My husband and I got into town late and were looking for a bite to eat. I'm so so glad we found Betsy's. It's the cutest little rooftop bar with amazing food and unique and skillfully crafted Gin & Tonics and a wide variety of whiskies. We ordered the pork belly buns, mussels, a burger, and the tuna tartar. Everything was absolutely delicious. We will definitely come again if we're ever back in the area! read more

The Betsy - Gin & Tonic and Whisky - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Having a small nook in the neighborhood to keep away from all the tourists is always welcome. My expectations were unfortunately dashed after having a stop at Betsy. The great was the selection of gin drinks. The good was the small rooftop location and the staff were all laid back and friendly. The not so good was the food. Trying four dishes, three of the four just didn't make it. The falafel waffle was served cold and with the rest of the cold parts of the dish, it did not taste well. Had the falafel been warm and I would expect a waffle to be, I might have had a different reaction. The brussel sprouts that were split and cooked were great, but the ones that were just cooked whole did not carry much flavor. The sliders looked great, but took much char on the meat part killed the flavor. Lastly, the tuna tartare was the best of the bunch so that saved it from being a 2-star overall. Maybe that is how they want to prep/prepare the food which is fine. I'll just stick to the gin bar next time. read more

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Quaint roof top bar-where you feel like you left the city and are in a cafe in Europe. The extensive gin and tonic cocktails on a warm day were perfect and refreshing offering a variety of gin and flavors. The small plates we shared were delicious. Service was on point-professional yet friendly, offered suggestions, and all team members assisted to work the room with clearing, ordering, delivering and kept the flow of the busy place moving. read more

I selfishly don't want people to know how great this spot is because I want to keep it all to myself! But for the sake of Betsy; i must encourage you to go. An intimate rooftop spot that feels other-worldly! Amazing gin tonics and small plates. The coolest little spot in DC. read more

The Betsy - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Very tiny outdoor space, and very overpriced! Further, the manager (brunette male, somewhat tanned), is arrogant and impolite (DC is a polite, Southern city ;). To the positive, the food is tasty and nicely presented (I had the poke bowl and beet salad). Both were very good. Yet, the prices left a bad taste in my mouth (no pun intended). Bathrooms were also disgusting. And we remain in a pandemic. read more

Went here for brunch on Easter Sunday of all days and had some of the rudest service of my life. For starters, we were sitting at a folding table. They got one of our meals wrong and did not even offer to make it right and charged us a fee for the added eggs even thought they were wrong and not eaten. Then proceeded to force us to order more food to hit a minimum because of the absurd $25 per person reservation fee we were charged originally. Had to ask for simple things like silverware/ salt & pepper, never got a water refill and we're just treated with the worst manners we've had in the city. Thankfully most of our food was good so that slightly redeemed this overall bad experience. This is the only time I've ever written a negative Yelp review to give context for how exceedingly bad this was. read more

How did I not know about this place for so long! The drinks were delicious, the atmosphere cute, and the snacks are very yummy! I love that the frites come with three mayos! I can't wait to return for some more yummy gin cocktails. read more

Betsy is always a good time with great drinks. They specialize in gin but have alternative liquors and beer for those that aren't into gin. Love the fact most of their drinks have a unique flavored ice cube. Get there early as tables do fill up quickly. read more

Go-to staple in Barracks row I frequent a lot and also always recommend to others. Love the "secret" entrance and the gin menu is outstanding. Do yourself a favor and go. read more

Betsy was a cute roof top bar designed to look like a chicken coop. It is in alleyway, which can be a bit sketchy at night, however there are chicken foot prints that lead you to the spot. I ended up meeting a friend on a Monday for happy hour, and the prices were reasonable and the drink were amazing! Everything the bartender brought was magical. We didn't eat much, just ordered fries and the duck balls, both of which were good. The mosquitos were out, but luckily the bartender had OFF, which was a nice touch. I would recommend stopping by. read more

This is my first time at Betsy. Came here after many recommendations from friends. I absolutely love it!! So cool that it's hidden from the street-- it feels like a secret oasis. The bartender, Arslan, was the coolest guy and made the BEST drinks. Love love love the vibe and the drinks. The food was also delicious-- highly recommend the fries w/ beef. Will definitely be back!!! read more

The Betsy - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This spot was pretty cool, you had to walk through the alley around the back and then up the stairs to a secluded rooftop. I called the number they had listed for their company to set a reservation but on the phone they didn't tell me they only do walk ins. So I showed up thinking I had a reservation but that wasn't the case. Fortunately they were able to accommodate. It is a gin bar but I really just came to get Belgian fries so I didn't try any of the gin and tonics. The regular fries and the old bay fries were amazing. I typically hate Mayo but their Mayo trios complimented the fries well. I also ordered the Brussels and grilled avocado. The grilled pineapple with the grilled bread was especially delicious. They had some pretty good bears and cocktails outside of the gin options as well. read more

