My husband and I have been to Bar Academy twice within the last year ; once for the Sangria making class and last night we went for the margarita making class. Both times we have absolutely had a great time. The classes always seem to attract a (mostly) cool, laid-back crowd . The owner, Rob, is funny and tries to keep the mood light and fun. You can definitely tell he truly appreciates everyone's business and really tries to make sure everyone has a good time. Though I am an introvert at heart, I appreciate being pushed a little outside my comfort zone and being put at the bar to mix drinks. The hands on experience also helps you mingle with the others in the class. We will definitely return! read more

Bar Academy 101 - Bartending Schools Near Me - Verona , New Jersey

I purchased a Groupon for the one-day 8 hour bartending certification course for 2 people. On the Groupon and their website it says they have days available through the weekday and Saturdays. This was the only reason I purchased them for weekday availability as it is very difficult for me to take off work on a Saturday. When I called to schedule, I was told that the course is not 8 hours and more like 4-5 hours & that they only have them available on Saturdays. I was very disappointed to hear that I was mislead by the Groupon and their website. I went to their Instagram page & they had a post that showed the dates available to schedule for the certification class. Along with the dates was an excerpt saying that you can message them to request a weekday for an extra cost. I messaged them through that specific post explaining my situation and they deleted the post and never responded to me. I also left a message on their website as well & they never got back to me. I am very disappointed as I was super interested in attending and would've certainly posted about it and recommended other people to attend & attend other events, or gifted to others. Edit: I knew the owner would respond and that is why I included that it is written on YOUR website and YOUR instagram page that you have weekdays available. It's not just misinformation through Groupon, it's you too! read more

Bar Academy 101 - Bartending Schools Near Me - Verona , New Jersey

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I was so looking forward to a night out with friends and participating in a mixology class. The positives: the room was great- spacious and filled with cool decorations. The class itself, 15 minutes of demonstration then the owner did his own thing. Alcohol was certainly not top shelf liquor and there was no adjusting the recipe. Adding sprite to every cocktail when seltzer would have been a great alternative was out of the question. There was no substitutions available. Needless to say, for the price that was paid per person, we could have purchased premium liquor, watched a you tube video on how to measure (i certainly dont measure out my alcohol!) and done this at home. In response to Rob's comments, I didnt bash, I explained my experience. It was classified as a mixology class, not a tasting as Rob rebutted. There is certainly a difference. A few accommodations and my review would have been different! read more

Got the master mixology course on Groupon. Rob the owner was great and it was incredibly easy to book the groupon with him via text. I definitely want to come back and take the bar certification course. A great time and we made some interesting drinks. I saw a lot of people were having issues when using groupon so aim grateful I didn't. read more

Update: Rob contacted me immediately to discuss my experience. It's very obvious how much this owner cares about his business and making sure customers are satisfied. We will be visiting BA101 another time to have a better experience with Rob as our instructor. Thank you for getting in touch, much appreciated! I visited Bar Academy 101 thanks to a Groupon I received from a friend. Rob was accommodating with getting my SO and I in to visit on a Saturday for a four-hour bartending class. Across the street from the building, there's a decent-sized parking lot available to use. The room was easy to find on the second floor of the building and we were able to grab seats together at one of the three mini bar setups they have. The alcohol bottles are filled with colored water, so you can practice without making a complete mess. Rob reviewed some of the basics of what we would be learning, and we were able to get started with practicing making drinks. We received a packet that contains some tips and drink recipes, so when you get behind the bar, you have an idea of what to make. Each of the three bars is segmented by group, ours ended up with six people while other groups had four. Another instructor, Kevin, took over for Rob and I was not thrilled with the experience he offered. Kevin was rude to me and other members of our group throughout the entirety of the course. There's funny deadpan humor and then there's Kevin. Kevin's sarcasm and lack of professionalism brought down the whole vibe, so much so that certain people within the group did not want to go up to "bartend" when he was at our station. Rather than be encouraging, we constantly heard snarky remarks, curses, and criticisms. Everyone is there to learn, most of us have zero experience with bartending, so it was bizarre that this was the kind of attitude on display. Thankfully, the group we had was amazing and I only had fun because of the encouragement and humor they offered. read more

