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San Francisco School of Bartending
Rating Details »
Category: Specialty Schools
Neighborhood: Union Square760 Market Street
Ste 833
(between Grant Ave & Ofarrell St)
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 362-1116
New Mixology Course set for 12/13
Learn advanced techniques in creating cocktails with speed & efficiency. $109 includes a variety of fine spirits to taste & prof. tool kit
Announced 1 week ago- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 9:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
64 reviews for San Francisco School of Bartending
I went to this school already for basic bartending and flair bartending, and last night I just attended the advanced bartending/basic mixology class. This is great for those who may already have experience bartending but want an extra edge in competition. Many believe this is important since San Francisco is under a mixology renaissance right now and traditional pour and serve may not be enough to cut it.
This class goes over a lot of things that aren't covered in regular bartending establishments (i.e. nightclubs and dive bars) that may be required for high-end lounges and restaurants. Techniques such as julep straining and speed jiggering and concepts such as stirring vs mixing are explained.
The best part of the class is actually one that I wasn't aware of until I attended the class, and that was the liquor tasting and the behind the bar experience. We tested the balancing of tastes (sweet only, sour only, and sweet and sour), and tasted the difference between single malts aged in French barrels vs American barrels. This bar used for the behind the bar experience was stocked with premium liquor such as Hangar One citron, Elijah Craig bourbon, and Vya vermouth. Also available were limes, oranges, and mint.
I highly recommend this class. The price was a great value since it came with a mixing kit (mixing tin/glass, a graduated jigger used in Clock Bar, julep and Hawthorne strainer, and a European mixing spoon with flat end) as well as the available premium liquor used in the second half of the class. Be sure you have a dependable ride home because these tasty drinks are hard to spit into the spittoon!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/24/2008
I took the course over a year ago, and within a week, I got a part-time bartending gig that on my… Read more »
I went to San Francisco School of Bartending back in July 2009. it was a GREAT CLASS. I learned so much about Bartending. I was totally new about Bartending. Didn't know a thing about Bartending at all. When I entered the class for the first time, the teachers were REALLY outgoing and they made me feel comfortable there. I loved the lectures. They weren't boring at all, definitely different from your college lectures. My class got really close and it was a GREAT experience.
I really didn't like the price. $400 to learn how to bartend for 2 weeks was really expensive. I haven't found a job Bartending yet because I just turned 21. They have a job placement database (haven't used that yet). They also have a resume writing workshop, sounds good to get free help on writing your resume. They also got guest Bartending nights where you can go to local bars Azul and Etiquette to sharpen up your Bartending skills and get real-life experience.
They also offer a new mixology course and flair Bartending classes. Which I REALLY want to take. But overall it was a good class. Not sure how much it helps on finding a job. I will update when I find my Bartending job!
I am writing this review to say how cool I think this school is. My girlfriend just attended end of July and already she has landed guest spots as well as a permanent position in the city. She has made it very clear that the school gave her the knowledge and the resume chops to land these gigs. Special points to Shawn for getting the trainees some real world experience at a couple different bars and for offering advanced classes to keep one in the game! I attended an event at Azul twice and it was a very well run training exercise.
This program does exactly what is advertised, and I have seen first hand results. Recommended.
SFSOB gives you a head start to a bartending career, whether ur looking for full time or part-time. The first day was pretty intimidating but Shawn, night instructor, made the course very enjoyable. The course is very hands on, something a bartending book won't able to teach you! I highly recommend SFSOB if you're looking into becoming a bartender.
This place is awesome. I had fun and learned a lot. Many people will tell you not to go to bartending school, but I had zero experience in service and knew nothing about mixing drinks. Everything I learned gave me the confidence to go out there a say "I am a bartender looking for a job!". Shawn is great, super knowledgable teacher and all around good guy. I met a ton of fun people who I continue to enjoy hanging out with on wednesday nights when we get to go behind a real bar and practice actually bartending. I get to do this whenever i want and I can take free refresher classes for the rest of my life! Great deal. Totally worth it.
Note: I am conservatively giving four stars because I just graduated the program (yesterday!) so i have not had the opportunity yet to find out how marketable my skills will be. i will update later when i have had a chance to job-hunt.
anyway, here's the low-down.
1. the class was way more in-depth and fast-paced than i was expecting it to be. in fact, i really didn't know what to expect from bartending school at all. i didn't know squat about bartending besides skimming this copy of "bartending for dummies" i've had for a few years.
