The company holiday party is the one event of the year where the bar is the entertainment. Nobody remembers the buffet; everybody remembers the drink they photographed. If you’re planning a corporate holiday party in Houston for anywhere from 50 to 500 people, here are the bar ideas that actually get talked about the next Monday, roughly in order of how much they change the room, plus what each one takes to pull off.
1. A branded signature cocktail menu
Two or three cocktails named for the company, the team or the year, served on a printed menu with the logo, in the brand colors. It costs almost nothing beyond the bar itself and it’s the difference between “there was a bar” and “we had our own drinks.” Good starting points for December: a cranberry-rosemary gin fizz, a spiced old fashioned, and an espresso martini for the after-dinner crowd. Batch the base ahead of time so the line moves.
2. A flair bartending show
Ten minutes of bottles in the air during cocktail hour, then the same bartenders serve the rest of the night. It gives the evening a moment, it pulls the whole room to one spot for photos, and it works for any group size. Our flair bartenders have competed nationally, and the show can be timed to the CEO’s arrival, the awards segment or the end of dinner.
3. An espresso martini bar
The most requested drink at Houston corporate events for the last two years, and the easiest way to keep energy up after dinner. A dedicated espresso martini station with a couple of variations (classic, salted caramel, a mocktail version with cold brew) becomes its own line, which is a good thing at a big party.
4. Aroma bubbles and smoked cocktails
A cocktail that arrives under a cloud of cinnamon smoke, or with a flavored bubble sitting on the rim that pops when the guest touches it, is the most-filmed thing at any event we do. It takes seconds per drink and reads as pure theater. Ask for it on one signature cocktail rather than the whole menu so it stays special and the line stays short.
5. A serious mocktail menu
A third of guests at a corporate party either don’t drink or are pacing themselves in front of their boss. A mocktail menu that’s as considered as the cocktails (fresh juices, house syrups, the same glassware and garnish) keeps those guests in the party instead of at the water station, and it’s an easy win with HR. We build one into every corporate menu; see what’s included in our mobile bar.
6. A cocktail-making class as the activity
For teams of 15 to 60, a 45-minute hands-on class where everyone builds two cocktails is the best team-building we’ve seen, because nobody has to pretend to enjoy it. It works as the main event for a smaller company party or as a breakout at a larger one, and we can run it in your office or at the venue. Details on our mixology classes page.
7. A whiskey or tequila tasting station
Four pours, tasting notes, and a bartender who can talk about them. It gives the guests who don’t want a sugary cocktail somewhere to go, and it’s a natural spot for the executives to hold court. Pair it with a cigar lounge if the venue has an outdoor space.
8. A champagne or welcome-drink wall
A pre-poured drink handed to every guest on the way in solves the biggest problem at a company party: 200 people arriving in the same ten minutes and heading straight for the bar. It also makes the entrance photo. Champagne, a batched holiday cocktail or a mocktail all work.
9. A dessert-cocktail pairing after dinner
Small pours matched to the dessert course: a chocolate stout float, a Bailey’s affogato, a peppermint white Russian. It keeps people seated through the speeches and gives the evening a finish.
10. A custom bar front with the company logo
The bar is where every photo of the night gets taken. A branded bar front, backbar lighting in the company colors and a logo on the menu turn those photos into something the marketing team can use. This is what we build for our corporate event clients, including product launches and conferences, and it scales from a 50-person office party to a 500-person gala.
Planning notes for Houston companies
Building the budget? See our corporate event bartending cost guide for Houston for sample budgets, and use our corporate event bar checklist to cover venue, staffing, and paperwork.
- Book early. The second and third weekends of December go first every year. Thursday-night parties are easier to book and cheaper at most venues.
- Staffing. Corporate crowds arrive together and drink faster than a family event. Plan one bartender per 50 guests for a full bar, and add a barback above 100 guests. Our post on how many bartenders you need for 150 guests has the full table.
- Alcohol. In Texas the host can supply the alcohol and the bar company serves it, which usually saves 30 to 40 percent versus a venue’s package. See how BYOB events work in Texas.
- Insurance and certification. Most Houston venues and office buildings require TABC-certified bartenders and a certificate of liability insurance from the bar company. Ask for both up front.
- Budget. Bar service for a 150-person corporate party typically runs $3,000 to $5,000 before alcohol with a full setup, staff and mixers. Our bartender cost guide has the line items.
J Martini Hospitality Group has run holiday parties and corporate events for the Houston Texans, Diageo, HEB and Wolfgang Puck, and we’re booking December dates now across Greater Houston, from downtown and the Galleria to The Woodlands, Katy and Sugar Land. Tell us the date, headcount and venue and we’ll send a menu and a quote within a day.
