Barback

The Huntley Hotel; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

The Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica seeks a dedicated Barback to support our bartending team in delivering an exceptional beverage experience within our luxury hotel restaurant. The Barback helps maintain bar efficiency, cleanliness, organization, and presentation, ensuring bartenders have everything they need for seamless service.

Ideal candidates are proactive, organized, professional, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, high-standard hospitality environment.

Qualifications

• Previous barback, restaurant, hotel, or hospitality experience preferred.
• Experience in an upscale or luxury hospitality environment is a plus.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced setting.
• Excellent communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to anticipate needs, take initiative, and work with minimal supervision.
• Professional appearance, positive attitude, and a strong sense of accountability.
• Willingness to learn beverage products, bar procedures, and service standards.
• Availability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and varying shifts as business requires.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and safely lift and carry supplies, kegs, ice, and cases of beverages, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must meet applicable local requirements for alcohol service and food handling.

Responsibilities

• Bar Operations & Support: Assist bartenders with daily service needs, ensuring the bar is consistently stocked, organized, and prepared for service.
• Inventory & Restocking: Maintain appropriate levels of liquor, wine, beer, mixers, garnishes, glassware, ice, and other bar essentials throughout each shift.
• Service Execution: Anticipate the needs of the bartending team and respond promptly to requests to support smooth, efficient service.
• Bar Presentation: Maintain the cleanliness, organization, and polished appearance of the bar, back bar, service stations, and surrounding areas in accordance with luxury hospitality standards.
• Glassware & Equipment: Ensure glassware is clean, polished, and properly stored. Maintain bar tools, equipment, and service supplies in excellent condition.
• Opening & Closing Duties: Complete assigned opening, closing, and side-work duties, including restocking, cleaning, organizing, and preparing the bar for upcoming service.
• Guest Experience: Maintain a professional, discreet, and guest-focused presence while working in guest-facing areas.
• Team Collaboration: Communicate effectively with bartenders, servers, bar management, and other Food & Beverage team members to maintain seamless service.
• Safety & Sanitation: Follow all food safety, sanitation, workplace safety, and responsible alcohol-service policies.
• Operational Awareness: Monitor inventory levels, communicate shortages, assist with deliveries, and help maintain proper storage and rotation of products.
• Attention to Detail: Uphold the hotel's standards for cleanliness, presentation, timing, and service excellence at all times.

Skills

Barback experience

Upscale hospitality

Organization

Communication

Initiative

Professional appearance

Willingness to learn

Evening availability

Physical stamina

Alcohol service compliance

Job description

Position Overview

We are seeking a dedicated, detail-oriented, and service-driven Barback to support our bartending team in delivering an exceptional beverage experience within our luxury hotel restaurant. The Barback plays an essential role in maintaining the efficiency, cleanliness, organization, and presentation of the bar while ensuring bartenders have everything they need to provide seamless, elevated service to our guests.

The ideal candidate is proactive, organized, professional, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, high-standard hospitality environment. A strong work ethic, a sense of urgency, and a commitment to excellence are essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Bar Operations & Support: Assist bartenders with daily service needs, ensuring the bar is consistently stocked, organized, and prepared for service.

• Inventory & Restocking: Maintain appropriate levels of liquor, wine, beer, mixers, garnishes, glassware, ice, and other bar essentials throughout each shift.

• Service Execution: Anticipate the needs of the bartending team and respond promptly to requests to support smooth, efficient service.

• Bar Presentation: Maintain the cleanliness, organization, and polished appearance of the bar, back bar, service stations, and surrounding areas in accordance with luxury hospitality standards.

• Glassware & Equipment: Ensure glassware is clean, polished, and properly stored. Maintain bar tools, equipment, and service supplies in excellent condition.

• Opening & Closing Duties: Complete assigned opening, closing, and side-work duties, including restocking, cleaning, organizing, and preparing the bar for upcoming service.

• Guest Experience: Maintain a professional, discreet, and guest-focused presence while working in guest-facing areas.

• Team Collaboration: Communicate effectively with bartenders, servers, bar management, and other Food & Beverage team members to maintain seamless service.

• Safety & Sanitation: Follow all food safety, sanitation, workplace safety, and responsible alcohol-service policies.

• Operational Awareness: Monitor inventory levels, communicate shortages, assist with deliveries, and help maintain proper storage and rotation of products.

• Attention to Detail: Uphold the hotel's standards for cleanliness, presentation, timing, and service excellence at all times.

Qualifications & Experience

• Previous barback, restaurant, hotel, or hospitality experience preferred.

• Experience in an upscale or luxury hospitality environment is a plus.

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced setting.

• Excellent communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to anticipate needs, take initiative, and work with minimal supervision.

• Professional appearance, positive attitude, and a strong sense of accountability.

• Willingness to learn beverage products, bar procedures, and service standards.

• Availability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and varying shifts as business requires.

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and safely lift and carry supplies, kegs, ice, and cases of beverages, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Must meet applicable local requirements for alcohol service and food handling.