Head Bartender - Opening

Vida Plena is an innovative hospitality group founded in Lisbon in 2018, dedicated to making our guests and team feel truly at home. We pride ourselves on delivering warm, blissful experiences, fostering a diverse and inclusive atmosphere, serving top-quality fresh food, and providing exceptional service.

 The Role

We are moving and growing and we will launch a new special place in the heart of Cais do Sodré. A space where the food, the bar, the music, and the people all form part of the same story. Tacos at the heart and agave based drinks at the bar.

As our Head Bartender you own the bar - its energy, its consistency, and its credibility. You build a bar that feels alive : well-stocked, visible, abundant. You lead by example, work fast, and create the kind of atmosphere where a drink that turns into dinner, or a dinner that turns into drinks, feels completely natural.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Lead the bar with presence - you are the first point of contact for guests, the anchor of the floor's energy, and the standard everyone else follows.
• Execute our beverage offer with precision : agave-forward cocktails, an honest short list, and classics always available - even when off-menu.
• Own the guest experience from first contact : anticipate needs, engage naturally, hold the food menu, and guide guests through the offer without overselling or overexplaining.
• Maintain bar operations to the highest standard : stock management, ordering, waste control, opening and closing procedures, and daily mise en place.
• Manage bar costs rigorously : track consumption, monitor pours and wastage, and contribute to profitability without compromising quality.
• Train and develop the bar team - transmit your knowledge of agave, technique, and hospitality so the bar runs consistently with or without you on shift.
• Ensure full compliance with health, safety, and hygiene standards at the bar at all times.
• Collaborate closely with the kitchen and floor team to ensure a seamless, fast-paced service - the bar and dining room move as one.
• Contribute to menu development : propose seasonal updates, test new builds, and keep the list sharp, relevant, and true to our venue identity.
• Embody the venue spirit : casual, considered, credible - a bartender who makes people feel good before they've even ordered.

What We Expect From You

• 3+ years of bar experience, with a background in high-energy, lifestyle-driven venues - canteen, brasserie, bar-forward restaurant or similar.
• Deep knowledge of agave spirits : mezcal and tequila as a backbone, their production, their diversity, and how to talk about them without lecturing.
• Skilled in classic cocktail technique - confident building a short, curated list and executing it consistently at volume.
• Natural host : connects easily with guests, reads the room, adapts pace and energy to the moment.
• Operationally solid : stock management, ordering, cost awareness, and bar hygiene are second nature.
• A team leader who teaches by doing - patient, present, and clear with the people around them.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-turnover environment without losing the warmth.
• Fluent in English; Portuguese or other languages a plus.
• Naturally drawn to vibrant, culturally rooted environments -someone who understands that the bar is as much about feeling as it is about drinking.

What's in For you?

At Vida Plena, you're not just taking a position; you are joining a community that values joy, respect, and a collective pursuit of excellence. If you're prepared to bring your expertise, passion, and innovation to our team, we're excited to welcome you into our fold.

• A salary that respects your work — competitive pay from day one
• Performance that pays off — team performance bonus and fair tip distribution, because great service deserves real recognition
• Enjoy the experience yourself — group discounts for you and your guests across all our venues
• Wellbeing is a priority — a mental health parter and weekly activities on us, from yoga and boxing to meditation, keeping you energised on and off the floor
• Celebrations that bring us together — regular team-building events and group parties, because the best teams also know how to have fun
• Room to grow — be part of an expanding hospitality group with internal mobility and career progression opportunities.