•A ChCl:phenol based deep eutectic solvent was applied for the DLLME of phthalates.•Parameters affecting the extraction efficiency of DLLME were studied and optimised.•DLLME-HPLC-DAD method was validated for different kinds of beverages.•Commercially available products were analysed using the developed methodology.•Positive samples were confirmed by UHPLC-MS/MS analysis. In this work, a green, inexpensive, simple and fast deep eutectic solvent (DES)-based dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction was evaluated, for the first time, for the extraction of phthalates (i.e. benzylbutyl phthalate, diisobutyl phthalate, diisopentyl phthalate, di-n-pentyl phthalate, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, di-n-octyl phthalate, diisononyl phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate) from different beverages. Separation and determination were achieved by high performance liquid chromatography-diode-array detection while confirmation was carried out by tandem mass spectrometry. The main factors affecting the extraction such as type and volume of DES and emulsifier, pH and ionic strength, were optimised. Choline chloride:phenol-based DES showed the best results. The methodology was validated for tea, apple-based beverage and pineapple juice. Recovery values ranged from 84 to 120% with relative standard deviation values lower than 11%. Limits of detection of the method were in the range 5.1–14.2 µg L−1 for tea, 5.3–17.8 µg L−1 for apple beverages and 5.9–15.6 µg L−1 for pineapple juices.