A trendy, NYC like vibe this spot was a lot smaller than I expected so I see why they often have a wait. On a nice day, they do have a small outdoor patio as well. I think they take reservations but we were able to grab a bar spot. Are drinks pricey? What do you think? It's a cocktail bar in DC. The drinks we tried were pretty tasty, even the mezcal one which I thought was a refreshing take. The wall shows some of the drinks on the menu and the ingredients/glass it comes in which I thought was a nice touch. Bartenders were friendly but not too chatty as they were super busy but you never waited long for a drink. The bourbon drink with the whipped honey was our favorite but the gin drink that was pink was also fantastic. For food I did try the buffalo chicken dip, pretty large and tasty (not too spicy) and loved the super crisp celery and the fritos. Clean, trendy bathrooms, nice vibes throughout the whole spot for pictures, great for a night cap or pre-dinner drink. read more

What a fun cocktail bar. My friend and I popped in for happy hour and it was a cool vibe from the start. I encourage you to get there early if you plan to go after work. They don't take revelations and the place fills up fast. It's a very cute spot and feels so comfortable and fun. Our bartender was Gaylan and he was great--had great reccs, laughed with us a bit, all around great guy. The 'let me just say this' was so soo good! It tasted like a rainbow--just bright and with a really delicious after taste. I should have stopped at the rose but after my trying my friend's, i had to have one! We initially came for happy hour, but moved to the cocktail menu. The hh was a bit limited, but the drinks were priced overall pretty reasonably for the area. My one complaint is the wine glasses were so teeny. Overall though, I would recommend this bar. Bonus: cheese balls when you sit down! I believe there is also a limited food menu (think nachos) for the after work or late night crowd. read more

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I actually love this place! Great service Fun ambiance Amazing cocktails Limited food menu: eat outside! While I wished that they had more food options, the cocktails are one of a kind and cheaper than most places in DC. Check them out! read more

Bar Betsie - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Chicken nachos ok not seasoned not all that good. Came cold too so not a win. Waitress seemed stretched thin took a while to checkin. Place is cute though very much date worthy . Good happy hour deals on food and drinks read more

Bar Betsie - Chicken nachos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Came here on a whim during a night out with friends. Even though we didn't have a reservation, we were able to wait inside and get a drink and we got a table not too long after. Space is small but ambience is really cute! Cheese balls are a cute touch but they were so stale This Thai tea cocktail was so good though!! read more

Bar Betsie - Inside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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So not recommend with a group! Already almost full at 5:20pm on a Thursday! My friend and I could get bar seats. They have one cocktail of the day on happy hour. It was a daiquiri this day and I wasn't too impressed with it, but the Cameron's kick on the regular menu was amazing!!!! The flavor was complex where it started tasting like lime and then ended with a fun twist from the orgeat! My friend tried mine and ended up ordering it too! Very friendly and helpful server, Gaelin, we didn't order food but the nachos looked legit. I've liked other cocktail bars in DC better but it is also a fun one. read more

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This is the sister bar of Jane Jane. For the same prices as Jane Jane, I would say their other location has a better selection across all different flavor profiles. I personally did not care for the Midnight Blue and Devil in a Red Dress. And for their prices, I would find other bars around the DC area. The space is quite smaller than other cocktail bars in the dc area, so it's best to make a reservation or keep a small party. The place is dark indoors too, so it was hard to see the menu read more

Bar Betsie - Midnight Blue - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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So happy we chose this spot for a Saturday nightcap because I love a bar with personality. This bar is super intimate with both booth and counter seating options available. We didn't have a reservation on a pretty busy night, but were able to squeeze into one and then two seats in the bar area. I'm obsessed with the aesthetic and vibe of this spot. It's the perfect mix of kitchy and cozy. Cocktails are well prices, especially for DC standards. Will definitely be back and would totally recommend. read more

Bar Betsie - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Expect a wait, but the ambiance is elegant, upscale and very romantic. Cocktails were genuinely good and the staff was helpful. Recommend for a girls night or date night! read more

