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.

What Alcohol Selection Should Your Hired Bartender Stock?

Aug 21

Written By Jesse Owens

Spirits and mixers stocked on an event bar in Los Angeles

Under the bartender only option you buy the alcohol and Platinum brings the person, at $70 per hour with a 4 hour minimum and a $100 service charge. Shop from a drink count rather than a bottle count. Light drinking is 1 to 2 drinks per guest, medium is 3 to 4, heavy is 6 or more. Everything on the list follows from that number.

Start with the drink count

Guest count multiplied by the consumption tier tells you how many drinks the bar has to produce.

40 guests, light: 40 x 2 = 80 drinks
40 guests, medium: 40 x 4 = 160 drinks
100 guests, medium: 100 x 4 = 400 drinks
100 guests, heavy: 100 x 6 = 600 drinks and up

Turning drinks into bottles depends on your pour size and on how many of those drinks are beer or wine, so work that part out with the shop or ask us when you book. Before you decide how far to over-buy, ask the store whether it takes back unopened bottles.

Spirits against beer and wine

Decide the split before you shop, because it changes what the bartender can actually pour. A seated dinner pulls hard on wine. A party where people stand and move pulls on whatever gets made fastest.

What matters behind the bar is that every spirit has the mixer and the garnish that go with it. A bottle of tequila with no lime and no soda is one drink, not a category.

Mixers, ice, garnishes and cups

Bartender only means you supply the spirits, the mixers, the ice and the glassware. The list people forget:

Sodas, tonic, juice and plenty of still water
Citrus, olives and anything else that goes in or on the glass
Cups or glasses, plus napkins and a bin liner or two
Ice for drinks and separate ice for chilling beer, wine and bottles

Ice quantity depends on your drink count and the weather, so buy it late and buy it in those two categories. A bar rental at $1,195 brings a 5ft white wood bar, 4 ice tubs, a trash can, delivery and pick up. Real glassware is $1.95 per unit plus $195 delivery each way, $390 round trip.

What it costs to hand the list over

A full bar package is $19 per guest at light consumption, $38 at medium, $57 at heavy, and covers top-shelf spirits, beer, wine, mixers, sodas, ice, garnishes and plastic cups. For 40 guests drinking lightly that is 40 x $19 = $760, with no shopping and no leftovers. Staff are billed separately either way. Price both versions at book.platinumbartender.com.

Common questions

How much alcohol do I need for 50 guests?

Take 50 and multiply by the tier: 100 drinks at light, 200 at medium, 300 or more at heavy. Buy to the top of the range you expect. One bartender covers 50 guests, and a second is recommended at medium or heavy.

What does the bartender bring if I supply the alcohol?

Their own bar tools. Bartenders are RBS certified and W-2 employees of Platinum Bartenders LLC, covered by general liability, liquor liability and workers' compensation. They do not bring ice, mixers or cups on this option.

Is buying my own alcohol cheaper?

Sometimes. You skip the per guest charge, but you carry the shopping, the delivery, the ice run and whatever is left over.

For an exact figure both ways, build a quote at book.platinumbartender.com, call 310-985-3014, or email info@platinumbartender.com.

Jesse Owens