Cocktails lessons in Speakeasy

The best part of this Bastille experience is that you do more than watch a bartender work. You make three different cocktails, learning the difference between shaking, stirring, and building a drink directly in its glass. It is part cocktail class and part tasting session in the speakeasy bar at Restaurant Prost.

I like the mix of drinks and food, especially the charcuterie and cheese board served alongside the cocktails. I also like the choice of non-alcoholic drinks, plus instruction in both French and English. The main catch is timing: the advertised hour can feel rushed, while some group sessions last well over two hours because of delays and table reservations.

Key points to know

• Three cocktail methods: Practice shaken, stirred, and built drinks rather than repeating one recipe.
• Three cocktails included: Your ticket covers the drinks, along with soft drinks and a tasting board.
• Bastille speakeasy setting: Meet at Restaurant Prost near Place de la Bastille and ask for the speakeasy bar.
• Friendly named staff: Tanguy and Simon are among the team members praised for making the activity enjoyable.
• Not just for drinkers: Non-alcoholic cocktail options are included, but the activity is for adults aged 18 and over.

Making cocktails inside the Bastille speakeasy

This activity takes place at Restaurant Prost in the Place de la Bastille area of Paris. When you arrive, ask for the speakeasy bar. The setting gives the class a more playful mood than a standard restaurant tasting, though the experience remains centered on the drinks rather than on a long presentation about the venue.

You should expect to work as part of a group. That matters because the pace may depend on how many people are making drinks at the same time. The session is sold as one hour, but the practical timing is less exact. One couple found that the full visit lasted more than two hours, while other groups felt pressed to finish their drinks and food before the next booking.

That mixed timing is the one point I would keep in mind before booking. If you want a tightly scheduled activity before dinner or a show, leave plenty of space afterward. If you are happy to treat the class as a relaxed evening stop, the longer pace may work better, provided the room is not being cleared for another reservation.

Three drinks, three useful cocktail techniques

The class is organized around three basic ways to make a cocktail. That structure is useful because you leave with a simple framework you can use at home, rather than just a list of recipes.

Shaken cocktails

The first method teaches you how to use a shaker with confidence. You learn how ingredients are combined, how to shake properly, and how to strain the finished drink into the glass.

This is the most active part of the class. You get to handle the equipment and take part in making the drink instead of simply receiving it from the bar. The activity can include familiar styles such as a passion fruit martini, which one participant particularly enjoyed making.

The value here is practical. Shaking is often the cocktail technique people recognize, but good results depend on more than moving the shaker around. The class gives you a chance to connect the motion, chilling, and straining steps in one go.

Stirred cocktails

The second technique uses a mixing glass. You learn how to stir a drink, chill it, and serve it with a cleaner, calmer style than a shaken cocktail.

This part should appeal to anyone who likes classic drinks with a smooth texture. It also shows why the preparation method matters. A stirred drink is not simply a shaken cocktail made more slowly. The handling changes the final result, and the class lets you compare the two approaches during the same visit.

Because the session includes three different cocktails, you can notice those differences while the drinks are still fresh in your mind. That makes the lesson more useful than tasting three similar recipes.

Built cocktails

The third method is the simplest in equipment but still requires care. A built cocktail is made directly in its serving glass. You learn how to layer ingredients and finish the drink with a garnish.

This is the easiest technique to repeat at home because you do not need a shaker or mixing glass. The lesson focuses on balance and presentation, showing how a few careful steps can produce a good-looking drink without a complicated setup.

I like this three-part format because it gives beginners a clear introduction to the main cocktail families. It is not a professional bartender training course, but it can give you enough confidence to make something better than a rushed drink at home.

The food changes this from a lesson into an evening out

Your ticket includes something to eat, described as a degustation board with charcuterie and cheese. It is not a full meal, but it gives you a useful savory break between the drinks.

The board also makes the experience work well for couples or friends. You are not simply standing at a bar drinking three cocktails in quick succession. You have food to share and a reason to settle in for conversation.

There is an important limit. Food at the terrace or restaurant is not included. If you want a full dinner, plan to pay separately or eat before or after the activity. The included board should be treated as a tasting plate, not a substitute for a complete meal.

Some groups have had to request a second board and wait for it, so the serving pace may not always match the drinks. I would not count on the included food arriving at exactly the moment you want it. If you are hungry, have a snack earlier, especially if you book a later session.

What the three included cocktails are worth

The listed price is $44 per person. For that amount, you receive three cocktails, a tasting board, soft drinks, and guided practice with three cocktail methods.

That is a fair value if you want an activity rather than three drinks at a bar. You are paying for the instruction, the chance to make the cocktails yourself, and the food as well as the alcohol. The value is strongest for couples and friends who want a shared activity in central Paris.

