Cocktails lessons in Speakeasy

The best part of this Bastille experience is that you make the drinks, not just watch a bartender work. In a speakeasy bar inside Restaurant Prost, you’ll practise shaking, stirring and building cocktails, then drink what you’ve made.

I like the three distinct techniques and the chance to try drinks you might not order for yourself. The included tasting board makes this more of a social evening than a bare-bones class, and the non-alcoholic options mean you can take part without drinking alcohol.

One thing to plan around: although the session is advertised as one hour, the full visit can take longer, and some groups have felt hurried when the table was needed for a later booking. If you want a slow, unhurried evening, ask about the schedule when you reserve.

• Three cocktails are included, with hands-on practice in shaking, stirring and building.
• The meeting point is Restaurant Prost near Place de la Bastille. Ask for the speakeasy bar.
• A tasting board and soft drinks are part of the ticket, but any further restaurant or terrace food is not included.
• You can request non-alcoholic cocktail alternatives, so the lesson is not limited to drinkers.
• The advertised duration is one hour, though the group format can stretch the visit and the pace may depend on later bookings.
• Instruction is available in French or English, and the activity is for adults aged 18 and over.

Finding the speakeasy at Restaurant Prost

The meeting point is Restaurant Prost, in the Place de la Bastille area of Paris. Once there, ask for the speakeasy bar. That small instruction matters: the experience is not simply a standard restaurant booking, and you will want to make sure you find the cocktail lesson rather than settle in for a separate meal.

Bastille is a useful setting for an evening activity, particularly if you are already spending time in this part of Paris. Still, the exact meeting point is the restaurant, not a general meeting spot on the square. Allow a little time to get there and ask staff for the bar when you arrive.

The experience is led in French or English. Tanguy and Simon have led sessions, and the staff have been praised for being friendly. If you are booking as a couple or with friends, that approachable, hands-on format is part of the appeal: you can make drinks together without needing prior cocktail skills.

Three ways to make a cocktail

The lesson is built around three familiar methods: shaking, stirring and building a drink directly in the glass. Each gives you a different way to think about balance, temperature and presentation. You are not just sampling a finished cocktail; you get to handle the tools and take part in making it.

The shaken cocktail portion introduces the basics of combining ingredients, shaking and straining. The practical value is clear: you learn the sequence and get a feel for the movement, rather than only hearing a bartender describe it. The session is designed to help you practise with confidence, though it is a short introduction, not an intensive bartending course.

Next comes the stirred cocktail, made with a mixing glass. Here the emphasis is on stirring, chilling and serving. It is a useful contrast with shaking: the lesson lets you see that cocktails are not all made with the same action or equipment.

The third method is the built cocktail, assembled directly in its serving glass. You learn about layering and garnishing, where a simple method can still produce an attractive result. Taken together, the three approaches give you a compact introduction to cocktail craft, with enough variety to make the hour feel more like a workshop than a single demonstration.

The ticket includes three cocktails, and the format gives you the chance to try different recipes. One participant made a passion fruit martini, a reminder that there may be room to explore a favourite style. However, the information provided does not promise a choice of recipes or a custom drink for every person, so treat that as a possibility rather than a guaranteed feature.

A tasting board makes it a social outing

A degustation board is included with the drinks. It is described as a selection of food, and the board has been served with charcuterie and cheese. That pairing helps turn a cocktail lesson into a shared evening, especially if you are booking as a couple or a small group.

The board is included in the ticket price, but do not confuse it with a full dinner. Food ordered separately at the restaurant or on the terrace is not included. If you are hungry, plan to eat before or after, or budget for anything you order beyond the included tasting board.

There is a practical wrinkle: the board and drinks may not arrive on the same timetable for every table. Some people have needed to ask about a second board, and delays can take the shine off what should be a relaxed tasting. If the food matters to your plans, check what is included for your booking and speak up early if something seems missing.

