Sacramento Bartending School

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Learn bartending in California's capital city! Our Sacramento campus offers comprehensive hands-on training in a professional simulated bar environment. With flexible scheduling options and strong connections to the thriving Midtown and Downtown nightlife scenes, we'll help you launch your bartending career.

1447 Fulton Ave

Sacramento, CA 95825

Call Us

(916) 995-6518

Email Us

info@bartendingcollege.com

Flexible Schedules

Day, Evening & Weekend

Enroll Now View Schedule

Class Schedules

Choose the schedule that works best for you at our Sacramento campus

Weekday Classes

Monday - Friday, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM (2 weeks)

Weekend Classes

Saturday - Sunday, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (2 weekends)

Evening Classes

Monday - Thursday, 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM (3 weeks)

All schedules cover the same comprehensive curriculum. Choose based on your availability.

Enroll Now

Campus Location

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Campus Photos

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Flexible Nationwide Training

Beyond Our Sacramento Campus

In addition to our Sacramento campus, we offer flexible training options tailored to your schedule and location across California.

In-Home Instruction

A certified bartending instructor comes directly to your location in Sacramento for personalized, hands-on training.

Live Virtual Training

Interactive Zoom sessions with professional bartenders. Learn cocktail techniques, bar management, and more from anywhere.

Instructor's Facility

Train at a certified instructor's professional bar setup near Sacramento. Real-world environment, real-world skills.

Partner School Placement

We find and enroll you at a bartending school in any city. We handle all the coordination and communications for you.

Corporate & Event Training

Custom programs for restaurants, hotels, event venues, and private parties. Train your team or learn for your next event.

Hybrid Programs

Combine online coursework with in-person practice sessions. Flexible scheduling that works around your life.

Let's Build Your Custom Training Plan

Call us to discuss which training option works best for your schedule and goals in Sacramento.

Call (916) 995-6518 Explore Programs
Flexible scheduling Certified instructors Nationwide coverage Job placement assistance
Local Insights

Sacramento's Bar & Cocktail Scene

What Sacramento is drinking right now, where the city goes out, and the bars setting the pace for new bartenders.

Last reviewed

Sacramento Cocktails Right Now

Ice-cold gin/vodka martini

Freezer Martini

The frozen-solid martini is one of Sacramento's most talked-about drinks right now, served straight from a bar freezer for a viscous, ultra-cold pour paired with luxury garnishes.

Why Sacramento: Signature move at The Butterscotch Den in Oak Park (2026 Spirited Awards semifinalist), where it's often served with Tsar Nicoulai Caviar, a Sacramento-based caviar producer.

Show the recipe
  • 3 oz gin or vodka, frozen in-bottle
  • 1/2 oz dry vermouth
  • Expressed lemon twist or caviar service

Store spirit and vermouth pre-batched in the freezer; pour directly into a chilled coupe, no shaking or stirring needed.

Chilled coupe · Garnish: Lemon twist (or caviar side)

Agave-forward coffee cocktail

Agave Espresso Martini

Tequila and mezcal riffs on the espresso martini are one of the biggest national trends carrying into 2026, and Sacramento's cocktail bars are following suit, swapping vodka for agave spirits to add earthy, peppery depth.

Why Sacramento: Reflects the broader Sacramento bar scene's embrace of agave spirits alongside the city's growing espresso-martini demand.

Show the recipe
  • 1.5 oz reposado tequila or mezcal
  • 1 oz fresh espresso
  • 0.5 oz coffee liqueur
  • 0.25 oz agave syrup

Shake all ingredients hard with ice until frothy; double strain.

Coupe · Garnish: Three coffee beans

Multi-rum tiki punch

Tropical Tiki Revival Pour

Full-immersion tiki bars have surged back into fashion nationally, and Sacramento's Midtown scene has its own destination for the trend, with fresh-fruit, multi-rum punches served in a themed, escapist setting.

Why Sacramento: Built around the format popularized by Shipwrecked Paradise Island in Midtown, a craft tiki bar organizing its menu by 'intensity' with fresh fruit infusions.

Show the recipe
  • 1 oz aged rum
  • 1 oz overproof rum
  • 0.75 oz fresh lime juice
  • 0.5 oz orgeat
  • 0.5 oz passionfruit syrup
  • dash Angostura bitters

Shake with crushed ice; pour unstrained (or flash-blend) into a tiki mug.

Tiki mug · Garnish: Mint sprig and edible flower

Savory/umami gin sour

Sesame Gimlet

Savory, umami-driven cocktails are trending nationally as bartenders move past straightforward citrus sours, and Sacramento's Japanese-influenced bars are leading that shift locally.

Why Sacramento: Modeled on the 'Open Sesame' gimlet at Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine (2026 Spirited Awards semifinalist), made with sesame-infused gin and a cucumber-yuzu shrub.

