I just graduated last Thursday and I enjoyed every bit of it! I'll admit that I always get nervous when it comes to school and especially for finals. I have the best of both worlds and what I mean by that is two of the best instructors I ever have. Both Natasia and Kenny are a major big help towards mixing drinks and lecturing me of many drinks. I finished this within 4 weeks cause I'm not trying to rush to get out, I wanted to soak in the ingredients in my mind and study most of them that I've been taught. Kenny is hilarious, calm, and one of the best bartender/instructor and Natasia is a sweetheart, very nice, and also the best instructor as well. That's why I say they are the best of both worlds. I highly recommend for people that wants to become a bartender to go here because you will learn everything you need to know about bartending and mixing drinks. Don't worry, its not boring at all and don't rush to graduate because you want to learn step by step to become a professional bartender. I also highly recommend to buy flash cards to memorize the drinks and don't overwhelm yourself. Be comfortable before rushing on both of the written test and the behind the bar test. I'll admit that when I was on the behind the bar test, the theme song that popped in was that Jaws theme song. I'm just glad i'm done, but it doesn't mean its completely over. Continue to study on most drinks and if you think your "rusty," come back to school and continue practicing making drinks and also go to Club 21 to be a guest bartender, so you can get the field of what your going to expect when you become a professional bartender and you get paid too! read more

I signed up over the phone for the classes. The person whom I spoke to told me that after the first class, if I decided that I would not want to continue the classes they would issue me a whole refund. I attended class and I called the next morning to talk to someone about the refund before attending what I thought was the second class on Sunday. I spoke to John on the phone and I explained to him my issue and he said to call Keith and he would help me with the whole refund. Keith wasn't available till the next day because he was not at work. When I finally got a hold of him, he told me I couldn't get my refund because I had already attended two classes.( I signed up for the weekend classes) I did not know that after that day I would have done two classes. NO ONE made it clear that if I wanted a refund after the first class I would have to leave at 1pm. I also did not sign the form until ten minutes before class ended at 5:40, so therefore I thought that was just the first class. I explained to the person my whole issue of leaving and confusion and he told me he was going to call corporate to try to get my refund back. He never called me back and I never got a refund. The school is run down and dirty. You can learn everything in this class on YouTube and more. Also they say they'll 100% help you get a job afterwards but then try to make you purchase more classes so that you can work there own events kinda making it seem like the basic classes you signed up for it aren't worth it. Also they try to make you sign up for TIPS at there school for like $70 when it's only 40$ online. read more

I thought about Bartending for awhile but was hesitant because i wasn't quite sure what it would be like. I spoke to Bob and he answered all my questions and even offered me a great price and a deal if i brought along a friend to join the enrollment. I like how you can go at your own pace and finish when you want. You can do it in two weeks or even finish in one week or even sooner! ABC Bartending school even has flexible class schedules which is great because you can fit classes into your own schedule. So, I finally got the courage to enroll (for a great price) and was pleased from the first and last day of class! I had the pleasure of having both Kenny and Natasia as my instructors they know their stuff! LOVED THEM BOTH! They had their different styles of teaching and gave great extra info about becoming a successful bartender. After every lecture, we get to make the drinks we just learned. I love how everything is hands on and how the school is built like a real bar so you can have a feel of what it would be like. Kenny also offers guest Bartending which is a great opportunity to show off your learned skills and share the experience with friends and family. After you successfully complete the course they also help you with job placement. If you plan on wanting to become a bartender, i recommend to get your knowledge at ABC Bartending School. Great atmosphere, great teachers, and plus you have fun learning! Who doesn't want to have fun while learning?! I had fun and a great experience here :) read more

