With a seemingly endless amount of options, it can be difficult to know whether to choose the best bar for happy hour or a night out.
Take the example of Stephanie Ridgway, who worked at several bars and distilleries before becoming director of brand advocacy for the drinks brand Charles Jacquin and Cie.
“I’ve been to quite a few bars, from dives to high-end cocktail lounges,” Ridgway told Business Insider. “I’ve developed a keen eye for what separates the good from the great – and for behaviors that will last forever hoist a red flag for me.”
To save you a bad experience, Ridgway has shared her top red flags what to look out for at a bar, so that you know when it is best to go to the exit.
It’s never a good sign when a bar is dirty, especially when it’s not busy
Ridgway’s alarm bells go off the moment she walks into a dirty bar. For her, that includes things like sticky bar tops, dirty towels on the counter and dirty glassware.
“Everything else about this place is suspicious to me and indicates that the bar staff have no pride in their workplace,” she said.
She worries “exponentially” more when the bar isn’t busy.
It’s important to give bartenders some grace if you’re heading out on a Friday or Saturday night, when it might be busier than usual, she added.
However, if you happen to come in in the middle of the day and there’s a sticky counter and dirty glasses, you might want to go somewhere else.
After all, a common mantra for everyone in the industry, she says, is: “Time to lean is time to clean.” Cleaning up during quiet periods is the key to a well-maintained bar.
A quality bar should limit the use of cocktails in batches
One signature batch cocktail isn’t too much cause for concern, but fresh drinks are tastier. Luis Diaz Devesa/Getty Images
Ridgway said it’s smart for bars to have some best selling cocktails grouped and ready to pour. But handing guests a drink from a large ready-to-drink pitcher can still detract from the overall experience if it’s overdone.
“When I sit down at a bar and order a cocktail, I want to be treated to the full visual impact of watching the bartender carefully craft my drink,” she told BI. “Basically, I came here partly for the show.”
A truly great bar knows that providing great service and a special experience can be just as important as how great a drink tastes.
Drunk employees are a big no-no
If you walk into a bar and notice that the bartender himself seems to have had a little too much to drink, swing the door the other way. The fact that they work with liquor does not give them a license to get drunk on the clock.
Ridgway said it’s common for a bartender to join patrons for a sip of something boozy throughout the night, but there are professional boundaries.
“I won’t go to a bar where someone who doesn’t have full control of his or her faculties mixes me a drink,” she told BI.
A dismissive bartender is also a hard sell for Ridgway
When you go to a bar, you part with some of your hard-earned dollars for the drink of your choice.
Ridgway said it’s perfectly reasonable to expect that two-way transaction to occur “without bad attitude.”
“When I see bartenders rolling their eyes or exhibiting other dismissive behavior when hearing a drink order, I’m pretty sure I’m never coming back,” she said.
Pay attention to the quality of the spirits behind the bar
You don’t want a craft cocktail to be made with low-quality alcohol. Chris Owens/Shutterstock
If you’re heading to a craft cocktail bar or a place marketed as higher-end, you might want to take a closer look at the drink shelves.
Ridgway knows better than anyone that booze can be expensive, and that bars have to control costs somewhere. However, being financially savvy is no excuse to stock the shelves with the cheapest. lowest quality ghosts.
“Bar managers and beverage executives have literally hundreds of quality brands at their disposal and with a little research can find some delicious, well-made, cost-effective alternatives to stock their bars with,” Ridgway said.
She said if she sees a bartender using poor quality gin to “make” a martini, she will probably pass on it.
This story was originally published on July 31, 2024 and last updated on August 28, 2026.