2. timmy and lee are awesome. i LOVE timmy! he was funny and totally knowledgeable. he reminds me of wayne from wayne's world. how awesome is that??
3. even though i was nervous about how well i was doing in the course, i ended up finishing at the top of my class! go me! i know how to study my ass off, yes, but the teaching was also top-notch.
4. the course is way more fun than any other school or class you will ever experience. trust me, i've been in college for 6 years - and it is SO NOT as fun.
5. even though i don't have a job yet and don't know when i will (that's up to me), SFSOB has given me two guest-bartending opportunities: one at azul (this wednesday!) which can be repeated as often as i want, and one at etiquette (at some time in the near future). very cool.
6. i know a lot of people think bartending school is a joke (i did), and don't want to pay x-amount of money for something that might not pay off. i don't know if i'm blowing the cover on this, but i went through the contributor process, which involved me doing some database work for them for a month, and then my class was free. yes, FREE. the whole thing. so ask about it!
see you at azul wednesdays, etiquette thursdays, and DIRTY TRIX any ol' time!
I had soooo much fun taking the 2 week night class with Shawn! Shawn is very passionate about teaching & sharing his knowledge of bartending. He made the class really interesting & fun with his crazy stories/jokes. I learned so much in just 2 weeks & I was able to meet great people. I also had the opportunity to work @ Azul last week (which btw is a great program that no other bartending school has!). I'm going to try to continue to work at Azul every Wednesday night, and spice up my bartending resume. I haven't actually started looking for a job, but I'm 90% confident that I'll be able to find a job somewhere out there. =P
I began going to the San Francisco School of Bartending for two main reasons: 1) The magazine I work for has an established working relationship with the school and 2) I have heard wonderful things about the school
The school overall has a great curriculum. I learned alot about mixing drinks but in addition learned about the actual history of mixing and alcohol (which in my opinion is highly important to know). The staff is knowledgeable and the classes were crazy fun.
Furthermore, their instructors are awesome! Specifically, I had Shawn as my night time instructure. Shawn is intelligent and highly knowledgeable about alcohol in general. He always goes above and beyond what is asked for and truly cares about his student. Furthermore, if you do attend Shawn's night class, you can bet your bottoms that you will learn so much about mixology and bartending. What makes his classes so great as well is his general interest in the subject, which is evident in his glowing lectures.
Relatively, the course is priced at a discount in comparison to everything you learn from the school and all the assistance you will recieve. A definiete must for anyone that wants to learn how to bartend or mix!
I am a recent alumni of SFSOB, I took the Sunday class with Katie and my experience was just FANTASTIC. I had a lot of fun, the class was interactive and informative. Katie had a lot of respect for the craft and was very knowledgeable.
Prior to enrollment I read Yelp reviews on this school and I noticed a majority of the complaints were that the individuals were not able to get a job. The school gives a solid foundation and enough support to attempt a job search but in the end, footwork and dedication to the search is really what lands the position.
My education here was worth every penny.
Thanks to numerous factors, I am in the middle of a 180 of my life, and since bartending had always been something I had though about doing, this seemed like the time to move in that direction. However, I had ZERO experience in the food/drink/service industry. Even though some of my friends that are bartenders made fun of bartending classes or told me that I didn't need it, after looking at the SFSOB website, I figured that I had nothing to lose, and went to the free class.
Needless to say, it was awesome. I signed up for the full class on the spot. Sure, it is a decent chunk of change, but it is way cheaper than any of my other education, and I actually learned something that could help me get a job. The curriculum is set up really well. Not only are you getting hands on training in actually pouring over 150 drinks, but you are taught all of the ins and outs of being a bartender, which as one may guess, goes beyond just being able to pull a beer.
Not only that, the class was really fun and informative. I had Shawn as my instruction, and he was GREAT. Really knowledgeable, with a quirky sense of humor, he really kept the class moving and entertaining, and as he has a lot of experience bartending and working SF, he was able to provide us with tons of examples and experiences of things that can happen behind the bar. I also appreciate all of the extras that the school provides, including resume workshops, the database of jobs, etc. I saw that some reviewers were annoyed that they weren't given a job right after finishing the class, but seriously? You don't just get handed a job after finishing any school. SFSOB prepares you to be an informed, skilled bartender and provides support and advice for finding a job, but this is the real world, it is up to you to get a job.