Bar Academy 101 - Bartending Schools Near Me - Verona , New Jersey

Have been here twice as a part of a Meetup and had a great time with the Cocktail making class. You get to learn to make some fun Cocktail AND taste them too read more

SHOT CLASS REVIEW I enjoyed myself! The place was well decorated with ambient lighting to create a cozy yet engaging environment. We had a chance to walk around to three bar stations and make six shots from a preselected list. (Green Tea, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Legs Spreader, etc) The owner, Rob, is a nice guy too. Playful and professional, he made the experience a great one. I appreciated him keeping us hydrated with free bottled water as well. I just wish the high chairs were a bit taller for tabletop seating but that's no big deal. All in all I had a great time, would definitely return for another class. Free parking lot across the street. read more

I came here with a group for an event. You couldn't really tell from the street that this was a bar academy. When we walked up the stairs the place was uniquely decorated. The owner came out and introduced himself and was nice and to the point. He explained that we were going to have stations and what we would be making at each. The experience of actually bartending was very fun. I enjoyed my time and the drinks that were made were good. We got a group rate of $35 per person when its usually $70. read more

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Rob is the best! He is there for you! I attended 2 classes at Bar Academy 101, the sangria making class with my mom for Mother's Day and the shot making class with about 20+ of my friends for my birthday. Both times I had a great experience, my guest for my birthday especially loved it. Both classes are very hands on and you are the bartender! The sangria making class isn't your traditional sangria with rum/brandy. It's more about the flavors. We used both white and red wine and a few mixers. The shot making class was my favorite, defines few shots a would never try on my own, but that's what the class is about trying new things and mingling. The class is typically 6 shots, but he was nice enough to throw in an extra for my bday! Overall these classes are great to do with a group or solo. I'd definitely be back for a wine or beer class. read more

Bar Academy 101 - Making some sangria! - Bartending Schools Near Me - Verona , New Jersey

Robert of Bar Academy 101 presented a Mocktail Workshop for us. Something new and different for us and him, yet Robert was a great host and extremely accommodating and personable. The program was immensely popular. We received so many of compliments from the patrons who participated. They really enjoyed learning something new while having fun in the process. Thank you Robert and Bar Academy! read more

Bar Academy 101 - Robert of Bar Academy 101 - Bartending Schools Near Me - Verona , New Jersey

If you are thinking about a wine tasting, this is your place! It was the best one I've been to so far. Rob was an excellent host and teacher. We not only tasted amazing wine and cheese combos but left with a packet that had all the details of everything we tried and then some. The notes were also handy during the tasting so we could follow along when we forgot something. The bar was cute and clean. We plan to come back to try some of there other wine tasting classes (chocolate and pasta to be exact) as well as their sangria making one! Highly recommended. read more

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Always saw Bar Academy pop up on Groupon and finally decided to sign up for a class. There were so many great options to choose from but I decided to go with the 3 hour bartending class for 2 to start. It was about $50 so very affordable. I called to book the service and Robert the owner scheduled our appointment. We ended up having to change the original date because the Bar needed some last minute repairs. Although we're disappointed at having to push back the date, I appreciated Robert communicating with me throughout the process. Be mindful that the only two days for this class are Wednesday's at 6pm and Saturday's at 10am. Let's get into the Pros and Cons. Pros- It's on the second floor so you'll have to go up a flight of stairs. Once on the second floor there's a nice waiting area outside of the Bar. The bathroom was clean. Inside of the Academy is so cute. It's made to look like a real bar with 3 Bars and plenty of seating. The space isn't large but it's comfy and cozy. Robert was super knowledgeable! Which is important if you're going to be teaching this kind of class. There was only the 4 of us so we had plenty of time to practice and there were packets with a variety of drink recipes ready for us to use before the class. FYI The bartending class does not use alcohol, the bottles are filled with colored water Cons Parking in Montclair is horrible ! So be mindful of that. You can get lucky and find free parking on Willow street depending on the time you go but otherwise be prepared to feed the meter. Bar Academy is located on the corner of Willow and Bloomfield ave but can be easy to miss as there's no flashy sign. The main entrance is right next to the mechanic adjacent to it. I was disappointed that it couldn't be offered on a Friday or Saturday night and that it was scheduled in the middle of work week. Robert can have a bit of a sarcastic attitude but I didn't have any problems with him. Although I did find that he was a little too sarcastic with my friend. All in all, it was a great experience. We're interested in coming back for the other classes. read more