It is less attractive if your main goal is a quiet cocktail tasting with no instruction. The format involves making the drinks, waiting for the group, and working around the restaurant’s table schedule. Someone looking only for a fast drink may find the class less efficient than ordering at the bar.

The non-alcoholic options also make the price easier to justify for a mixed group. A person who does not drink can still receive a cocktail-style alternative and take part in the activity. The available information does not specify the exact non-alcoholic recipes, so you should ask the staff what is offered when you arrive.

The people who make the session work

The staff are a major part of the experience. Tanguy and Simon are named as particularly enjoyable members of the team, and the activity depends heavily on the person leading your group.

You can take the class in French or English. That is useful in an international city like Paris, especially when a technique needs to be shown and explained at the same time. The language choice should make it easier to follow instructions about shaking, stirring, straining, and garnishing.

The best approach is to take an active role. Ask questions, watch how the bartender handles each tool, and pay attention to the order of the steps. You will get more from the hour if you see it as a hands-on lesson rather than a bar service with occasional instructions.

The staff can make the experience feel warm and social, but the restaurant schedule may limit that mood. When another group is due to use the table, reminders to leave can make the end feel hurried. I would book this with a flexible attitude rather than expecting a private class with unlimited time.

Timing is the real issue to plan around

The activity is advertised as one hour. In practice, the timing can vary. A group session may last longer than expected, especially when people are making three drinks and sharing food.

That sounds positive until the venue needs the table back. Some people have had more than 90 minutes to drink and eat, while still feeling rushed because staff were preparing for a later reservation. The problem is not simply a short class or a long class. It is the combination of an unclear pace and a firm departure time.

For planning, I would avoid placing a must-arrive appointment immediately afterward. Do not schedule this just before a theater performance, timed museum entry, or train unless you have a generous buffer.

The activity may work best as a flexible early evening plan. You can make the drinks, share the board, and continue elsewhere afterward without watching the clock every few minutes. If you prefer a compact one-hour stop, ask at the time of booking how the session is being scheduled that day.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this for adults who want to do something social in the Bastille area. It works especially well for:

• Couples looking for a light evening activity
• Friends who enjoy trying unfamiliar cocktails
• Beginners who want basic home-bar techniques
• Mixed groups that include someone who prefers non-alcoholic drinks
• Visitors who want food included but do not need a full dinner

It is not suitable for children under 18. The activity is built around cocktails, even though non-alcoholic options are available.

It may not suit someone who wants detailed bartender training. You learn three useful methods, but the session is short and group-based. Think of it as a practical introduction with tasting, not a full course in spirits, cocktail history, or professional bar work.

It may also disappoint if you expect a calm private table for the whole evening. The room can have another group arriving afterward, and that can affect how long you may stay.

Small practical details that matter

The meeting point is Restaurant Prost. Ask for the speakeasy bar rather than waiting for a general restaurant seating arrangement.

The activity is in the Ile-de-France region, in the Bastille area of Paris. The supplied meeting information does not give a full street address, so check the exact booking details before setting out.

French and English are available. If you have a strong preference, state it when booking or at the start of the session.

The ticket includes three cocktails, a degustation board, and soft drinks. It does not include food ordered separately at the terrace or restaurant.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available, which helps if your Paris schedule is still changing. An express security check is listed as part of the booking information, though the exact process is not explained, so do not rely on it to solve a late arrival.

Should you book the cocktail lesson?

Book it if you want a hands-on drink activity, three different cocktail styles, and a little food in a central Paris setting. The strongest reasons are the variety, the chance to make the drinks yourself, and the friendly staff, including Tanguy and Simon.

Think twice if you need exact one-hour timing or a full meal. The experience can run beyond the advertised duration, yet the restaurant may still ask you to leave when another group has the table. For the best chance of enjoying it, leave your schedule open afterward, arrive ready to participate, and treat the board as a snack rather than dinner.

FAQ

Where does the cocktail lesson take place?

It takes place at Restaurant Prost near Place de la Bastille in Paris. Ask for the speakeasy bar when you arrive.

How long does the activity last?

The listed duration is one hour. Actual timing can vary, and some group sessions have lasted more than two hours.

How many cocktails are included?

Three cocktails are included with the ticket.

Which cocktail techniques will I learn?

You will practice shaken cocktails, stirred cocktails, and built cocktails made directly in the glass.

Is food included?

Yes. A degustation board with food, described as charcuterie and cheese, is included. Food ordered separately at the terrace or restaurant is not included.

Are non-alcoholic drinks available?

Yes. Non-alcoholic cocktail alternatives and soft drinks are included.

Can I take the activity in English?

Yes. The instructor languages are French and English.

Is the experience suitable for children?

No. It is not suitable for children under 18.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Can I reserve now and pay later?

Yes. A reserve-now, pay-later option is available, so you do not have to pay at the time of booking.