What does a Cocktail Server do?
A cocktail server's responsibilities revolve around taking orders and serving drinks in a restaurant or similar establishment, ensuring accuracy and customer satisfaction. Aside from this, a cocktail server may have to process payments, clean tables, and even offer suggestions when necessary. They also have to be alert for any signs of disruptive behavior from intoxicated to underage customers. Furthermore, it is essential to communicate and coordinate with the bartender and other kitchen staff to ensure that every patron gets their order, especially on days when there's a high customer presence.
Cocktail server responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real cocktail server resumes:
- Ensure club cleanliness and provide amazing customer service to every individual.
- Experience handling money and using a cash register, as well as the micros systems.
- Take customers' orders and input into POS, run food, bus tables, help other servers as needed.
- Provide a fun, safe and friendly atmosphere for customers, while providing excellent service serving cocktails, wine and beer.
- Greet guests, take orders, correctly enter food and beverages into POS terminal, and ensure efficient delivery of both.
- Fluctuate between all shifts and floors, assist in bartending, and becoming a top selling server within a few months.
- Perfect proper bartending technique and etiquette.
- Verify micros receipt to ensure accuracy.
- Leverage wine, spirits and cocktail expertise to make knowledge-base recommendations to patrons.
- Develop relationships with customers easily and maintain the cleanliness of the establishment during downtime.
- Participate in a solid, team-orient environment, with leadership responsibilities including training, development, team building and supervision.
- Recognize for consistent leadership skills and ability to maintain a positive and efficient team environment while maintaining high productivity and sales.
- Arrange, prepare and break down the buffets and food displays while maintaining the uppermost level of hygienic standards.
- Take out dirty trays to the dish washing area and return with clean equipment to re-fill buffets and side stations.
- Coordinate setup and execution of grand opening event, including training of new bartenders while learning new operational procedures.
Cocktail server skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Cocktail Servers are proficient in Wine, Cash Handling, and Beverage Orders. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Communication skills, and Customer-service skills.
We break down the percentage of Cocktail Servers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Wine, 13%
Leveraged wine, spirits and cocktail expertise to make knowledge-based recommendations to patrons.
- Cash Handling, 7%
Displayed excellent cash handling skills and register responsibilities.
- Beverage Orders, 6%
Circulate throughout assigned workstations on a continuous basis, receiving and delivering beverage orders.
- Cleanliness, 6%
Developed relationships with customers easily and maintained the cleanliness of the establishment during downtime.
- Guest Satisfaction, 6%
Thrived in a fast-paced environment while demonstrating proficiency in time management, multitasking, and increased guest satisfaction.
- Customer Service, 5%
Delivered outstanding customer service during preparation and delivery of drinks while working effectively in an extremely high volume environment.
Most cocktail servers use their skills in "wine," "cash handling," and "beverage orders" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential cocktail server responsibilities here:
Detail oriented. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a cocktail server to have is detail oriented. Their role and responsibilities require that "waiters and waitresses must record customers’ orders accurately." Cocktail servers often use detail oriented in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "give the guests a detailed description of the food available to the party along with taking drink orders. "
Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling cocktail server duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "waiters and waitresses must listen to customers, ask questions as needed, and relay information to the kitchen staff so that orders are prepared to the customers’ satisfaction." According to a cocktail server resume, here's how cocktail servers can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "assisted in sales of bottle service based on communication with clients. "
Customer-service skills. cocktail servers are also known for customer-service skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to cocktail server responsibilities, because "waiters and waitresses are frontline workers for their restaurant." A cocktail server resume example shows how customer-service skills is used in the workplace: "created an experience for guests through exhibiting guest indulgence, superior menu knowledge, and a polished service style. "
Physical stamina. For certain cocktail server responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "physical stamina." The day-to-day duties of a cocktail server rely on this skill, as "waiters and waitresses spend most of their work hours standing or walking and carrying trays, dishes, and drinks." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what cocktail servers do: "fast-paced, busy, high volume and maintain physical stamina. "