Love this place! Rob the owner is great, this is a great place for groups and learning how to make cocktails read more

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Great class, great instructor, great class. Love the class and group.u would do it over and over again. So much fun. I especially like how the instructor was correcting us as we bartending. We had a great group. We even took a group picture. Of course, I was the first bartender selected. Woohoo I was so excited for this class. It was more relaxed thank expected. I would definitely join another class!! I would also bring a few friends. read more

We bought the Groupon for a margarita making class and we're pleasantly surprised. For about $50, we got a instructor-led class on margarita making and a whole lot of margaritas! The owner was super nice and we had a great time chatting with him. The activity is definitely worth a try and we can't wait to go back for another one! read more

Came here on a Groupon that my friend got for a wine and pasta tasting. I was unsure of what to expect when arriving and taking the stairs up to the academy, but when I arrived and was greeted by the owner, Rob, I knew it was going to be a great night. Rob lead us to our seats at a table which was nicely set up with salad, bread, and our pasta to accompany our tasting. We ended up sampling 6 wines (cab sav/ Pinot noir/ Malbec/ cab sav blend/ merlot/ Chianti)and it was a great experience! Rob guided us how we should approach the tasting and it was interesting to actually taste how the acid in the pasta sauce changed the flavor of the wine! I would def recommend as a date spot as they also do wine and chocolate and wine and cheese, as well as a variety of other classes like sangria and margarita making. Will definitely be back- I need to try the wine and chocolate ! read more

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This place is cool for groups. I've always secretly wanted to try out bartending so this place gave me a little taste of it. I have been herew a few times. The owner is super friendly and attentive as well. My only gripe with this place is they usually recommend for one person to bartend for the entire group. I don't think that is a good idea as everyone is there for the experience so should leave the deciding up to thr group for everyone to rotate out and make their own drinks. It's not a bar where I'm just there to grab a drink. But other than that all is well there read more

Well overdue post. Went here through a Groupon back in 2020 for a cheese and wine event. My friends and I showed up and we were the only ones there. Ya know, Covid. Rob, owner, manager, I have no idea, but helped me every step of the way, was just awesome. My gf's and I had a great time just us and him. He really was ready to talk about the cheeses and wine. He could have been making it all up for all I knew lol But he was just a delight. Just like hanging out with a friend. Seriously we had a great time. I just bought a wine and pasta night for my boyfriend and I, so I'm definitely looking forward to going here again! read more

Bar Academy 101 - Bartending Schools Near Me - Verona , New Jersey

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Rob starts off the evening a bit serious and academic but a few beers in, this is a pisser of a time. Knowledgeable - cool, doesn't come across as a know-it-all. Good instructor and emcee for the evening, even though he is a Red Sox fan. Cheers Rob. Second time here - we'll try for a 3-peat. Rob's goal is to make this experience as interactive as possible and it works! Great, casual way to try a bunch of beers! Cheers!! read more

Bar Academy 101 - Bartending Schools Near Me - Verona , New Jersey

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Took the two day class and it was fantastic. Robert the owner was 100% hands on training. I learned a lot and Robert is very knowledgeable. He always encourages to ask questions. He made me feel very comfortable. The location is very easy to get too and plenty of parking. Lots of local restaurants are in walking distance. The bartending room is set up like the real deal and is very clean. Bar Academy 101 has many different events scheduled, so check it out. I will be sending friends and family to him. read more

Went here on a random anniversary date night spot. Very cool & funny host. He made us feel at home. We got a little wine tipsy and enjoyed every second of the ambiance. Definitely will be coming back read more

