Bar Manager

AORI | Modern Japanese Dining | King Street Wharf, Sydney

AORI is looking for an exceptional Bar Manager to lead our beverage experience.

Our current Bar Manager is embarking on an exciting new chapter, taking the next step in his career to open his own bar. While we’re sad to see him go, we’re incredibly proud to have supported his journey and wish him every success in this exciting new venture.

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Located on Sydney’s King Street Wharf, AORI is a modern Japanese dining destination where precision, creativity and hospitality come together.

Our menu combines premium sushi and sashimi, dry-aged and premium Wagyu, wood-fired cooking and contemporary Japanese flavours. Our beverage program reflects the same philosophy, with a sophisticated cocktail offering, premium sake, Japanese whisky and an extensive wine selection.

We are looking for a Bar Manager who understands that great hospitality is about far more than making great drinks.

This is an opportunity for a passionate hospitality professional to take ownership of the bar operation and help shape a beverage experience that is as memorable and considered as the food.

THE ROLE

As Bar Manager, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day leadership and performance of the AORI bar.

You will lead from the front, setting the standard for service, product knowledge, presentation and hospitality while developing a team capable of delivering consistently exceptional experiences.

You will work closely with the senior management and kitchen teams to ensure the beverage program complements the food, the service style and the overall identity of AORI.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading and developing the bar team, creating a culture of professionalism, accountability and genuine hospitality
• Maintaining exceptional standards of cocktail preparation, presentation and service
• Managing AORI's cocktail program and contributing creatively to its ongoing development
• Building strong knowledge across sake, Japanese whisky, spirits, wine and premium beverages
• Working with management to develop seasonal cocktails, beverage activations and special events
• Ensuring beverage offerings complement AORI's modern Japanese cuisine
• Maintaining impeccable standards across bar presentation, cleanliness, organisation and service
• Managing beverage stock, ordering, receiving, storage and stocktake
• Controlling beverage costs, wastage and margins
• Managing par levels and ensuring the bar is consistently prepared for service
• Training and mentoring team members in cocktails, spirits, sake, wine and service
• Maintaining responsible service of alcohol and all relevant compliance standards
• Working closely with the floor team to deliver seamless food and beverage service
• Creating memorable guest interactions and building genuine relationships with our regular guests
• Supporting the broader management team during busy services, events and functions
• Leading service during high-volume periods while maintaining the refinement expected of a premium dining environment

THE PERSON

We are looking for someone who is passionate, polished and commercially minded.

You will ideally have:

• Previous experience as a Bar Manager, Assistant Bar Manager or senior bartender within a premium restaurant, cocktail bar or luxury hospitality environment
• Strong cocktail knowledge and technical ability
• A genuine interest in Japanese beverages, particularly sake, Japanese whisky and Japanese-inspired cocktails
• Strong wine and spirits knowledge
• Exceptional attention to detail
• The ability to lead, coach and inspire a team
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong understanding of beverage costings, stock control and GP management
• A natural understanding of premium service and guest expectations
• The confidence to engage with guests and guide them through the beverage experience
• A calm, organised and solutions-focused approach during busy service
• A genuine passion for hospitality and creating memorable experiences

Japanese beverage experience is highly regarded, but not essential.

What matters most to us is your curiosity, your standards and your willingness to continually learn.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The right person will understand that at AORI, the bar is part of the restaurant experience — not simply a production area.

You should be someone who notices the details.

The garnish is correct.
The glassware is perfect.
The cocktail is balanced.
The bar is immaculate.
The team knows the menu.
The guest never feels rushed.
The service flows.

You will have the confidence to lead a team, the creativity to develop a beverage program and the discipline to ensure the fundamentals are executed perfectly every service.

WHY JOIN AORI?

• Join a premium modern Japanese dining destination in the heart of Sydney
• Work alongside an experienced culinary and hospitality team
• Opportunity to influence and develop the beverage program
• Work with premium spirits, sake, Japanese whisky and wines
• Exposure to high-profile events, collaborations and beverage experiences
• Genuine opportunity for career development and progression
• A venue where creativity, hospitality and attention to detail are valued

AORI's beverage program already features Japanese-influenced signature cocktails incorporating ingredients such as yuzu, shiso, sesame, sake and Japanese spirits, alongside a substantial wine and sake offering. The venue also hosts dedicated beverage experiences and collaborations, making this a role with significant scope for someone who wants to build rather than simply maintain a bar.

THE OPPORTUNITY

If you are an experienced hospitality professional who wants to take ownership of a premium bar program, lead a talented team and help create something genuinely special, we'd love to hear from you.

AORI — Modern Japanese Dining
39 Lime Street, King Street Wharf, Sydney NSW

Apply now with your CV and a short introduction telling us why AORI is the right next step for you.

We are looking for someone who doesn't simply want to manage a bar.

We are looking for someone who wants to create an experience.