The best glassware for entertaining in 2026: Consumer Reports

A glass shapes more than how a drink looks, since thickness, weight and shape all affect how a cocktail feels in hand and even how it tastes on the lips. Durability matters just as much for a household that reaches for the same glasses every day.

Consumer Reports asked chefs, bartenders and beverage directors to name the drinking glasses they rely on most, so hosts can build a glassware collection that works for water, wine and everything in between.

Credit: Duralex

The Duralex Le Gigogne Tumbler costs $22.95 for a set of six and earned a recommendation from Mike Fadem, who runs the New York City pizza restaurant Ops and looked for glassware tough enough to survive commercial use when he was setting up his own dining room. Fadem called it the only glass anyone needs at home, saying it works well for a cocktail, wine, beer or water alike, thanks to a timeless design that's also simply enjoyable to drink from. Consumer Reports highlighted the tumbler's versatility as a key reason it suits daily use, since a good water glass gets called on constantly in most households. Its tempered construction gives it the resilience to handle frequent use without much worry about breakage.

Credit: Duralex

The Duralex Le Picardie Glass Tumbler costs $32 for a set of six and earned a recommendation from Jason LaValla, who helped start the alcohol-free drinks company Casamara Club. LaValla praised the glasses for their attractive look, adding that the tempered glass construction holds up well enough that hosts don't need to think twice about setting them out for a dinner party. Consumer Reports noted the tumbler's size works well across a wide range of drinks, from orange juice and cocktails to wine and even ice cream. Everyday durability paired with genuine versatility places it alongside its sibling glass as an easy choice for a household's main water glass.

Credit: Williams Sonoma

The Williams Sonoma Vintage Etched Highball Glass costs $21.95 and earned a recommendation from interior designer Melanie Zaelich, who looks for a handful of features when choosing glassware meant for daily use. Zaelich generally favors thicker glass for its resistance to chipping and breaking, and she recommends clear glass for everyday drinks like orange juice and milk, since tinted glass can dull their appearance. She pointed to this etched highball specifically as a fun way to add personality to cocktails or sparkling water without losing that clarity. Consumer Reports noted the vintage-inspired etching gives the glass a distinctive look that still functions as an everyday piece.

Credit: Crate & Barrel

The Crate and Barrel Alma Clear Double Old Fashioned Glass costs $7.95 for a 10-ounce glass and earned a recommendation from interior designer Melanie Zaelich as a patterned option that pairs well with a table's existing dishware. Zaelich suggests considering the plates already on the table when choosing glassware, looking for a shape, pattern or texture that can be picked up and echoed in the glass itself. Consumer Reports pointed to this glass's textured pattern as an example of that approach in practice, giving a table a coordinated look without requiring a full matching set. At under $8, it also offers an accessible way to build out a glassware collection piece by piece.

Credit: Target

The JoyJolt Faye Double Old Fashion and Highball Drinking Glasses cost $34.95 for a set of 12 and earned a recommendation from interior designer Melanie Zaelich, who flagged a practical detail worth checking on any glass before buying it. Zaelich suggests looking at the bottom of a glass for a dimple or inset, since water tends to collect there in the dishwasher and needs to be dumped out before the glass goes back in the cabinet. Consumer Reports noted this set's smooth-bottomed design sidesteps that minor inconvenience entirely. Twelve glasses in one set also makes it a practical option for hosts who need enough matching pieces for a full table.

Credit: Nude

The Nude Finesse Whisky DOF Glass costs $65 for a set of four and earned a recommendation from Chris Lemperle, who oversees drinks at the New York City restaurant Crane Club and views a good rocks glass as essential to any home bar setup. Lemperle praised its delicate, thin profile combined with sturdiness built for regular, everyday use, qualities he looks for in a rocks glass built to serve spirits over ice, though it works equally well for any cocktail or even water. Consumer Reports noted this style is also called a lowball or old fashioned glass, terms that describe the same short, sturdy tumbler shape. An elegant profile paired with everyday durability makes it a strong foundation piece for a home bar.

Credit: Nude

The Nude Savage Lowball Glass costs $60 for a set of four and earned a recommendation from Tantai Khantachavana, who tends bar at BKK New York and said this glass suits a wide variety of mixed drinks. Khantachavana looks for a degree of thinness in good glassware, explaining that it affects both how a glass feels in hand and how it meets the lips during a sip. He described the ideal glass as understated but polished, likening it to a sharp piece of tailoring that makes an impression without trying too hard. Consumer Reports highlighted that understated design philosophy as central to why this lowball glass works across so many different drinks.

Credit: Kinto

The Kinto Cast Beer Glass costs $36.80 for a set of four and earned a recommendation from Erica Johnson, who co-founded the alcohol-free drinks company Casamara Club and now reaches for this glass for water, soda and cocktails alike. Johnson pointed to its heat-resistant construction as a practical advantage, noting the glass works safely in both the microwave and dishwasher. Consumer Reports cautioned that despite that heat resistance, switching a glass abruptly between very hot and very cold liquids should still be avoided to prevent cracking. That everyday flexibility beyond just beer explains why this glass earned a spot on Johnson's regular rotation.

Credit: Riedel

The Riedel Extreme Riesling Wine Glass costs $59 for a set of two and earned a recommendation from Jamie Boss, who runs the beverage program at Central Park Boathouse and called it the perfect all-purpose stem for wine. Boss also pointed to Riedel's Rosé Champagne flute as a companion recommendation, praising its tulip shape for enhancing the aromatics of sparkling wine and Champagne. Consumer Reports noted that choosing one versatile stem, instead of separate glasses for every wine variety, simplifies building out a home glassware collection. That all-purpose design makes the Riesling glass from Riedel's Extreme collection a practical starting point for wine drinkers.

Credit: Cocktail Kingdom

The Cocktail Kingdom Leopold Coupe Glass costs $42.49 for a set of six and earned a recommendation from Oscar Simoza, who heads up the spirits program at the Boston hospitality company BCB3 and said a coupe transforms whatever gets poured into it. Simoza described the Leopold as a multipurpose glass suited to martinis at home and sours for more adventurous drinkers, praising its clean curves and how refined anything looks once poured into it. Consumer Reports noted the glass strikes a balance between sturdiness and a delicate feel in hand, and that balance can be hard to find in coupe-style glassware. Even something as simple as club soda with a splash of cranberry juice takes on an elevated look in this glass.

Credit: Crate & Barrel

The CB2 Neat Tasting Glass costs $2.50 and earned a recommendation from Kiano Moju, who wrote the cookbook "AfriCali: Recipes From My Jikoni" and called it a true workhorse for water, wine, spirits and more. Moju praised the glass's size, noting it feels good in the hand and looks put-together enough for nearly any gathering, whether casual or more formal entertaining. Consumer Reports noted the glass's low price makes it an easy way to stock up on enough tasting glasses for a full gathering without a large investment. At $2.50 apiece, Moju said it's hard to resist picking up a full set.