I loved the class! I thought I might want to get into bartending so I decided to sign up for this class and see how I liked it and I had a blast! Not only did I learn lots of exciting drink recipes (and there are a LOT of drink recipes - make flash cards!), but Kenny is a great instructor and really takes the time to teach about actual bartending and serving customers. One thing I do suggest though is if you have the time, take the two week class - cramming all that information into one week was just a bit more stressful than it needed to be, but still a great learning experience. Kenny also offers guest bartending opportunities at Club 21 in Oakland every Thursday and Friday, where you get to serve real drinks to real customers under his supervision. It's kind of intimidating to sign up for at first, but do it! It's actually pretty chill and there are lots of other students and former students there to help you out. And bring your friends, the Club is kind of quiet during guest bartending hours. It's tons of fun and it's great experience if you're trying to get into the bartending profession. But yeah, overall loved this school! I've since decided not to do bartending just now due to other stuff, so I haven't used the job placement assistance and can't really remark on that - just remember they offer help with job placement, but it's not guaranteed! read more

I've heard about bartending schools before, but after hearing they usually go for $500, I was discouraged. When I found out about ABC Bartending School and how it was only $200 for a 2 week course, I just had to try it out. Almost thought it was too good of a deal, but after I attended the classes, I found I was lucky to have found this school. Kenny and Natasia are great teachers. The tips they added, in addition to what was in the books, were very insightful. To make it even more of a deal, Kenny is a manager for Club 21, and we get to volunteer bartend from 4 to 9 on Thursday and Friday nights(be sure to invite friends to maximize the experience). Even after completing the class, you are most welcome to continue with volunteering to get some of that experience you will need to get a bartending job faster. Natasia even has info on how to make a good resume and job placement. You will definitely get your money's(and times) worth with this class. I completed the class last week, awaiting my certification to get the ball rolling. Club 21: 2111 Franklin St, Oakland FOR GUEST BARTENDING, Thursdays and Fridays, from 4pm to 9pm, all well drinks are $3.50 and between 5pm and 7pm, all other drinks are only $5. Great incentive for your friends, even those with not much money, to come to support your learning. read more

New to yelp, and decided to leave a review ABC bartending school is a great , and extremely convenient. if you want to get things done quickly and get to work you will be presently surprised. small location but you will get exactly what you need too make a long story short i graduated in November of 2009 and the fact that i can still call or email my instructor for job leads is pretty spectacular. ive heard many stories of individuals taking online classes or with other company's and there not good with job placement and end up spending money for class to never utilize there mixology skills. i was blessed to have natasia as an instructor (may be spelled incorrectly) but she was the BOMB! Extremely knowledgeable very flexible and a joy to have. she got straight to the point daily in class had a great sense of humor and i believe i was taught by one of the best. I got in on one of the class specials and paid $150 for a 2 week class. if you have a outgoing personality and enjoy the social scene love to drink & play bar tender at all of your family events and your entertaining the thought of becoming a professional mixologist. hands down ABC is the place to choose. you wont regret it.. hope this helps someone read more

Hey guys, i was getting bored in my normal job as a "meat cutter" and I was looking for something new. I stumbled upon the abc bartending website and thought to myself bartending might be a fun job. So I signed up to try it out, at first I was little nervous because I never really excelled in schools a kid. Then I met Kenny, he is one of the instructors at the school. This guy is Awesome!! Full of energy, crackin little jokes, by the end of the first class there were complete strangers laughing and having fun, all the while actually learning. After seeing how one guys passion for his craft and over all good mood effected an entire room full of random people. I knew I wanted to become a bartender myself. Kenny also runs a night club an lets students guest bartender his club on Thursdays and fridays. The school also helps u with job placement. Ive already bartended 3 private parties and guest bartended at Kenny's night club. P.s. This is all in two weeks of singing up for the school, I payed for the whole class in less then a week from tips. So in conclusion, TAKE THE CLASS!! you won't regret it. You'll be making $$ in no time. I'd also like to give a special thanks to Kenny the instructor!! U rock Kenny!!! read more

