Bar Betsie

Stopped by Bar Betsie for some before-dinner drinks last night… and ended up going back for after-dinner drinks too. It’s hands-down the best new cocktail bar in DC — especially in the Union Market area. Moody lighting, dark red neon glow, warm vintage vibes — the whole setup just hits. Started with a Devil in a Red Dress (yes, it’s as good as it sounds) — perfect balance of spice, fruit, and kick. After dinner, I went back for the Silent Star and some cheeseballs before heading home. Unreal. 10/10. Great people, amazing service, and the owner was even there checking on tables. You can tell this place is obsessed with every little detail. Ideal for a cool work drinks thing, a date, or a chill night out with friends. You gotta try it. The vibe is unmatched.

Amazing drinks. Amazing atmosphere. So happy for this team (Jane Jane) for expanding across the city! 12/10 for sure. Drinks pictured are the Devil in a Red Dress( rocks glass) and Midnight Bloom (coupe). I didn’t get to partake in the cheese puffs but I’m very sure it was an honest mistake. So next time! While I don’t normally like tequila based drinks, the Devil in a Red Dress was a hit! Highly recommend!

The little bar is so cool! I love the vibe in here. My friends and I were visiting DC for the weekend and made a point to take the subway over here. The drinks were so good. We even got the buffalo chicken dip and it was so tasty!

Bar Betsie is an incredible and much-needed addition to Union Market! It has such a great ambience, and the service is top-notch! A group of us went last week and really enjoyed the cocktails and conversation with some of the staff. Given its proximity to all the hottest new restaurants, I have no doubt this place is going to be a huge success. It’s clear everyone is excited about this great new spot. We’re lucky to have them in the neighborhood!!!

Bar Betsie is evrrything you’d want in a bar. From cocktails to vibe to bar snacks to location, there’s a lot to love about Bar Betsie. My friend and I went on a Thursday evening at 8:30pm and sat in the very last booth in the back. Here’s our experience. 1) Drinks: I ordered the Midnight Bloom and their frozen hibiscus pina colada. Both were refreshing and sweetly balanced. The hibiscus pina colada was my favorite. It’s super unique and not very pineapple-y. 2) Food: A bowl of cheese puffs was on our table for free. So fun! They have six small bites on the menu. I ordered the pretzel and queso and little smokies. The queso for the bowl of pretzel bites was very good. The little smokies was so good that I ordered another round. 3) Service: Despite being busy, staff were quick and friendly. 4) Space: Its dark and small, but they did a great job with the layout and vibe. It’s a beautiful bar with a fun neon arch over the door leading to the restrooms. 5) Neighborhood: It’s in the busy Union Market area. Parking can be hard to find at time, but there’s a free lot in front of Union Market and two garage parking lots with free parking for the first three hours.

We came in from out of town and had a wonderful experience at this bar! It was perfect for a conversation and catch up with friends, the music was fun, and the cocktails were delicious. I liked that I could actually spend time with my friends where other bars can feel icky or jam packed.

Went with friends to Bar Betsie and it is such a cool space and a perfect cocktail bar in Union Market. The interior is so cozy and electric, our server was so friendly and attentive, the cocktails were absolutely amazing and the food was all so tasty. Its a perfect spot to get a cocktail before enjoying dinner in Union Market and we will definitely be back soon!

Amazing atmosphere, staff and the best drinks!!! It’s 💯 recommended if you want to have a great time and some great cocktails. My new favorite spot at Union Market!

Cute spot. Fascinating details. Great for a girls night out or a juicy evening with your other. Best to make a reservation, it gets crowded quick and becomes pretty exclusive on nights if you don't. Never had table seating. Drinks are great! Bartenders are great, too. Very busy though. Bar snacks are not my fave but their shareable items are cool. I had a chicken dip there that was above average and super unexpected! 9/10

