Barista

Job Overview

Overview & Opportunity
Synonym is a vibrant day-and-night café, resto-bar, and bookshop located on James St. North, Hamilton, celebrating art, design, and culture. We offer specialty coffee, a from-scratch menu, low-intervention wine, craft beer, and a curated collection of art books. We are seeking an enthusiastic front-of-house professional with a solid specialty coffee background to join our team immediately as we gear up for an exciting season in the James North neighborhood.
Responsibilities
Teamwork

• Bring a positive, collaborative attitude to work, supporting peers and contributing to a welcoming environment.

Service

• Provide a warm, welcoming experience to guests, following service flow guidelines.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of the full menu, including rotating wine, craft beer, and the bookshop selection.
• Take ownership of the front-of-house (bar, seating area, bookshop), creating a memorable experience for guests.
• Handle guest orders at the counter and tables, inputting accurately into the POS system.

Product Preparation

• Prepare and serve a variety of espresso-based drinks, pastries, and other beverages quickly and consistently.
• Serve wine and beer, assist with food running, and package books according to brand standards.
• Proactively address any guest concerns to enhance their experience.

Environment

• Routinely clean front-of-house areas (bar, tables, floor, equipment, etc.) and replenish supplies (cream, sugar, to-go packaging).
• Report any potential safety hazards and operational inconsistencies to the manager on duty.
• Follow opening, mid-day, and closing procedures, signing off duties upon completion.

Other Responsibilities

• Support Synonym’s events and other assigned duties as needed.

Qualifications

• 1+ year of specialty coffee experience in a café/restaurant/bar setting
• Smart Serve Certified; Food Safety Certification preferred
• Legally eligible to work in Canada
• Downtown Hamilton location; flexible hours, full-time or part-time available
• Two industry references required

Join us in creating an exceptional experience for our guests and community!
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
Pay: $17.20-$20.00 per hour
Expected hours: 30 – 40 per week
Additional pay:

• Overtime pay
• Tips

Benefits:

• Discounted or free food

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Holidays
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Work Location: In person