I found the school after searching for ways to get a leg up on landing a bar tending job in the bay area. I was so absolutely impressed with the school's instructors. Natasia, Jamie and Kenny were EXACTLY how one would hope even college professors to be... Extremely helpful, approachable and yet totally professional. They all truly want their students to succeed and feel comfortable behind the bar as well as in their job search and in their interviews that follow. The class that I took was accelerated and all substantive information was delivered within one week. However, should I have failed (which didn't happen, I was completely prepared to take the written as well as practical test within that week, which required a complete and quick recall knowledge of 92 drinks) the course would allow me to keep practicing and Learning for as long as it took for me to be comfortable and pass my exams with flying colors! I couldn't begin to recommend a better school to go to that is as affordable and direct as ABC, and the San Leandro school has definitely got it goin' on! :) -Jim read more

Before entering this school, I was nervous and unsure that bartending would be the thing for me. I have passed by this school everyday on my way to work and decided to give it a try, I walk in and sign up and I haven't regretted since. My experience at this school has been a memorable one. My instructors, Kenny and Natasha, were very knowledgeable and well trained in what they do. They were both charismatic making the learning process easier and also enjoyable. Kenny is such a character, he was funny, engaging, and also informative. I highly recommend this establishment for anyone who is pursuing a career or just for fun. After graduating, they offered help to find a job/placement at a bar to further my development in the industry to practice and use my newly developed skills. ABC bartending school has covered every step into making sure I would succeed. They have offered nothing but encouragement and fun since I've step foot into the door, if this sounds like something you want to be apart of, take a chance like i did, it was well worth the time and effort. read more

I just went through the school last week. I loved this place a short walk from Bart. They also have a open door policy for people who have attended the school encouraging students to come back for free to sharpen their skills until they find work.I only had 3 instructors all of which were awesome. Thanks again Sara who was super nice and informative. She made me really comfortable behind the bar, Natassia who helped me not only during class time but going out of her way after class to look at my resume and send me a new template plus job placement stuff and also Kenny who had a really cool way of teaching using a lot of word association that really helped me remember the recipes and after finishing school was able to put me behind an actual bar in Oakland. Also going out of his way to help me put together a resume and get job ready. Thanks again everybody for everything I hope to come back and practice. If you wanna bar tend I totally recommend this place plus their rates are really good. read more

ABC Bartending School was a very informative and helpful bartending program. The instructors were friendly and flexible and the experience was very hands-on and demanding, which is probably the best way to learn anything. After I 'graduated' from this program, one of my instructors offered our class an opportunity to bartend as guests at a club that he manages, providing us with an opportunity to put more on our resume as well as sharpen our bartending skills. Upon leaving this program, I felt like I had learned so much and I am now much more comfortable looking for a bartending position. If I could offer any advice, I would encourage anyone to do the part-time/2-week program instead of the full-time/1-week program because it is a lot of information to take in and you would want to allow yourself more time to memorize all the drink recipes/liqueur flavors, etc. Fortunately, I made it through and am now on my way to becoming a bartender. Thank you ABC Bartending School! read more

I decided to take the ABC Bartending class on a whim for a potential new career. I had taken cooking classes previously so decided to give this a try. If one thinks that being a bartender or as we are now known, mixologist, is easy, well you need to guess again. This class was very comprehensive. You will learn everything you need to know about bartending including ingredients, utensils, equipment as well as information about wine and beer. Additionally, one of the instructors allowed students to work at a real bar and get the feel of what it is like in a real bar setting. Instructors Natasha and Ken were fantastic and very knowledgeable. I felt this course was worth the money and with potential job placement it was definitely worth the time. The class can be taken either accelerated (one weekend), in one week or drawn out over 2 weeks. The nice thing is you can practice your skill even after completing your training. June I. Oakland, CA read more

I've already recommended this place to all my friends (which I rarely do) and I was going to come on here and wax poetic about how dope this place is- but all the other reviews seemed to do it for me... But, whatev. I don't mind reiterating the usefulness of this school and the awesomeness of the helpful instructors- Especially if you read all the other comments about Natasia- they're pretty accurate. She was my instructor and she was insanely fun, informative, sweet, helpful and just all around beautiful. I wasn't feeling well when I came in and she was super chill and patient- didn't mind re-showing me how to do things over and over and wasn't snotty about it. I was also stunned by how well she could cater simultaneously to the fast learners and the clueless people (a.k.a.- me) who had no clue what they were doing. Everyone came out of there knowing their stuff. Soooo- overall? I'd say a complete success. read more