I stopped by Bar Betsie for some drinks with a friend last weekend, when we were staying at a hotel in the neighborhood and wandered past it on our way from subway station to our hotel on a Friday night (great location in the Union Market District). Their website says that they are "a craft cocktail bar dressed in neighborhood bar clothing," and that makes total sense to me after my visit. It's cool but comfortable. We got a few seats at the bar and enjoyed people watching, the music, and the atmosphere generally. You can expect a lot of from the food and drinks, because this place had the pedigree to be amazing (the Bar Betsie team is the team behind Jane Jane, and the general manager/owner has previously been at Rappahannock, Maydan, Compass Rose...). Here's a confession: I really like cocktails, but I've been drinking fewer and fewer of them over the last few years in favor of wine. That's not just because I love wine (which I do). It's also because I don't really enjoy a lot of the current cocktail trends. So many cocktails are so complicated (how many ingredients are there in here, anyway?!)o or heavy/boozy/bitter (I often struggle to find something light and refreshing on menus - even in summer!). Bar Betsie's menu really impressed me! It covers a lot of bases and seems to have something for almost everyone (including me)! Their cocktail menu includes House Features, Classics, Free Spirited (N/A), and Shooters (shots). Many of their cocktails have 4 or fewer ingredients! We got a couple of the martinis they had on the menu. They might have been a little wetter (wet vs dry, I mean - that's a weird thing to say) than we would normally order, but it was a good, classic cocktail. Perfect for a girls' night out (at least for us)! Not in the mood for cocktails? They have something for you, too: beer, cider, and wine (including some natural/skin contact options). Then they have food. We didn't try anything (we just had snacked elsewhere), but I loved that they brought us cheese balls as a bar snack. No bowl of nuts here! (If we'd been hungry, we definitely could have been talked into their Fried Pickle Dip!!!) Overall, Bar Betsie was just a good time. Retro maybe? Cool - definitely. Good menu for drinks and food and good service. What's not to like? I'll be back when I next need a drink in the neighborhood.

This place was an absolute gem. The atmosphere was great! Had a seat at the bar and it was prolly one of the best paces to sit at. The bartenders were awesome! Served some great drinks. The hostess was a little rude when first walking in, but I over heard them saying the night before was an absolute nightmare. So no harm no foul. Amazing specialty cocktails.

I've been seeing Bar Betsie all over my Tik tok and was excited to check it out this past weekend. They are open till midnight on Sundays (amazing--because not many places are). It was super easy to grab a seat at the bar as they were winding down for the night. The bar back popped over to us immediately with waters and some complimentary cheese balls. This immediately took me back to my childhood for sure. The theme of the bar is very whimsical. I loved their "Prick These" drink. It had a nice Smokey punch to it. My friend's drink was also good, "Devil in a new dress". More juice, fruity style cocktail. The shooters were ok, probably wouldn't ordered them again but a nice option to have on the menu. I'll be back when I'm in the Union Market area. I hear the buffalo chicken dip is good. Perfect for a date night or girls night out.

What a vibe... My first visit here felt nothing short of a joy ride! If you know me, you know I prefer popping out on a random weekday night over venturing out on the weekends. So I finally dropped by this week and was so pleasantly surprised. First, you should expect that it's new and popular so you may not easily be able to grab a seat. But if you can, you'll be able to enjoy a vast cocktail menu, great music and a fun ass bar team. Within my first 15 minutes there, I could immediately feel my levels of joy escalate. Also, how fun that randomly they've come around with viles for "shot o'clock" which was unexpected but welcomed. I didn't get a chance to explore the food menu or even appreciate all of the small details, but since I know I'll be back soon I can't wait to discover further all of the elements that makes this place a special edition to the neighborhood!

Bar Betsie is evrrything you'd want in a bar. From cocktails to vibe to bar snacks to location, there's a lot to love about Bar Betsie. My friend and I went on a Thursday evening at 8:30pm and sat in the very last booth in the back. Here's our experience. 1) Drinks: I ordered the Midnight Bloom and their frozen hibiscus pina colada. Both were refreshing and sweetly balanced. The hibiscus pina colada was my favorite. It's super unique and not very pineapple-y. 2) Food: A bowl of cheese puffs was on our table for free. So fun! They have six small bites on the menu. I ordered the pretzel and queso and little smokies. The queso for the bowl of pretzel bites was very good. The little smokies was so good that I ordered another round. 3) Service: Despite being busy, staff were quick and friendly. 4) Space: Its dark and small, but they did a great job with the layout and vibe. It's a beautiful bar with a fun neon arch over the door leading to the restrooms. 5) Neighborhood: It's in the busy Union Market area. Parking can be hard to find at time, but there's a free lot in front of Union Market and two garage parking lots with free parking for the first three hours.

