Los Angeles Event Catering
Platinum Bartenders provides full-service bar and event catering throughout Los Angeles for private parties, corporate events, weddings and brand activations. From tray-passed hors d’oeuvres and charcuterie boards to buffet and plated dinners, we provide food, bartenders, servers and complete beverage service for events of up to 300 guests.
What We Cater
Chefs cook on site, not in a kitchen across town. Every rate is all-in: the kitchen brigade, the dishwasher, plates, cutlery, linen napkins, delivery, setup, collection and gratuity. No service charge is added at the end. Fifty guest minimum.
Tray-Passed Canapes
Circulating hors d'oeuvres for standing receptions, brand activations and cocktail hours.
From $140 per guestBuffet Dinner
Stations guests serve themselves from, for larger parties and corporate events.
From $155 per guestFamily Style
Shared platters brought to the table and passed between guests.
From $195 per guestFive-Course Plated
Full table service, a course at a time, for weddings and seated dinners.
From $295 per guestIf the venue has no usable kitchen we bring a portable one: $2,550 per station, one station per 100 guests. Most venues do not need it.
Catering Cost Per Guest in Los Angeles
Most caterers in Los Angeles quote a food price, then add service charges, rentals, staff and gratuity. Ours are all-in. Price per guest, by guest count:
| Menu | 50-99 | 100-149 | 150-199 | 200-249 | 250+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tray-passed canapes | $195 | $160 | $150 | $145 | $140 |
| Buffet dinner | $210 | $175 | $165 | $160 | $155 |
| Family style | $250 | $215 | $205 | $200 | $195 |
| Five-course plated | $350 | $315 | $305 | $300 | $295 |
Add bar from $19 per guest, or bartenders at $70 per hour on a four-hour minimum. Full published rates for every role.
Build Your QuoteOne Company for Food, Bar and Staff
Most events need a caterer, a bar company and a staffing agency. Three contracts, three invoices, and three vendors pointing at each other when something goes wrong at 9pm.
We run all three. The chefs, the bartenders, the servers, the banquet captain and the kitchen assistants are all ours, and all are W-2 employees of Platinum Bartenders, not contractors. We run payroll, withhold taxes and carry workers compensation on every one of them, which keeps that exposure off you. Most catering companies in Los Angeles subcontract their staff.
One contact. One invoice. One company accountable for the whole night. We also supply bars and bar equipment if the venue has none.
Common Questions
How much does event catering cost in Los Angeles?
Our rates are all-in and start at $140 per guest for tray-passed canapes at 250 or more guests, rising to $350 per guest for a five-course plated dinner at 50 to 99 guests. All-in means the kitchen team, dishwasher, plates, cutlery, linen napkins, delivery, setup, collection and gratuity are included rather than added later.
What is the minimum guest count for catering?
Fifty guests for catering. Bar and staffing have no guest minimum.
Do you cook on site?
Yes. Chefs cook at your venue. If the venue has no usable kitchen we bring a portable one at $2,550 per station, one station per 100 guests.
Can you provide the bar and the food together?
Yes, and that is the point. Food, bar, bartenders, servers, hosts and security all come from the same company on one invoice.
Is gratuity included in the catering price?
Yes. The per-guest rate includes gratuity. No service charge is added at the end.
How far in advance should I book catering in Los Angeles?
Peak Saturdays in spring and autumn, and all of December, go early. Outside those, a few weeks is usually enough.
What areas do you cater?
Los Angeles County, Orange County, Ventura and Santa Barbara.
Do you handle dietary requirements?
Yes. Send the list with your guest count and the menu is built around it.
Let’s Work TogetherIf you're interested in working with us, complete the form with a few details about your event. We'll review your message and get back to you within 2 hours.