The Very Best Drinking Glasses

Whatwe’relookingfor

Uniform or assorted:Uniform and mixed, depending on where you buy |Capacity: 3.25, 8.75, 12.5, and 17.5 ounces |Stackable: Yes

Duralex introduced its stackable Picardie glasses in 1954. It didn’t take very long for them to become ubiquitous in French bistros, though at this point, their reach goes much farther. If you pay attention, you’ll see them all over — not because they’re trendy, but because they’re classic. While the 8.75-ounce tumbler (also called juice) size is perhaps the one I run into most, the brand also makes larger highball and double old-fashioned sizes, the latter of which I own. Among the three, you can appropriately drink almost anything.

The design has more going on visually than the straight-sided options below, with its subtly flared rim and faceted sides, but it still looks simple and chic set out on the table. Practically speaking, these are the most durable glasses I own. Yes, I’ll refer to other glasses on this list as durable, as well — but when I say these are themost, I mean it. In the several years I’ve owned a set with very regular use, I’ve never broken, chipped, or scratched one, even when they’re piled in the sink with other dishes or when one slips out of my hand onto a dishwasher rack as I’m going to place it in. They’re made from tempered glass and feel a bit thicker in your hand than the Bormioli Rocco and CB2 glasses below, but not overly so. They’re smooth to drink from.

And in case you’re still unconvinced, know that when I took a survey of more than 50 of the best cooks and hosts I know, plus my discerning colleagues, these were the most mentionedas their favorite drinking glasses— by design experts like a senior designer atHavenlyand the founder ofHudson Wilder, as well as cooks likeDan Pelosi,Rebecca Firkser, andJessie Sheehan, among others.

Uniform or assorted:Assorted |Capacity: 7.5, 12, and 17 ounces |Stackable: Yes

If you’re into a simpler design, I also love Bormioli Rocco’s straight-sided bodega glasses. I think these are especially great at shape-shifting into the vibe of any tablescape, be it formal or casual, simple or maximalist. They’re classic in their own right and have spurred many look-alikes (one such option is below, though there are countless others if you search for “bodega glasses”). But personally, I’d go with the original. They’re affordable and also durable. Over the few years I’ve owned them (I have a set of the largest size), I’ve used them regularly and have broken only one. They come in multiple sizes, so like the Duralex, if you have a mix, you’ll have what you need for many kinds of drinks. And also like the Duralex, they’re time-tested and beloved by many people with discerning taste we’ve talked to over the years, such as Cup of Jo’sJoanna Goddard, cookbook author and recipe developerCaroline Chambers, andLink in BioauthorRachel Karten.

Uniform or assorted:Uniform |Capacity: 7, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, and 13 ounces |Stackable: Yes

Toyo-Sasaki is a much-beloved Japanese brand that makes various glassware that’s been recommended to me over the years (including astraight-sided optionmore akin to the models above). But I’m partial to the Fino stacking glasses, listed here at their largest 13-ounce size, though they also come in six-packs of 10.5-ounce,9.5-ounce,8.5-ounce, andseven-ouncesizes. Overall, these skew smaller than the other sets on this list.

Amanda Spina, the general manager of Brooklyn’sFour HorsemenandNightmoves, swears by them. “I always want precious, delicate, thin Japanese glassware at the restaurant, but it’s got to be strong enough to fall onto a rubber mat and not break,” she says. “And it must be stackable.” Strategist writerErin Schwartzuses them as their go-to kombucha and sometimes wineglass and also endorses their durability. They’ve had them for about five years and haven’t broken a single one. The indent allows them to stack comfortably, and Schwartz says it also makes a “nice finger ledge” while holding.

Uniform or assorted:Uniform |Capacity: 8, 10.5, 11, and 16 ounces |Stackable: Only the smallest size

As I said, there are many bodega-style glasses on the market, but the most popular outside of the original that I’ve found in my research are CB2’s Marta glasses. Even the most expensive “cooler glass” (the largest size) comes out to a mere $3.15 per glass, and the rest are $2.30. It really doesn’t get cheaper. Fashion designer, culinary creator, and lifestyle expertPeter Somhas been using the double old-fashioned (or 11-ounce) as his everyday drinking glasses for years. “They are super clean with a delicate rounded rim,” he says. “I love that the glass is thin but not so thin that you think you’ll break them if you look at them wrong.” That being said, some others who recommended it do in fact warn that they’re on the more delicate side. “I keep a constant supply of different sizes on hand, to use and to replace those that break,” says Kitchensense founderMitchell Davis. And creative consultant and editor ofCabanamagazineKate Berrycalls them a great “party glass” for when you need a lot, thanks to the price.

Uniform or assorted:Uniform |Capacity: 12 and 16 ounces |Stackable: Yes

This is my favorite product Our Place makes. While it only offers its Night & Day glasses in two sizes, there’s still a lot of flexibility there. The larger is nice for water and seltzer, and the smaller is surprisingly versatile; I love it for cocktails, and it even works for wine without making a pour look measly. They’re indented like the Fino glasses, but thicker and more rounded at all the curves and edges. They come in clear glass — but also in a range of other pretty colors. I have the dusk and like that it gives me the option to change up the vibe of a tablescape if that’s so desired. And they have a couple of multi-set options with mixed shades if you like that look.