Mobile bar service: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What mobile bar service is

A mobile bar provider brings a portable bar, bartenders and drink supplies to your venue, with signature cocktails and service for guests. Hosts hire one when the venue has no bar or when they want a themed bar that moves through the event.

Signs you need it

  • The venue has no bar and you need a full drink service for the guests
  • You want a themed bar with signature cocktails made for your event
  • The event is outdoors or in a space where a portable bar is easier to set up
  • You want a bar that can be moved to a second area, such as a patio or a tent
  • You want the bar, the bartenders and the supplies handled by one company

What the pro does

  • Takes the guest count, the drink menu, the bar hours and the venue layout
  • Checks the venue's rules for bars, alcohol service and any power needs
  • Delivers and sets up the portable bar with ice, glassware and garnishes
  • Staffs the bar with trained bartenders who check IDs and serve the drinks
  • Restocks the bar during the event and keeps the line moving
  • Breaks down the bar, returns the rental equipment and clears the area

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Number of bartenders and the hours of service
  • Bar type, size and whether it needs power or a specialty setup
  • Signature cocktails, premium spirits and the number of drinks on the menu
  • Glassware, ice, garnishes and mixers supplied by the company
  • Travel distance and setup time
  • Whether the venue charges for the bar space or the power it uses

What a written quote should spell out

  • Bar type and size, and whether the setup includes power
  • Number of bartenders and their hours, including setup and breakdown
  • The drink menu, with the signature cocktails and non alcoholic options
  • Glassware, ice, garnishes and mixers supplied
  • Who holds the alcohol license or permit, and who checks IDs

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Who holds the license or permit for alcohol service at this event?
  • What power and space does the portable bar need?
  • Can you make signature cocktails and a non alcoholic menu?
  • How do you check IDs and handle guests who have had too much?
  • How will the bar be restocked during the event?
  • Do you carry liability insurance that covers alcohol service?

Red flags

  • Says the license is not needed without checking the rules for the event
  • Cannot say what power or space the bar needs
  • Has no plan for ID checks or cutting off guests
  • Offers no non alcoholic drinks
  • Will not share the insurance certificate

What you can do yourself

A host can set up a simple drink table with a few bottles, ice and a non alcoholic option, keeping the alcohol out of reach of children and checking the rules before serving. Serving alcohol commonly needs a license or permit. Hire a mobile bar service for a full bar, trained bartenders, signature cocktails, or a bar that must be set up and run without the host.

Licenses and permits

Alcohol service commonly needs a license or permit, and the rules vary by place. Confirm who holds the license for the event, whether the mobile bar's own permit covers the location, and whether the bartenders need their own training or card. If food is served as well, food businesses commonly need a health permit or a food handler card from the local office that oversees food safety.

Mobile bar service questions

Does a mobile bar need its own permit?

It depends on the place. Alcohol service commonly needs a license or permit, and a mobile bar may need one for each location it serves. Check with the local office that oversees alcohol service before the event.

Do we need power for the bar?

Some setups need power for coolers, lights or blenders. Ask the company what it needs and confirm the outlet and the cord route with the venue.

Can the bar serve a non alcoholic menu?

Yes. Ask the company to include a non alcoholic menu, and keep it separate from the alcohol so guests can find it easily.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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