Finally, having the opportunity to guest bartend on Wednesday's at Azul is huge, as it gives you real life experience behind a real bar, and allows you to put all of the things you learned in class to work. I especially like that alums of SFSOB can come back anytime, for resume help, class refreshers and to work Azul.
Overall, I had an awesome experience, and I would definitely recommend the class to any of my friends, family, coworkers, etc.
The course at SFSOB was a great experience!
I highly recommend it to anyone who lives in the bay area (esp SF) and has 35 hours. Whether you're looking for a career in bartending or just interested in the craft, you will learn a lot, hopefully grow a new appreciation, and have a lot of fun.
The curriculum covers all your basic drinks, and then some. The course does a great job of preparing you for all types of work-- be it a sports bar, hotel bar, club, or dive bar, or even just your own cocktail party.
Besides the strong core curriculum, the "externships" at local clubs and bars is an awesome supplement to your in class learning. There's nothing quite like getting behind the bar for your first time and making a drink (assuming you know what the heck you're doing!)
Shawn is an excellent instructor. He is highly knowledgeable, entertaining, and a great instructor. He's got tons of experience and all the ins in SF.
All in all, the course was a great experience. I mainly took it for fun, but it's perked my interest in a career in bartending. The knowledge and experience has already come in handy and will certainly stay with me down the road. And most of all, I really had a lot of fun!!!
So, i just graduated on 9/11/09. I decided to take the night courses with SFSOB after taking their first course. The course was great, i can actually say i did learn alot about drinks, recipes, alittle bit of flare, and how to make a variety of different cocktails. My instructor Shawn, he was a blast, very easy to get along with... but if you are a quick-to-judge type of person, perhaps you should not take the night class. they are more informal, he jokes, is playful and can be alot of fun, if you can take a joke. Other than that... the class is great.
***WARNING*** JUST BECAUSE YOU TOOK BARTENDING SCHOOL DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN EASILY GET A JOB AS A BARTENDER***
This is a difficult industry, alot of people look at bartending school as a ploy to get amateurs behind the bar, but we both know everyone starts somewhere. Some places like you to start as a barback, train over time, and MAYBE someday they will promote you. But this class offers a short cut to learning alot, NOT ALL, alot of what you need to know about how to be a good bartender.
the only reason they didnt get 5 stars, the payments. The website said 395 for the class, they forgot to mention manadatory supplies and then a 20 dollar a month fee if you pay monthly. So heads up on that... your total will be closer to 480. But i paid it, with no regrets. =)
If you're looking into bartending schools.. look no further. Sign up for sfsob night classes with shawn! It was suuuch a fun experience and I'm actually sad to have graduated last night. I will miss going to class everynight for the last two weeks and having such a blast. I met a few rad people and learned more than I could have imagined. I was top of the class regardless of what scott seems to believe.
Seriously guys.... this was money well spent. Don't hesitate! Sign up now!
I loved my experiance at the SF School of Bartending!
Not only did they teach you how to pour drinks, but they taught you the skills of the trade. I'm looking forward to putting all my new formed skills into getting a part time job as a bartender.
Other things I love about the class is that they give you the chance to get behind a real bar at Azul, they help you with job placement and give you a chance to come back and refresh whenever you'd like.
Also the instructor I had was amazing! She was a great teacher and made everything really fun. (Katie who teaches the Sunday class). We also got to meet one of the other teachers Shawn who was also very good at teaching and informative :).
Overall I must say. Money well spent.
This school, Shawn, and the rest of its laid back teachers changed my life. Im saying this in hindsight after taking the course in July of 2007.
Several months later Shawn implemented what I called a "real bar internship" where alumni were invited to practice at a real bar every tues or weds night. The class taught me the basics of technique, presentation, and recipes. The "internship" taught me everything else. But only because I showed up every single week for 6 months... until I got the job AT THE INTERNSHIP.
Since then i've met people from all around the world, flirted with some of the most beautiful and interesting women, and received an income that supplemented a fabulous lifestyle.
I don't bartend anymore because im moving on to start an online business (greatly contributed to my experiences bartending). But its good to know that the school is always there waiting for me if I want to regain my skills and live that life all over again. I still receive the great newsletter emails and internship invites. And I know that there will always be a fresh network of bars looking for new hires.