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Cute, intimate bar w cool decor in Union Market. Loved the pickle dip and pretzel with queso. Fun date spot or place to get a drink w your girls read more

Bar Betsie - Pretzel and queso, pickle dip - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Very good! Def pricey so know that going in but the drinks were delish and I did enjoy the food! read more

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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. read more

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Bar Betsie was just okay. I visited around 3:30 PM on a Saturday and sat at the bar with my friend. There were a few other people there but the place filled up by the time we left at 5 PM. I would have preferred to sit at one of the cute booths, but it wasn't offered and I didn't ask. All of them had little "Reserved" signs on them. I didn't know you could reserve tables, but I figured that was an option I missed on the website. Looking at the website now, it specifically says they don't take reservations, so I guess they were just holding these tables for larger groups. We got a small bowl of free cheese balls and four cocktails (all $15-$16): Cafe Caribe: Rum Blend, Liquor 43, Cold Brew, Chocolate Bitters Prick These: Prickly Pear Infused Mezcal, Lime, Simple, Serrano Tincture Whipped Honey Gold Rush: bourbon, lemon, whipped honey Bartender's Choice - a tiki-like drink with mezcal, lemon, banana liquor, and a couple other things Our favorite drink was the Prick These, hands down. It was bright pink, but had a great smokey and spicy flavor from the mezcal and hot pepper. If I liked the other drinks as much as I liked that one, this would be a five star review. The problem was that I didn't like the other drinks. For the Cafe Caribe, I was expecting more of an espresso martini but this thin/watery with more of a chocolate flavor. The Gold Rush was a Gold Rush -- fine, nothing interesting, idk what the whipped honey was about but it didn't make a difference. The bartender's choice was mostly lemon flavor and again thin/watery. Nothing interesting going on. I like the dark, red and wood, retro decor a lot. They also have some great vintage inspired menu signs, comfortable bar stools, mirrors, curtains. It's a shame this character doesn't extend to the small patio, which has no seats or decor at all. I also didn't like some of the weird ceramic decorations on part of the bar and the large neon curtain/tent design in the back didn't work for me either, which reminds me too much of a circus tent. I assume they change the drink menu with some frequency. They had everything listed on the website plus a few more drinks. read more

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Very vibe-y bar and fun addition to Union Market area! The inside is very cute with a cool vibe, it's somewhat small inside but the booths are really fun and the bar is a good size! They have awesome drinks and I love how the menu explains them. The Monkey Business was awesome and the Nitty Gritty is a must order to. The staff and bartenders are super warm and welcoming and were very helpful when it came to the menu! read more

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I came to Bar Betsie on a freezing cold MLK day. The staff were so sweet from the moment we walked in which I appreciated. It's a small spot, but the decor is eye-catching and sets a vibe I appreciated. My gin martini was delicious and my friend enjoyed his drink as well. I'd come back, but maybe with no cheeseballs? I get the nostalgia and gag of it, but I'd rather popcorn like other bars or no snack at all. I'll be back Betsie! read more

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. read more

Bar Betsie - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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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 read more

Bar Betsie - Cute drink. Can't remember the name! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Love this neighborhood bar. Very thoughtfully decorated. The main con is that it's really small often with standing room only in the front. We were able to snag two seats at the bar within 10 minutes of waiting. We enjoyed our creative beverages, cheese balls and fried pickle dip. The bartenders were very personable and engaging. The perfect way to end the night. read more

Bar Betsie - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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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. read more

Bar Betsie - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Been dying to come here and finally had the chance to dine at the bar on a Friday evening! Spots are tight, so opt for a reservation if possible! Lots of speciality cocktails, with options for everyone. I enjoyed my prick these, it was the right amount of sweet/spice. Looking forward to coming back and dining at a booth. read more

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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! read more