Amazing drinks. Amazing atmosphere. So happy for this team (Jane Jane) for expanding across the city! 12/10 for sure. Drinks pictured are the Devil in a Red Dress( rocks glass) and Midnight Bloom (coupe). I didn't get to partake in the cheese puffs but I'm very sure it was an honest mistake. So next time! While I don't normally like tequila based drinks, the Devil in a Red Dress was a hit! Highly recommend!

Let me set the scene. I'm in town, from Chicago, visiting a friend. She is known to always want to try new places. Like she somehow always knows of a place that just opened, a place no one in the group has been to or heard of, etc. We arrive, there's a line. Ok no big deal. Hello pre pandemic, I've very much been on the "if we can't get a reservation, we're not going" train! So boom, we're talking, everyone is sharing life updates, sharing stories, etc. I look down, ITS BEEN ALMOST AN HOUR!! We all start to look at our friend like "girl, next bar", we're on our phones looking. She INSISTS we stay, "drinks are so good, you're going to love them, it'll be so fun". We're all like "NEXT". Our gf says "if we're not in by 9:35, we can go". We all agree! WE GOT IN AT 9:38!! It was ABSOLUTELY worth the wait, the drinks!! Woof amazing!! $10-$18 per drink on their menu, our server was a delight, took the most amazing photo of us! Music was FIRE! 10/10 would wait in that line again!! Highly recommend you get the midnight bloom with their house gin, the nitty gritty is the perfect summer drink!! They do have a Two-hour limit, so keep that in mind!

I swung by here for a drink today as I live in the neighborhood and wanted to check it out. I found it odd there were 3 hostesses outside for a cocktail bar. Anyway, I was given a menu by one of them and walked in for a drink. The ambiance here is pretty chic and I liked it a lot. The drink menu is solid and they give you a small bowl of Cheese Puffs. I think this is a good date spot for sure, or even a spot to grab a cocktail after work.

Me and my bestie went to Bar Betsie and had a time! There's enclosed booths if you want a bit a privacy but we opted to sit at the bar and try a few drinks. I really enjoyed my drink and had to get two! The bartender was attentive and friendly. We were able to chat and catch up on life! Would recommend.

This place feels like a polished roadside bar in a small town in the best way possible. Drinks are top tier, the menu is super approachable and has something for everyone. They will happily give you a bowl of cheese balls when you arrive. The service is fast and friendly! If you're near by don't miss out on this place!

Such a cute cocktail bar located in Union Market area. It's a small space but they have booth seats and bar seating. I was able to walk up and grab a seat at the bar, but you may want to make a reservation, especially if you're with a group. They have about 16 specialty cocktails on the menu and some other special drinks as well. The drinks I tried was the prickly pear drink and the cider. Both were very nice. They start you off with a cute bowl of cheese balls. The bartender was super nice and friendly! I will definitely be back and try a couple other drinks.

The reason I have to leave 3 stars instead of 4 is because of how abrasive they were to our group. I honestly was wary about coming here because of another bad review from another group and there already seems to be a pattern. Was here for a friend's birthday and our group kept being told over and over that we could only stand in a corner because they had to be able to seat the bar for customers...as if we weren't paying customers? This was especially unnecessary since it wasn't crowded and without our large group the bar would've been empty. I totally understand not wanting a big group to loiter except we were ordering the entire time. Honestly wouldn't come back for that reason alone but overall Bar Betsie is pretty good. Even though some staff were a bit abrasive all the bartenders were lovely -- super friendly and attentive. My general notes are similar to their sister bar Jane Jane in that the cocktails are fine they're just not noteworthy. I do think Bar Betsie is better than Jane Jane on average. Their non-alcoholic cocktails are far better than their regular cocktails with the Ohio being a super win and a fun twist on an espresso tonic. Their shooters are really tasty and a fun addition to the menu. Their other cocktails are fine. The cocktails are pretty one note. The flavors aren't very layered, and while the glassware is beautiful it seems they use the same glass for every drink which to me is surprising since correct glassware is such a big part of cocktails. Prices are pretty standard for a DC cocktail bar. The space is quite small with some fun touches like a video behind the mirrors in the bathroom. It gives a circus-type vibe. The play a fun variety of music that's upbeat and at a volume high enough to hear but low enough to still chat. Even with a full bar no one had to yell or scream which was amazing! It's so hard to find places that aren't super loud. Overall Bar Betsie has nice vibes and some nice drinks but was definitely rubbed the wrong way by them insisting we couldn't sit at the literal empty bar. They've only been open a couple weeks so will try to give them the benefit of the doubt as they figure out their policies for groups.

