# Tropical Drive-Thru Beverages Sunfly Brings Bar-Style Recipes and Pastries to a Texas Drive-Thru By Adam Harrie | Written with AI assistance | Published 2026-10-15 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tropical-drive-thru-beverages References: [fastcasual](https://www.fastcasual.com/articles/sunfly-hoping-to-outmaneuver-fast-casual-beverage-competitors-in-north-texas)  Sunfly is turning [drive-thru beverage stops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/soda-drive-thru) into a faster, more curated experience with [cocktail-style recipes, house-made pastries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/experiential-donut-franchises), and functional add-ins. Fork Hospitality built the tropical concept for quick-turn conversions, so orders can move through a lane without losing the measured feel of a bar program. The debut unit is open in The Colony, Texas, and a second location is set to open in Frisco next month. Sunfly is also leaning on online ordering, digital menu boards and its 'Cabana Club' loyalty program, while its around $10 price point keeps the format close to everyday beverage spending. A drive-thru concept with that mix of speed, customization and bakery items widens the lane for [beverage-led chains](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/daybright-coffee-refreshment) that want more than drinks alone. The 15-week Cabana Club push adds a repeat-visit hook that can help the format build habit before its Texas expansion grows further. Image Credit: Sunfly ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.7/10 - Popularity: 44% | Activity: 28% | Freshness: 100% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Premium Drive-thru Beverages:** Bar-style recipes in a fast-service lane signal room for elevated drink formats that make convenience feel more curated and experiential. - **Functional Drink Add-ins:** Custom boosts and wellness-oriented ingredients create openings for beverage brands to blend personalization, routine use and perceived value into everyday orders. - **Beverage-bakery Hybrids:** Pairing specialty drinks with house-made pastries expands the ticket beyond refreshment and positions compact formats as snack-led lifestyle destinations. ### Who This Affects Most - **Quick-service Restaurants:** Drive-thru models with digital ordering and loyalty mechanics show how QSR operators can refresh high-throughput formats with premium, habit-forming experiences. - **Specialty Beverages:** Cocktail-inspired nonalcoholic menus highlight a path for beverage chains to compete through flavor complexity, customization and approachable pricing. - **Foodservice Technology:** Digital menu boards, online ordering and loyalty programs provide infrastructure for faster personalization and more data-rich customer engagement in compact retail formats. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Layered Drink Lineups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drips-by-pepsi-lineup.md) - [Customizable Summer Refreshers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbucks-tropical-butterfly-refresher.md) - [Better-For-You Refresher Beverages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/surf-quenchers.md) - [Dirty Soda-Inspired Lemonades](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dirty-sodainspired-lemonades.md) - [Affordable Strong Cocktail Lines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sun-ices.md) - [Crafted Fast Food Beverages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/Crafted-Fast-Food-Beverages.md) - [Discovery-Driven Beverage Programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/Discovery-driven-beverage-programs.md) - [Drive-Up Restaurant Formats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sweetlane-drive-up.md) - [Reimagined Tropical Cafe Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brand-transformation.md)