Soft drinks are included as well. Non-alcoholic cocktail alternatives are available, giving non-drinkers a way to take part in the making and tasting. The activity is still a cocktail-focused experience, but the option is worth knowing about if someone in your group prefers not to drink alcohol.

Is one hour enough?

The stated duration is one hour, so it is sensible to think of that as the planned length of the lesson, not a guarantee of how long you will spend at the table. In practice, a group session can run longer. Some people have spent more than two hours, while others have felt pressed to finish drinks and food before another booking.

That difference matters because the experience is meant to be sociable. Making three cocktails, eating a board and chatting with friends takes time, especially if a group is sharing the bar or if food arrives late. A tight schedule can turn a pleasant tasting into a race.

I would avoid scheduling an important reservation immediately afterward. If you need to leave by a specific time, ask the team about the session’s expected finish and whether the table has a later booking. The activity’s one-hour duration is a useful planning guide, but the actual pace may depend on the group and the restaurant’s schedule.

What $44 buys you

At $44 per person, the ticket includes three cocktails, a tasting board, soft drinks and instruction in three preparation methods. The value is strongest if you want both a social activity and a practical introduction to making drinks. You are paying for more than three bar orders: there is a hands-on component, and you can leave with techniques to use at home.

It is less compelling if your main goal is a quiet drink or a full meal. The lesson has a set structure, and anything you order at the terrace or restaurant beyond the included board is extra. Nor should you expect a long professional course in an hour. This is a short, approachable session for trying the craft and enjoying the results.

The price also makes more sense when the group is interested in participating. If one person wants a class and everyone else only wants to sit and eat, the format may not suit the whole party. For couples and friends who like tasting something new together, the three-drink format gives the outing a clear shape.

Who will enjoy this class

This is a good fit if you want an evening activity in the Bastille area that is more interactive than a standard bar visit. It suits couples, friends, and curious beginners who would enjoy learning a few basic methods while trying several drinks. You do not need to arrive with cocktail-making experience.

It also works for a mixed group of drinkers and non-drinkers, since non-alcoholic alternatives and soft drinks are available. The age limit is 18 and over, so children cannot join.

You may want to choose another activity if you need a firmly timed one-hour visit, want a substantial meal included, or prefer a quiet, unstructured tasting. The class can be sociable and fun, but group timing and later table bookings may affect how relaxed it feels.

Booking and timing tips

You can reserve now and pay later, which is useful if your Paris plans are still taking shape. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Check the available start times when booking, and confirm the expected finish if you have plans afterward.

The activity information also mentions skip-the-line access through an express security check, but it does not explain what that applies to in this restaurant setting. If that detail affects your decision, confirm it with the provider rather than assuming it changes how you enter the bar.

Should you book?

Book this if you like the idea of making three cocktails, sampling them with a tasting board and learning the difference between shaking, stirring and building. The friendly, hands-on approach and French or English instruction make it an easy activity to share, even if you are new to cocktail craft.

Think twice if you are counting on a strict one-hour finish or a leisurely meal. Ask about the pace and table schedule before you go, and remember that the board is a tasting accompaniment, not dinner. With those expectations set, the $44 ticket offers a personable way to spend an evening near Bastille and pick up a few skills along the way.

FAQ

Where does the cocktail lesson meet?

Meet at Restaurant Prost near Place de la Bastille and ask for the speakeasy bar.

How long does the activity last?

The advertised duration is one hour. The full visit may take longer, depending on the group and the restaurant’s schedule.

How many cocktails are included?

The ticket includes three cocktails.

Is food included?

A degustation board is included. Food ordered separately at the restaurant or on the terrace is not included.

Are non-alcoholic drinks available?

Yes. Soft drinks are included, and non-alcoholic cocktail alternatives are available.

What languages are offered?

Instruction is available in French and English.

Can people under 18 join?

No. The activity is not suitable for children under 18.

What is the cancellation policy?

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