Bartender

About iara
iara is a Brazilian open-kitchen restaurant opening this fall on the Lower East Side, inspired by the Amazon. Chef Vitor Mendes, a 2025 StarChefs Rising Star and the opening Chef de Cuisine of Theodora, is opening his first restaurant at 205 Allen Street and putting the team together now. 50 seats, one open kitchen, and a menu you won't find anywhere else. iara is New York's only table in the Amazon.

The Role
The bar carries the same idea as the kitchen, ingredient-led, Brazilian at heart, and dialed in. We want a bartender who's excited to build the program from scratch, not just pour someone else's menu. You'll own the whole beverage program, cocktails and wine alike, and help shape what a night at iara tastes like.

Responsibilities
- Develop and execute the cocktail and wine program in collaboration with Vitor and the team
- Curate and manage the wine list alongside Vitor
- Deliver iara's full beverage experience, from cocktails and wine to NA options, aperitivos, and digestivos
- Pour to spec with speed and consistency through a busy service
- Set the tone at the bar and turn first-timers into regulars
- Manage bar inventory, ordering, and weekly reconciliation
- Open, close, and keep the bar clean to health standards
- Handle POS, tabs, and cash accurately
- Uphold TIPS certification; manage alcohol service responsibly

What We're Looking For
- 2+ years bartending at a fine-casual or cocktail-forward NYC restaurant or bar
- Confident on POS (we run Toast)
- TIPS certification (or willingness to obtain before start date)
- Analytical and organized, with the composure to read and solve fast-changing situations under pressure
- Interest in South American spirits, cachaca, and ingredient-forward programs
- Holds our operating and training standards consistently, service after service
- Open availability across nights, weekends, and holidays, as business needs require
- Comfortable on your feet for long stretches, with the ability to bend, kneel, reach, and take stairs throughout service
- Able to lift, carry, push, or pull objects of up to 50 lbs as the job requires

Compensation & Benefits
- $15/hr cash + tip pool
- A hand in building the opening beverage program, cocktails and wine
- Health insurance plan offered
- Paid time off
- Staff meal every shift plus an employee dining discount

To apply: Email View email address on culinaryagents.com with your resume and a short note on why iara. Subject line: Bartender

iara is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to an inclusive workplace where every member of the team belongs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States, and reasonable accommodations are available for the hiring process and the essential functions of the role.