Bartender

Southbound Restaurant

Position: Bartender
Reports To: General Manager / Restaurant Management Team
Employment Type: Full-Time / Part-Time
Location: Charleston, SC

Position Summary

Southbound is seeking experienced, hospitality-focused Bartenders to join our team. Our restaurant is built around warm, polished service, thoughtful food and beverage knowledge, and a guest experience that feels both elevated and welcoming.

Bartenders are responsible for creating a memorable bar experience through professional service, strong beverage knowledge, consistency, cleanliness, and genuine hospitality. This role requires the ability to execute cocktails with precision, guide guests through wine, beer, spirits, and food offerings, and maintain composure in a fast-paced, upscale restaurant environment.

The ideal candidate is personable, organized, detail-oriented, and passionate about cocktails, wine, spirits, food, and creating memorable guest experiences.

Key Responsibilities

Greet guests warmly and provide attentive, polished service at the bar and bar-area tables when applicable.

Prepare cocktails, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages according to restaurant recipes, standards, and presentation guidelines.

Demonstrate strong knowledge of classic cocktails, spirits, wine, beer, seasonal ingredients, and the restaurant’s food menu.

Guide guests through beverage selections and confidently suggest pairings with menu items.

Accurately take orders and enter them into the POS system.

Maintain proper pacing of the guest experience, including drinks, food orders, dessert, and after-dinner beverages.

Prepare service bar drinks accurately and efficiently for dining room guests.

Communicate clearly with servers, food runners, hosts, managers, and the kitchen team.

Anticipate guest needs and respond promptly to requests.

Monitor guest alcohol consumption and follow all responsible alcohol service guidelines.

Handle guest concerns with professionalism and involve management when appropriate.

Maintain a clean, organized, and fully stocked bar throughout service.

Complete opening, running, and closing side work, including restocking, polishing, batching, juicing, and cleaning.

Follow all health, safety, sanitation, and alcohol service regulations.

Support team members during service to ensure a smooth guest experience.

Qualifications

Previous bartending experience required, preferably in an upscale casual, fine dining, steakhouse, cocktail bar, or high-volume restaurant setting.

Strong cocktail, spirits, wine, and food knowledge preferred.

Experience with classic cocktails, seasonal cocktails, and elevated bar service is a plus.

Excellent communication and guest service skills.

Ability to remain calm, professional, and focused during busy service periods.

Must be reliable, punctual, and team-oriented.

Ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time.

Ability to lift and carry cases, kegs, glassware, ice buckets, and service items as needed.

Must meet all state and local requirements for alcohol service.

Ideal Candidate

A successful Southbound Bartender is polished without being stiff, confident without being scripted, and genuinely enjoys hospitality. They understand that great bar service is about more than making drinks — it is about reading guests, creating trust, maintaining consistency, and making each guest feel taken care of.

Compensation

Competitive hourly wage plus tips. Compensation is based on experience and availability.

Schedule

Evening, weekend, and holiday availability is required. Full-time and part-time positions may be available.

About Southbound

Southbound is a Charleston restaurant centered around live-fire cooking, seasonal ingredients, and warm Southern hospitality. Set in a historic home, the restaurant offers an elevated yet approachable dining experience with a focus on thoughtful service, quality food, beverage, and memorable guest experiences.

Pay: $35.00 - $45.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person