A friend of mine is interested in possibly relocating to Philly. He is a mature/experienced bartender, currently working & living in NYC.

How & where would people suggest he look for good bartending positions in Philly?

PS Note he doesn't drive, so he'd be looking to live & work in Center City, and/or the immediate surrounding areas.

Thanks in advance for any/all suggestions!!

No offense, but tell your friend not to hold his breath.

Getting a good paying service industry job (waiter, bartender) in CC is next to impossible. It boils down to two things, right place right time, and who you know. Getting a server spot is a LITTLE easier. But since the good money is in bartending, Restaurants RARELY have to hire from outside. Somebody always wants that spot. Bars, especially neighborhood bars (N. Liberties, Old City, et al) are usually pretty clique-ish, because the money is so good, no one ever leaves.
Unless you're a friend of a friend, it's not gonna happen.

I don't know if I'd be that negative about it. If your friend is extremely good looking, or really has an amazing personality--along with mad mixing skills, he may find work. I have some friends who have found jobs. They are all super attractive, and super fast bartenders, which helps. I'm not sure that they would have been hired if they weren't hot, though.

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Drown the fishes.

This isn't true. It's easy to get server and bartender jobs at chain restaurants, especially if you're experienced. But (s)he is right about the independent places - it's who you know. The owner and manager have to either know you, or someone they trust has to know you. It's too easy to be ripped off in the bar business. Trust is the number 1 thing. I work in a bar part time in a bar, and the position was just offered to me out of the blue b/c I knew the staff and owners b/c I hung out there. The owners have never hired anyone who 1) they didn't know, or 2) didn't come highly recommended by another staff member. Even bouncers and cooks are known b/c they have to be trusted. There's too much liability and it's too easy to steal.

It's such a name game that I've actually had 2 different establishments blindely offer me positions just b/c of people I know.

Lolly, if you know someone, whether they be a server or a manager or bartender, etc., that will go a LONG way, moreso than in any other field of employment that I know of. Bartending jobs at Good Dog-Fergie's-McGlinchie's, Monks-N 3rd-Royal Tavern type places are extremely hard to get, but he way be able to land a server job. If not, recommend he take a bartending job at a chain like Fox & Hound or Applebees and get his face known in the business by hanging out at places where he'd like to get a job. Once he gets his face out there, it'll be a lot easier.

Try Craig's List...my friend found a bartending job there, but it was for the Northeast/Bensalem area.

Does your friend work in a well established place in NYC? If he does, then he could probably start his job search with the contacts he has there. There's a good chance someone he already works with or works for has some ties to places in Philadelphia. Either through friends or previous jobs they could possibly get him in the right directions to find something here.

Thanks Folks. Sounds like he needs to stay put for now at least & keep himself focused on NYC.

He is still looking for a change of venue though, so if anyone has any "inside poop" on any bartending job leads in midtown Manhattan or in/near Astoria (Queens), let me know!

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