I purchased the living social deal for craft beer tasting class for two people. Coming here is a good alternative if you want to get out of your house for a few hours, but don't like the crowds of a bar scene. You walk into the room and there are a few round tables for groups, and a few different bar tops that seat 2-3 people. One thing that surprised me is I thought the whole room would be filled with people doing the craft beer tasting, but that was not the case. All of the other groups were doing the wine + chocolate/cheese tasting. I imagined that we would ALL learn about craft beer and it would be kind of a group explanation with each tasting. While Rob did come around and briefly explain each beer before he poured it, and handed out a packet, I can't say I left learning anything. The tasting itself was generous portions and it was a good opportunity to try beers that I had seen in various places before. In between tastings we were chatting with the person next to us and listening to the music they play there. While the beer was good, it's nothing that you cannot buy at your local liquor store and try. Overall, I had a good time there but it just didn't really feel like a real tasting. It felt more like I went to an open bar for two hours and tried random beers. read more

Bar Academy 101 - Bartending Schools Near Me - Verona , New Jersey

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Very cute, cozy, decent prices and nice host. We went to a private wine, chocolate and cheese pairing and we had a great time! Will definitely return! read more

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The owner can't take constructive feedback. He has to make a point to say that his customers are the problem. The gratuity I left was average and I am not a rude person. Champagne wishes and caviar dreams? Ok! Lol. Seriously, he edited his comment at least 10 times. Take some feedback and move on. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Take PRIDE in your business and don't bash people who have negative reviews. Look at how you can improve. Stay classy! read more

Bar Academy 101 - Exhibit A. Think before you go to this type of business. - Bartending Schools Near Me - Verona , New Jersey

Such a fun place to learn new cocktails, it's a little hidden. I'm glad I found this place, I'll def be back. Also, the owner is so nice! read more

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Okay, can I just say that this was the BEST Groupon activity I have done. My three friends and I completed the Margarita Making Class with Rob and he was such a great instructor!! He made the two hour class so much fun. (I wish we had more time- it was THAT fun!) It was hands-on and we even had a mini competition. We'll definitely be returning for more classes! Thank you for such a fun night, Rob! read more

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I have been to two classes so far- Sangria making and Margarita making and had a blast both times. Robert is a great instructor and the drink recipes are unique and delicious. Highly recommend. read more

Came here for a wine and cheese tasting. The location is right off Bloomfield ave with plenty of metered street parking. We had temp checks at the door. A lot of bar decor inside which was Fun to read. We tried six different wines and the owner Robert who was very welcoming explained the wines and the cheese that it was paired with. Overall it was a great experience and the two hours flew by. read more

Had a nice, relaxing Friday evening at a wine and chocolate pairing class here with Rob. Worth the Groupon deal. Although it is a class the entire 2 hour experience became increasingly informal as the drinks came - didn't really mind since I did not have the expectation to be there and take notes. I went just to see if there were some interesting chocolate and wine combinations and the class did just that. The six pairings all featured chocolates that I've never had and I gained a new appreciation for how chocolate and wine can interact and change each other's flavors at the end of the class. Rob does give you a small packet that has instructions on how to properly do the tasting as well as the names and descriptions of the chocolate and wines. It was a small group when we were there but it made it easier to talk to others and get to know strangers I otherwise would never meet. All in all, a laid-back, interesting event. I appreciate being able to just sample and have some time to chat with people. Would be curious to try out some of their other events at Bar Academy. read more

Came for the second time for a private event. Rob cares so much about making his customers happy and catering to whatever works best for them. If u have a need to do something different for a team event this is a great option. All the wines were really great and cheese as well. Definitely want to return for one of the public events. read more

So glad I stumbled across this place, we had such a great experience!! Used a Groupon for a wine and cheese pairing class for Valentine's weekend which was so much fun. Rob was a really great host and teacher and we felt like we learned a bit about wine and pairing foods for different flavors. The room shown in the pictures was also so cozy and fun - my date mentioned wishing his basement looked like this place. The music, volume, lights, amount of interaction vs time to chat, etc. were all perfect for the vibe. I'd love to return in the future for another event like the craft beer or wine and chocolate classes. Definitely check it out with friends or a date for a great time! I've already recommended to some friends :-) read more

we bought a groupon to come on a Sunday at 2. It was an awesome experience. We walked in a few minutes late and the room was full. The wine and cheese pairing was exceptional. It was paired to perfection and we sampled wine we usually wouldn't go out of our way to try. Rob was brilliant, very sarcastic and very friendly. Thank you bar academy for an awesome experience. read more

