28 Bartenders Share Their Favorite Hangover Remedies

We’ve all been there. You went out and had a great night, but you’ve woken up and have that terrible hangover feeling. Perhaps you didn’t drink enough water in between alcoholic beverages or maybe you didn’t eat enough that day. Sometimes it’s because you regrettably took too many shots of tequila—either way, a hangover is the worst part about enjoying a night of drinking.

To be completely honest, time is the only true cure for a hangover, but while you’re waiting for the pain to ease, there are many ways you can work to make your head and body feel better. From greasy take out to hot soup and special hydrating concoctions, here are several ways bartenders around the country combat that crappy feeling after a long night out.

“My hangover remedy I swear by is to wait until 10:30 a.m. and get two cheeseburgers and a large Dr Pepper from McDonald’s. Eat that, go back to sleep. When you wake up, get Pho and you’ll feel like a million bucks from all the sodium and veggies.” – Ashley Cosentino, the lead bartender of Source Restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts

“When you wake up in the middle of the night to use the restroom – make sure to stop by the kitchen and grab a glass of cold milk before you go back to sleep. This will guarantee you are putting some nutrients in your body and stop the hangover before it starts!” – Alexandro Del Bosque Garcia, General Manager at Ball & Chain in Miami, Florida

“An equal part mixture of tonic, soda and ginger ale combined with a good splash of bitters, a squeeze of lemon and a dash of Tabasco. Works every time!” – Michael Glassberg, Lead Bartender at The Press Room at The Eliza Jane in New Orleans, Louisiana

“Virgin Bloody Mary with a shot of pickle juice. The tomato juice has a lot of Vitamin C which is an antioxidant the body needs at that moment, while the pickle juice helps replenish sorely needed electrolytes while yes, it’s very salty there’s also a high water content and rehydrating.” – Ken Nolan, beverage manager for Twenty One Pips in Ardmore, Pennsylvania

“In this order: cold shower, 4 Ibuprofen, Pedialyte, long walk or run, spicy curry soup, Underberg, candy bar.” – Harrison Snow, beverage director and co-owner at Lullaby in New York City, New York

“I tend to stray away from the hair of the dog for remedies. The idea of drinking yet again after a long night can be nauseating. Instead leaning towards a product that was designed to be a medicinal “cure all”. It was not however this magical cure, but has made its way behind the bar and is what we call, bitters. Simple and easy, a lemon wedge coated lightly in sugar and dashed with angostura bitters is all you need. Although it could not cure the diseases in the time of its curation, it can relieve the body from a night about town.” – Gabriel Maldonado, beverage director at The Wesley in New York City, New York

“I like to keep it simple the morning after drinking, a sparkling water with some homage bitters in it does the trick. I’ve always called it a ‘tummy drink.’ It’s a cure-all. My favorite sparkling water to use is Richard’s Rainwater, it’s light and simple, and it holds its bubbles for a long time while you take slow sips.” – Dan Ciaccia, bartender at Eight & Sand at Central Station Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee

“My hangover cure starts before going out… eat a small bite, drink lots of water, and take some b12 vitamins. Keep drinking lots of water throughout the night and end the evening with even more water and an awesome karaoke concert Uber ride home. If all else fails, a greasy cheeseburger, Diet Coke, a shot of espresso and silence will do the trick” – Greg Innocent, beverage director at The Hampton Social

“A hangover cure that always does the trick is the Pedialyte Mimosa. It’s the perfect pairing of the hair of the dog with a little boost of electrolytes.” – Kate Bruce, owner of The Buttery Bar in Brooklyn, New York

”The hangover remedy that I have always used is soda water and bitters, it is a remedy that has been passed down to me from other bartenders. I like to add 1 ounce of fresh lime juice and a big pinch of salt to the soda water and bitters. The fresh juice provides vitamin C and antioxidants that the body may need when it is hungover, and the salt is helpful for the electrolytes. After drinking a full glass of soda water, bitters, fresh lime juice & salt, I feel better as the combination is a great hangover remedy.” – Josue Castillo, bartender at Next Door Speakeasy & Raw Bar in Boston, Massachusetts

“Pickle juice and a greasy breakfast.” – Nathaniel Nickerson, Bartender at Sternewirth at Hotel Emma

“The best way to cure a hangover is to start with a Michelada and a breakfast burrito with chorizo and avocado and follow up with a glass of Alka seltzer. Then meet up with friends for bottomless mimosas to keep the “shampoo effect” going.” – Rafa Cervantes, bar director of Chubby Noodle in San Francisco

“If we’re talking about something over the counter, I’m a big fan of Alka Seltzer Hangover Relief. It works fast to knock out a headache and get me moving again. If we’re talking about a home remedy, it’s a Cuban ham egg and cheese sandwich with a café con leche from the local bakery. Some protein and fat to soak things up and a sweet and potent coffee to get me going again.”– Gui Jaroschy, co-founder of Unfiltered Hospitality

“My go-to remedy and hangover motto is “Hair of the Dog.” The morning after a long night of drinking can be rough. Before your hangover fully sets in, take a shot and drink a beer, you’ll feel better in 15 minutes. Pros don’t get hangovers!” – Samuel Padilla, head bartender at The Holding Company in San Diego, California

“The hangover cure closest to my heart is the Michelada. Must be spicy, briney, ice cold, and had first thing in the morning. The fact that there’s beer in it doesn’t hurt either.” – Shannon Inouye, bar lead and partner at Nossa Caipirinha Bar in Los Angeles, California

“A remedy I swear by is the following: 4 dashes of angostura bitters, 1 oz of Fernet-Branca Liqueur, fill the rest of the glass with ginger ale. This helps settle my stomach, especially when I feel nauseous.” – Morgan Jade Marak, bar lead at Sagaponack in New York City, New York

