Traveling abroad counts among the most exciting and educational experiences possible, and when Americans visit restaurants and hotels in other countries, they often enjoy tasting local dishes and drinks. That said, international bartenders tell us they notice certain telltale patterns where American drink orders are concerned.
Certain cocktail styles and specific beverages are, according to the non-U.S. bartenders we surveyed, the most commonly chosen drinks by American tourists.
American tourists overwhelmingly order classic cocktails when visiting foreign countries.
It’s easy to assume that Americans would opt for flashy TikTok-worthy cocktails when traveling to other countries, but the bartenders we interviewed overwhelmingly agreed that the most regular orders from American guests come in the form of “classic drinks like margaritas, Manhattans and martinis. They’re familiar, and I think that when you’re far from home, ordering a drink you know well helps you feel at ease,” said Axel Gonzalez, bar manager at Terrible Baby in Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Domenico Fotia, assistant bar manager of The American Bar at The Stafford London, agreed, adding that “American guests often gravitate toward timeless classics such as the martini, Negroni, and old-fashioned, cocktails that embody both tradition and sophistication,” since these drinks are both recognizable to American drinkers and follow simple recipes that remain consistent no matter where they’re ordered.
The martini (and martini-related drinks) is more American than any other cocktail.
Even among the usual classic cocktail suspects, bartenders told us that one drink stands out as a particular favorite among Americans: the martini.
“We find that martini cocktails are very popular. It is not necessarily what an Irish or European guest would order,” said Dawid Smietana, food and beverage director of Kilkea Castle in County Kildare, Ireland. When we asked Smietana to hazard a guess as to why American tourists like to order martinis, he said, “I believe it comes from the historical and cultural differences. Prohibition, Hollywood movies, and ’50s and ’60s culture shaped a widespread love of martinis in America. You wouldn’t have anything similar to this in Ireland.”
Valeria Tummolo, head bartender at Il Vizio in Rome, has also noticed the prevalence of martini orders among American tourists, saying, “Here’s a classic example of a martini-style drink order that American tourists often make when traveling: ‘Can I get an extra dirty vodka martini, shaken, not stirred?’ Most traditional martinis in Europe are made with gin, but many Americans prefer vodka, which is smoother and more familiar to their palates. [They ask for] ‘extra dirty’ because American drinkers enjoy a saltier and more savory profile. The ‘shaken, not stirred’ phrase popularized by James Bond is often used by American tourists for the cool factor, even if it’s not the best technique for a clear martini.”
Dirty martinis stand out to Graham Hart, mixologist at Blacktail Bar at Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Kananaskis, Canada, as an American favorite, and he theorized that this may be because “they make them very well in American steakhouses. [But] it’s not as popular to order olive juice/olives in a beverage in European countries; [they prefer] a martini with a lemon peel.”
Margaritas also tend to be popular orders among American visitors (especially in warmer climates).
Another classic cocktail that shows up regularly on American guests’ bar tabs? The margarita. This tequila-and-lime beverage tends to be a big hit in international destinations with warmer climates. Ana María Martínez, food and beverage director of Peacock Alley at the Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, told us that “the margarita is almost a symbol of vacation for many American guests. It’s refreshing, approachable, and instantly recognizable, but its popularity today also reflects the global boom of agave spirits, [which] carry centuries of Mexican history and craftsmanship. For travelers, ordering a margarita feels like embracing that cultural legacy while relaxing by the beach.”
Americans love their whiskey, especially in the form of an old-fashioned.
The American fondness for whiskey shines clearly in the minds of the international bartenders who’ve served U.S.-based guests. Nareg Aroyan, beverage director at Gustav in Yerevan, Armenia, told us that the whiskey cocktail that “remains a top choice among our American tourists” is the old-fashioned.
“Rooted in American cocktail heritage and first popularized by the iconic bartending pioneer Jerry Thomas, it represents more than just a drink — it’s a ritual. Its bold yet balanced profile continues to resonate with American palates, offering both familiarity and sophistication,” Aroyan explained.
When in doubt, Americans often go with a simple spirit-and-soda combination.
While all of our interviewed bartenders agreed that American tourists tend to order more cocktails in general than visitors from other parts of the world, some American drinkers prefer to keep things simple. In those situations, “they typically order straightforward [drinks] like a tequila soda or vodka tonic. These choices are familiar, lower in sugar, and align with what they’re accustomed to drinking at home, making them easy go-to options while on vacation,” said Kyien Moss, beverage director and mixologist at Upstairs at Romora Bay Resort & Marina on Harbour Island in the Bahamas.
Asking for a ’light’ or ‘crisp’ beer often reveals a guest’s American-ness.
Americans who’d rather enjoy a cold beer than a fancy libation also have different tastes than many international visitors. Luke Slater, an assistant restaurant manager in the U.K. and the creator of The Cask Connoisseur, insisted that Americans visiting the U.K. generally like beers with “a pale color and lighter body [rather than] the deeper amber styles we see in traditional U.K. beers.” He’s noticed that beers like “Coors Light and bottled Budweiser” get ordered by Americans on a regular basis, while U.K. and EU guests might lean toward more classically British styles like “cask beer.”
When overseas cocktail trends make their way stateside, foreign bartenders see more Americans requesting those drinks.
Thanks to social media, it’s never been faster or easier for overseas trends to become embraced and adopted by American bartenders.
Lapo, a legendary bartender (so legendary that he goes by only one name) at Harry’s Bar Firenze inside Sina Villa Medici in Florence, Italy, mentioned the Aperol spritz — an iconic Italian aperitivo — as a prime example. He said that many American tourists ask for Aperol spritzes at his bar, but a Southern Italian alternative known as the Limoncello spritz proves even more popular during the warmer months.
“The Limoncello spritz offers everything an American traveler is often seeking in a cocktail while abroad: something refreshing, quintessentially Italian and photogenic. It’s lighter and brighter than a traditional Aperol spritz, with the zesty charm of the Amalfi Coast in a glass. Americans tend to associate limoncello with vacations and indulgence, and ordering it in spritz form lets them extend that experience into a relaxed, social moment. Plus, it’s a beautiful drink to enjoy while people-watching on a sunny Florentine afternoon,” Lapo said.