How much do bartending services cost in Los Angeles?

Professional bartending services in Los Angeles start around $70 per hour per bartender for a standard event, with final pricing based on guest count, event length, bar setup, and add-on services like cocktail design or full event production. Contact us for a custom quote tailored to your event.

How many bartenders do I need for my event?

As a general rule, plan for one bartender per 50 guests for standard service, or one per 35 guests for cocktail-heavy events. We help you confirm the right staffing ratio based on your guest count, bar style, and timeline.

Are your bartenders licensed and insured?

Yes. All Platinum bartenders are licensed and insured, and we operate in full compliance with California ABC regulations. When required, we obtain an event-specific ABC permit before your event date. Host liquor liability and general liability insurance are available, and additional insured status for your host or venue can be added for a fee.

What areas do you serve?

We serve Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Palm Springs, and Las Vegas, with other locations available upon request.

How far in advance should I book?

We recommend booking at least 2 weeks in advance to secure your preferred staff and date, though we can often accommodate shorter timelines. Peak dates and large events should be booked as early as possible.

Do you provide the alcohol and handle the ABC permit?

We provide full bar setup, mixers, glassware, and bar rentals; clients typically supply the alcohol, and we secure the event-specific ABC permit where required. Let us know your needs and we'll handle the compliance details.

Bartender Cost Los Angeles | Rates from $70/hr | Platinum Bartenders

Platinum Bartenders publishes full rates so you can budget before you request a quote. Every price below is what you pay.

Build your quote

Exact pricing for your event in under two minutes.

Bartenders

Per hour. Four hour minimum.

Role	Per hour
Platinum Bartender	$70
Mixologist	$90
Shirtless or bikini bartender	$100
Shirtless or bikini mixologist	$150

One bartender per 50 guests. Add a second bartender at medium or heavy consumption. Bar packages include one hour of setup, bartender-only bookings include 30 minutes, and breakdown is 30 minutes. Billable time rounds up to the nearest half hour.

Event Staff

Per hour. Four hour minimum.

Role	Per hour
Barback	$70
Server	$70
Host	$70
Ambience model	$70
Security	$85
Banquet captain	$90
Kitchen assistant	$90

Entertainment

Four hour minimum.

Service	Price
DJ	$185 per hour
DJ speakers and decks	$485
Fire juggler	$80 per hour
Dancefloor starter	$85 per hour

Bar Packages

Priced by how much your guests drink. Light covers one to two drinks. Medium is three to four drinks and doubles the rate. Heavy is six or more and triples it.

Package	Light	Medium	Heavy
Full bar	$19	$38	$57
Craft cocktail bar	$25	$50	$75
Craft cocktails and full bar	$37	$74	$111
Wellness bar	$18 to $38	same	same

All figures are per guest. Bartenders are charged separately by the hour.

Full bar covers top-shelf spirits, beer, wine, mixers, sodas, ice, garnishes and cups. Craft cocktail packages add three cocktails built around your event and a printed bar menu.

Wellness bar is matcha, kombucha, coconut water and zero-proof cocktails. Classic $18, Premium $26, Platinum Vitality $38 per guest. It does not scale with consumption, so the tier price is the same at every level, and it can be added on top of any cocktail or full bar package.

Bartender only has no per-guest charge. You supply the spirits, mixers, ice and glassware. We bring RBS-certified staff with their own tools.

Food and Catering

Chefs cook on site. Rates are all-in, covering the kitchen brigade, dishwasher, plates, cutlery, linen napkins, delivery, setup, collection and gratuity. Billed on a 50 guest minimum.

Menu	50-99	100-149	150-199	200-249	250+
Tray-passed canapés	$195	$160	$150	$145	$140
Buffet dinner	$210	$175	$165	$160	$155
Family style	$250	$215	$205	$200	$195
Five-course plated	$350	$315	$305	$300	$295

All rates are per guest. Portable kitchen $2,550 per station, one station per 100 guests, only needed when the venue has no usable kitchen.

Rentals

Item	Price
Bar rental: 5ft white wood bar, 4 ice tubs, trash can, delivery and pick up	$1,195
Back bar	$365
High top with spandex	$95 each
Space heater	$275 each
Linen	$40 each
ABC liquor license permit	$1,950
Glassware	$1.95 per glass

Glassware delivery and pick up $390, waived when a bar rental is on the same booking.

What Is Added to Your Quote

Charge	Amount
Service charge, per staff member working the event, entertainers included	$100
Processing fee on the total	3.6%
Holiday staff uplift on New Year's Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve	50%
Rush surcharge on events booked within 48 hours	20%
Travel fee outside central Los Angeles, per staff member	see below

Travel fees, per staff member

Area	Per staff member
Central Los Angeles	No fee
Santa Monica, Venice, Culver City, Burbank	$20
Glendale, Pasadena	$30
Long Beach	$50
Malibu	$60
Orange County	$90
Palm Springs	$200

How You Pay

Pay in full to book, or pay a 25% deposit with the balance due seven days before your event.

Sample Quotes

100 guests, craft cocktail bar, medium consumption, 2 bartenders, 4 hour event

Bar, 100 guests at $50	$5,000
Bartenders, 2 x $70 x 5.5 hours	$770
Service charge, 2 x $100	$200
Subtotal	$5,970
Processing fee 3.6%	$215
Total	$6,185

50 guests, bartender only, 1 bartender, 4 hour event

Bartender, $70 x 5 hours	$350
Service charge	$100
Subtotal	$450
Processing fee 3.6%	$16
Total	$466

Licensed, Insured and ABC Compliant

Over 300 hospitality and entertainment professionals, mostly working actors and models. All staff RBS-certified and insured. ABC liquor permits available. Operating in Los Angeles since 2015.