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.

Bartending Services That Handle Cleanup After Events

Aug 21

Written By Jesse Owens

Bar being delivered and packed down for a Los Angeles event

Breakdown of the bar is part of the booking. Staff close the bar down, pack away what they brought in, bag the bar trash and leave the bar area clear. That is the bar area, not the whole venue. Rented equipment is collected: bar and back bar pick up is included in the $1,195 rental, and glassware carries a $195 delivery charge each way, $390 round trip.

What breakdown actually covers

Breakdown reverses the setup. Bottles closed and boxed, ice tubs drained, mixers and garnishes cleared, surfaces wiped, bar mats and tools packed, bar trash bagged and put in the can, and everything that arrived on the truck stacked ready to go back on it.

On a bar package, unopened stock that came with the package leaves with the crew. On a bartender only booking you bought the spirits, mixers and ice, so what is left is yours and stays with you.

Bar area, not whole venue

This is the distinction worth understanding. Bar staff clean the bar. They do not clear guest tables across the room, strike your decor, mop the venue floor or take the venue's own waste out to the street. If you want that covered, it is a staffing question. Servers and hosts are $70 an hour, a banquet captain or event allrounder is $90, all with the same 4 hour minimum and $100 service charge per person. Book those roles and say what you want them doing at the end of the night.

Rentals and when they are collected

Bar rental $1,195: 5ft white wood bar, 4 ice tubs, trash can, delivery and pick up included
Back bar $365, high top table with black spandex $95, linen $40, space heater $275
Glassware $1.95 per unit, delivery and pick up $195 each way, $390 round trip

Glassware goes back dirty in its crates. Whether pick up happens the same night or the next day depends on the venue and the hours it allows, so agree the collection time when you book.

Trash and recycling

The bar rental includes a trash can. Bar waste goes into it, bottles, cans and cups, and gets bagged at breakdown. Where those bags then go is the venue's rules, not ours: some venues have dumpsters on site, some private homes want it left by the bins, some parks require everything to be carried out. Ask your venue what it expects and tell us.

Catering is different. All catering includes the kitchen brigade, a dishwasher, plates, cutlery, linen, delivery, setup, removal and gratuity, so the kitchen side clears itself. If the venue has no working kitchen, a portable kitchen station is $2,550 per station, one per 100 guests, and refuse handling is part of that station.

Common questions

Is cleanup billed as extra hours?

Breakdown happens inside the hours you book, which is why last call comes before the end of your window rather than at it. If you want the bar serving right up to the final minute, book the extra hour at the normal rate, $70 for a bartender.

Do I have to wash the glassware before it is collected?

No. Rented glassware goes back as it is. Plastic cups come with the full bar and craft cocktail packages, which removes the return entirely.

Who takes the leftover alcohol?

On a package, the drinks were supplied by Platinum and go back with the crew. On a bartender only booking, everything you supplied stays yours.

See what your booking includes at book.platinumbartender.com, call 310-985-3014, or email info@platinumbartender.com.

Jesse Owens