Work in gastronomy and hotels (HoReCa) in Slovakia
Restaurants, cafes, and hotels in Slovakia constantly hire for the kitchen and serving staff: kitchen often without Slovak, serving staff and reception require Slovak.
Gastronomy and hotels (HoReCa) hire constantly: restaurants, cafes, bakeries, hotels, and resorts look for people for the kitchen, serving staff, and reception. For newcomers, this is a convenient entry point — but with an important nuance: the kitchen often hires without Slovak, while work in the serving area and reception almost always requires the language because it involves communication with guests. The most vacancies are in Bratislava, as well as in the tourist areas of the High Tatras (Poprad, Štrbské Pleso) and in Košice.
Salaries depend on the role: kitchen assistant or dishwasher — approximately from the minimum of 915 to 1,100 € gross, cook — 900–1,600 €, waiter — from 915 to 1,400 € plus tips (prepitné). Real income increases due to extra pay for evening, night, weekend, and holiday shifts, which the law guarantees above the basic rate — current norms are confirmed by employment.gov.sk.
How much do they pay in gastronomy and hotels
13 jobs
All filtersCook, Košice
Baker in Bratislava
Waiter / Bartender — Marani Restaurant
Waiter/Waitress at Koliba Selena Restaurant, Bratislava
Waiter / Barista — Monte Cristo
Cook for the food court at EUROVEA shopping center
Frequently asked questions about work
How much do they pay in gastronomy and hotels in Slovakia in 2026?+
Kitchen assistant and dishwasher — approximately 915–1,100 € gross/month, cook — 900–1,600 €, waiter — from 915 to 1,400 € plus tips. Real income is usually higher than the base due to extra pay for evening, night, and weekend shifts, and about 78–80% remains "in hand" — norms on employment.gov.sk.
Is it possible to work in gastronomy without Slovak?+
Yes, but mainly in the kitchen: kitchen assistant, dishwasher, and often cooks can start without Slovak. In the serving area (waiter, bartender) and at reception, Slovak is required — more vacancies without the language are on the page jobs without Slovak.
For which roles in a restaurant is Slovak mandatory?+
For everyone who works with guests: waiter (čašník / servírka) and bartender take orders and process payments from clients, and reception requires Slovak or at least English. If you don't know the language yet, it makes sense to start in the kitchen or cleaning and improve your Slovak in parallel.
What about tips and extra pay for shifts?+
Tips (prepitné) in the serving area can significantly supplement the salary of a waiter and bartender, and in addition, the law guarantees extra pay for inconvenient shifts: night — at least +40%, Saturday +50%, Sunday and holidays — +100%. Since establishments work in the evenings and on weekends, these extra payments noticeably increase monthly income — norms on employment.gov.sk.
How to look for seasonal work in a hotel with accommodation?+
Hotel season — winter in the mountain resorts of the Tatras and summer by the water and thermal baths; for the season, they hire housekeepers and kitchen and restaurant staff, often with accommodation. Look for "Accommodation" and "Transport" labels or ready-made selections on the page jobs with accommodation; remember: charging employees for employment is prohibited by law.