Lead Bartender

Morning Lead Bartender — Monday–Friday

We’re looking for a dependable, organized, and proactive Morning Lead Bartender to take ownership of our weekday morning bar at Friedman’s, located inside the Edison Hotel in Times Square .

Schedule: Monday–Friday, 6:00 AM–2:00 PM Starting Pay: $15/hour + tips, with the opportunity for an increased hourly rate after demonstrating consistency, reliability, and success in the position.

This position is responsible for independently running our 27-seat bar during breakfast and lunch service. We receive a high volume of hotel and restaurant guests, so we’re looking for someone who is comfortable working solo, can provide warm and efficient service, and takes real ownership of the condition of the bar.

This is a lead bartender position, not a management position . You will not be responsible for scheduling, disciplining, or directly managing other employees. The “lead” responsibility is focused on maintaining the cleanliness, organization, prep, stocking, consistency, and overall standards of the bar and communicating closely with the Bar Manager and PM bartending team.

Responsibilities include:

• Independently taking care of guests at a 27-seat bar during breakfast and lunch service
• Preparing alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages accurately and efficiently
• Setting up the bar and ensuring it is fully stocked and service-ready each morning
• Maintaining a clean, organized, and professional bar throughout the shift
• Using slower periods proactively for cleaning, stocking, prep, and organization
• Preparing cocktail batches and other bar prep consistently and according to recipe specs
• Consolidating/marrying bottles and maintaining clean, organized liquor storage
• Monitoring product levels, maintaining appropriate pars, and identifying items that need to be ordered or restocked
• Completing weekly beverage inventory
• Communicating clearly with the PM bartending team about low-stock items, 86’d products, completed prep, batches, and anything else that may affect evening service
• Making sure the PM team is walking into a clean, stocked, organized, and properly prepped bar
• Helping maintain consistent bar standards from shift to shift
• Communicating recurring issues, product needs, maintenance concerns, or standards that are not being met to the Bar Manager
• Working closely with the Bar Manager to keep the beverage program organized, consistent, and running smoothly

Because morning service includes periods of downtime, this position requires someone who is self-directed and proactive . Slower periods are expected to be used for cleaning, prep, stocking, organization, inventory-related tasks, and maintaining the bar.

Ideal candidate:

• Has previous bartending experience, preferably in a high-volume restaurant or hotel environment
• Is dependable and consistently punctual for a 6:00 AM start
• Is comfortable independently running a full bar
• Has strong guest-service and hospitality skills
• Is extremely organized, clean, and detail-oriented
• Takes initiative and notices what needs to be done without constant direction
• Understands the importance of consistent recipes, prep, pars, and bar organization
• Communicates well with both AM and PM teams
• Is comfortable helping uphold established bar standards without acting as a manager
• Is interested in taking ownership of a bar program and working closely with the Bar Manager
• Spanish-speaking is a plus

This is a consistent Monday–Friday daytime position , with potential opportunities to pick up additional shifts in the future.

We’re looking for someone who takes pride in their bar, stays productive during slower periods, and wants to become a reliable long-term part of the team. As the right person demonstrates that they can consistently maintain the bar, meet our standards, communicate well with the team, and succeed in the position, there is opportunity to grow into a higher hourly rate.