Show the recipe
  • 2 oz sesame oil-washed gin
  • 0.75 oz cucumber-yuzu shrub
  • 0.5 oz simple syrup

Shake with ice; fine strain.

Coupe · Garnish: Cucumber ribbon

Bitter, low-sweet build

Fernet & Ginger Bull

Bitter, amaro-forward drinks continue to gain ground with guests who want something less sweet than a classic cocktail but more complex than a spirit-and-soda, a balance Sacramento's neighborhood cocktail bars serve well.

Why Sacramento: Inspired by the 'Mechanical Bull' at The Snug in Midtown (2026 Spirited Awards semifinalist), a bourbon, Fernet-Branca, lemon and ginger build.

Show the recipe
  • 2 oz bourbon
  • 0.25 oz Fernet-Branca
  • 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 0.5 oz ginger syrup

Shake with ice; strain over fresh ice.

Rocks glass · Garnish: Candied ginger

Our take · ABC Bartending College original

The Golden State Sour

Named for Sacramento's identity as California's capital and farm-to-fork hub, this house original leans on the region's abundant Central Valley stone fruit and almond orchards, with a Tower Bridge-gold hue.

An original recipe from our Sacramento instructors, not a drink served at a specific bar.

  • 2 oz bourbon
  • 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
  • 0.5 oz apricot preserve syrup
  • 0.25 oz orgeat (almond syrup)
  • 1 egg white (or aquafaba)
  • 2 dashes orange bitters

Dry shake without ice to emulsify, then shake again with ice; double strain into a coupe.

Coupe · Garnish: Dehydrated apricot wheel and orange bitters dots on the foam

Where Sacramento Goes Out

Midtown
Sacramento's densest concentration of cocktail bars and restaurants, from cozy neighborhood spots like The Snug to immersive destinations like Shipwrecked Paradise Island; tree-lined grid streets make it highly walkable for bar-hopping.
Downtown / DOCO (Downtown Commons)
The entertainment district around Golden 1 Center, with high-volume bars and lounges like Cabana Club and Revival that see heavy traffic on game nights, concerts, and convention weeks.
R Street Corridor
A revitalized 27-block former warehouse district between Midtown and Downtown, now home to cocktail bars, breweries, and monthly First Fridays art walks that bring steady evening foot traffic.
Oak Park
A historic neighborhood south of Midtown that's become a destination for notable, awards-recognized cocktail programs such as The Butterscotch Den, reflecting the area's ongoing revitalization.
East Sacramento
A quieter, residential-adjacent area bordering Midtown with a smaller cluster of neighborhood restaurants and bars, popular with locals rather than nightlife tourists.

Cocktail Bars to Know

  • The Snug · Midtown

    2026 Spirited Awards semifinalist; neighborhood cocktail bar with Irish-made mahogany booths

  • The Butterscotch Den · Oak Park

    2026 Spirited Awards semifinalist; freezer martini paired with local caviar

  • Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine · Sacramento (Midtown-area)

    2026 Spirited Awards semifinalist; Japanese whiskey/sake list and themed cocktails

  • Shipwrecked Paradise Island · Midtown

    Immersive craft tiki bar with fresh-fruit cocktails

  • The Cabin · Midtown

    Rustic mountain-lodge theme; flaming 'Gimme S'more' cocktail

  • Cabana Club · Downtown / DOCO

    Palm Springs-inspired bar steps from Golden 1 Center

  • Revival at the Sawyer · Downtown / DOCO

    Pool-deck and lobby bar at Kimpton Sawyer Hotel with nightly music

  • Shady Lady Saloon · R Street Corridor

    1920s speakeasy-style bar with craft cocktails and live music

How Sacramento Drinks

  • Rooftop and pool-deck drinking is a defining Sacramento format, anchored by venues like the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel's pool deck overlooking Golden 1 Center.
  • Midtown's grid supports a dense, walkable bar-hop culture, reinforced by monthly Second Saturday art walks that spill into bars.
  • Immersive, theme-driven bars (tiki, speakeasy) are drawing crowds as a differentiator from standard cocktail lounges.
  • Agave spirits (tequila, mezcal) are the fastest-growing on-premise category nationally and are showing up across Sacramento cocktail menus in place of classic vodka or whiskey bases.
  • Budget-friendly happy hours (e.g., $3-$7 cocktails in defined windows) remain a strong draw at longtime Sacramento bars alongside higher-end $16-$18 craft cocktail programs downtown.

