Nothing says “instant vacation” like sipping a fruity drink with a colorful straw — and that’s exactly the vibe we created for Elsa’s Flamingo Pool Party. Our Make Your Own Tropical Drink Station was a hit with guests of all ages, letting everyone customize their drink with fun flavors, garnishes, and yes… plenty of flamingo straws!

In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how I set it up, share the tips I learned along the way, and give you a free 2-page printable drink menu (with 12 gorgeous recipes!) so you can recreate the magic at your own party.

Section 1: Setting Up the Drink Station

Location & Layout
	•	Place your drink station where guests can easily see and access it — ours was right by the pool, framed by a folding screen decorated with tropical string lights and two paper flamingos.
	•	Give yourself plenty of table space for the drink menu, cups, garnishes, ice, and bottles.

Decor
	•	Large statement pieces like paper flamingos
	•	Tropical leaf table cover or placemats under serving trays
	•	Colorful string lights or mini lantern garlands

What to Include on the Table

The magic of a tropical drink station is in the details, so I made sure guests had everything they needed to play bartender without making a mess (or accidentally pouring a glass full of straight rum—you’re welcome).

Front and center: a rainbow of garnishes, fun straws, and stirrers that doubled as instant party décor. I set out both small and large cups—because sometimes you just want a taste, and sometimes you want a vacation in a cup. To help everyone follow the drink recipes, I added a bunch of 1 oz. plastic shot glasses for easy measuring.

I also included a row of colorful, reusable tumblers—each decorated with a flamingo sticker—as party favors. They looked adorable on the drink table, gave guests a personal cup for the night, and doubled as a keepsake to take home.

And here’s my favorite hosting hack: keep all the juices, sodas, and other chilled mixers in a cooler of ice just under the table. This keeps the setup looking gorgeous, prevents the “where’s the orange juice?” scavenger hunt, and means everything stays ice-cold until the last splash is poured.

Make it Guest-Friendly
	•	Provide a clear printed menu with recipes — people love knowing exactly how to make each drink.
	•	Have a separate ice bucket with a scoop for adding ice to drinks—this way guests can follow recipes without fishing cubes out of the cooler that’s keeping your mixers cold.
	•	Optional: Include a small safety note for garnishes like limes (they can cause skin irritation in the sun).
	•	Offer both adult and kid-friendly drink options.

Want to recreate this setup for your own party? Here’s the complete shopping list I used for our tropical drink station — from fresh ingredients to party-perfect supplies (with links to my favorite finds).

Liquor:
	•	Malibu Coconut Rum
	•	Vodka
	•	Champagne (or sparkling wine)

Mixers & Juices:
	•	Blue Curaçao liqueur
	•	Grenadine syrup
	•	Pineapple juice
	•	Cranberry juice
	•	Orange juice
	•	Lemonade
	•	Sprite (or other lemon-lime soda)

Fresh & Sweet Garnishes:
	•	Canned pineapple chunks (drained)
	•	Maraschino cherries (drained)
	•	Fresh pineapple (cut into wedges; reserve the leafy tops for garnish)
	•	Fresh limes (cut into wedges)
	•	Fresh oranges (cut into wedges)

Party Essentials & Serving Gear
Make your tropical drink station as functional as it is fun with these must-have tools and accessories:
	•	Large Plastic Cups – for generous pours and signature cocktails.
	•	Small Plastic Cups – ideal for kids mocktails or smaller servings.
	•	Plastic Shot Glasses – perfect for quick measuring (I used these clear disposable ones and they worked great).
	•	Champagne Bucket – for chilling bottles within easy reach.
	•	Ice Bucket & Scoop – to keep cocktail ice separate from cooler ice.
	•	Chilled/Divided Condiment Server – keeps fruit garnishes fresh and easy to grab (I used this style and loved it).
	•	Tongs for Garnishes – for sanitary serving.
	•	Large Beverage Dispenser – for ice water or a non-alcoholic punch option.
	•	Cooler for Juices & Sodas – stash under the table to save space.
	•	Themed Straws – I used these flamingo straws for a pop of tropical flair.
	•	Drink Umbrellas – classic, colorful, and fun.
	•	Themed Drink Picks – I found these tropical picks perfect for fruit garnishes.
	•	Sharpie Marker – to label cups so guests don’t lose their drinks.

Free Printable Tropical Drink Menu

The star of our drink station was the 2-page menu—packed with 12 tropical drink recipes, from fruity cocktails to refreshing mocktails. Each recipe includes garnish ideas and is paired with a matching watercolor drink illustration, making it as fun to look at as it is to use.

I displayed our menus in acrylic sign holders so guests could easily follow along, but you can print and use them however you like—laminate them for outdoor parties, tape them to the wall, or keep them handy in your kitchen for summer entertaining.

📄 Click here to download your free Tropical Drink Menu PDF

Whether you’re hosting a pool party, summer BBQ, or backyard luau, a Make Your Own Tropical Drink Station instantly makes your event feel like a vacation. Grab the free printable menu, stock your table with colorful garnishes, and watch your guests turn into instant mixologists!

Curious how the rest of this Flamingo Pool Party turned out? Click here to see all the fun details in the main party post!