Bar Manager - Premium Italian Restaurant (Pre-Opening)

We are looking for a creative and commercially minded Bar Manager to lead the beverage programme at a premium contemporary Mediterranean restaurant at Cape Town's V&A Waterfront, on behalf of an international multi-brand hospitality group with South African and Australian roots. The restaurant's positioning is Mediterranean and Italian-influenced with South African soul, and the bar is central to its energy and social occasion. This is a role for someone who can build an on-trend, distinctive drinks offer - cocktails, beer and a serious non-alcoholic list - and then run it as a business. Reporting to the General Manager, you will take full ownership of the bar programme, the bar team and the bar P&L. It combines beverage craft, genuine guest hosting and commercial accountability in equal measure, and it is hands-on: you will be behind the bar during peak service, not watching from the office.

Responsibilities

Beverage programme

• Design and continually evolve the cocktail, beer and non-alcoholic beverage menus.
• Work alongside the wine team to ensure a cohesive overall beverage offering.
• Source and negotiate with suppliers to secure both quality and margin.

Bar operations

• Lead bar service during peak periods, ensuring speed, consistency and presentation standards.
• Manage stock control, wastage and inventory disciplines.
• Ensure full compliance with liquor licensing and responsible-service regulations.

Commercial performance

• Own bar revenue, beverage cost and gross profit targets.
• Analyse sales mix and beverage penetration to identify commercial opportunities.

Team leadership

• Recruit, train and develop bartenders and bar-back staff.
• Build an energetic, guest-focused bar culture aligned with the group's people-first philosophy.

Requirements

• Minimum 3-4 years' experience as a Bar Manager within a busy, premium restaurant environment in South Africa (proven Senior Bartenders ready to step up will also be considered).
• Strong cocktail development and mixology background.
• Demonstrable command of beverage cost and gross profit management.
• Menu engineering and pricing capability.
• Stock control and supplier negotiation experience.
• Team scheduling and productivity management.
• Working knowledge of South African liquor licensing and responsible-service requirements.
• Fluent English.
• A charismatic host with genuine guest-facing energy; creative and commercially disciplined in equal measure comfortable working a busy bar hands-on during service.
• Pre-opening or new-concept launch experience is advantageous.

Benefits

• Salary: ZAR 25,000 - 35,000 gross per month, depending on experience.
• Duty meal provided on shift.
• 30 days annual leave.
• Permanent, full-time position with an expanding international restaurant group.
• Bonus and incentive schemes to be confirmed.
• Further benefits to be confirmed during the recruitment process.

Additional Information

• Working pattern: 6 days per week, including evenings, weekends and public holidays in line with restaurant trade.
• Target start date: 16 September 2026. This is an urgent requirement and applications are being reviewed on receipt.
• Candidates must already hold the unrestricted right to work in South Africa. This role does not offer visa sponsorship or relocation support, and applications requiring either cannot be progressed.
• The role is based in Cape Town; candidates relocating from elsewhere in South Africa are welcome to apply but must be able to relocate at their own arrangement.

Success in this role looks like

• Beverage revenue, cost of sales and gross profit performance against target.
• Positive guest feedback on the bar experience and drinks quality.
• Accurate stock control and controlled wastage.
• Strong bar team retention and development.

Disclaimer

We appreciate your interest in this vacancy. Due to the high number of applications we receive, only candidates

selected to move to the next stage of the recruitment process can be contacted. Radiant does not charge any fee to

candidates.