Don't listen to anyone who says that they don't guarantee a job after you graduate. Nothing in life comes easy, even if you are a "hot female aspiring bartender." If you are willing to spend the money, time, and effort, you can get what you want. And this class provides a venue for that.
In the end, bar managers and owners want speed and money, and this school provides the best foundation there is in the form of a grandiose network of bars, bartenders, and fellow students. And then there's the internship.
There's a saying in the "industry:" Once you get in, you're in.
But you have to work to get it.
I had a blast at SFSOB. On top of learning over 150 drinks and obtaining important bartending skills, I met great people and got real behind the bar experience.
I took the night class with Shawn, which was more than worth it. One Friday we had an in-class wine lesson with one of the most intelligent wine guys in the city. The next Friday we had a hard core mixologist/bartender come in and teach us some awesome cocktails.
Basically, if you're going to take a bartending course, go to SFSOB. You can continue attending classes after you've graduated and can get behind a real bar for practice before you're tossed out into the bar world. Worth the money!
I took this class purely out of interest, and definitely got more than I bargained for- in a good way.
When searching for a bartending school, I looked at a couple others, but went to the free introductory class at SFSoB and decided to enroll right there. It is a bit pricier than some of the other schools, but you get what you pay for. You want crap, go to to ABC. You want an excellent bartending school with incredible instructors, go to SFSoB.
I took the evening class with Shawn, and absolutely loved it! He is an incredibly talented instructor and brings a lot to the class. His classes are funny and I learned so much. Also, he puts on a wine night and cocktail night, which are both amazing. I particularly enjoyed the cocktail night because it gives you a chance to taste different specialty cocktails. You will not be disappointed.
Also, the Wednesay nights at Azul are worth it! You can sign up to get behind a real bar, or if you bring 5 friends, then you can go behind without signing up. Putting into practice the skills you learned is extremely important, and this is a great opportunity to do so.
Thanks SFSoB!
This place is the best!
I took this course quite a while ago and definitely got my money's worth. I was in the evening class with Shawn who is an excellent instructor and a kick ass guy in general. This is the place to go to get the training you need to successfully launch your bartending career or expand on the skills you already possess. I am very disappointed in the amount of negative reviews that are posted on here and if you read closely, you will find that most of them are people complaining that they can't get a job after graduating this course. Well the school gives you the skills and tools to go out and get a gig wherever it is you want, they don't do it for you! So it's definitely not the school that has issues, but probably the people themselves. Again, the course was totally worth my money and I don't think you will be disappointed either.
Thanks again SFSOB!
I enrolled in the morning class, and was blown away by the amount of energy the faculty had so early! The humor kept me awake and interested in the topic. The set up was perfect, we all had our own well (space for making drinks) and the way the class was run was very helpful. There are recipe cards to have in front of you, as well as monitors above you calling out drinks, like a customer does. In addition to straight-forward (or more complicated, at times) recipes, we were given helpful ways to remember the recipe. (Ex: Mudslide: Vodka, Kaluha, Baileys = Vegitation Keep it Back... VKB)
Overall, Great experience here, the staff was friendly, helpful, and dedicated to students. I had a great time meeting other people from the bay area, and the networking is more than helpful! A great place to go for someone who wants to quickly advance in the Bar/Restaurant scene.
I recommend it! That's it! Instructor Katie was great!
This is my second edit to my original review, and I'm sad to say, I have to reduce my star count to 1...from the original 5 I gave it a few weeks ago.
Sure, the course was fine and taught me a lot. I do feel like I became a solid, smart, well-rounded, skilled bartender. But WHAT is the USE of knowing how to properly shake and pour a martini or how to make a Rusty Nail when I'm not implementing these skills?? I did NOT take this course just for fun - I took it because they boasted a job placement program that was above and beyond that of their competition.
Once I graduated, I relied on their job placement program and coordinator to help me find a position. The school has their success stories plastered all over their walls (literally), so I thought that I wouldn't have much trouble finding something AT LEAST part time. They certainly bragged about their connections that, apparently, no one else has. No problem then, right?
Yes, problem. For the first few weeks after graduation, I was on a wild goose chase, taking buses, trains and walking all over the city from bar to bar, hearing the same thing from every single bar manager: "Your school said they were hiring? Weird. We haven't been for a while." Odd, since these bars were featured on the SFSOB job placement website as "actively hiring." I wasn't mad though - just a bit annoyed. I didn't expect to land a job my first time out, but I thought I would at least be going to bars that were ACTIVELY HIRING.
