Bar lighting

First, decide whether you want electric light or a flame. Bar Professional’s rechargeable lamps run on a battery that lasts an entire shift. You don’t need to drill, and there’s no cord running across the terrace. Zwiesel Glas’s Signum lanterns use a tealight. It gives off the flickering light of a real candle, which looks warmer than LED on a set table.

Next, consider where the light needs to go. The LED bar is a long element that you place under a row of bottles or behind a back bar. The light then shines up through the glass. The LED base is a disc that you place a bottle or glass on. The portable table lamp is dimmable and stands freely on the table. With the 137 mm lantern, the color of the glass determines how warm the light is. Smoky brown dims it the most, crystal clear the least.

Position lights low and to the side, not directly above someone’s face. A small table lamp about twenty centimeters tall illuminates the tabletop and two faces without putting anyone in the spotlight. For a back bar, do the opposite. Position the LED strip behind the bottles. That way, you can still read the labels and the drinks light up.

Always charge the battery at the same time, for example, right after closing. That way, you’ll never have a lamp run out halfway through the evening. A tealight in a holder burns for about four hours. Keep enough behind the bar, so you don’t have to skip any tables. Don’t place candle holders too close to the edge of a table where plates slide past.

The glass candle holders from Zwiesel Glas are made of crystal glass and can go in the dishwasher. Just remove any leftover wax from the bottom first. Hardened candle wax that comes loose in the machine will end up on the rest of your dishes. Warm water and a spatula make it easy to remove beforehand.

LED lights are electronic devices, so they should never go in the machine. Wipe the housing with a slightly damp cloth and keep the charging contacts dry and clean. A thin layer of sugar syrup on those contacts is the most common reason a light stops charging.

If you're only looking for a table lamp, see the individual table lamps. If you want to stock the rest of the bar, you'll find practical items in glass racks and coasters, and tools in cocktail shakers and bar spoons. You can see everything that belongs behind the bar on the bar toolspage. The drinks themselves are listed under cocktails.