Job Market Data

Bartending career opportunities in Sacramento, California

Last updated

Bartender Salaries in Sacramento

Entry level (10th percentile) $16.50/hr
Median wage $17.07/hr
Top 10% (90th percentile) $39.18+/hr
Median annual wage $35,510

Minimum wage: $16.90/hr statewide in 2026 (some cities set higher local minimums). California does not allow tip credits, so tips are always on top of the full minimum wage.

Tips: BLS wages include tips reported to employers. Cash tips often go unreported, so bartenders at busy venues frequently take home more than these figures.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 (Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA)

Job Market Outlook

4,060

Bartenders employed in the Sacramento metro

Job outlook

Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects bartender jobs to grow 5% from 2025 to 2035, faster than average, with about 121,200 openings a year. Locally, Golden 1 Center events, the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center, and regional casino resorts drive steady hiring.

Peak Hiring Seasons

Late spring through summer (patio/pool season and the California State Fair, mid-July to early August) and September-October (Farm-to-Fork Festival and Aftershock Festival), plus Golden 1 Center's concert/Kings basketball season in fall-winter.

Busy dates on the calendar

  • California State Fair at Cal Expo - mid-July to early August
  • Farm-to-Fork Festival - September
  • Aftershock Festival (rock/metal music festival) - early October
  • Sacramento Kings NBA season at Golden 1 Center - October through spring
  • Second Saturday Art Walk - monthly, year-round, driving Midtown bar traffic
  • First Fridays on R Street - monthly art and culture walk

Top Employers Hiring Bartenders in Sacramento

Hotel

Kimpton Sawyer Hotel

Multiple bar/restaurant venues including a pool deck bar overlooking Golden 1 Center

Hotel

Hyatt Regency Sacramento

Downtown hotel with banquet and bar service

Stadium/Arena

Golden 1 Center

Home arena for the Sacramento Kings; concessions and premium bar staffing for events

Casino

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain

Undergoing a large multi-year expansion including new bar/entertainment venues

Casino

Red Hawk Casino

Expanding gaming and entertainment footprint near Sacramento through 2027

Event venue

SAFE Credit Union Convention Center

Downtown convention and meeting space driving catered-event bartending demand

Event venue

Cal Expo (California State Fair)

Hosts the California State Fair and other large seasonal events needing bar staff

Bar group

Ace of Spades

R Street Corridor concert venue with bar service for touring acts

Employers listed are major local hirers of bartenders, not official ABC Bartending College partners unless noted.

How to Get Your Bartending License in California

California RBS Certification (Responsible Beverage Service) is required to serve alcohol in California. Here's what bartenders in Sacramento need to know.

Last reviewed

California RBS Certification (Responsible Beverage Service)

Anyone who serves alcohol or directly supervises servers at an on-premises licensed venue in California (bars, restaurants, hotels, stadiums) must be RBS certified. New hires have 60 days from their first day serving alcohol. The program is run by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).

Step by step

  1. 1 Register as a server on the ABC RBS Portal and pay the $3 registration fee
  2. 2 Complete an RBS training course from an ABC-accredited provider (online, about 4 hours)
  3. 3 Pass the ABC RBS exam in the portal (70% or higher)
  4. 4 Keep your RBS certification current: it's valid for 3 years, then you retake training and the exam
Official California information

Cost

$3 ABC portal fee plus the training provider's course fee (commonly about $10-$30)

Time to complete

About 4 hours of training plus the online exam

Valid for

3 years

Minimum age

21 to tend bar (mix and pour drinks behind the bar). Workers 18 to 20 may serve alcohol only in restaurants, not as bartenders.

Free PDF guide

Bartending License & Certification Guide (2026)

Your 2 Weeks at Our Sacramento School

Bartending 101 is 2 weeks (40 hours) of hands-on training behind a real bar. Here's how the hours break down.

  1. 1

    Bar Setup & Equipment

    4 hours

    Learn professional bar layout, equipment identification, and proper glassware selection.

  2. 2

    Mixology Fundamentals

    8 hours

    Master measuring techniques, ice handling, shaking, stirring, and building drinks.

  3. 3

    Classic Cocktails

    12 hours

    Learn 100+ classic recipes including Martinis, Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, and more.

  4. 4

    Modern & Trending Drinks

    8 hours

    Master contemporary favorites like Espresso Martinis, craft cocktails, and seasonal specials.

  5. 5

    Speed & Accuracy Training

    4 hours

    Develop professional speed while maintaining quality and consistency.

  6. 6

    Customer Service & Sales

    4 hours

    Learn upselling techniques, handling difficult customers, and building rapport.

