Bar Etiquette | How To Order Drinks At A Bar

As a professional bartender, I have literally met thousands of different customers whilst working behind the bar. Most of them, apart from the tiny handful that I loved or hated, have mostly faded from my memory. Working behind the bar I quickly learned that if your bartender likes you, they will go out of their way to serve you; They may throw you a free drink or pour a little extra in your next drink or simply prioritize your orders before others. The secret to earning a bartender’s love is by practising proper bar etiquette and treating them with respect. Added benefits include impressing your date with your charm and social grace. So let’s get cracking! 🙂

Step 1: The Approach

The single most important rule to ordering drinks at a bar is to treat the bartenders (and service staff) with respect. We’re humans too!

Treating us with respect is pretty much half the battle won (you’d be surprised how often people don’t). Even if you can’t remember anything from here, you absolutely have to know this. It is the golden rule. Common violations of this rule include waving dollar bills in our faces, shouting our names repeatedly and distracting us while we are mixing a drink.

The best way to get a bartender’s attention is to simply stand squarely to the bar and look directly at the bartender as they work. It is known as “bidding for attention”.

Bartenders have a much higher awareness of their surroundings than you’d realise. We know you’d like to order a drink but we are currently occupied preparing the previous guest’s order. By standing at the bar and looking directly at us you have effectively signalled your desire to place an order, even if we do not seem to have noticed you, we actually did. Competent bartenders will also make mental notes of who came first, and we will serve guests in that order. Of course we are not infallible and may get it wrong sometimes, especially when it’s hella busy. But if you’re still nice to us even when we’ve made a mistake, chances are you are really going to enjoy the rest of your night. 😉

Step 2: The Order

The second most important rule is to know your order before you order.

Too many times have we had to stand there and wait as you turn back to your friends repeatedly to ask for their drink orders. Bars are very fast paced environments and we bartenders pride ourselves on our ability to get as many drinks out to you in the shortest amount of time possible. If you don’t know what you’re ordering yet, don’t waste our time and yours. Also, imagine what other customers are thinking of you as they too have to wait for you to place your order before they get their turn. Be considerate and work out your order beforehand. If you don’t, chances are your bartender will simply say, “Why don’t I get back to you when you’re ready?” and you’ll have to wait yet another round to get your drinks.

Organise your order.

Don’t be the guy who orders like this. “I’ll have a Whiskey Sour, a Martini… Er a Cosmo and errrrr oh right a Whiskey Sour and another Martini and Whiskey Sour as well thanks.” The idea is to make it simple for the barkeep to remember your drink order. Group your drinks together so we can easily recall your order and not have to guess (which we sometimes do admittedly). In addition, when ordering cocktails that could refer to multiple variations or different serving styles, be sure tell the bartender exactly what you want to avoid disappointment. To learn about the various ways you can customize certain specific cocktails (such as a martini or margarita) to your preference, click here.

Essentially, the right way to order those drinks is, “Can I get 3 Whiskey Sours, 2 Dirty Gin Martinis and a Cosmo thanks.”

Step 3: The Payment

If you know you are going to order another round, open a tab.

This benefits both you and the bartender. Leaving your credit card behind the bar is safer than you might think. Most bars these days assign you a number with a physical card or bracelet tag which only you can use to order drinks. Opening a tab saves time for everyone and also prompts bartenders (subconsciously) to provide better service as you are likely to order a good number of drinks.

Tip Well. Especially if you’ve gotten free drinks and/or great service.

This applies for anyone who has done you a service. Working in the service industry I have come to appreciate the hard work that does into good service, and how good service can significantly improve the experience of a drink or a meal. While tipping isn’t conventional in countries that include service charges in their bills, I would encourage tipping anyone who has given you good service. Firstly, the service charge does not go directly to the service worker, but to the company they work for. Secondly, even a small tip can go a long way to encourage them to keep up their excellent service quality. You are telling them that you appreciate their efforts and hope they will continue doing so for others (and yourself the next time you return to that bar). Karma is real people!

Befriend the bartender, but only when they aren’t busy.

All good bartenders know that a large part of their job requires them to keep their guests entertained. We enjoy sharing old bar stories and our knowledge of Mixology. Most of us are people persons (or are trained to be) and will happily strike up a conversation with you if we aren’t busy. A good rule of thumb is, if our hands aren’t moving, you can talk to us. 😀

Thank them.

Once you’ve paid (and hopefully tipped them), thank them for the service. If your cocktail was exceptional, tell them what you liked about it. Everyone wants to be complimented for their work. Bartenders remember their good customers. Maybe they won’t remember you on your first visit, but they will definitely remember you after your next. And befriending the bartender will bode well for you. I guarantee it! 😉

Do share us with your friends if you liked it! 😀