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. read more

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You had me at cheese balls. This bar is so cute. The menu is limited but you can tell they put a lot of thought and TLC into their cocktails. I love that the bar display is based on the ingredients in each drink. It's really cool to see them laid out like that! I'm a gin girlie so I had to try the Nitty Gritty, which I loved. The service was also quick and friendly so I'll definitely be back! read more

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! read more

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Fun and unpretentious, Bar Betsie was a great happy hour pick for my group of coworkers. Playlist was straight up vibing and I loved how I felt like I was walking into a super hip, carnival after hours spot. Our bartender was super knowledgable and friendly and my "Nitty Gritty" was an absolute citrus delight. I'd definitely come back! read more

I stopped by Bar Betsie on a Friday after work with a coworker, and even ten minutes before they opened, there was already a line out front. We managed to get in, but it was standing room only, which honestly just added to the anticipation. From the moment we walked in, the vibe hit me. It warm, lively, and somehow both chic and unpretentious! The staff were immediately welcoming, and our bartender was friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about the drinks they were serving. We started with a small bowl of complimentary cheese puffs, which was a fun little snack while we scoped out the menu. We tried a few cocktails, and every single one was memorable. I loved the Nitty Gritty, which had a perfect citrus balance, and the Prick These with its smoky, slightly spicy punch was an instant favorite. The bar clearly puts thought and care into each drink, and the presentation, ingredients laid out behind the bar, was a cool touch. I will say the cocktails are on the pricier side, around $15 to $16 each, but they are well worth it for the creativity and quality. The decor is dark, retro, and inviting, with fun details like vintage inspired signage, mirrors, and neon accents that make the space feel playful yet intimate. It is a small bar, so it can get crowded, but that energy only adds to the experience. The playlist was great too, and it made standing at the bar feel like being at a lively, sophisticated party rather than cramped and uncomfortable. Overall, Bar Betsie hit all the marks: excellent drinks, a fun atmosphere, and friendly service. It is the perfect spot for a Friday night after work, a date, or just a casual night out with a friend. We will definitely be back, probably sooner rather than later, to snag a proper seat and try even more from their inventive cocktail menu. read more

The drinks were great!! Our bartender was so attentive to us and we just walked in and got sat pretty fast despite being busy for a Friday night! love the atmosphere and will deff be returning in the future! read more

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The bar is cute. Small, but cute. The bartenders and host are usually very nice as well. The drinks are not very good though. They tend to be weak and sweet. I tried a few different cocktails on the menu and I did not like any of them. It's too bad that this place isn't good because I love Jane Jane. read more

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We came here for a girls night! Omg the drinks were soooo good. I even tried a dirty martini for the first time ! The buffalo chicken dip.... BOMBBBBBB!! The staff was so friendly and the ambiance made me feel like I was in a sexy bar in NY. OUR NEW FAVORITE PLACE! read more

Bar Betsie - Dirty Martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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overdue review but Bar Betsie is a great spot especially for union market. great vibes and service, lots of space inside and a small patio out front. great drinks, interesting selection, good snacks (cheese balls when you sit) - nachos are a little dry but decent. read more

We began our evening at Bar Betsie with martinis and their pickle dip, both of which were excellent. Although there was a brief wait, we were seated at the bar within a few minutes, and the service remained prompt and attentive throughout our visit. The atmosphere is lively and stylish, making it an especially appealing setting for a date night or a girls night out. Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable start to the evening. read more

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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! read more

Bar Betsie - Devil in a Red Dress - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Bar Betsie was super neat. I went with some friends for a night out and the staff was super friendly and the ambiance felt cool, like I was in a movie. The drinks were decently priced and were pretty tasty. I don't remember what was good but we tried every drink because there were a lot of us so we got one of each. Overall, a great bar that i'm definitely going back to. read more

Bar Betsie - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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. read more

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. read more

Bar Betsie - Devil in a red dress - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Cool and trendy bar that's great for grabbing a few cocktails. The service was good but the wait can be pretty long so I recommend getting on the list early if you don't have a reservation. read more

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! read more

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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. read more

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. read more

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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! read more

Bar Betsie - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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