Bartender / Mixologist

Sava; Ann Arbor (MI); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Sava’s in downtown Ann Arbor is seeking an experienced Bartender / Mixologist to join a high-volume restaurant crew. You’ll craft cocktails, provide warm service, and help build memorable experiences for guests in a fast-paced setting.

This role emphasizes hospitality, teamwork, and staying organized during busy shifts, with a focus on consistency, cleanliness, and professional conduct across the bar and dining areas.

Qualifications

• Experience working behind the bar in a high-volume environment.
• Strong knowledge of cocktails, spirits, beer, and wine.
• Genuine passion for hospitality and guest connection.
• Ability to stay organized and efficient during busy service.
• Excellent communication and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve cocktails, wine, beer, and other beverages accurately and efficiently.
• Provide warm, knowledgeable, and engaging service to bar guests.
• Build relationships with regulars and create memorable experiences for new guests.
• Maintain strong knowledge of cocktails, wine, beer, and our menu.
• Complete bar prep, stocking, cleaning, and closing duties.
• Collaborate with servers, managers, and kitchen staff.
• Maintain quality and consistency during slow and peak periods.
• Contribute to a positive, team-first culture.
• Continuously develop bartending and hospitality skills.

Skills

High-volume experience

Hospitality

Teamwork

Cocktail knowledge

Communication

Sense of urgency

Reliability

Professionalism

Physical stamina

Job description

Description

Bartender / Mixologist

Sava’s | Ann Arbor, Michigan

Sava’s is looking for an experienced, energetic Bartender / Mixologist to join our team in downtown Ann Arbor.

We are a high-volume restaurant built around great hospitality, strong teamwork, and creating memorable experiences for our guests. We are looking for bartenders who can do more than make a great cocktail. We want people who genuinely enjoy connecting with guests, take pride in their craft, and understand that a strong bar is built by a strong team.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience working behind the bar in a high-volume restaurant or bar environment
• Strong cocktail, spirits, beer, and wine knowledge
• A genuine passion for hospitality and connecting with guests
• Ability to stay organized, positive, and efficient during high-volume service
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Willingness to jump in and help teammates wherever needed
• Attention to cleanliness, preparation, consistency, and presentation
• Ability to follow recipes and execute cocktails consistently
• Interest in continuing to learn about cocktails, spirits, wine, and hospitality
• Previous serving experience is a plus

What Success Looks Like at Sava’s

Our best bartenders understand that the job is not just about what happens behind the bar.

You are welcoming guests, building relationships, anticipating needs, supporting the service team, maintaining a clean and organized workspace, and helping create the energy of the restaurant.

We move fast, we communicate, and we help each other.

We are looking for someone who can handle volume without sacrificing hospitality, quality, or teamwork.

What You’ll Do

• Prepare and serve cocktails, wine, beer, and other beverages accurately and efficiently
• Provide warm, knowledgeable, and engaging service to bar guests
• Build relationships with regulars and create memorable experiences for new guests
• Maintain strong knowledge of our cocktail, wine, beer, food, and spirits programs
• Complete bar preparation, stocking, cleaning, and closing responsibilities
• Work closely with servers, support staff, managers, and the culinary team
• Maintain quality and consistency during both slower periods and high-volume rushes
• Contribute to a positive, professional, team-first culture
• Continue developing your knowledge and skills as a bartender and hospitality professional

Who Will Thrive Here

You’ll do well at Sava’s if you are someone who loves being busy, enjoys people, takes pride in your work, and believes that great hospitality is a team sport.

We want bartenders who are confident without ego, dependable, curious, coachable, and ready to contribute.

If you love great drinks, high-volume service, connecting with guests, and working alongside a team that wants to continue getting better, we’d love to meet you.

Join Sava’s and help us create exceptional hospitality, one guest and one shift at a time.

Requirements

Job Requirements

To be successful as a Bartender / Mixologist at Sava’s, team members are expected to consistently demonstrate the following:

• Safety First: Follow all food safety, alcohol service, sanitation, and workplace safety standards at all times. Maintain a safe bar environment for guests and team members.
• High-Volume Experience: Ability to work efficiently and accurately in a fast-paced, high-volume restaurant environment.
• Hospitality: Genuinely enjoy connecting with guests, creating memorable experiences, and providing warm, professional service.
• Teamwork: Work as a true teammate. Support bartenders, servers, support staff, hosts, managers, and the culinary team whenever needed.
• Bar Prep: Assist with daily bar preparation, including garnishes, juices, syrups, batching, stocking, and other assigned prep responsibilities.
• Cleaning & Organization: Maintain a clean, organized, and fully stocked bar throughout the entire shift. Cleaning is everyone's responsibility, not just opening or closing side work.
• Product Knowledge: Maintain strong working knowledge of cocktails, spirits, beer, wine, and the Sava’s food menu.
• Consistency: Follow recipes, specifications, portions, and presentation standards every time.
• Communication: Communicate clearly with teammates and leadership, especially during high-volume service.
• Sense of Urgency: Move with purpose and understand how to prioritize tasks during busy periods.
• Reliability: Arrive on time, prepared, in proper uniform, and ready to contribute to the team.
• Professionalism: Maintain a positive attitude, accept coaching, and contribute to a respectful work environment.
• Physical Requirements: Ability to stand for extended periods, move quickly through the restaurant, bend, reach, and safely lift and carry bar supplies, cases, and equipment as needed.
• Serving Experience: Previous serving experience is a plus and can be especially valuable when supporting guests, taking food orders, and understanding full-service restaurant operations.

Our Standard

At Sava’s, bartending is bigger than making drinks.

A great bartender protects the guest experience, keeps the bar safe and clean, helps prep before the rush, supports teammates during the rush, and leaves the bar better than they found it.

Hospitality, safety, teamwork, cleanliness, and preparation are all part of the job.