Fine-Dining Bartender

At The Joseph Hotel - Nashville, you will build elevated, personalized bar and dining hospitality in a setting guided by Forbes Travel Guide service standards and Marriott brand expectations. This full-time Food & Beverage role is ideal for a bartender who enjoys craftsmanship, thoughtful recommendations, and creating memorable moments for guests.

What you will deliver

• Welcome each guest with genuine warmth and create an engaging, personalized bar and dining experience.
• Prepare and serve classic, contemporary, and signature cocktails with consistency, precision, and attention to presentation.
• Use proper bartending techniques with accuracy across measurements, glassware, garnishes, temperature, dilution, and balance.
• Develop and maintain detailed knowledge of spirits, wine, beer, cocktails, ingredients, producers, regions, and emerging beverage trends.
• Execute classic cocktails to a high standard, understanding their history and composition.
• Share The Joseph’s beverage stories, ingredients, inspiration, and techniques naturally with guests.
• Recommend cocktails, wine, spirits, and food pairings based on individual guest preferences, supported by strong menu knowledge.
• Engage guests in conversation to understand tastes and move beyond simply taking an order.
• Anticipate guest needs and read guest cues to provide attentive service without being intrusive.
• Recognize opportunities to create memorable moments for VIPs, repeat guests, celebrations, and special occasions.

Bar operations and teamwork

• Prepare the bar before service, maintaining exceptional organization, cleanliness, and presentation throughout the shift.
• Maintain appropriate levels of spirits, wine, beer, mixers, garnishes, glassware, and bar supplies.
• Rotate, store, label, and handle beverage products and ingredients properly.
• Monitor inventory and communicate product or supply needs to leadership.
• Take accurate food and beverage orders and enter transactions correctly into the point-of-sale system.
• Coordinate closely with servers, server assistants, hosts, culinary team members, and leadership for seamless service.
• Handle guest concerns with professionalism, discretion, and ownership, involving leadership when appropriate.
• Complete opening, closing, cleaning, stocking, and side-work responsibilities, plus additional tasks as assigned.

Service standards and compliance

• Consistently demonstrate Forbes Travel Guide service standards and Marriott brand standards.
• Follow responsible alcohol-service requirements and verify identification when required.
• Maintain proper cash handling, payment, and closing procedures.

What you bring

• Previous fine-dining, craft cocktail, luxury hotel, or upscale bartending experience strongly preferred.
• Experience in a Forbes-rated, luxury, or high-end restaurant environment is highly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of classic cocktails and proper bartending techniques.
• Knowledge of premium and luxury spirits, including whiskey, bourbon, Scotch, tequila, mezcal, rum, gin, vodka, brandy, and liqueurs.
• Working knowledge of wine, Champagne, beer, and food-and-beverage pairings.
• Genuine curiosity and a desire to continuously expand beverage knowledge.
• Passion for hospitality and creating meaningful guest connections.
• Ability to confidently recommend items without making the experience pretentious or intimidating.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to consistency.
• Warm, polished, and professional communication skills.
• Ability to read guest cues, adapt service style, and work efficiently during high-volume periods while maintaining craftsmanship and hospitality.
• Strong sense of urgency while maintaining composure and precision.
• Team-oriented attitude and respect for both front- and back-of-house colleagues.
• Dependable, punctual, and committed to maintaining The Joseph’s standards of excellence.
• Flexible availability, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and safely lift, carry, and move beverage products and bar supplies.
• Must meet all applicable requirements for serving alcoholic beverages.

Schedule and role details

• Department: Food & Beverage
• Employment Type: Full-Time
• FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, Hourly
• Location: Nashville, TN (onsite)
• Schedule: Flexible availability required, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events

Benefits and support

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Life and AD&D insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Voluntary hospital, accident and illness plans
• Optional legal plan
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Paid Maternity & Paternity Leave
• Childcare Assistance Match - up to $100 per month per child or eligible disabled spouse or parent
• Student Loan Repayment Assistance - up to $150 per month
• SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program
• Opportunity to earn up to four weeks of PTO within your first year
• Additional Birthday PTO
• Annual Volunteer PTO
• Hotel, Restaurant, Spa & Retail Discounts at Makeready Collection and ZaZa properties
• Team Member Referral Bonuses
• Birthday & Anniversary Recognition
• Wellness Initiatives
• Culture Council participation
• Recognition programs with rewards
• Pet Insurance available for purchase

Hone your craft

• Study spirits, cocktails, wine, ingredients, and technique beyond what is required for the shift.
• Understand that consistency and precision are hallmarks of a true professional.
• Appreciate the history and tradition behind classic cocktails while staying curious about modern techniques and innovation.
• Taste thoughtfully, ask questions, accept coaching, and seek feedback.
• Focus on how temperature, dilution, texture, aroma, glassware, ice, and presentation influence the final experience.
• Take pride in mise en place and believe bar organization reflects bartender standards.
• Share knowledge with teammates and learn from other beverage and culinary professionals.
• Refine both technical skill and the art of hospitality as an ongoing pursuit.