After I initially reduced my star count to 3, I was immediately contacted by the job placement coordinator AND the head of the school, apologizing profusely for my troubles. Apparently, the guy they had hired to update the listings hadn't been doing his job properly for some time now. What kind of management is that??? They assured me that they have great placement rates, and their students usually find positions quickly after graduation. Sounds great, but how about at least helping me find a bar that is ACTIVELY HIRING so I have a CHANCE to get hired?
Then, to add insult to injury, I was PROMISED a job by the job placement coordinator the other week (verbatim, he said "You essentially have this job. Just call xxx and you'll be good to go") and, unbelievably, I get a call back from the bar manager telling me that the open position had been filled.
I was offered no sort of apology, but, instead, a crass note from the placement coordinator telling me that the reason I was having problems finding a job is because my "frustration" was coming across during interviews. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE WHEN I'M NOT EVEN INTERVIEWED TO BEGIN WITH because I keep going to bars that AREN'T HIRING??? He also wrote (verbatim - I'm cut and pasting from his actual email):
"Just put some stuff on your resume about experience, like a year somewhere and get a job."
Apparently, I now have to lie on my resume because these people who PROMISED that they have such a wonderful job placement program can't put their money where their mouth is. I thought the whole point of taking this course was so that I DIDN'T have to lie on my resume and so that the job placement coordinator could use one of his connections to find a bar manager who would be willing to hire me, understanding that the course is equivalent to experience of about a year behind a bar.
BEWARE - FALSE LEADS AND FALSE EXPECTATIONS. I'm furious and $400 short. I feel duped and particularly saddened because I did have a good time during the program. But if I had known that I would have ended up wasting literally WEEKS of my life running around the city under the SFSOB's direction only to hit dead end after dead end, I would have just taken an online course.
I have bills to pay which I am now weeks (soon to be MONTHS) behind in thanks to this mess.
Disappointed. Discouraged. Disheartened.
Comment from Mark H. of
San Francisco School of Bartending
5/21/2009
Ultimately, there are many variables that are out of our…
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I decided to take a bartending class when I was drinking and that's what influenced me to become a bartender in the first place. I thought about what type of school to go to, and this place sounded pretty legit, I mean it might be kind of hard to even get that name San Francisco School of Bartending. Right? So I looked into it, and I spoke to Shawn over the phone and was really hesitant about joining but he convinced me that the first day of class was free and if I don't like it then it whatever because it's free.
Monday rolls around, I come in, find a spot. Started making the drinks and bam I was enjoying myself. It was so much fun. I had the afternoon class with Jake. Before I knew it, it was already 5 o'clock time to go. I paid upfront, of course you have to option of doing it in payments. I learned so much, enjoyed myself, met new people. Fun. Then that weds. we rolled around to azul to sign up to do a bar run there the follwoing weds. When I came up and around the bar that follwing weds, I was scared and nervous that I was going to f**k up those drinks, but after getting behind it, I had so much fun! Not so much fun drinking and trying to go to class the next day making drinks...so tired. BUt other than that it was a blast.
Best part about this place you can always come back to the school and touch up on making drinks or even sign up to get some hours at azul. Its great, the instructors are so nice and kind.
Glad I came to this school it was worth the money spent. Now I am on the hunt for a BARTENDING job. Woo WoO.
I found this place on Google and looked it up on Yelp and it is all the great things that people say it is. I came here for the night class after my day job and am currently in my 2nd week of the course and already giving it 5 stars. They give you a first day trial for you to decide if you like it or not, and that roped me in...thank goodness because I've met and become great friends with my diverse and absolutely wonderful classmates that will last long after this course is over. I suggest talking to your classmates and initiating going out after class or on breaks together because it makes the experience so much more fun.
When you get there, you might feel like it's a drill school, but they give you plenty of resources (in and out of class) to learn the history and background of different alcohols and drinks as well as good-practice habits and ways to remember everything you do. Bartending takes a lot of memory and patience!
