Applebee’s Drink Menu, Deals & Crowd Favorites
From frozen margaritas to dollar-sign specials, here’s a plain-language walkthrough of what you’ll typically find on the bar menu — and what tends to change from one location to the next.
The Dollarita
Applebee’s built its reputation for cheap drinks around this one — a stripped-down margarita sold for close to a dollar during limited promotional windows. Flavored spins (strawberry, mango, passion fruit, peach, blue raspberry) have shown up too, usually priced a little higher, around a dollar fifty.
It’s not always running
The offer comes and goes — it might return for a single month, tied to a specific season, or vanish entirely at some locations. Calling ahead or checking a location’s current promotions beats planning a trip around it and finding out it’s off the menu.
Drink buckets$15–$25, built for sharing
Rather than ordering drinks one at a time, a bucket brings several servings to the table at once — a practical option when you’re out with a group. Applebee’s has rotated through a few styles over time:
A margarita bucket usually sticks to classic lime, though fruit versions like strawberry or mango turn up on some menus. A mojito bucket keeps the rum-mint-lime-soda combination but scaled up for the table, and a beer bucket is the simplest option for a group that just wants cold beer. As with the Dollarita, exact contents and serving sizes are worth confirming before you order.
Signature cocktails
Beyond the standard list, Applebee’s rotates in house cocktails that dress up familiar spirits with fruit, citrus, and syrup.
Margarita — the tequila-and-citrus standard, and usually the most ordered drink on the menu.
Mojito — rum, lime, mint, and soda water, built for a cooler, lighter drink.
Cosmopolitan-style cocktails — vodka paired with cranberry and citrus for guests who lean vodka-forward.
Spicy Mango Margarita — sweet mango up front with a spicy kick at the finish, for anyone after contrast rather than balance.
Whiskey Sour — whiskey, lemon, and sweetener, a reliable sweet-and-tart classic.
Draft, imported, or bottled
Domestic drafts tend to be the lightest and cheapest option, imported drafts step up in price and flavor, and the bottled selection gives the widest range for anyone chasing something specific.
House or premium, red or white
House wine covers the everyday glass, while the premium list is worth a look if you want something that stands up to a heavier plate. As a rough guide, lighter dishes lean white, richer ones lean red.
Non-alcoholic options
Soft drinks, iced tea, and lemonade cover the basics, and berry lemonade adds a sweeter, fruit-forward option for anyone who wants more than plain soda. The Virgin Mojito is the closest thing to a cocktail experience without the alcohol — same citrus-and-mint profile, none of the rum. Bottled water rounds out the list for anyone who just wants to stay hydrated through the meal.
Blue and colorful cocktails
Bright, photo-friendly drinks show up on seasonal and promotional menus more than on the everyday list. A few names that have circulated:
The Bahama Mama style leans tropical — rum, coconut, blue curaçao, and fruit juice. The Blue Raspberry Margarita takes the standard margarita and swaps in a sweeter, tangier fruit flavor. The Blue Lagoon sticks to vodka, blue curaçao, and lemon-lime soda. Since these tend to ride on seasonal menus, don’t count on finding every one of them at every location year-round.
Deals worth watching for
Applebee’s has run a steady stream of limited-time offers beyond the Dollarita — $10 buckets, $5 “Mucho” cocktails, and themed drinks like the M.V.Tea Bucket, Captain’s Kickoff Bucket, Boo Lagoon, and Dracula’s Juice have all made appearances. None of these are permanent fixtures, so the safest move is checking what’s currently running at your location rather than going off an old ad or a past visit.
Halloween specials
October menus have brought out names like the Dollar Zombie, Spooky Sips, Tipsy Zombie, and Boo-zy Buckets — playful, themed, and built for a group outing rather than a quiet dinner.
Holiday specials
Around the holidays, expect drinks like the Tipsy Reindeer or Berry Merry Colada, along with martinis and margaritas flavored with cranberry, peppermint, or gingerbread. Like the Halloween lineup, these only stick around for the season.
Picking a drink
Like citrus and something classic — start with the Margarita.
Want something cooler and herbal — the Mojito fits.
Prefer whiskey — try the Whiskey Sour or an Old Fashioned-style pour.
Skipping alcohol — lemonade, iced tea, berry lemonade, or a Virgin Mojito all work.
Out with a group — check whether a bucket promotion is currently available.
One rule holds across all of it: what’s listed online won’t always match what’s on the menu in front of you. Prices shift, seasonal drinks rotate out, and promotions end without much notice — so the local menu is always the final word.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Dollarita actually cost?
When the promotion is running, the original version has been priced around a dollar, with flavored versions like strawberry or mango closer to a dollar fifty. It’s a limited-time deal, not a permanent menu price.
Is the Dollarita available every day?
No. It’s tied to specific promotional windows that vary by location and season. Some restaurants may not run it at all at a given time — it’s worth checking with your local Applebee’s before planning around it.
What’s included in a drink bucket?
A bucket usually holds several servings of one drink type — margarita, mojito, beer, or a tropical mix — meant for a table to share. Exact serving size and flavor options can differ by restaurant, so confirm before ordering.
Do prices change by location?
Yes. Applebee’s restaurants can set their own pricing and promotions, so the same drink might cost a little more or less depending on the city and franchise owner. Treat listed prices as estimates.
Are the blue and Halloween drinks always on the menu?
Not usually. Colorful cocktails like the Blue Lagoon and seasonal items like the Dollar Zombie tend to appear around specific holidays or promotional periods and may not be available year-round at every location.
What non-alcoholic drinks are available?
Soft drinks, iced tea, lemonade, berry lemonade, bottled water, and a Virgin Mojito are the usual non-alcoholic choices, though the exact lineup can vary by restaurant.
Where can I confirm the current prices near me?
Since menus and promotions change often, the most reliable option is checking directly with your local Applebee’s — by phone, on their website, or on the in-app menu — before you visit.