“I have a ritual. The night of, I try to take a Liquid IV and drink as much water as possible before bed to reduce the coming hangover. When I wake up, I continue drinking water and drink a coconut water, then I go back to sleep. The second time I wake up, I need food, and it’s always soup. Either pho, ramen, or Korean bone broth, like Seolleongtang or Galbi-tang. The combination of hydration plus broth brings me back to my human form. ” – Wootak Kim, co-host of Under the Influence

“Hangovers come in many shapes and sizes and often I find the most effective cure depends on the plans for the day. If I need to be up and active, my first stop is the bodega for a Pedialyte, a coconut water, an iced coffee, and a classic New York bacon, egg, and cheese with hot sauce. If I have the luxury of a day off, I prefer to drink a lot of cold green tea, order in birria tacos from Nene’s in Brooklyn, and watch horror movies. Something about seeing people face the terror of a masked killer or a malicious demon makes my headache seem a lot more manageable.” – Joey Smith, bar director at Chez Zou in New York City, New York

“Ocean water (Topo Chico, lots of salt, and lime) then add cucumber.” – Ryan Swanson, Bartender at Sternewirth at Hotel Emma

“I learned my go-to hangover cure from the line cooks at my first serving job at a fast casual chain. They made me a drink consisting of club soda, lime juice, mint and the most important ingredient, salt! I don’t know the science behind it, but what I do know is IT WORKS!” – Joe Hall, assistant director of food & beverage at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills

“I would suggest fresh lemonade with honey or pure agave nectar as a sweetener. Possibly mineral sparkling water as an option for the mineral content and hydration. The freshly squeezed lemon juice provides a good amount of Vitamin C, along with the natural sugar for the body that is weakened in the form of honey or pure agave nectar. In addition, a hot cup of chicken soup will always deliver.” – Barna Jeremias, bar manager at LPM Restaurant & Bar in Miami, Florida

“When combating a hangover, I have come to find over years of experience, to skip the grease filled foods and opt for a refreshing boost of vitamins. My #1 fix has been a fresh green smoothie. Take a large handful of spinach, a pinch of fresh kale, 2 cups of green grapes, half a peeled orange, a small can of pineapple juice, and a green apple that has been cored and diced. Throw all the ingredients into a blender, cover your ears, and blend until smooth. The throbbing headache that comes from hearing a blender after an all-night bender will go away once you down the smoothie.” – Jillian Cooper, Director of Food & Beverage at 106Jefferson in Huntsville, Alabama

“First, I recommend sticking to one liquor to minimize your sugar and citrus intake and avoid acid reflux. In the morning, I avoid coffee at all costs and instead opt for a chilled water followed by an electrolyte packed beverage. I also find that a carb heavy breakfast such as avocado toast and a banana and blueberry milkshake, or a sandwich with all the extras from a local deli will do the trick. This should of course be followed by lots of water. Stick to this routine and you should be feeling as good as new in no time!” – Ilya Romanov, bartend manager at Bar Iris in San Francisco, California

“Drinking honey with ginger tea is definitely one of the best remedies that I can recommend as honey gives the body extra sugar to burn off the alcohol and ginger for anti-inflammatory. But definitely drink plenty of water and get some rest!” – Bobby Leonardo, head bartender at Wayla in New York City, New York

“Buckle up. It’s a journey. This for a 4 alarm head ringing, eyelids feel like brillo pads, hot and cold at the same time kind of hangover. First you need to hydrate. Opt for 1 mint yerba mate, 1 Whole Foods “mommy boost” juice (the small one), and water (at least a quart). Second you gotta reload with three pieces of Publix fried chicken (no more, no less). Since you’re at Whole Foods for the juice anyway, get two cheese pizza slices topped with crushed red pepper. Grab a lettuce of some kind (not a salad, like straight up romaine) dress with a little ranch. Thirdly you have to stop somewhere to grab an iced coffee. DO NOT DRINK IT YET. it goes in the fridge. Eat everything and then you gotta calm the burning eyes. Get to the couch and take an hour nap while watching a really bad action movie. Lastly you gotta get things moving again. go out to the stoop, laugh to yourself about the night before, have that iced coffee straight out the fridge, and drink it gone. head back inside, do your thing, hit a shower, and now you’re ready for the day.” – Dale Donchey, owner of Spiller Park Coffee at Ponce City Market in Atlanta, Georgia

“Hot bath with baby oil in it. Seriously. Try it. Thank me later. 15 minutes to go from a dry raisin to a Greek goddess. Opens up all pores, gets you hydrated and makes your skin look brand new. Jump in the pool or ocean, if you can. A good ol’ sweat session helps too.”- Ksenia Tsiulina, Bartender at COYO Taco in Miami, Florida

“My go-to hangover cure is a pre-sleep Ibuprofen PM and tons of water. After all, the best offense is a good defense. Should that fail, a trusty bean and cheese burrito from the local taco shop and a chilled, glass bottle Mexican Coca-Cola will do the trick.” – Gail Westmoreland, bartender at Lionfish San Diego in San Diego, California

“This healthy hangover smoothie is my saving grace. Combine ice in magic bullet with ¾ cup of zero-sugar Gatorade (flavor of your choice) with one cup of hydrating coconut water, 1 ½ cup of frozen fruit of your choice, ½ cup of frozen spinach or kale to aid in detox and alkalinity, 1 small banana for potassium and a tablespoon of coconut oil to balance glucose levels. Top with honey and cinnamon and sip slowly as you come back to life. I also recommend an hour nap after consuming for a complete reset.” – McColbert Evrard, Food & Beverage Director at The Kimpton Banneker in Washington, DC