See the Full Bartending 101 Program

Student Success Stories

Hear from our graduates who launched their bartending careers in Sacramento

"The Sacramento program gave me the confidence to walk into any interview. I started at a neighborhood bar and worked my way up to one of Midtown's hottest spots in just two years."
AC

Ashley Chen

Lead Bartender

Class of 2022

"Bartending at Kings games is the best job ever! The skills I learned at ABC Bartending College helped me handle the fast-paced arena environment from day one."
DW

Derek Williams

Event Bartender

Class of 2023

"I took the evening classes while working my day job. Six months after graduating, I was promoted to bar manager. This program changed my life."
NF

Nicole Foster

Bar Manager

Class of 2021

Local Information

Everything you need to know about bartending in Sacramento

California Liquor Laws

Minimum Age to Bartend 21+
Alcohol Serving Hours 6:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Server Training Required Yes
Required Certifications:
  • RBS Certification (required)

Entertainment Districts

Midtown Sacramento

The heart of Sacramento's nightlife with hundreds of bars, restaurants, and craft cocktail lounges along the grid.

Downtown/DOCO

The revitalized downtown district surrounding Golden 1 Center, featuring upscale dining and sports bars.

Old Sacramento

Historic waterfront district with tourist-friendly bars, saloons, and casual dining.

Insider Tips

Sacramento's bar scene is heavily influenced by the farm-to-fork movement. Knowing local farms and seasonal ingredients will set you apart. Network at industry events like Sacramento Cocktail Week for the best opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about our Sacramento, California bartending program

How long is the bartending program in Sacramento?

Our Sacramento program is 2 weeks with flexible scheduling. Choose from weekday classes (Monday-Friday, 2 weeks), weekend classes (Saturday-Sunday, 2 weekends), or evening classes (Monday-Thursday, 3 weeks).

What makes Sacramento a great place to bartend?

Sacramento has an exploding food and drink scene! Midtown alone has over 200 restaurants and bars. Plus, with Golden 1 Center bringing major events, there are always opportunities for event bartending at concerts and Kings games.

Do you offer job placement in the Davis/Folsom area?

Yes! While our campus is on Fulton Avenue in Sacramento, our job placement network extends throughout the Greater Sacramento region including Davis, Folsom, Roseville, and Elk Grove.

Is the RBS certification included?

We prepare you for California's mandatory RBS (Responsible Beverage Service) certification. The actual RBS certification must be obtained online through the California ABC, but we cover all the material you need to pass.

Where is the Sacramento campus located?

Our Sacramento campus is at 1447 Fulton Ave, Sacramento, CA 95825. Call (916) 995-6518 for directions and parking details.

Can I work at Kings games after graduating?

Many of our graduates work events at Golden 1 Center! We have connections with the arena's hospitality team and can help qualified graduates land these exciting positions.

How much do bartenders make in Sacramento?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025), the median bartender wage in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area is $17.07 an hour, and the top 10% earn $39.18 or more. Those figures include tips reported to employers; unreported cash tips often push take-home pay higher at busy venues.

How old do I need to be to bartend in Sacramento?

You can enroll at 18, but in California you must be 21 to tend bar. Workers 18 to 20 may serve alcohol only in restaurants, not behind the bar.

Where do Sacramento bartending graduates typically find their first job?

Common entry points include downtown/Midtown restaurants and bars, hotel bar and event programs (like those at Kimpton Sawyer or Hyatt Regency), catering and banquet staffing for convention center events, and seasonal event venues such as Golden 1 Center and Cal Expo during the California State Fair.

Nearby Bartending Schools

Explore other ABC Bartending College locations near you

Oakland

California

Master bartending in the heart of the East Bay! Our Oakland-area campus in San Leandro provides hands-on training with connections to the thriving bar scenes across Oakland, Berkeley, and the entire East Bay region. With live bartending shifts available at local venues, you'll gain real-world experience before graduation.

73 miles away View

San Francisco

California

Train to bartend in one of America's greatest cocktail cities! San Francisco's legendary bar scene awaits you. Learn from industry professionals in the heart of Union Square, with job placement connections to world-renowned cocktail bars, hotels, and restaurants throughout the Bay Area.

79 miles away View

Fresno

California

Central California's premier bartending school. In two weeks or less, we'll train you to be a competent, skilled, and hireable bartender! Learn hands-on in our Simulated Bar and be ready for a fun & flexible bartending job in restaurants, bars, clubs, hotels and other venues.

155 miles away View

Canyon Country

California

Launch your bartending career in the Santa Clarita Valley! Our Canyon Country campus serves the growing communities of Santa Clarita, Valencia, and surrounding areas. With quick access to Los Angeles and a thriving local restaurant scene, this location offers the perfect blend of suburban convenience and career opportunity.

332 miles away View
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Start Your Bartending Career in Sacramento

Join thousands of successful graduates who launched their careers at our Sacramento campus. Enroll today and be working behind the bar in just 2 weeks!

Enroll Now Call (916) 995-6518

Also Serving:

Davis Elk Grove Roseville Folsom West Sacramento