Upgrading Summer Cocktail Hour

Cool cocktails and easy snacks to make it through the dog days of summer

It’s the time of year when I need to mix up what I’m making—I’ve had enough of the margaritas, daiquiris, and spritzes that, early on in the summer season, I was so excited about. Below we’ve gathered some alternatives from our friends and favorite restaurants, featuring some clever (yet still easy to make) drinks that you can cool off with, until that first leaf starts to turn. And because you should never be drinking on an empty stomach—the Italians understand this—we’ve included a couple of our favorite simple snacks.