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Didn't know what I would find behind Belga cafe, but wow was I impressed. Definitely adding this to my "must visit" list for DC. The ambience was incredible, I love the theme of the place and the seating is so cute and comfortable. The bar tender was one of the nicest people I have ever met, and gave us surprise drinks that I wish I could recreate for myself. I will definitely be visiting Betsy again and again and could not recommend this more!! read more

The Betsy - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

LOVED this bar. So glad I was finally nearby during business hours. (Every time I've been it hasn't been during biz hours) This will definitely be a MUST stop every time I'm in DC. Very relaxing, causal, upstairs patio "speakeasy". Just follow the chicken feet!! Have a new liking for gin now thanks to the fabulous bartenders and amazing drinks on their menu. Next time I need to go hungry and sample everything on their food menu. read more

The Betsy - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Betsy was the first place I visited after moving to DC, and it's still my favorite place. From the moment you set foot through the threshold, you're welcomed like a regular. If you're a gin-lover like me, you'll find a little slice of heaven. Or, if you're curious about gin, this is the perfect place to start your exploration. And if you hate gin (!!!??) don't worry - the drink menu has something for everyone. Oh. Right. They also have a tasty food menu with everything from mussels to frites to tuna tartare with creamy avocado and perfectly spicy jalapeños. So just go ahead and make it a date night already (bonus points: the back alley entrance will impress your date!). Just don't all go at once, because I'd still like to get a table. read more

The Betsy - a piece of cake and a glass of wine - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Food severed ice cold. Hostile wait staff. An awful experience. Ice cold waffle and eggs. Took 3 tries asking 3 waiters for hot syrup . Finally delivered ice cold. Gruff and unfriendly service. read more

Great cocktails! Great service! Arslan was our bartender and is the best. He also makes great craft cocktails! We ordered the BLT Bowl or Not (basically Burrata, cucumber, and tomato) and the "classique" fries. SO GOOD! I recommend trying this little hidden gem ASAP! You also have to try their Halloween craft cocktails! read more

The Betsy - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Arslan was amazing! The gin is on point! If you want great customer service and amazing drinks then this is the place for you!!!!! read more

The Betsy - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The place has a lot of potential. It felt like they were very new but upon further inspection it totally wasn't. Disappointing. The setup of the place makes it a bit difficult for servers to know when new tables are there. We sat there for probably 20 minutes even after notifying them during HH that we were there. Our server served us water and told us he would be right back and infact, he was not. When we did order, it was clear that the servers did not go through any training. They didn't know the drinks we were ordering to the point that I had to point them out on the menu. Additionally, they didn't know what they were out of which was painful considering how much time it would take for them to come back to our table. The expo was also thoroughly confused. He didn't know the table numbers and was constantly walking around trying to figure out what tables ordered what. Finally, I found the drinks were just not there yet. I think part of it is that it felt like the servers were just learning to bartend and didn't know what went into a good drink. They were poorly mixed. The positive factors here is that the brussel sprouts were fantastic. When they did slow down, they were attentive so they just need to figure out how to better manage being in the weeds. Finally, the space is so cute! I could see it being a fun place as it gets warmer but they have to get the blocking and tackling down. read more

The atmosphere of this place is fricken awesome. I'm a big gin fan so obviously I had to try out Betsy as they specialize in gin drinks. The location is really awesome. You basically walk down an alley and it's in a building behind Belga Café. The vibe of this place is spectacular. Since it's getting cooler outside it underneath a tent basically. All the gin drinks we had were awesome and the southwestern style egg rolls were good. This is definitely a place I would put on my happy hour or dinner rotation any time. read more

AMAZING food and cocktails! Arslan is so attentive and personable! Fav brunch spot in DC!

No joke best place in town. Unique atmosphere and incredible drinks/food. Not a place in DC like it!

