Professional bartender training in Tallinn
Hands-on courses for people who want to work behind the bar, from the basics to flair. The curriculum follows the Estonian occupational standard Bartender, level 4, and prepares you for the qualification exam.
01Bartender School
A profession, not an evening class
This is full adult vocational training: lessons in an equipped classroom, a graded study diary, an assessment at the end and a document in your hand. The curricula follow the occupational standard Bartender, level 4, so by the end you understand what the job actually consists of and are ready to apply for the professional qualification.
Do not confuse it with a cocktail workshop: that runs a couple of hours and exists as an activity for a group. This is 80 or 160 academic hours with an attendance requirement and an exam. If you want something for a team or a group of friends, see the [cocktail workshop](/en/services/cocktail-workshop).
Who it is for
- people who want to start working as a bartender
- working bartenders rebuilding the fundamentals
- bartenders who want to add flair to their work
- anyone preparing for the professional qualification exam
02Bartender School
Choose a course
Three curricula. An academic hour is 45 minutes; the total covers classroom work, practice and independent study.
- Option 1
Base course: bartender, level 4
80 academic hours: 50 theory, 25 practice, 5 independent study. 990 € + VAT. Stock handling, guest service and the till, making and serving drinks, equipment and workplace care, safety and first aid, knowledge of spirits and coffee drinks, service standards, career and qualification.
- Option 2
Show-bartender course: flair
80 academic hours: 10 theory, 50 practice, 20 or more hours of independent study. 990 € + VAT. Flair fundamentals and safety, basic tricks, advanced and extreme tricks, building a show routine, guest service with show elements. The curriculum draws on the World Flair Association competition rules and the same occupational standard.
- Option 3
Full course: base plus show bartender
160 academic hours: 60 theory, 75 practice, 25 independent study. 1980 € + VAT. Both curricula back to back, sixteen modules: first the bartender’s trade in full, then flair and working in front of an audience.
How the training runs
- language of instruction: Estonian, Russian or English
- practice on site, theory online if you prefer
- an academic hour is 45 minutes; groups are formed in order of registration
- in force majeure, lessons may run over Zoom or Google Meet
03What's included
What the course includes
All equipment, ingredients and materials for the duration of the training are provided by us.
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Instructor
Higher education, professional experience in the field and teaching experience: the requirement is set out in our study organisation principles.
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Equipped classroom
Six bar counters across two stations: up to twelve people practise at the same time.
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Drinks and tools
Over a hundred drinks and the full set of bar tools for making cocktails and experimenting.
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Study materials
Handouts on paper or electronically, video and training films. Free of charge.
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Study diary
Practical lessons are graded daily on a five-point scale with feedback from the instructor.
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Assessment
A theory test and a practical task at the end of the course, plus a separate electronic food-hygiene test.
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Completion document
A certificate if you attend at least 75% of the lessons and pass the assessment. A statement of participation is issued on request from 50% attendance.
Agreed separately
- individual training instead of a group
- project training for a company or a venue
- payment in instalments by separate agreement
- an invoice to the employer instead of a private person
- transferring paid training to another course
05How much does it cost
Payment, refunds and cancellation
Course prices are fixed and shown above. Below is how to pay and what happens if your plans change.
What affects the price:
- Payment by invoice The invoice is issued before the training starts and must be paid by its due date. Training begins for those who have been placed in a group and have either paid or provided a confirmation letter from their employer.
- Instalments Possible under a separate agreement with the payer.
- Income-tax refund A private person can claim an income-tax refund from the Tax and Customs Board when filing a tax return: the training is tied to the occupational standard.
- Withdrawing Tell us in writing. Three days or more before the start we refund 100%; less than three days before, 50%. Paid training can be transferred to another course.
- Interrupting the course If you leave mid-course the fee is not refunded. With a valid reason, such as illness or a work trip, you can join the next group.
If a group does not fill, we postpone or cancel the course, giving at least two days’ notice by phone or e-mail. If a course is cancelled through our fault, the fee is refunded in full. The full terms are in the [Study organisation principles](/en/study-organisation-principles).
06Portfolio
What the lessons look like
Frames from our sessions and performances. Photographs of the classroom will be added.
07How it works
How to join a course
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Request
Through the form on this page or via our contacts. We need your name, personal identification code or date of birth, when you would like to start, and your contact details.
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Group and date
Groups are formed in order of registration. We confirm the start date and send the study plan.
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Payment
An invoice before the start, instalments if agreed, or an invoice to your employer.
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Training and assessment
Lessons to schedule, grades in the diary, then the exam and your completion document.
08FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the training
Do I need experience behind a bar?
No. The base course is designed for people starting from zero. For working bartenders it helps rebuild the fundamentals and prepare for the qualification.
What are the entry requirements?
Age 18 or over, basic education, and health that allows you to study and work in food service. A medical certificate confirming the absence of infectious diseases is required; you can get it from your family doctor after the training has started.
What language is the training in?
Estonian, Russian or English.
How long does a course take?
The base course and the show-bartender course are 80 academic hours each; the full course is 160. An academic hour is 45 minutes. Ask about exact dates and the schedule when you register.
Where do the lessons take place?
In an equipped classroom at Tartu mnt 35, Tallinn: six bar counters across two stations, over a hundred drinks, the full set of tools, and music equipment. The nearest stop is Paberi; parking is paid.
What do I get at the end?
A certificate, if you attended at least 75% of the lessons, reached the learning outcomes and passed the assessment. If you attended at least 50% but did not complete the programme in full, we issue a statement of participation on request, showing the volume covered.
How does the assessment work?
To sit the exam you need at least 75% attendance and no failing grades in the diary. The exam is a theory test plus a practical task: at least 75% of the test answers must be correct and the practical must be graded satisfactory or better. There is also a separate electronic food-hygiene test.
Does the course prepare me for the professional qualification?
Yes. The curricula follow the occupational standard Bartender, level 4, and include a module on how to apply for the qualification and assess your own readiness. The qualification exam itself is run by the awarding body, not by us.
Can I claim the income tax back?
A private person can claim an income-tax refund when filing a tax return: the training is tied to the occupational standard. Check the exact procedure with the Tax and Customs Board.
Can my employer pay?
Yes. Training starts both for those who have paid themselves and for those whose employer has sent a confirmation letter.
What if I cannot attend after all?
Tell us in writing. Three days or more before the start we refund the full amount; less than three days before, half. Paid training can be transferred to another course.
What happens if the group does not fill?
We may postpone the course until the group fills or cancel it, giving at least two days’ notice by phone or e-mail. If a course is cancelled through our fault, the fee is refunded in full.
Can I study remotely?
Practice is on site only. Theory can be taken online if you prefer, and during a lockdown, force majeure or by agreement lessons may run over Zoom or Google Meet.
How is this different from a cocktail workshop?
A workshop runs a couple of hours and is an activity for a group. This is vocational training with attendance requirements, grades, an exam and a completion document.
09Get a quote
Apply for a course
Tell us which course interests you and when you would like to start: right away, within a month, or in a particular month. Leave an e-mail and a phone number so a manager can reach you quickly, name the start date of the next group and answer your questions.
