A young woman stands behind a marble bar, her gaze directed outward, meeting the eyes of the viewer. She wears a dark blue dress trimmed with white lace, a black choker with a cameo, and a spray of flowers pinned at her chest. Her hands rest on the bar, one near a glass vase holding a single pink flower, the other beside a glass compote piled with bright oranges.

Behind her, a large mirror fills the upper half of the painting, reflecting the bustling crowd and the glow of two round lamps suspended in the air. The background is crowded with figures, some seated, some standing, many blurred with loose, impressionistic strokes, suggesting the lively atmosphere of the Folies Bergère. Above the crowd, a pair of feet in green slippers dangle from a trapeze, hinting at the entertainment taking place in the music hall.

The lighting is bright and artificial, casting a cool glow over the scene and heightening the contrast between the barmaid's pale skin and the dark tones of her dress. The composition is carefully arranged, with the central figure flanked by the symmetrical display of bottles and fruit, while the mirror complicates the space by doubling and shifting the scene. Quick, textured brushwork is visible throughout, especially in the rendering of the marble, glass, and the indistinct crowd, characteristic of the Impressionist movement. The central figure stands before a mirror, a device that has prompted much analysis and debate about the perspective and spatial arrangement in the work.

The painting is associated with the Impressionism movement and is classified as a portrait by the Courtauld Gallery.