Full-time Fine Dining Bartender in Nashville, Tennessee at The Joseph Hotel - Nashville

The Joseph, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nashville

The Joseph is an expression of modern luxury rooted in art, culture, and the warmth of true hospitality. Situated in the heart of Nashville, it offers a refined escape where thoughtful design, world-class culinary experiences, and meaningful service come together effortlessly.

The Joseph invites guests into a world that feels both elevated and deeply personal. From curated art collections and immersive dining to serene guestrooms and intimate gathering spaces, every detail is designed to create an experience of Nashville at its most refined.

Department: Food & Beverage
Employment Type: Full-Time
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, Hourly
Schedule: Flexible availability required, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events

At The Joseph, the bar is more than a place to enjoy a drink—it is a stage for craftsmanship, conversation, discovery, and genuine hospitality.

As a Fine-Dining Bartender, you are a student of your craft. You understand that an exceptional cocktail is built on more than a recipe: it requires technique, precision, quality ingredients, presentation, balance, and an appreciation for the story behind what is being served.

We are seeking a bartender who is passionate about continually honing their craft—someone who wants to deepen their knowledge of spirits, wine, cocktails, ingredients, techniques, and hospitality. You should take pride in creating an exceptional beverage while understanding that the most important ingredient is the experience you create for the person sitting in front of you.

This is an opportunity for a hospitality professional who wants to practice their craft at an elevated level while delivering the sophisticated, personalized service expected of The Luxury Collection, Marriott, and Forbes Travel Guide.

• 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.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of proper bartending techniques, measurements, glassware, garnishes, temperature, dilution, and balance.
• Continuously develop your knowledge of spirits, wine, beer, cocktails, ingredients, producers, regions, and emerging beverage trends.
• Understand the history and composition of classic cocktails and confidently execute them to a high standard.
• Learn the stories, ingredients, inspiration, and techniques behind The Joseph’s beverage offerings and communicate them naturally to guests.
• Provide thoughtful cocktail, wine, spirit, and food pairing recommendations based on individual guest preferences.
• Engage guests in conversation to understand their tastes and create personalized recommendations rather than simply taking an order.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of food menus, ingredients, preparation methods, daily features, and dietary considerations.
• 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.
• Prepare the bar before service and maintain exceptional organization, cleanliness, and presentation throughout the shift.
• Maintain appropriate levels of spirits, wine, beer, mixers, garnishes, glassware, and bar supplies.
• Properly rotate, store, label, and handle beverage products and ingredients.
• 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 to ensure seamless service.
• Handle guest concerns with professionalism, discretion, and ownership while involving leadership when appropriate.
• Follow all responsible alcohol-service requirements and verify identification when required.
• Maintain proper cash handling, payment, and closing procedures.
• Consistently demonstrate Forbes Travel Guide service standards and Marriott brand standards.
• Complete opening, closing, cleaning, stocking, and side-work responsibilities.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by Food & Beverage leadership.

We are looking for more than someone who knows how to make drinks. We want someone who is genuinely curious about the craft of bartending and motivated to become better at it.

The ideal bartender:

• Studies spirits, cocktails, wine, ingredients, and technique beyond what is required for the shift.
• Understands that consistency and precision are hallmarks of a true professional.
• Appreciates the history and tradition behind classic cocktails while remaining curious about modern techniques and innovation.
• Tastes thoughtfully, asks questions, accepts coaching, and seeks feedback.
• Understands how temperature, dilution, texture, aroma, glassware, ice, and presentation influence the final experience.
• Takes pride in mise en place and believes the organization of the bar is a reflection of the bartender behind it.
• Enjoys sharing knowledge with teammates and learning from other beverage and culinary professionals.
• Continually works to refine both technical skill and the art of hospitality.
• Understands that becoming exceptional at this craft is an ongoing pursuit.

• 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 continually expand beverage knowledge.
• Passion for hospitality and creating meaningful guest connections.
• Ability to provide recommendations confidently without making the experience feel pretentious or intimidating.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to consistency.
• Warm, polished, and professional communication skills.
• Ability to read guest cues and adapt your service style accordingly.
• Ability to work efficiently during high-volume periods without sacrificing craftsmanship or 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.

At The Joseph and Makeready, taking care of our team is an important part of how we take care of our guests. Eligible hourly team members have access to medical, dental and vision insurance; life and AD&D insurance; short- and long-term disability coverage; voluntary hospital, accident and illness plans; and an optional legal plan.

Additional benefits and assistance programs include:

• 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

Benefit eligibility, enrollment requirements, PTO usage, company contributions, and other program terms are subject to applicable Makeready plan documents and guidelines.

At The Joseph, we believe mastery comes from curiosity, discipline, repetition, and a genuine desire to improve.

For the right bartender, this is more than a place to work a shift. It is an environment where you can hone your craft, deepen your beverage knowledge, learn alongside talented hospitality and culinary professionals, and continue developing the technical and interpersonal skills that distinguish an exceptional bartender.

We seek individuals with a hospitality heart who take pride in the details, respect their craft, support their teammates, and understand that the best bartenders are remembered not only for what they poured—but for how they made their guests feel.

Makeready LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and team members without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

We believe diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences strengthen our teams and enhance the hospitality we provide to our guests.