Choosing Your Mini-Bar Refrigerator

Finding mini-bars in hotel rooms doesn’t mean mini-bar refrigerators are only for hotel rooms. In fact, these compact coolers/freezers are multi-functional and very flexible you can have one in other places.

For one, you can have one in your office. A 30-40-liter mini-bar refrigerator can keep your favorite beverages cold. There’s enough room for your staff to store theirs as well. You might even want to keep some extra for guests and visiting clients.

For another, you can keep one at home. Especially if you’re the type who loves to entertain, having one handy for your weekend get together is a great idea. If you like mixing drinks and have a mini-bar at home, you probably already have one.

And finally, you may like to have one in your bedroom. It’s not unusual to want a cold drink in the middle of the night, especially if you have a small home office adjacent to your bedroom. Having a mini-bar upstairs is a pleasant convenience to add to your home.

When shopping for a mini bar refrigerator, consider the following:

1. Your need. What do you intend to use it for? If you host parties weekly, you’d definitely find a mini-bar handy. Or if you’re looking to have one at your home office, you’d find mini-bar useful. Your need basically bears on the size you choose. If you’re looking to store drinks for a certain number of people, you may decide to get the 30-liter, the 40-liter or even the larger 60-liter mini-bar refrigerator.

2. Features. If you’re looking to install a mini-bar at home, you won’t be interested in a fancy lock system, unless you have curious teenagers you’d like to keep away from the bar. But if you’re considering a commercial purchase, such as for a hotel room or a restaurant’s mini-bar, you’d definitely be concerned about locks. You may even like the mini-bar fridge to have a non-refrigerated compartment on top, or a clear glass window to look inside without opening the fridge.

3. Quality. Of course, you can’t gauge that just by looking at the item. When you want to be sure of the quality, you pick a mini-bar refrigerator from reputable makers. Reputable manufacturers are recognized by industry experts. Besides looking up directories, you can check the seals and tags on the item. Products by industry leaders bear Good Housekeeping seals, Energy Star and other recognizable stickers for quality assurance. GE and Haier are two of the common names and industry leaders in home appliances.

4. Design. Mini-bar refrigerators are conveniences so they should be. You’d want a compact design that doesn’t take up much space. A flat back would make it convenient to install against walls or on corners. You’d also want one to be absolutely silent. Especially if it’s for a hotel room or your bedroom, a humming sound, no matter how low, can be annoying especially at night. For your own piece of mind, make sure you’re satisfied with the design of your mini-bar fridge.