A bartender shares the 5 red flags she always looks for at a bar

People who have worked in bars tend to know right away when something looks or feels off.

Marianna Massey/Getty Images Former bartender Stephanie Ridgway shared a few red flags she looks out for at bars.

She's concerned whenever a bar has sticky and messy counters, especially when it's not crowded.

A truly quality bar would not be serving a lot of batch cocktails right in front of guests.

With a seemingly never-ending pool of options, it can be hard to know if you're picking the best bar for a happy hour or night out.

Take it from Stephanie Ridgway, who worked at several bars and distilleries before becoming the director of brand advocacy for the liquor brand Charles Jacquin et Cie .

"I've been in my fair share of bars, from dives to high-end cocktail lounges," Ridgway told Business Insider.

"I've developed a keen eye for what sets the good apart from the great — and behaviors that will always raise a red flag for me." To help spare you a bad experience, Ridgway shared her top red flags to look out for at a bar so you know when it may be best to beeline toward the exit.

It's never a good sign when a bar is dirty, especially if it's not busy Ridgway's alarm bells start going off the second she walks into a dirty bar.

For her, that includes things like a sticky bar tops, soiled towels on counters, and dirty glassware.

"Everything else about the place becomes suspect to me and indicates to me that the bar staff doesn't take pride in their workplace," she said.

She's "exponentially" more concerned if the bar isn't busy.

It's important to give bartenders some grace if you're heading out on a Friday or Saturday night when it might be busier than normal, she added.

However, if you randomly pop in during the middle of the day and there's a sticky countertop and dirty glasses, you're perhaps better off going somewhere else.