This Should Make a Comeback
September 14, 2025
Source: Images Offerup
I was in a vintage house—sunken living room, popcorn ceiling, that mustard carpet every house seemed to have—and I saw it. A 1970s bar sink with garnish cups, navy blue, with gold accents, and there they were—those three little brass cups just sitting there like they had been waiting 40 years for someone to mix a drink.
Immediate flashback to my parents’ house.
The Home Bar Setup I Took for Granted
Ours was built right into the floor. Small sink, mirrored back splash, glass shelves, and a cabinet filled with dusty liquor bottles and the odd swizzle stick.
Next to the sink were those three metal cups. I was pretty sure they were for change or candy. I eventually made the connection: drink garnishes. Whatever the drink of the evening called for: lemons, limes, olives, cherries—the not-so-secret weapons for a proper cocktail.
My dad would drop green olives in anything, including things that absolutely didn’t call for olives. My mom? She just liked the cutting board.
What the Cups Were For
The cups were recessed holes beside the sink. Obviously removable. Obviously brass. They probably held a half a cup, just enough space for cocktail garnishes.
There was no decoration involved. They weren’t really for display. You filled them with your prepped ingredients and you slid them into their holes, and your bar was prepped. You could even cool them in the fridge to chill them before hand. No mess, no fuss, no clutter.
The Cutting Board Trick
Next to the sink there was a small indentation—a small notch that looked like a defect from the factory. It was not. It was the lock in place for a custom cutting board.
Ours was heavy wood with a raised piece on the bottom. You would drop it into the notch and it would sit flush. You could even lift it and it would stay flat to the table. It was perfect for slicing limes and prepping snacks.
No wiggling, no slipping. Smart, simple.
These Sinks Were Compact Cocktails Stations
The entire setup was done to be efficient. The sink was small. The garnish holders were built in, and the cutting board was lock-in. Everything you needed to host was in a tidy, compact space.
This particular setup wasn’t flashy. It was about being prepared. People actually planned and played for a good quarter of their home cocktail entertaining, using and displaying these bars for guests.
Seeing One Again
Seeing that old bar sink again hit hard. I hadn’t really thought about it in years, but there it was—same cups, same design, same vibe. Pure nostalgia.
These things aren’t just functional—they’re actually time capsules. Now, still works, still makes sense, still kind of brilliant.
If you’ve got a 1970s bar sink with garnish cups, hang on to it. Use it. What was once considered a retro quirk is now just the functional attribute of good design that still holds up.
TL;DR:
Those little metal cups next to the bar sink in in your friend’s 1970s house? They held drink garnishes. The sink setup came with a locking cutting board and was designed for no-nonsense home cocktail action. If you’ve got one, hang on to it. They don’t make them like that anymore.