Countless times I have wondered, what should a good bar offer. The answer has many aspects, but I will focus only on what a bartender has to offer.

The bartender is the soul and the mirror of a bar. Today I'm going to stand in a principal that many bartenders have it by nature and others have to cultivate it: Hospitality

I have visited a large number of bars through the last years and I will not lie, but the general feeling I got was pretty average in matter of treating the client. And I certainly cannot blame the bartenders for this, but that is another topic we will discuss in some other article.

So let's talk about the "host side" of the bartender in some simple steps, keeping in mind that clients are not your friends.

The main thing you have to achieve as a bartender, is to make your clients feel comfortable. Make them feel like they are on a familiar space. Try to start a small talk when they arrive besides from a simple greeting. Moreover, focus on keeping their glasses full of water -even if they are about to leave soon- and change their napkins over time, so you get another small time frame to ask them if they enjoyed their drink and if everything is ok, but keep everything in moderation. You do not want to get too familiar, or it could have undesired effects. Also bare in mind that you are working so do not focus on large conversations in expense of your work. A retired bartender once told me "treat the clients as you would treat a guest in your home and he will be your client forever". Furthermore it is really important to farewell and thank them for coming in the establishment you work at. After all they are the main source of your income and you would like them to have a good time and come again.