Bar Academy 101 - Bartending Schools Near Me - Verona , New Jersey

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Came here with my friends for the Shot Making Class with high hopes (although we found it on Groupon), and were severely disappointed. We came 30 minutes early, but couldn't find parking because it was raining. We finally walked in the door 5 minutes after when the class starts, and the owner starts in on us for being late - he would NOT let it go! After bringing it up 4 times, he then starts making fun of us for being "big drinkers" - uhm I'm sorry, it's 3:30 PM on a Saturday, I'm pretty sure everyone in the class is into alcohol? I found him extremely rude. On top of it, after he finished talking, we had to socialize with the other "students", and we felt extrememly ostracized because he wouldn't stop making fun of us. To finally get to the actual class part - poorly set up. I didn't have a chance to make any shots, and I'm thinking half of the class did not. There's only 3 stations, and probably 25 "students", all for 45 minutes after he speaks for the first 15. He doesn't have a timer or anything to make sure that everyone gets their fair share of shot making but nooope, that would be too easy! One of the other students told us that it wasn't always like this, that the owner now has a fat head because a lot of people are buying his $15 groupon (woah big spender alert!!!) so he just takes everyone that he can and therefore doesn't provide enough time to actually do the class properly. The owner makes a speech at the end that is a pathetic story about how he used to be in finance and then doesn't really tie it into why he does this now, then basically asks for tips. Obviously, after my experience, my only tip would be to run a better class. read more

10/10 recommend Bar Academy! My boyfriend and I went for the champagne and chocolate tasting and we couldn't be more happy with the experience! Rob was such a great, entertaining host who is very knowledgeable. The best part was the tasting was FUN. Most tastings I've been to are dry and dull and this was quite the opposite. We will 100% be back to try out the other tastings Rob has to offer. I've already recommended to my friends and coworkers. Such a fun spot to go to for an experience different than anything else offered in the area! read more

Bar Academy 101 - Champagne and Chocolate tasting - Bartending Schools Near Me - Verona , New Jersey

The ladies and I experienced the wine and chocolate pairing class on a Friday .Purchased the groupon deal. There was three girlfriends and I wanted to experience different wine samples and leave out of there with our favorite wine of choice. We are occasional drinkers, and advised the gentlemen if you are able to help us choose our favorite wine from this class you are miracle worker. We sampled 3 wines and none of the wines were to our liking . One of my girlfriends felt the gentlemen was giving more attention to the other groups rather than us. There was beer class going on as well our wine class the same time. I think he may need someone else there to assist him. The experience was ok I will not return to this location for another wine tasting. The owner was friendly maybe we were expecting something else for our first experience. *Hint street parking* read more

Great atmosphere and great host! I have been to this location many times and continue to look forward to returning!

I have now been here 3 times, once for champagne and chocolate and twice for wine and chocolate. All tastings have been outstanding. Rob is amazing and fun!! The wines, champagnes and chocolates are great. This is the best deal in the world. If you want a fun two hours, wine, champagne and chocolate, this is the place to be. Others were having wine and cheese, and others were having beer tastings. Everyone and I mean everyone left with a big smile on their faces. Did I say you have to go here. We have brought friends and everyone loves it. I can't wait to go back with more friends. You have to go. read more

Thank you, Rob, so much for a wonderful experience, your kindness, and patience. You give a lovely one-day class and have a magnetic, down-to-earth personality! Today was a great time for my boyfriend's birthday and the class played a big role in that. And thank you also for your understanding of my awful, auditory test-taking ability! The atmosphere at Bar Academy 101 is great--it was very easy to fall into some great conversations with new people and enjoy learning about mixing so many drinks. read more

Came to learn the basics of bartending as well as getting a 2 day certificate to start bartending - and it was honestly so awesome! Rob truly cares and is a knowledgable teacher. He's super friendly and patient which made it so easy for me to ask questions about anything. He also wants you to have fun with it! The place is also a nice cozy set up. I definitely will be coming back for extra practice and would recommend this school to anyone :)! read more

My experience with this school was amazing. The owner, Rob, was flexible with scheduling and his prices are awesome. He's very patient with his students and knowledgeable in his craft. The atmosphere of his school is inviting (made me want a drink lol) and he allows loads of practice time which is super helpful. In the 2 days that I came here I learned a lot. Thanks Rob! read more