ABC Bartending School Rocks! I took the 2 week course and loved it. You will learn alot about mixing drinks, different recipes, setting up a bar, garnishes and more. You'll learn the variety of Scotches, Bourbons, Brandys, Whiskeys and Cognacs that are available, in addition to Vodka's Gins and Liquers. I always wondered what liquers tasted like or what they were used for - I learned it all. There are so many drink recipes that I have never heard of. My instructor was Kenny, he was excellent. The course includes a lesson book, full of information and drink recipes. It's easy to understand and learn. If you miss a class you can make it up, you can contunue to come in and practice, they are constantly there to help you. Kenny's goal was to see that I had all the help I needed to pass the test. if you listen well, ask questions, study the lesson book - you will pas the certification test. read more

I highly recommend this Bartending school to anyone that is thinking about becoming a bartender! Kenny was absolutely fantastic! He was such a good instructor. He loves his job, he's very thorough and passionate; which made my whole experience invaluable. He also has a great sense of humor which makes the classes go by very quickly while your learning new material. He truly made a lasting impression on me and now I have an even greater desire to be the best damn bartender that I can be! ABC Bartending School made it very easy to sign up and get started. They offer many classes to make it really convenient for you to attend. You get to practice behind an actual bar and you can even get the opportunity to serve real customers if you participate in bar nights! So, what are you waiting for....enroll now! read more

ABC Bartending school is a great program to join if you have any interest in bartending or want to know how to mix drinks, PROPERLY. From no experience, to experienced bartenders, I think the school has something to offer. They start you off from square one, so if you have no experience in this field, do not feel intimidated or nervous to join. All the instructors are very knowledgeable, and teach in a fast, but learnable manner. Kenny, specifically, is well versed with not only the skill of bartending but the history of it and makes it more enjoyable to learn. If you can, I suggest taking classes from him. They are very flexible with your schedule so you can complete the course from within a week to however long it takes to learn the material. I received mine in two weeks. Highly Recommended! read more

ABC Bartending school is as good as it gets! The 1 week course i took covered everything i needed to know to get into the world of Bartending. They have a well designed course structure which has been used to train new upcoming bartenders for something like 30 years! There staff were excellent! My instructors transformed my knowledge of Bartending from minimal at best to "ready to work" as a competent beginning bartender. They also help you with job placement assistance FOR LIFE! If you are thinking of becoming a bartender this is the school to go to. In as little as a week you can graduate ABC with all the licenses and knowledge you need to get out into the workplace making money doing something fun! I couldn't be more happy with my experience at ABC Bartending school. read more

I went t o the ABC Bartending School in San Leandro and had a blast!!! The teacher were knowledgeable and extremely nice. They take their time and make sure that you understand the information. AND, it's alot of information, but if you can remember what your favorite drink is then you can remember the material. I've been drinking cape cods for years and didn't know that that was the actual name until i got to class. lol.. Now I'm guest bartending around the bay area through the school. So if you're interested in a new and exciting career, meeting new people, listening to great music , and getting paid? The first step is to go to ABC Bartending School, with campuses around the Bay Area and the Nation you can't go wrong!!! read more

After graduating from college and not being able to find a job, I wanted to try something new. I had heard about ABC bartending from a friend and decided to give it a shot. The class set up allowed you to learn the drinks and get comfortable being behind a bar and handling all the different bottles. The instructors have good techniques for teaching and offer insight from the professional and personal view points, which is very helpful. I completed the 1 week course and it was a lot to handle in that short amount of time, but being behind the bar for 8 hours a day it quickly begins to feel natural. The instructors are great and will genuinely help you get experience and job placement. Well worth the money and time. read more