Limited seating inside and they let you stand near the door with drinks but it's not the most convenient. Everyone was really nice and we luckily snagged seats at the bar. Would come back to try their specialty drinks. This time, we just settled on a few dirty martinis.

This place has a wonderful warm vibe, much like their bar, Jane Jane, which is one of my favorites. The decor is fabulous, the drinks are excellent, and the service deserves a five-star rating. I appreciate bars that bring our DC community together. I definitely recommend it!

Bar Betsie is a neighborhood craft cocktail bar in Union Market. It's intimate, dimly lit and a great vibe. The service was fantastic and everyone is attentive and friendly from the host to the bartenders. It's small and you can't make a reservation but the host can put your name on the waitlist for a table. The cocktails were all delicious and strong and they have bar snacks like cheese balls, olives, buffalo chicken dip and pretzels and queso. They open until 2 am so definitely a great place to end your night after dinner.

Cute little bar in the martket.. we just got a snake which is a what only provided here.. I got devil in red .. was very good and great mix.. our server took a good care of us.. Will be back soon

Union Market is in dire need of bars, not restaurant bars, but spots that you can truly grab a round of wonderful cocktails with friends after work or a night cap after a lovely dinner date. Betsie brings us this joy with its splashy and beautiful entrance to the neighborhood! We visited day 2 of being open and were greeted with seats at the vibrant bar. Every detail about Betsie makes her so special. The mixology program is insane and the snacks are on point. After just one visit, I now deem this place our local watering hole. Cannot wait to come back for more Betsie!

Such a good place to grab a drink!! We had the Nitty Gritty and the Prick This. The Nitty Gritty was so refreshing and easy to sip on. The Prick This was great for those who love mezcal, it wasn't super spicy but highly recommend. Our server Lucy was amazing!! The music was also .

THE CUTEST BAR!!! My friends and I had the best time, we came after work to celebrate a birthday and Jessica and Meridien were so kind! can't wait to comeback.

Stopped in because it was highly rated in the Union Market area. The music was cranked too loud for late afternoon on a Sunday, the bartender was totally disinterested, and the reverse martini (easy drink to get right) was mediocre. There are too many other options in the area

Immaculate vibes. Such an atmosphere and SUCH a party! The drinks are excellent and well priced. The menu offers a "while you wait" drink, which is a small pour of beer and wine for $4 to tide you over when they're backed up. (But tbh, it was a bit too long of a wait for the "while you wait" drinks -- they arrived at almost the same time as our order.) There are cheese puffs on each table for a fun bar snack. At one point a bartender came around and offered each table shots of Fireball out of test tubes. So cute. I felt like I was back in college, lol. All around great time and great people.

