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.

Mobile Bar Services in Los Angeles: Complete Guide

Aug 21

Written By Jesse Owens

Portable mobile bar set up for a Los Angeles event

A mobile bar is a bar brought to a venue that has none. The core piece is a 5ft white wood bar at $1,195, including 4 ice tubs, a trash can, and delivery and pick up. From there you add what the space is missing: a back bar at $365, glassware at $1.95 per unit, linen at $40, high tops at $95 and space heaters at $275 each.

What the bar itself includes

The $1,195 rental covers a 5ft white wood bar, 4 ice tubs, a trash can, and delivery and pick up both ways. That is the working surface, cold storage for beer and wine, and somewhere for empties, which matters more than it sounds when the alternative is a folding table.

A back bar is $365. It sits behind the main bar and holds bottles, garnishes and glassware, so the bartender is not reaching across guests all night. On a 5ft bar serving 50 or more, it earns its place.

Glassware, and how to count it

Glassware is $1.95 per unit across rocks, martini, wine, flute and shot glasses. Delivery and pick up is $195 each way, so $390 round trip, and that fee is the same at 60 glasses or 300. Order it in one go.

Allow more units than guests, because people set a glass down and lose it. At 60 guests, 120 units is a sensible start. 120 x $1.95 = $234, plus $390 round trip, for $624. If you take a Platinum bar package instead, plastic cups are included in the full bar and craft cocktail packages, and glassware becomes an upgrade rather than a requirement.

Working out a venue with nothing on site

Take a 60 guest party at a private home with a yard, no bar, no glassware and a cold evening. Two bartenders for 5 hours, medium consumption:

Item	Cost
Bar rental, 5ft white wood, 4 ice tubs, trash can	$1,195
Back bar	$365
Glassware, 120 units x $1.95, plus $390 delivery round trip	$624
2 high top tables with black spandex, $95 each	$190
3 linens, $40 each	$120
2 space heaters, $275 each	$550
2 bartenders, 5 hours: 2 x 5 x $70 = $700, plus 2 x $100 service charge	$900
Total	$3,944

Drinks sit on top of that, either supplied by you under bartender only or as a package: full bar at $38 per guest at medium consumption, craft cocktail bar at $50. Card payments add 3.6 percent, and travel is charged per staff member at $15 for the first 15 miles, then $5 for every additional 5 miles, so two bartenders at an address 25 miles out is $50. You can total a setup like this at book.platinumbartender.com.

Common questions

Do I need a bar rental if my venue has a built-in bar?

Usually not. Check it has ice storage and somewhere for trash, the two things house bars often lack. A back bar at $365 on its own can cover the gap.

How many high tops should I get?

They give people somewhere to put a drink down near the bar, which keeps the area moving. Two or three at a 60 guest party is reasonable at $95 each, black spandex cover included.

Can you design a cocktail menu for the bar?

Yes. A themed cocktail menu design is $375. The craft cocktail bar package at $25 per guest light, $50 medium and $75 heavy already includes three cocktails built for the event and a printed menu.

To price a setup for your venue, build a quote at book.platinumbartender.com, call 310-985-3014, or email info@platinumbartender.com.

Jesse Owens