Nothing says vacation like lounging by the pool with a refreshing drink in hand. Whether you’re basking in the sun at a luxury resort or relaxing at a tropical getaway, the right cocktail can elevate your poolside experience.
From frozen fruity blends to citrusy classics, here are ten fun and delicious drinks to order on your next vacation.
1. Piña Colada
The ultimate tropical vacation drink, the piña colada is a creamy, dreamy blend of rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice. This frozen cocktail is smooth, sweet, and refreshing, making it perfect for sipping while soaking up the sun. Top it with a cherry and a slice of pineapple for the full island vibe.
2. Margarita
A margarita is a vacation staple, whether you prefer it on the rocks or frozen. Made with tequila, lime juice, and triple sec, this cocktail offers the perfect balance of tart and sweet. If you’re feeling adventurous, try a flavored version like mango, strawberry, or spicy jalapeño for an extra twist.
3. Mai Tai
For a taste of the tropics, a Mai Tai is a must-try. This rum-based cocktail features lime juice, orgeat syrup, and orange liqueur, creating a beautifully layered and flavorful drink. Typically garnished with a cherry and mint sprig, the Mai Tai brings serious island vibes to your poolside relaxation.
4. Strawberry Daiquiri
A frozen strawberry daiquiri is fruity, refreshing, and always a hit by the pool. This delicious cocktail blends rum with fresh strawberries, lime juice, and simple syrup, creating a slushy treat that’s as Instagram-worthy as it is tasty. It’s the perfect pick-me-up on a hot day.
5. Mojito
If you love fresh flavors, the mojito is the drink for you. Made with white rum, lime juice, sugar, fresh mint leaves, and soda water, this cocktail is crisp and incredibly refreshing. It’s light, slightly sweet, and full of flavor—ideal for sipping under the sun.
6. Blue Lagoon
For a vibrant, eye-catching cocktail, the Blue Lagoon is a fantastic choice. This electric blue drink combines vodka, blue curaçao, and lemonade, resulting in a citrusy and slightly sweet flavor. It’s a fun, tropical drink that looks just as good as it tastes.
7. Bahama Mama
This fruity rum cocktail is a tropical delight, blending coconut rum, dark rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and grenadine. The Bahama Mama is sweet, strong, and smooth—everything you want in a vacation drink. Served with a pineapple wedge, it’s the perfect poolside companion.
8. Sex on the Beach
A classic and playful cocktail, Sex on the Beach is a mix of vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, and orange juice. It’s sweet, fruity, and super refreshing, making it a great choice for a carefree day by the pool. Plus, the vibrant colors make it a fun drink to sip on.
9. Painkiller
If you want a cocktail that truly feels indulgent, the Painkiller is the way to go. This rich and creamy drink is made with dark rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, coconut cream, and a sprinkle of nutmeg on top. It’s smooth, tropical, and tastes like a vacation in a glass.
10. Frozen Miami Vice
Can’t decide between a piña colada and a strawberry daiquiri? Get the best of both worlds with a Frozen Miami Vice. This layered drink combines the creamy coconut flavor of a piña colada with the sweet, fruity taste of a daiquiri for a stunning and delicious cocktail. It’s the ultimate vacation treat.
Final Sip
No vacation is complete without a fun and refreshing drink in hand. Whether you love classic cocktails or frozen tropical blends, these ten drinks will make your poolside lounging even more enjoyable. So, sit back, relax, and sip your way into vacation mode!
How to Make These Fun Poolside Drinks
If you want to bring the vacation vibes home, here are the simple recipes to make these refreshing cocktails yourself.
1. Piña Colada
Ingredients:
- 2 oz white rum
- 3 oz pineapple juice
- 1 oz coconut cream
- Ice
- Pineapple slice & cherry for garnish
Instructions: Blend all ingredients with ice until smooth. Pour into a chilled glass and garnish with a pineapple slice and cherry.
2. Margarita
Ingredients:
- 2 oz tequila
- 1 oz lime juice
- 1 oz triple sec
- Salt for the rim (optional)
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions: Shake tequila, lime juice, and triple sec with ice. Strain into a salt-rimmed glass over ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.
3. Mai Tai
Ingredients:
- 1 oz white rum
- 1 oz dark rum
- ¾ oz lime juice
- ½ oz orange liqueur
- ½ oz orgeat syrup
- Ice
- Mint sprig & cherry for garnish
Instructions: Shake all ingredients except dark rum with ice. Strain into a glass filled with ice, then float dark rum on top. Garnish with mint and a cherry.
4. Strawberry Daiquiri
Ingredients:
- 2 oz white rum
- 1 oz lime juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
- 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
- Ice
- Strawberry for garnish
Instructions: Blend all ingredients until smooth. Pour into a glass and garnish with a strawberry.
5. Mojito
Ingredients:
- 2 oz white rum
- 1 oz lime juice
- 2 tsp sugar
- 6-8 fresh mint leaves
- Soda water
- Ice
- Mint sprig & lime wedge for garnish
Instructions: Muddle mint leaves and sugar with lime juice. Add rum and ice, then top with soda water. Stir and garnish with mint and lime.
6. Blue Lagoon
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ oz vodka
- 1 oz blue curaçao
- 4 oz lemonade
- Ice
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions: Shake vodka and blue curaçao with ice. Strain into a glass filled with ice and top with lemonade. Garnish with a lemon wheel.
7. Bahama Mama
Ingredients:
- 1 oz coconut rum
- 1 oz dark rum
- ½ oz grenadine
- 2 oz pineapple juice
- 2 oz orange juice
- Ice
- Pineapple wedge for garnish
Instructions: Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a pineapple wedge.
8. Sex on the Beach
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ oz vodka
- ¾ oz peach schnapps
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- 2 oz orange juice
- Ice
- Orange slice & cherry for garnish
Instructions: Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a glass filled with ice and garnish with an orange slice and cherry.
9. Painkiller
Ingredients:
- 2 oz dark rum
- 4 oz pineapple juice
- 1 oz orange juice
- 1 oz coconut cream
- Ice
- Nutmeg & pineapple wedge for garnish
Instructions: Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a glass filled with ice. Sprinkle nutmeg on top and garnish with a pineapple wedge.
10. Frozen Miami Vice
Ingredients:
- Piña Colada Layer:
- 1 oz white rum
- 2 oz pineapple juice
- 1 oz coconut cream
- Ice
- Strawberry Daiquiri Layer:
- 1 oz white rum
- 1 oz lime juice
- ½ oz simple syrup
- 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
- Ice
Instructions: Blend the piña colada ingredients and set aside. Then blend the strawberry daiquiri ingredients. Pour both mixtures into a glass, layering them for a beautiful swirl effect.
Whether you’re lounging by a resort pool or just bringing the vacation vibes to your own backyard, these fun and refreshing cocktails are the perfect way to kick back and relax. From tropical blends to frozen favorites, there’s a drink for every mood and every moment. So grab your sunnies, take a sip, and soak in the good vibes—because every day should feel like a vacation!