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.

DIY Bar vs. Hired Bartender: Which Is Better for Your Event?

Aug 21

Written By Jesse Owens

A hired bartender working a rented bar in Los Angeles

A self serve bar works for a small, casual party where guests pour beer, wine and one batched drink. Past about thirty guests, or anywhere spirits are involved, hire a bartender. The floor is 4 hours at $70 plus the $100 service charge, or $380 for one bartender, and you still supply the alcohol at that price.

Where a DIY bar genuinely works

It works when the drinks are simple and the guest list is short. Beer in a tub, a few bottles of wine, one batched punch, twenty or so people who know each other. For a backyard barbecue or small birthday, a DIY bar is fine, and hiring staff for it is money you do not need to spend.

Where it does not

Volume. The staffing guideline is 1 bartender per 50 guests. Fifty people arriving inside twenty minutes is a rush one host cannot pour through.
Cocktails. Anything shaken or built to order stops a self serve bar dead.
Ice. Ice is the first thing to run out at an LA party, and restocking it is a job on its own.
Pace of drinking. Nobody at a self serve bar is watching how much any one guest has had. A hired bartender is RBS certified and makes that call.
Your evening. The real cost of a DIY bar is that the host works the party instead of attending it.

The cost comparison, honestly

One bartender for four hours is 4 x $70 = $280, plus a $100 service charge, so $380. That is bartender only: you supply the spirits, mixers, ice and glassware, which is exactly what you would be buying for a DIY bar anyway. So the fair way to read $380 is the cost of the labour on top of a shopping list you were buying either way, and what it buys back is the shopping, hauling, icing, pouring and clearing.

If you would rather not shop at all, a full bar package is $19 per guest at light consumption and covers top-shelf spirits, beer, wine, mixers, sodas, ice, garnishes and plastic cups. For 40 guests that is 40 x $19 = $760.

Bartender only, you buy everything: $280 + $100 = $380, plus your shopping bill and your evening
Bartender plus full bar for 40 guests, light: $380 + $760 = $1,140, and you buy nothing
Real glassware if you want it: $1.95 per unit plus $195 delivery each way, so $390 round trip
No bar on site: a bar rental is $1,195 with 4 ice tubs, a trash can, delivery and pick up included

Price your guest count both ways at book.platinumbartender.com.

Common questions

Can I hire a bartender and still buy my own alcohol?

Yes. That is the bartender only option: $70 per hour with a 4 hour minimum and the $100 service charge, no per guest drinks charge. You supply the spirits, mixers, ice and glassware.

At what guest count should I stop doing it myself?

Around the point where you would need a second pair of hands. The guideline of 1 bartender per 50 guests is a useful line, and a second is recommended at medium consumption of 3 to 4 drinks per guest.

Is a DIY bar cheaper than the $19 per guest package?

It depends on what you buy and where. The package price is fixed and includes ice, mixers, garnishes and cups, which people forget to count against a liquor store receipt.

For a side by side total on your event, build a quote at book.platinumbartender.com, call 310-985-3014, or email info@platinumbartender.com.

Jesse Owens