Head Bartender - Blu Bar

Shangri-La Hotels; Sydney; On-site; AUD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay rates

Complimentary duty meals every shift

Employee discounts across Shangri-La

Job summary

The Shangri-La Sydney, located in The Rocks, seeks a Head Bartender for Blu Bar to lead the bar team and deliver exceptional beverage service in a luxury five-star hotel. You will guide cocktail offerings, train staff, and maintain high standards of service and guest engagement across outlets.

As a key ambassador for hospitality excellence, you will manage floor leadership, guest interactions, and beverage operations during both regular and peak periods, ensuring a polished, memorable experience

Qualifications

• Experience in a quality hotel, restaurant or cocktail bar.
• Strong knowledge of cocktails, spirits, wines and beers.
• Experience with POS systems and cash handling.
• Flexibility to work a rotating roster, including evenings, weekends and public holidays.
• Luxury hotel/hospitality experience is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the bar team during service and ensure consistently high guest service.
• Welcome guests in a warm, professional manner and prepare/serve cocktails, wines, spirits and other beverages to hotel standards.
• Maintain knowledge of cocktail recipes, techniques, and beverage offerings.
• Provide recommendations to guests based on preferences.
• Support development and implementation of cocktail and beverage menus when required.
• Complete opening and closing procedures accurately and efficiently.
• Assist with cash handling, POS operations and reconciliation as required.

Skills

Cocktail & beverage knowledge

POS systems experience

Cash handling

Beverage stock control

Team leadership

Tools

POS systems

Job description

Head Bartender - Blu Bar

Shangri-La Sydney | The Rocks, Sydney NSW | Full-Time

Three reasons to consider this opportunity

• Lead the bar experience and be a key ambassador for exceptional service, quality and hospitality at one of Sydney’s leading luxury hotels.
• Work in a luxury five-star environment, collaborating closely with the Food & Beverage, Restaurant, Events and Front Office teams to deliver memorable guest experiences.
• Build your hospitality leadership career with Shangri-La Sydney, developing your skills in beverage operations, team leadership, guest engagement and luxury hotel service.

About the role

As a Head Bartender, you will play a key role in delivering an exceptional beverage experience for guests across the hotel's bar and food and beverage outlets.

Working closely with the Food & Beverage management team, bartenders, waitstaff and other hotel departments, you will be responsible for maintaining high standards of beverage quality, service, presentation and guest engagement.

You will lead by example on the floor, support and develop the bar team, and ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the bar during both regular and high-volume service periods.

This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about hospitality, confident in leading a team, knowledgeable about cocktails and beverages, and committed to delivering a consistently polished and personalised guest experience.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the bar team during service and ensuring a consistently high standard of guest service.
• Welcoming guests in a warm, professional and engaging manner.
  Preparing and serving cocktails, wines, spirits, beers, non-alcoholic beverages and other drinks to hotel standards.
• Maintaining strong knowledge of cocktail recipes, classic and contemporary techniques, spirits, wines, beers and beverage offerings.
• Providing knowledgeable recommendations to guests based on their preferences.
• Supporting the development and implementation of cocktail and beverage menus when required.
• Completing opening and closing procedures accurately and efficiently.
• Assisting with cash handling, POS operations and reconciliation as required.

What We're Looking For

• Previous experience as a Bartender, Senior Bartender, Bar Supervisor, Assistant Bar Manager or similar role in a quality hotel, restaurant or cocktail bar.
• Strong knowledge of cocktails, spirits, wines, beers and beverage service.
• Experience with POS systems, cash handling and beverage stock control.
• Flexibility to work a rotating roster, including evenings, weekends and public holidays.
• Previous luxury hotel or high-end hospitality experience is highly desirable.

Why Join Shangri-La Sydney?

• Competitive HIGA rates + penalty rates + 12% Super
• Complimentary duty meals every shift
• Work in a luxury five-star hotel in the heart of The Rocks
• Lead and develop a professional bar team
• Access employee discounts across Shangri-La hotels and resorts worldwide