We’ve all been guilty of pouring our hearts out to our bartender after a rough day at work, or while mending a broken heart. It’s safe to say that not only do bartenders give us great drinks, but they’re also some of the best listeners out there. A lot more goes on behind the bar than just drinks. 

From drunken slurs to eccentric drink requests, bartenders see and receive a lot of eccentric requests. So, we asked 14 bartenders: what has been your most bizarre client request? Here’s what they told us. 

“I worked at an oyster bar where a woman once asked me to feed her oysters so she wouldn't have to touch them.” - Thomas Spaeth, Head Bartender, The Raines Law Room in Chelsea, NY.

Thomas Spaeth, Head Bartender, The Raines Law Room

“People still order AMFs and I gladly decline.” - Teddy Martinez, Bartender, Mezcalero Long Beach, LA. 

“The strangest request I've ever had off a guest is if I can take a snake off their hands. Basically, they had found a small corn snake slithering around outside the venue and they brought it in. It curled up around my shoulder for around half an hour whilst I finished closing down the bar. Luckily I actually knew someone who cared for reptiles, so I rang them and they came along to take and eventually rehome the snake.” - Kyle Elwis, Assistant Manager at The Lexington Rooftop Bar, Hull.

“Someone asked recently, on a Saturday, if they could sit and drink water because they had no money. We politely asked them to give the table back so we could give it to a paying customer. Also a while back someone asked if they could buy a shot of vodka but bring their own coke. We laughed in their face.” - Matt Smith, Bar Manager at The Brain Jar, Hull.

“Sambuca, Bailey’s, green chartreuse, lime, and coffee liquor lit on fire on the tableside. It was not good, and the person lost some hair.” - Manny Nieves, Bartender and Manager at the Wayfarer Hotel, LA. 

“This is quite interesting actually. Once, a 60-year-old lady asked for me to take her home and tuck her into bed.” - Pedro Barriga, Bar Manager, O’Donovans pub, Pomona.

“Birthday Cake Martini.” - Sam Levy, General Manager, and Managing Partner at The Fern, Sebastopol, CA. 

“This was back in Italy, it was August and 42 degrees outside - and a customer asked me for a hot chocolate with rum.” - Michele Lombardi, Head Mixologist, Quaglino’s, London.

“More than a request, what’s bizarre is that they assume you can’t really do your job, and when they finally realize you’re great at what you do, they shut up. Haha!” - Brynn Smith, Bartendingpretty.

“A 3 for a couple.” - Alex Valencia, Partner, and Bartender, La Contenta, NYC. 

Melanie Getman, Bartender and Artist

“I've had a guest that would request a glass of Cabernet with a shot of Fernet Branca poured together over ice. I guess it's not too weird when you think about it, but definitely not for me. Also, any request for super sugary liqueurs in the form of a shot has really confounded me.” - Melanie Getman, Bartender, and Artist, San Francisco. 

“A guest asked for a glass of lime juice and we happily obliged. He then proceeded to pour it into his Manhattan. All of it. My staff and I were very perplexed. But hey, take it how you like it.” - Dzu Nguyen, General Manager at Horsefeather, San Francisco. 

“Music requests.” - Hillary Hestead, Bartender, False Idol, San Diego. 

Beau Du Bois, Bar Director at the Puesto bars

"When I was just a 21-year-old bartender, a very Italian fella ordered a bottle of Opus One. Once it arrived he instructed me to keep their table stocked with bottles of Coca-Cola. I thought it was strange but what was stranger was when I watched his friends mix the Opus One with Coca-Cola. I mean, Mixology??!" - Beau Du Bois, Bar Director at the Puesto bars, California.

So the next time you think a bartender’s job is all fun and games, think back to these and you will know that a day or night at work for them is never predictable!