Holidays & Entertaining Entertaining Party Food & Drink 23 Tropical Cocktails That Make You Feel Like You're on Vacation You may not be going to a Hawaiian lūʻau soon, but you can make a delightfully transporting piña colada now. By Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand has more than 20 years of experience as a lifestyle writer and editor, writing thousands of articles on topics that help people live better and healthier lives for Real Simple, Parents, and dozens of other top publications. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 30, 2024 Close Photo: Getty Images Who says you have to be poolside in the Caribbean to drink a piña colada? You don't have to get your next mojito, daiquiri, or other tropical drink at a swim-up bar. How about making one at home? A tropical trip might not fit in your budget right now, but fun, fruity cocktails are legal anywhere (well, as long as you're 21!). Go ahead and break out the paper umbrellas and fun fruit garnishes, and chill out with one of these fabulous tropical cocktails (and a couple of good tropical mocktails, too, for good measure). 01 of 24 Passionfruit Hurricane Courtesy of Bacardí Rum and an array of tropical fruit juices combine for this passionfruit-infused take on the classic tropical cocktail. (Bonus: The hurricane is also a favorite drink in New Orleans if you're planning a Mardi Gras or other Big Easy-themed event!) GET THE RECIPE 02 of 24 Piña Colada Getty Images One of the most popular tropical cocktails (seriously, it has its own theme song), this concoction of rum, pineapple, and coconut can be blended in just a few minutes. Talk about a sweet treat! GET THE RECIPE 03 of 24 Mai Tai Antonis Achilleos Almond syrup and pineapple juice add some intriguing flavor undertones to this rum-based tropical cocktail. (Don't forget to add a slice of pink pineapple to garnish!) This drink was so popular during the '40s and '50s that it allegedly caused a Jamaican rum shortage. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 24 Boozy Dole Whip Debbie Galbraith/Getty Images If you love the classic Disney dessert, you'll love it even more in tropical cocktail form. Frozen pineapple, bananas, and coconut milk are blended with rum in this heavenly smoothie. (Skip the rum for a mocktail!) GET THE RECIPE 05 of 24 Mojito Looking for something a little fresher in your tropical cocktail? Meet the mojito, with its classic mint and lime flavor profile. This drink is carbonated and pairs well with the imaginary beach in your backyard. GET THE RECIPE 06 of 24 Boozy Watermelon Frozen Slushie Getty Images There are few things that sound better than sitting out in the sun on a hot summer day and sipping on this boozy watermelon frozen slushie. Take your choice of vodka or rum, and add it to a blender with watermelon, sweetener, and ice for this thirst-quenching slushie. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 24 Pirate Passionfruit Mule This tweak on the mule calls for passion fruit puree, rum, and pineapple, in addition to the essential ginger beer. Don't forget to serve it in the signature copper mug! GET THE RECIPE 08 of 24 Margarita Dana Gallagher You can't beat a classic tropical cocktail—and this salt-rimmed favorite with lime juice, tequila, and Cointreau is great on the rocks. (Or try it frozen in your blender.) GET THE RECIPE 09 of 24 Partida Passionfruit Cocktail Getty Images You need only four ingredients—tequila, lime juice, passionfruit puree, and ruby red grapefruit—to craft this citrusy cocktail that's perfect for enjoying in the sun. Make a big batch of it to serve at your next backyard barbecue. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 24 Sex on the Beach bhofack2/Getty Images Flash back to the 1980s with this fruity concoction that features vodka and peach schnapps alongside a slew of fruit juices. (The recipe includes some upgraded versions of the classic if you want to try a fresh take on the past.) GET THE RECIPE 11 of 24 Watermelon Mojito Granita Antonis Achilleos This frozen granita probably leans a little more toward dessert than straight-up cocktail, but its summery mint, lime, and watermelon flavors will help you chill out on a hot day. GET THE RECIPE 12 of 24 Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri Getty Images A frozen strawberry daiquiri is one of the most popular drinks of all time for a reason. This version blends up in no time flat with frozen strawberries, rum, lime juice, and a hint of simple syrup. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 24 Coconut Water Margarita Getty Images Looking to spice up a traditional margarita? This totally refreshing twist on the classic cocktail includes coconut water to keep you hydrated—and help you avoid the hangover the next day. GET THE RECIPE 14 of 24 Paloma Greg DuPree This brightly hued tropical cocktail balances the smokiness of tequila with a bittersweet (and easy-to-make) grapefruit simple syrup and citrus juices for a sophisticated alternative to a margarita. GET THE RECIPE 15 of 24 Grapefruit Kombucha Margarita Stephen Devries Spice up a classic margarita with some kombucha and grapefruit. The result is fizzy and sweet, with the perfect hint of tanginess. And if grapefruit isn't your jam, swap it out for another citrus fruit of your choosing. GET THE RECIPE 16 of 24 Frosé (Frozen Rosé) BHOFACK2 It's difficult to imagine a perfect day in paradise without Frosé. Strawberries, sugar, rosé, grenadine, and vodka are blended together in this subtly sweet yet refreshing drink. GET THE RECIPE 17 of 24 Long Island Iced Tea Getty Images Long Island iced tea has earned its status as a classic cocktail for good reason—it's perfect for any weather, rain or shine. Indulging in this cocktail is like taking a mini vacation wherever you find yourself. GET THE RECIPE 18 of 24 Raspberry Rum Cocktail Belmond La Samanna If you're craving a taste of paradise, look no further than this tropical cocktail. Fresh raspberry purée, lime juice, and apple juice take this fruity concoction to the next level. (Fun fact: This cocktail was created by Marco Nobile, Head Bartender at La Samanna, a Belmond Hotel in St. Martin.) GET THE RECIPE 19 of 24 Frozen Sunset Daiquiris RealSimple.com These fun layered frozen cocktails may look tricky to make, but all you need is a blender, frozen fruit, and plenty of ice. You can get creative with the liquor, too—try it with tequila instead of rum or sans liquor as a fresh and festive mocktail. GET THE RECIPE 20 of 24 Cantaloupe Cooler Levi Brown This cantaloupe cooler is a nutritious and rejuvenating mocktail made with cantaloupes, coconut water, lime juice, and ice. If you want to convert it to a cocktail, enhance it with a spirit like rum. GET THE RECIPE 21 of 24 Tropical Lemonade Antonis Achilleos This easy tropical mocktail features pineapple juice, apricot nectar, and ginger ale for a little fizz. It's perfect for the whole family, but you can add a little vodka if you'd like to turn it into a cocktail. GET THE RECIPE 22 of 24 Jalapeño-Lime Spritzer Charles Masters Looking for another non-alcoholic drink with depth and complexity? Slices of jalapeño add heat to this sweet-yet-spicy mocktail, which is perfect for people looking for something more sophisticated to sip on. GET THE RECIPE 23 of 24 Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Ale Yunhee Kim Containing just ginger ale and pineapple juice, this mocktail's simplicity will blow your taste buds away. (And if you want to make it a cocktail, adding a little light rum will do the trick.) GET THE RECIPE 24 of 24 Mango Bellini Spritz Greg DuPree For a fun staycation treat, this mango Bellini spritz brings the tropics straight to your home! A twist on a traditional Italian Bellini usually made with peach nectar and Prosecco, this mango version with a splash of orange liqueur flips the classic cocktail on its head. Serve over ice with a slice of mango, and envision yourself on a white sand beach. GET THE RECIPE Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit