Nick & Nora glasses

A Nick and Nora glass is a stemmed glass with a bell-shaped bowl, usually 140ml to 180ml. The bowl curves inwards at the rim, so drinks stay put, making it the least spill-prone glass for cocktails served up.

  • Most Nick & Nora glasses hold between 140ml and 180ml
  • The bowl narrows towards the rim, so drinks stay put when carried
  • Suits stirred and shaken cocktails served up, with no ice
  • Fine stems and rims are best hand-washed and dried by hand

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Showing all 17 results

A Nick and Nora glass is a small stemmed glass with a rounded, bell-shaped bowl that narrows slightly towards the rim. Most hold 140ml to 180ml, which is close to what a stirred or shaken cocktail actually comes to once it has been strained. There is little wasted space, so the drink sits high in the bowl and looks like a full glass rather than a puddle.nnThe name comes from Nick and Nora Charles, the endlessly drinking married couple in the 1934 film The Thin Man. The shape was revived by American bartenders in the 2000s and has since become a standard behind cocktail bars, largely because it is the hardest of the stemmed glasses to spill.

Which type do you need?

Nick & Nora glasses vary little in shape, so the real choices are capacity and how fine the glass itself is.

TypeBest forWorth knowing
Standard Nick & Nora, 140ml to 180ml Stirred classics and any cocktail served up Too small for drinks with a tall head of foam
Large Nick & Nora, around 200ml Slightly longer pours, or drinks with egg white Loses a little of the shape's neat, full-glass look
Fine crystal Nick & Nora A thin rim and the clearest look for special serves Needs hand-washing, and chips more easily at the rim
Pressed glass Nick & Nora Everyday use, parties and busy trade service Thicker walls and a heavier feel than a blown glass

How to choose

Why doesn't a Nick and Nora spill?

The bowl reaches its widest point below the rim and then curves back in. When the glass tilts or the liquid starts moving, that inward curve turns the wave back towards the centre instead of letting it run over the edge. A V-shaped martini glass does the opposite: its walls flare outwards all the way to the rim, so any movement heads straight for the exit. A coupe sits in between, curved but wider and shallower. The Nick & Nora's narrow mouth is what makes it the steadiest of the three to carry.

Nick and Nora or coupe: which should you choose?

Choose a Nick & Nora if you mainly drink stirred cocktails, want the drink to stay cold and would rather not think about carrying it. The smaller, deeper bowl gives less surface area for the drink to warm through, and the narrow rim keeps it contained. Choose a coupe if you also want a glass for sparkling wine, if you make drinks with a foamed top that needs room, or if you simply prefer the wider, more open look. Both serve the same cocktails, so it is preference more than function.

Where does the Nick and Nora name come from?

It comes from The Thin Man, the 1934 film adapted from Dashiell Hammett's novel, in which Nick and Nora Charles solve a murder while drinking their way through most of the running time. The small stemmed glasses used on screen gave the shape its nickname. It stayed obscure for decades until American bartenders revived it in the 2000s as an alternative to oversized martini glasses, and manufacturers began producing it again to meet the demand.

Common questions

What is a Nick and Nora glass used for?

It holds cocktails served up: shaken or stirred with ice, then strained so none reaches the glass. Martinis, manhattans, daiquiris and negronis served straight up all suit it. Because there is no ice to keep things cold, the small bowl helps, since the drink is finished before it has much chance to warm.

How big is a Nick and Nora glass?

Typically 140ml to 180ml to the brim, which is smaller than a coupe and considerably smaller than most martini glasses. That is deliberate. A stirred cocktail comes to roughly 90 to 120ml once diluted and strained, so the glass looks properly filled rather than sparse, with just enough headroom for a twist.

What is the difference between a Nick and Nora and a coupe?

A coupe has a wide, shallow, saucer-like bowl. A Nick & Nora is narrower and deeper, with sides that curve inwards at the rim. The Nick & Nora usually holds a little less, spills less readily and keeps a drink cold marginally longer thanks to the smaller surface area. Both serve exactly the same cocktails.

Can you serve a martini in a Nick and Nora glass?

Yes, and many bars now do. The drink is identical, the glass is just steadier and better sized for a standard pour. An olive or a lemon twist sits perfectly well in the bowl. The only real limitation is volume, so a very large martini will need a coupe or a full-size V-shaped glass instead.

Are Nick and Nora glasses dishwasher safe?

Thicker pressed-glass versions usually survive a dishwasher, but thin blown or crystal ones are much safer washed by hand. Stems and rims are the parts that chip, and repeated hot cycles gradually cloud the glass. Warm soapy water, a rinse and a soft cloth keeps them clear. Always check the maker's own guidance for crystal.

Have a look at

Coupe glassesMartini glassesMixing glasses

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