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.

Outdoor Event Bartending: What You Need to Know in LA

Aug 21

Written By Jesse Owens

Outdoor bar service at a Los Angeles rooftop event

Most outdoor sites in LA have no bar, no shade over the bar and no heat after sunset. A bar rental is $1,195 and includes a 5ft white wood bar, 4 ice tubs, a trash can, delivery and pick up. Space heaters for evening events are $275 each. Sort out power, water and wind before the drinks.

No bar in the backyard

A folding table is not a bar. Bartenders need somewhere to stand, somewhere to keep bottles cold and somewhere to put trash. The $1,195 bar rental covers that and gets delivered and collected. A back bar for bottle display and working space is $365. High top tables with black spandex are $95 each, linen $40. Bartenders bring their own tools, so shakers and strainers are covered either way.

Power and water

Pouring drinks needs no power. Everything around the bar might. If you are adding a DJ at $185 per hour with a speaker system and decks at $485, work out which outlets reach before the day.

Water matters more than people expect. With no tap near the bar, everything gets rinsed somewhere else and that walk eats time. A barback at $70 per hour is the fix, handling ice and restocking while the bartender stays put.

Ice, shade and heat

Ice comes with the full bar and craft cocktail packages, and the rented bar has 4 ice tubs. In an LA afternoon, ice in an open tub in direct sun goes fast, so put the bar in shade if there is any and under cover if there is not.

Then the temperature drops once the sun goes down, particularly near the coast. Space heaters are $275 each. There is no fixed number: it depends on how open the space is and where guests actually stand, usually near the bar and the food.

Wind, cups and glassware

Wind takes napkins, garnish trays and printed menus off a bar quickly. It is also the argument for plastic. Plastic cups come with the full bar, craft cocktail and combined packages. Real glassware is a rental at $1.95 per unit with delivery and pick up at $195 each way, $390 round trip, and outdoors it means breakage and a sweep of the grass after. Poolside, many properties will not allow glass near the water, so check the house rules.

Rooftops, poolside and parks

Rooftops and pool decks are a load-in question: how the bar, tubs and heaters get up there, and whether there is a lift. Parks add a permit question. An ABC one-day permit handled by Platinum is $1,950, and whether your event needs one depends on the site and whether alcohol is sold. Confirm with California ABC or the venue. Travel is charged per staff member: $15 covers the first 15 miles, then it is $5 for every additional 5 miles, so a site 25 miles out is $25 per person.

Common questions

Do you bring a bar for a backyard party?

Yes, as a rental at $1,195: a 5ft white wood bar with 4 ice tubs, a trash can, delivery and pick up. With a built-in outdoor bar on site you can skip it and book staff only.

How many space heaters do I need?

It depends on how enclosed the space is and where guests gather. Each heater is $275. Price two against four at book.platinumbartender.com and compare.

Can we use real glassware outside?

Yes, at $1.95 per unit plus $195 delivery each way. Around a pool it is often not allowed, and on grass it breaks. Plastic cups already come with the bar packages.

To price an outdoor bar, build a quote at book.platinumbartender.com, call 310-985-3014, or email info@platinumbartender.com.

Jesse Owens