A good set of glass tumblers should be versatile, robust and a pleasure to use. Whether you’re looking for a basic kitchen cup, or something fancier to serve with for parties, check whether it’s safe to use in the dishwasher, easy to stack away and won’t cost a fortune to replace when one (inevitably) breaks.
1. Duralex Picardie tumbler: £1.80, Manufactum
The ubiquitous French cafe glass has been made by Duralex for decades, and it’s become a favourite in homes across the rest of Europe too. Duralex developed a special method for producing the stacking tumbler in heat resistant, robust, tempered glass which makes it less likely to break. Comes in four sizes ranging from 70-410ml.
2. Bitossi Home Lucca water tumbler: £8, Conran Shop
The retro-looking Lucca tumbler by Bitossi Home is made of recycled glass which makes each one slightly unique. Made in Italy, these glasses have a continental café feel and come tinted in a range of colours: amber, pink, olive, blue and vivid green. They’re dishwasher safe.
3. Italesse Bolle glass tumblers: £45 for 6, Home Institute
Like the bubbles of a fizzy drink, Bolle is covered in round bulges that magnify details of the contents inside. The effect works best when serving coloured drinks or cocktails with a slice of lemon. As a set of six, this textural glass is ideal for parties, and there’s a matching jug to help finish off your fiesta.
4. HAY Colour glass: £9, Trouva
The yellow gradient effect on this chic glass from HAY is delicately applied, with a soft contrast between the frosted top and clear bottom. The whole range includes clear glassware decorated with squares of pink, blue and gold lines. Save it for special occasions or make it an everyday favourite. At 8.8cm tall, these are dainty, so make sure the size works for your needs.
5. Muji Glass cup: £1.95, Muji
Sometimes the simplest things around the home are the best. This glass from minimalist high-street gem Muji costs under £2 so it’s easily replaced when broken. The design is simple, but well considered – a subtle bulge mid-way up the glass helps you grip and avoids spills.
6. Handmade large tumbler: £8, Designed in Colour
Hundreds of tiny air bubbles give these hand-made tumblers their decoration. Each piece is slightly different in shape and texture and there’s a rainbow of colours to choose from including dark cobalt blue and vivid orange. The large version is a generous 400ml.
7. Villeroy & Boch Dressed Up tumbler: £7.92, House of Fraser
This textured glass by heritage makers Villeroy & Boch is designed for soft drinks, but makes a fun holder for party snacks or small flowers too. Made of crystal glass, the tumbler comes tinted in pink, yellow, grey or green. It’s dishwasher safe, but handwashing is recommended to keep it pristine.
8. Roar + Rabbit Botanical glassware: £7, West Elm
Delicately etched with swaying poppies, berries and hibiscus flowers, these glasses make an elegant set for the dining table. Mitzie Wong and Wendy Wurtzburger, better known as Philadelphia-based Roar + Rabbit, are behind the botanically-inspired designs. At 8.5cm in height and diameter, these are at the smaller end of the scale.
9. Rockett St George The Modern Home Smoke glasses: £18 for 4, Rockett St George
Smoked glass is making a bit of a comeback after its Sixties and Seventies heyday. Each glass in this set of four tumblers from also has a rounded shape which feels great in the hand and makes an ideal vessel for serving short drinks and cocktails.
10. Sainsbury’s Botanist Tumbler Glass: £4, Sainsbury’s
The surface of Sainsbury’s glass is pocked with a heavy texture that makes it easy to grip and interesting to handle. The green colour of the glass is saturated around the base and fades out to the top, giving this simple piece a bit of contrast.
Verdict
If you’re after an everyday glass that can stack, last rounds in the dishwasher and won’t break easily, there’s no beating the Duralex Picardie (you see it everywhere for good reason). The Italesse Bolle glass is a fun and unusual choice for parties and special occasions.
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