

Martinis at the Lounge at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills.
Photo: Raphe Wolfgang

“This interactive, immersive experience clicked right away—it showed that our guests weren’t just after great drinks, but memorable moments built around them,” says Sebastian Hinsch, general manager at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. Because of the overwhelmingly positive response, the hotel brought back tableside martinis for a second year. “We’ve seen a big jump in martini sales over the last three months, which really shows how well this program is connecting with people.”

Sometimes it’s hard to say exactly why something suddenly becomes so popular. In this case, it starts with a pretty simple recipe. A great martini cart isn’t just about the drink—it’s about the ritual, the craft, the personal touch, the nostalgia, the showmanship, and the feeling of being part of something special, even if only until the glass is empty.

Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the return of the Martini Trolley covering everything from the basics to hosting tips

Beginner Questions

1 What exactly is a Martini Trolley
Its a portable wheeled cart used to mix and serve martinis and other cocktails directly at the table or in the living room Think of it as a mobile minibar

2 Why is it making a comeback
People are looking for more interactive and glamorous ways to entertain at home It adds a touch of oldHollywood elegance to parties and makes the host or hostess the center of the show

3 Do I need to be a professional bartender to use one
Not at all The trolley is great for simple classic cocktails You can start with a basic gin martini and learn as you go The drama is in the presentation not the complexity

4 Whats the difference between a Martini Trolley and a regular bar cart
A bar cart is usually stationary and holds bottles and glasses A Martini Trolley is designed to be mobileyou wheel it around to serve guests and it often has a dedicated mixing station on top

Intermediate Practical Questions

5 What essential items should I stock on my trolley
Spirits A good gin and a good vodka
Vermouth Dry vermouth plus sweet vermouth if you want Manhattans
Tools A shaker a mixing glass a longhandled bar spoon a jigger a strainer and a small ice bucket
Glassware Classic martini glasses
Garnish A small jar of olives a bottle of cocktail onions and a lemon zester

6 How do I keep my martinis perfectly cold without a builtin ice compartment
Use a separate stylish ice bucket Fill your mixing glass with fresh large ice cubesthey melt slower Also store your martini glasses in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before serving

7 What are the most common mistakes when using a Martini Trolley