The corporate cocktail party.

Why companies love the cocktail format

A cocktail leaves guests free to circulate and talk, exactly what you expect from a networking event. More flexible than a seated dinner, it works for twenty or two hundred and fifty people and suits almost every professional occasion.

Cocktail lunch or cocktail dinner?

The cocktail lunch

In the middle of the day, it replaces lunch. Bites are more substantial to keep guests going. Ideal after a conference or a morning session.

The cocktail dinner

In the evening, it replaces dinner: enough volume and variety, hot pieces and often culinary entertainment. Perfect for a launch or a client evening.

Preparing your year-end party? Our guide to organising your company's end-of-year party covers the timeline and formats: cocktail dinner, seated dinner or a mix of both.

The ingredients of a successful corporate cocktail

• Gastronomic bites created by a chef and renewed throughout the event, the opposite of a static buffet.
• A service brigade that circulates and keeps a continuous flow, so no guest waits.
• A well-run bar: wine pairings, champagne and bespoke mixology by a maître d'hôtel.
• Culinary entertainment (live cooking, oyster bar, carving station) that creates a show and gets conversations going.
• Staging consistent with your brand: standing tables, signage, tableware.

Getting the quantities right

The golden rule: never underestimate the number of pieces per person. For a cocktail dinner, count about twelve bites per guest, split between cold, hot and sweet. A good event caterer calibrates precisely according to the length, the time of day and your guests' profile.

Prémices, your corporate cocktail caterer

Prémices designs bespoke corporate cocktails in Paris and Île-de-France: gastronomic bites by a selected chef, complete service, bar and entertainment, all managed by a single project manager. Discover our cocktail catering and our turnkey events.