Disappointing Experience - Would Not Recommend for Black Patrons Yesterday, I visited this bar with a few friends after a networking event, expecting a good time--but unfortunately, we left feeling disrespected and deeply disappointed. We ordered multiple rounds of drinks and food, and up until a certain point, we had a pleasant experience with our waiter. However, things quickly took a turn for the worse. I recognized one of the staff members and asked a friend in my group to get her attention. He lightly tapped her and said, "Excuse me, can you come over?" When she approached, I quickly realized I had mistaken her for someone else and immediately apologized. Despite this, she walked away with an attitude, and moments later, the manager came over and told us we needed to close our tab--despite the fact that I still had full drinks and a shot in front of me. Feeling caught off guard, we complied and closed out. However, the situation escalated as our group tried to understand why we were being asked to leave. The tension in the air was undeniable, and my friend and I, overwhelmed with anxiety, decided to leave while the rest of our party engaged with the staff. What was most disheartening was the realization that the Black men in our group were being discriminated against. While I acknowledge that tapping a staff member may not have been the best approach, there was no ill intent--yet we were met with unnecessary hostility, microaggressions, and what felt like clear discrimination. If you're Black in DC, I would strongly reconsider spending your money here. It's unfortunate because the place initially seemed promising, but the way we were treated made it clear: they are not for us, by us. If you do choose to visit, just be mindful of how they treat patrons who look like us. This experience ruined my night, and I wouldn't want anyone else to go through the same. UPDATE : Since commenting about my experience, the business has chosen to leave a plethora of ingenuine 5-star reviews on Google and now Yelp. Instead of addressing the issue directly or taking accountability, they've opted to deflect with these fake reviews. It's disappointing to see this approach rather than any real attempt at improvement. Please see time in which each of these "5-star reviews" were posted also note this business has only been open for 3 days, so you do the math.

Interesting ambiance, tasty drinks, HH deals, semi reasonable prices. Food menu seems a bit overpriced for the portion and also maybe needs a slightly more appealing boost- the food was kind of bland. Microwave food vibes. The cheeseballs served were nice.

Another see and be seen insta bar for the young crowd that don't care at all about good cocktails. I'd be surprised if this place is still around in a year.

Stumble upon this new bar. Beautiful and great service. Delicious cocktails. Highly recommended.

What a great addition to the neighborhood! The vibe is exactly what we need in DC...a nice, casual, cocktail-focused bar with a unique flair and welcoming vibe for all - gay/straight, black/white, male/female, young/less young. Refreshing!

Horrible service, food, management and establishment. Yelp has been the best trusted source for reviews, but what I will say is when my friend went to express our experience by giving this place a one star review. The owner/management made multiple fake accounts and started writing reviews so if you do check the reviews look at the timestamps and notice how they're minutes within each other and know that it's not credible and it's just also suspicious. If you're okay with going to an establishment that tries and hides they're flaws and feedback instead of embracing it and willingness to implement and grow this is your place.

Everything from the drinks to food and especially service are impeccable! The owners and staff put their heart and soul into every thing they do. Couldn't ask for a better place to spend your time or with better people! The cocktails are truly impeccable and who doesn't want a side of cheese balls to enjoy them with? Whenever I have friends visit DC, Bar Betsie is high on my list of recommendations.

I came for celebrating my birthday and all the vibe is really nice, Jessica took or table and she was really really really amazing

I'm a sucker for a good cocktail and a unique spot to enjoy it in--Bar Betsie has me sold. The drinks are as beautiful at they are delicious (loved the LetMeJustSayThis). Solid bar food options (get the Buffalo chicken dip). The space feels warm and dramatic, a great vibe to hang out with friends. As someone the works in the service industry, it's very clear to me that their management cares deeply about their staff and in turn, the staff takes great care of their patrons. No reservations, so if you go on busy night there might be some wait time--understandbly frustrating to some not really a big deal to me personally.. There was standing room and I had a drink in hand pretty quickly. The water could use a bit more ice but otherwise, Bar Betsie is a glowing gem in Union Market.

What a cool space! The vibe was great, service top notch, and I'm torn on my favorite from the pickle dip to all the cocktail creations. I'll be back soon! (And I'd didn't even think to mention the surprise in the mirror)

The creators of Jane Jane have done it again! Bar Betsie is a masterpiece - with thoughtful touches and unique details and beautiful ambiance. The staff are warm and attentive and despite opening just a week ago they have already cultivated a welcoming space with excellent vibes. I tried three of the cocktails and they were all winners. The menu is creative and there's something for everyone (cocktails, wine, and beer, plus yummy bites). I really can't recommend this bar enough, and they're open late!

Wow- incredible new spot. Drinks were incredible and the service amazing! Great vibe too. Will definitely be back!

What a gem! Went here for a couple of drinks with friends before dinner and it really made the night. Great cocktails, very cool vibe. Our server was super knowledgeable about all the drinks, just make sure you leave time to try a few, they were all great. Fantastic edition of the neighborhood. Oh, and make sure to open the vanity in the bathroom while you're there.