Physical strength. Another common skill required for cocktail server responsibilities is "physical strength." This skill comes up in the duties of cocktail servers all the time, as "waiters and waitresses need to be able to lift and carry trays of food or other items." An excerpt from a real cocktail server resume shows how this skill is central to what a cocktail server does: "maintain cleanliness of work areas, china, glass, etc present physical and accurate check to guest and process payment. "
The three companies that hire the most cocktail servers are:
- Bloomin' Brands57 cocktail servers jobs
- Live Nation Entertainment57 cocktail servers jobs
- Brinker International50 cocktail servers jobs
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Compare different cocktail servers
Cocktail server vs. Waitress
Waitresses are responsible for ensuring that guests are given proper attention during their visit to the restaurant. They guide guests to their table, provide menu boards, answer any questions the guests may have, take the guests' order, and communicate the order to the kitchen. Once the order is ready, waitresses collect the food from the kitchen and serve it to the guests. They then give guests time to finish their meal. Upon the guests' request, waitresses bring them their bill and wait for them to finish paying up. Once the guests leave, waitresses are responsible for ensuring that the table is ready for the next guests.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, cocktail server responsibilities require skills like "wine," "cash handling," "cleanliness," and "guest service." Meanwhile a typical waitress has skills in areas such as "food preparation," "waiter," "clean tables," and "alcoholic beverages." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Waitresses really shine in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $25,414. Comparatively, cocktail servers tend to make the most money in the media industry with an average salary of $25,620.The education levels that waitresses earn slightly differ from cocktail servers. In particular, waitresses are 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a cocktail server. Additionally, they're 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Cocktail server vs. Server and hostess
A server and hostess is an employee who plays the dual role of both a hostess and a server. As implied by this, a server and hostess is in-charge of welcoming guests as they enter the restaurant, ensuring that the guests' tables are ready before leading them to their assigned tables, handing over the menu, and waiting for the guests to finalize their order. Once the guests are ready to order, the server and hostess takes on the server role by bringing the guests' order to the kitchen, waiting for the food to be ready, and bringing the food to the guests' table.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, cocktail server responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "wine," "cash handling," "cleanliness," and "guest service." Meanwhile, a server and hostess has duties that require skills in areas such as "food preparation," "to-go orders," "seat guests," and "bus tables." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Server and hostesses earn a higher average salary than cocktail servers. But server and hostesses earn the highest pay in the hospitality industry, with an average salary of $26,585. Additionally, cocktail servers earn the highest salaries in the media with average pay of $25,620 annually.In general, server and hostesses achieve similar levels of education than cocktail servers. They're 0.3% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Cocktail server vs. Server/barista
A server/barista is someone who makes and serves beverages and foods, such as coffee, tea, and sandwiches or baked goods. He/She or she should be able to explain menu items to customers to ensure customer satisfaction. Other responsibilities include knowing food and beverage quality controls and updating displays to attract customers. The core skills that a server/barista should possess include excellent listening and communication skills and the ability to cope up with a physically demanding work environment. A candidate with a high school diploma or equivalent could qualify for the position.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from cocktail server resumes include skills like "cash handling," "guest service," "beverage service," and "bars," whereas a server/barista is more likely to list skills in "multitasking," "presentation standards," "bistro," and "food preparation. "
When it comes to education, server/baristas tend to earn similar degree levels compared to cocktail servers. In fact, they're 0.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Cocktail server vs. Customer service and serving
Even though a few skill sets overlap between cocktail servers and customer service and servings, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a cocktail server might have more use for skills like "wine," "cash handling," "cleanliness," and "guest service." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of customer service and servings require skills like "strong customer service," "food preparation," "alcoholic beverages," and "professional attitude. "
In general, customer service and servings hold similar degree levels compared to cocktail servers. Customer service and servings are 1.2% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of cocktail server
Updated January 8, 2025
