Best Drinks with Seafood

Seafood often works best with drinks that feel bright, dry, sparkling, citrusy or herbal. Those profiles can refresh the palate without covering delicate fish, shellfish or briny flavors.

For lighter seafood, choose cleaner drinks with citrus, bubbles or herbs. For grilled or spicy seafood, stronger flavors such as agave, ginger, smoke or bitter notes can work better.

Very creamy, overly sweet or heavy drinks can overwhelm delicate seafood. If the dish is simple, keep the drink crisp; if the dish is spicy or grilled, choose a bolder match.

Seafood pairs best with drinks that share its light, clean character. High-acid cocktails — like a Gin and Tonic, a classic Gimlet, or a Dry Martini — cut through the richness of shellfish and oily fish without overwhelming the delicate flavor. The botanical bitterness of gin also echoes the brine of oysters and mussels.

Avoid very sweet or very heavy drinks alongside seafood. A cloying cocktail will clash with the salinity of the dish, while a spirit-forward Old Fashioned can overwhelm lighter white fish. When in doubt, reach for something cold, crisp and effervescent.