Trending drinks your restaurant should add this summer

As we’re stepping into the summer season, some restaurants may benefit from slightly improving their menus to better accommodate the challenges that typically come with the season — challenges such as quicker food volatility, changes in supply chains, and the availability of ingredients.

But, we’re here to offer another possible solution! In an industry research study conducted by the National Restaurant Association, around 83% of operators cited drinks as a major traffic driver. With summer coming in hot, this just might be your sign to start exploring beverage menu items that can help attract more customers while keeping your offerings fresh and seasonal.

Here are just a few ways you can hop on today’s trending drinks:

The rise of healthier beverages 

According to a recent Gallup survey, drinking rates amongst young adults aged 18 to 34 dropped from 59% in 2023 to just 50% today — a steep decline compared to previous years. This signals the growing interest amongst younger consumers to lean towards healthier drink options, due in part to their increasing awareness around wellness, balance, and the long-term effects of alcohol consumption.

This has paved the way for alternative drinks that not only offer exciting new flavor profiles, but also introduce a whole new way of prioritizing your health without completely sacrificing the social experience.

Energy drinks 

As fitness trends like Hyrox and Pilates gain momentum, preferences for energy drinks are growing as well. These are “clean energy” beverages infused with natural caffeine, adaptogens, nootropics, and functional ingredients like matcha, guarana, and lion’s mane mushrooms.

Drinks infused with electrolytes for runners and cardio enthusiasts are also gaining more visibility in cafes peppered near parks and recreation centers, catering to consumers looking for both hydration and performance support. Meanwhile, protein shake-based drinks are becoming increasingly preferred amongst gym-goers and wellness-focused consumers seeking convenient, functional beverages that align with their active lifestyles.

Locally sourced spirits 

Hyperlocalized cuisine has been the talk of the town since early 2025, and this is not just limited to dishes alone. This also includes spirits that have been sourced within the local community or have strong ties to it. Younger consumers are now valuing authenticity more than mass production, preferring instead to support brands that focus on creating a story around their products — whether inspired by cultural heritage or made in support of a sustainable cause.

Locally sourced or seasonal beverages also create a sense of novelty, opening opportunities for restaurants to experiment with different flavor profiles that may resonate well with their existing customers while also attracting new ones.

Fermented and gut-friendly beverages (Kombucha, tepache, prebiotic sodas) 

On top of being seen as supportive additions to active lifestyles, beverages are also brewing up to become supplemental tools for overall health — gut health in particular. Studies have increasingly highlighted how metabolic health plays a key role in overall wellness, with researchers correlating consistent probiotic consumption as integral to maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. A report published by The Journal of Nutrition found that bacteria associated with obesity, such as Ruminococcus and Dorea, significantly decreased after regular kombucha intake, eventually reaching levels found in healthy-weight participants.

With this growing shift towards seeing beverages as functional wellness products, restaurants can then leverage gut-friendly beverages as an option to cater towards younger consumers, while also experimenting with dishes that pair well with the earthy, fermented flavor profiles that kombucha typically comes with.

Ask your data

Of course, making any changes to your trusty menu can be a huge ask, but having the power of data at your disposal can help reduce the risks that typically come with experimenting on new offerings. With the power of Ask Vantage, you can track which flavor profiles have been performing well in your restaurant and use those insights as a guide for future beverage offerings.

So, here are a few questions you can ask Ask Vantage today:

• Which beverage categories are generating the highest revenue while maintaining the strongest profit margins?
• Which flavor profiles are most popular amongst repeat customers, and how can I build seasonal drinks around them?
• Which beverage items are most frequently paired with specific dishes, and what cross-selling opportunities does this create?
• What customer segments are spending the most on beverages, and what trends are emerging within their purchasing behavior?
• Which ingredients are driving the highest beverage costs, and how are they impacting overall profitability?
• Which promotions, bundles, or upselling strategies have led to the biggest increase in beverage sales?
• Which new beverage concepts are most aligned with current customer preferences based on existing sales trends?

As consumer preferences continue to evolve, beverages are becoming far more than simple menu add-ons — they’re becoming key drivers for traffic, customer engagement, and even brand identity. From wellness-focused functional drinks to locally inspired flavors, today’s beverage trends are creating new opportunities for restaurants to experiment, stand out, and better connect with changing customer lifestyles.

And with Ask Vantage helping operators make more data-backed decisions, exploring new beverage offerings no longer has to feel like a shot in the dark.