A nightclub bar needs the same core equipment as any bar, built for a short, intense rush: a full station for every bartender on your busiest night, more ice production and storage than a restaurant bar, refrigeration for bottles and kegs, glass washing that keeps up, a hand sink within reach of each station and a mop sink for cleanup. Plan from peak volume, not from an average night.
Shop the equipment in this article: underbar ice bins and bar sinks. Freight is included on every order.
1. One station per bartender at peak
Start by counting how many bartenders work at the same time on your busiest night, then give each one a complete station. In common practice a station has an ice bin, a speed rail, a small sink or rinser and a drainboard, all within arm’s reach. Our commercial bar equipment category has the underbar pieces sized to fit together.
Drop-in ice bins work well when the bar top is already built. Ours come in 18 x 12, 18 x 24 and 18 x 30 in. sizes with a sliding lid and foamed-in-place insulation. For a freestanding setup, our 36 x 19 in. ice chest has a 34 x 15 x 15 in. insulated bowl, a sliding lid and copper drain tubing.
2. Ice production and storage
A nightclub usually uses a lot of ice in a few hours, so size ice production and bin storage to your peak night. Each ice machine page lists its daily output and bin size. For example, the Coldline EIC270 lists 270 lb a day with a 50 lb bin, and a modular head such as the Westlake SK-529P lists up to 500 lb in 24 hours and sits on a separate bin. Compare options in our commercial ice machines.
If you are thinking about a cold plate ice bin to chill draft or soda lines, note the Food Code rule (section 3-303.11) that ice used to cool the outside of packaged drinks or equipment coils and tubes may not then be used as food. Our freestanding ice bin with a 7 circuit cold plate has a 15 x 22 x 12 in. bowl. Ask your health department how they want cold plate ice handled before you order.
3. Bottle, can and beer refrigeration
Bottle service and canned drinks need cold storage close to the bartenders. Our back bar coolers and beer dispensers include:
- Coldline CBB back bar coolers in 48, 60 and 72 in. widths, with solid, glass or sliding glass doors. The 48 in. models list 13 cu. ft. and a 24.4 in. depth, and the T models are lower at 34.25 in. to fit under a bar.
- True horizontal bottle coolers: the TD-50-18 holds 396 12 oz bottles and the TD-65-24 holds 528.
- Migali direct draw beer dispensers with one, two or three towers, in 23, 48, 60 and 72 in. widths; the three tower model is currently out of stock.
4. Glass washing and drying
Bars that wash glasses by hand need a sink with at least three compartments for wash, rinse and sanitize (Food Code section 4-301.12), plus drainboards for dirty and clean glasses (section 4-301.13). Some health departments accept a glass washer instead; ask yours before you plan the bar. Cleaned glasses must air dry and may not be towel dried (section 4-901.11), so plan drainboard and rack space for a full night of glassware.
5. Hand sinks
Section 5-204.11 says a hand sink must be located to allow convenient use by employees in food preparation, food dispensing and warewashing areas, and section 5-205.11 says it must stay accessible and be used only for handwashing. On a long nightclub bar that often means more than one. Our underbar hand sink with an enclosed cabinet base comes in four sizes, 18 or 22 in. wide, with a low-lead faucet and drain included. More models are in our hand sinks.
6. Cleanup
Section 5-203.13 calls for at least one service sink or curbed cleaning facility with a floor drain for cleaning mops and dumping mop water, and toilets may not be used for that. Our floor mop sinks include 24 x 24 x 13 in. and 25 x 33 x 16 in. models in 18 gauge 304 stainless with a drain basket and wall clip.
Your local health department has the final say on every item in this list, so send them your bar plan before you order.
What to buy
- One complete underbar station per bartender at peak: ice bin, speed rail, sink or rinser and drainboard.
- Ice machines and bins sized to your busiest night.
- Back bar coolers or bottle coolers for packaged drinks, and a direct draw dispenser if you pour draft.
- An underbar three compartment sink with drainboards, or the glass washer your health department accepts.
- Underbar hand sinks within easy reach of each station, and a floor mop sink.
Freight to the 48 contiguous states is included in the price on every product page.