Our class had Jessica, Leslie, and Shawn as our instructors, and they have all been great. You can't really say one is better than another because they're too different to compare lol. I can tell you though that they are all very encouraging and knowledgeable. There is a post below about Shawn not being that great, but I totally disagree. He was moving through material a bit quickly one day and one girl didn't understand something and she said it's okay move on, but Shawn made sure she understood before moving on. That is the sign of a great teacher and he really wants us to do well out in the real world. He's also very engaging and funny...some people just have to lighten up. Keep in mind that it's hard to teach effectively to such a diverse crowd of faces that come in every week, but all the instructors get 5 stars.
As for the price...yea it seems a little bit pricey...but only at first. You get all your money's worth in the material you learn and resources you get in the class. And THEN, I'm sure you go out and make it all back after a few nights. I'm saying this, and I'm a student not making huge money and I took the class for kicks not even expecting a consistent bartending job since I leave town in a month. And I still think it's worth it. You can go learn without the class, but it'll probably take you years to learn through trial and error what I have in two weeks.
I was born to be a bartender. My grandma owned a bar in the boonies of Pennsylvania and worked there until her 60s. As a child when I used to visit, I'd hang out and play shuffleboard with the toothless locals. My mom continued on the tradition and was a legendary bartender in San Jose where she met my dad. Therefore, not only is bartending in my blood, I owe bartending for my very existence. So naturally, when I graduated from four challenging years at Berkeley, I put my degree to good use -- and became a bartender.
If you want to go to bartending school, GO HERE. Even if you've never considered it, or if you think, as my mom put it, "Bartending school is for losers -- just get a job at a bar and learn as you go", I still recommend it.
My class was full of fun social people which helped make the early morning class bearable. Lee, my instructor, is the epitome of cool, and extremely knowledgable and helpful. Tia (I think she left) was really helpful with getting you interviews and informing you of potential jobs. Mark, the owner (I think), is also a great guy, and he hooked me up with a temporary catering job before I even finished the week-long program.
You learn a ton, but most importantly, you gain confidence and inside tips on how and where to look for jobs. You can go back and brush up on your skills whenever you want and they will always send emails about new learning opportunities (like the weekly chance to bartend at a real bar for a few hours).
Best part is - you'll get a job quickly and pay back the cost of the school in a night.
i graduated in the summer of 2007. i loved it! my instructor was shawn - he's awesome!!
i was looking online researching - how to get into this industry, etc and found this school offering a free intro class. so i had to check it out since i worked in the city (at the time). they had super convenient hours, either morning, afternoon, evening or weekends! so i signed up and got a call from the coordinator to confirm.
so i went in one evening and was actually put behind the bar! we learned the basics and got to make some drinks! yes its colored water in real bottles so it was a simulation. too bad they didnt have the real alcohol - i wanted to taste so many! LOL. after the intro class, we were asked if we wanted to continue. now this class offers extensive training, job placement assistance and you can come back after graduation to practice! so i signed up - got a great deal since i signed up with two friends.
i enrolled in the weekend class which was more convenient for me. it was soooooooo much fun. i just wanted to start bartending already! after several classes, as a class, we got to go to local bars and test our skills live! that was awesome!
since graduating, my first gig was at a rave concert at the bill graham auditorium. i earned about $450 - which definitely covered the tuition and then some! then i went to a bar with a friend, got hired immediately. i worked there for one year - took a break this past holiday.
now i'm on the search for another gig. i went to get some more practice and updates on new drinks etc -
***yes the economy sucks so the demand is not as great but i'll find something cuz i know how to get you smashed! so i'm well on my way back to being a baaaaartender! let me know if you have a lead for me - i will thank you with drinks =)
Great School! Great Teachers!
Props to Shawn during my night class. He was always fun and full of energy.
They taught you ever thing you needed to know to get your foot into bartending. Shawn even offered a intro wine class. Some great points:
- Free practice time even after you grad
- Helpful job placement by Teia
- Flexible class times
Great Experience!
Re-posting, as I am locked out of my first yelp account...
I had so much fun at this school. My teacher, Shawn, was awesome. I graduated back in Feb of 2006 and I still keep in touch with Shawn and my classmates. I now bartend at a busy club and everything I learned at the school I use now. I highly recommend the school because one of it's core concepts is to work on speed and accuracy of mixing drinks. It's an important concept when you work in a busy bar. The more drinks you make, the more tips you get! If you are looking to attend a bartending school, go here. You'll love it!
Five stars is an understatement. Being your classic "overachiever" (Stanford and Morgan Stanley), I did a lot of research before deciding that this was the best school in San Francisco. The legwork proved to be true...
After the one-week class (and one flair class), I started a company called "Stanford Bartender" which bartended for private events on the University campus. Over the last two years I was an undergrad, I ran 30+ events and made over $10,000.
SFSOB gave me an amazing education and the class truly "paid off". Much love to Shawn, who continues to teach me tips and tricks (three years later), and has helped me get behind the bar at some of SF's best clubs!
I took Bartending class @ SF Skool of Bartending almost two years ago and been bartending ever since! The courses are fun and the instructors are kewl..esp SHAWN.... he's extra kewl!! He's taken time to keep intouch with his students and has gone out to visit them at their new jobs.
BARTENDING is an awesome job to have!! I'm not even kidding! So if anyone is considering bartending..SF school of bartending is the place to start!!
tried their free intro class. Students get behind bar with containers holding colored liquid and make drink the very first day.
Before you know it, you will be shoving ice, pouring from two bottles at the same time, counting beat, reaching for fake cherry and shoving straw in that taquela sunrise.
I feel like a scientist in lab conjuring up different chemicals but hey, give people what they want!
Ok - my turn....I read a few of the reviews; can't get through all of 'em yet. But I agree ~ it was a wonderful experience and like another person mentioned "no joke"
Ev'rybody raves about Shawn, but I gotta tell you, Jess was my instructor and she's awesome ~ she's extremely friendly, always supportive and very on top of her game!
I too have had little luck landing a p/t bartending gig, it's kinda like the "entertainment industry "all about who you know and who's gonna give you a chance but I wouldn't trade what I've learned. Better to have some knowledge then to think I could bartend without SFSOB!
AMAZING LEARNING EXPERIENCE!
I took weekend course for 5 wks
Each saturday 11-5.
Cost: $295
Shaw taught my class and he makes it serious but fun at the same time! He also has great connections with employers in the field, so he would help you get a job after you get your certificate and some skills.
If you wanna start off fresh, this is where you would go!
Originally, I came to San Francisco by way of Los Angeles (Go Greyhound!) to get rid of my exterior norm which tends to directly cram itself amid who I am and whom I am alleged to be. My assets in uniqueness -- I presuppose -- would ultimately convey about a modification whereby the fortifications of chauvinism, like the walls of the World Trade Center would come all but plummeting down around me. And within the after effects, my spirit would be liberated a lot similar to the tranquility that goes after a ferocious tornado.
And after a week of my daydreaming on the beach by my apartment in the Avenues, and secret desires of drifting off into the ocean. I decided to dive right into bartending school at the San Francisco School of Bartending. Hesitantly, I walked in and on a Monday, and met the bald headed short, muscular man with the simi-Hitler mustache/beard/goti, "Shawn" is his name and automatically I knew he was insane. Fertively, I assumed that he suffered from a cause of a Bipolar Disorder hinted with "Lil Man's Syndrome," because his antics within an hour went from high, flirtatious, hilarious, to mad serious, nerdy, corky, and astute all in the first few minutes of us meeting. I assumed that I would never get along with his extremist, attention-craving personality added onto my highly-opinionated spaced-out-minded ways (Oh and let's not forget my lesbianism). And I hoped that he was just the school's secretary. But soon I would find out that he would not only be my bartending instructor but a newfound friend, that would immerse me into the "IN" crowd as I journeyed and learned to discover this newfound world called, SAN FRANCISCO.
Let me note that the San Francisco School of Bartending is not only a wonderful school...It is simply phenomenal. People will travel from all over the Bay just to get away from the everyday stress of life and learn mixology from Shawn and his gang of down-to-earth instructors (I Love you all). You'll not only learn how to make over 80 drinks in two weeks, but you'll learn how to become more socialable with people from all walks of life (race, color, creed, gender). And you'll gain a lot of new Myspace, Facebook, Blackchat, Gaychat, blah blah blah friends, that'll send you comments on your wall. And hopefully, after you graduate and everyone in you class gets a bartending gig, you'll get free drinks!
There were so many times that I would just stop in to say, "Hi" because I was in the downtown San Francisco area (sometimes I wasn't even in the area), and would stay from the afternoon til the late evening, just having good conversation amongst great people (esp. SHAWN)!
SFSOB helped me to rid myself of the inner demons in which I struggle with, exchanging them with hopes and (bartending)certification to not only be a great Mixologist but the "Cool New Chic In Town." Now that I have graduated, I still and will stop by and say, "hi" to all the staff, but especially Shawn... Shawn was the man who I thought that I was going to have much conflict with, but ultimately became the man that I needed at that moment... he helped lift my spirits with just a smile... which allowed me to rest nakedly in the triviality of laughter and peace, releasing me to be -- a philosophical, affectionate, fun and complete MIXOLOGIST! I love you SHAWN!
Ps. The school really does help you with job placement... but it's ultimately up to you to go after it... they can only do so much... so Females show some Titts and Guys Flex!
SFSOB was a great experience. I took the evening course monday-friday for two weeks. I work full time during the day in Oakland and went straight to the school afterwards without trouble..I think the class was from 6:30-9:30 pm. I suggest bart-ing it because parking is ridiculous.
There was a lot to learn and there was never a dull moment. Our instructor Shawn kept things fun and interesting and I loved my classmates! Definately made some cool friends.
Although the real world in any job is slightly different from school, the things I learned from the course really helped me be better prepared. The job placement program is pretty awesome too. It's been months since I've completed the course and I still get emails from SFSOB in regards to jobs available!!!
Not at all what I was expecting. The instructors were great at teaching and funny. All the real-world tips and tricks they give you are priceless. And finally, I got to work a couple bars and get a comfortable feel behind the bar. I've never been paid for bartending, but I feel like a seasoned vet.
I suggest the afternoon class, because it rocked. Its the only one I took, but Jake and Kristin were a lot of fun.
I had shawn who is AWESOME!! he truly cares about his students and how much fun they are having but also that they are learning. We had a subsitute teacher for two nights, mary ann, i was apprehensive at first because shawn was so great, but she was just as awesome in her own way. Shawn goes out of his way for his students, really trying to get us all the most experience possible! I was skeptical at first because I didn't want to "waste" my money, and regardless of whether I get a job or not, I'll always have this skill!
job placements real koo too, their database is alright, but if u really go in, teia will help you with your resume and give you tips!
updated: i actually have a job now, but i'm not sure whether or not that's because my interview went well or because I had a bartending certificate, both of which i think are pluses..but i had to look for this myself through craigslist, which i later noticed the job posting was also in their job search database...as for experience, nothing is the same as a real bar, but the make it pretty damn close
Back in June of 2006, I decided I wanted to make extra income, thus lead me to SFSOB. My first week there was a blast. My teacher was Robin and she was very good, and also a very cool person. During my second week, I had Shawn as my teacher. Not only was he a crack up, he's a wine expert, and gives great class lectures.
After all was said and done, I scored high on my written and practical test, and was ready to get out there and show how good I became.
I'd recommend this school to anyone who is very serious in becoming a bartender. The entire staff there is EXCELLENT, and will definately make you feel at home!
SF Bartending is legit. Some people hem and haw about paying for bartending class because they know how to open a Corona. But learning how to make a Manhattan, or a purple hooter shot, or any other drink your friends/customers request is priceless.
Shawn is a great teacher that cares about students having a good time during class, and getting a job after class. Teia is money with job placement, and is always good for a couple of off-color jokes.
My name is gold in this here City, but damnit, I will put my seal of approval on the San Francisco School of Bartending.
We had our ladies night out at this place.
Jack was our teacher and we learned how to make cocktails for 2 hours...total fun :)
So this past Sunday was my graduation (top of the class, I must brag a little bit) from bartending school. From the first week of going to school, though, the things I was learning were helping me in my CURRENT job (serving at Chili's) because I was able to get into DETAIL with my guests about what types of flavors they liked and basically customize drink suggestions for each person at my table. Based on that and a few other factors, I've pushed my "average tips per shift" from about $60/shift (back before I went into management) to just over $80/shift (since turning in my keys, going back to serving, and going to bartending school... and DESPITE a down economy!). So, thumbs down to the rumors of a bad economy, and thumbs UP to both Katie (the Sunday class instructor) and the SF School of Bartending for setting their students (the ones that bust their balls to graduate) up for success and giving them the tools and confidence to chase their dreams.
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6/14/2009
This coming Sunday is the last class that I'll have (outside of dropping in to refresh my skills,… Read more »