Walk by the stinky alley as you approach the entrance and is greeted by their loud AC units. Then be served by the bar tender who if very confident in providing mystery cocktails during happy hours without telling you what he's going to put in it after asking. The special G&T he provided did not taste like it has tonic in it as it wasn't carbonated or sweet. We believe he added water and watered down the drink and added his attitude as his mystery ingredient. If you want to use the restroom, walk into the slippery and dirty kitchen with staff staring you down. If you ask where the restroom is, the bar tender will cut you off and makes sure he gets their first as you hold it in. The patio was hot and muggy with direct sun glaring at you at certain tables. Not the most comfortable seating either. Don't waste your time here as there are many other great places in DC. We were very disappointed with the drinks, service and ambiance. read more

Amazing shots, drinks, and apps. Arslan and Gabe were awesome. Our favorite spot when we visit DC. read more

The Betsy - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Nice hidden spot, nicely decorated outdoor small patio, a must checkout in dc. I had the muscles, not so great, tasted sour. The pineapple beer I had was good. I've had mussels from belgacafe recently, it was not this bad. The wine my friend had was not good either. But a very relaxed environment, worth a try. read more

Another place I don't want to Yelp about, but they deserve the 5 stars. Gin. GIN! Gin... This place has quite the tasting menu of gins from a whole slew of wonderful distilleries. Are they competing with the Gin Joint up in Woodley Park? Not at all! They've selected a collection (yet still limited) amount of bottles for you to sample that pairs well with their fresh herbs, in-house fruit juice ice cubes, and glassware. This is what they do best, and they will not disappoint. There are so many more things I like about Betsy. I love the atmosphere of being in a patio garden. I love the low hum of conversation. I love the large goblet sized proportions. You're really getting what you pay for ($12-$15). I also love the HH food, especially their $4 french fries. A perfect salty snack to pair with any drink. After a little rambling, I will say that this place will not be for everyone. Don't bring a large group and expect to find seating at popular times. Don't expect to order something off menu. Don't be surprised that the space is outside. Even though fans and awnings make the space pretty comfortable in various conditions, this is essentially dining al-fresco. So excited to have this lovely establishment in my rotation. read more

Loved this place. Arslan was our server, very attentive, courtesy, and nice. Food and drinks were delicious, I over ate because I wanted to try everything. I will definitely be back! read more

I hesitate to even post this because this is one of the best hidden gems in DC if you love gin. Betsy is the perfect little patio getaway to enjoy some creative and appetizing gin cocktails. As mentioned, it's a fairly secluded location only reached after heading down an alley. Staff are all incredibly helpful with drink suggestions and food pairings. The Brussels sprouts were particularly delicious. During cooler months they have space heaters and blankets to make the experience more enjoyable. read more

The Betsy - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Amazing concept...amazing food... amazing drinks.... amazing service. I was skeptical walking through an alley to get drinks, but this was hidden gem. Every small plate was tasty. The mussels were perfectly cooked and seasoned. The old bay fries were to die for (I usually never like fries). The vegetarian pasta small plate was bold and flavorful. Again, I am impressed. The one drawback is that some patrons brought huge dogs on the patio. I am allergic to dogs and I wasn't expecting two dogs to be near me while I was eating and drinking. read more

The Betsy - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Long, interesting list of gin-based drinks, friendly staff, and heat lamps + blankets make for a cozy spot for a drink. Really appreciate that even though we were the only patrons left on a relatively cold night, we didn't feel rushed to leave. Looking forward to coming back and trying more of the menu, including some snacks. read more

What a cute hidden gem.....Just follow the birds feet and you can't get lost! I visited on the first warm weather day this week and it was pretty packed but if you can squeeze in and wait you will land a good seat to grab some food. The food was yummy and the Bruch menu looks amazing....You wanna get drinks cause they are extra cute yet really good and refreshing. Now it is a GIN bar but they have some good vodkas if you ask! For the place to be jammed packed, the service was excellent! read more

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Very small, so hope it's not busy when you go, but wowzers is this place adorable, and the drinks are fantastic!!

Great concept, but food could use a little work. Once the Betsy works out the kinks, they'll be a go-to spot on Barrack's Row. The atmosphere is fantastic. Imagine you're at a garden party in your backyard, but with your own gin and tonic bar. The Betsy has a wonderful outdoor patio on a roof behind Belga cafe. There isn't a ton of shade but they've set up umbrellas and fans to keep you cool. My only quibble is that you have to go through the kitchen to get to the restroom. The food needs improvement. The "large plates" really aren't large at all and the portion size was lacking for an entree. Their special chicken and short ribs were tiny in comparison to the burger. The burger was excellent and I'd highly recommend it over any other dish we had. For a restaurant named after a chicken, I found their chicken to be very lackluster. This should be a skillet fried chicken place rather than a baked, slightly sliced chicken restaurant. Our drinks were solid but not spectacular. Many in our party enjoy G&T's. Beer is served in bottles except for one tap. There are craft cocktails, but they tended to be on the small side. Come for the atmosphere and friendly service and hope the food improves as they perfect their concept. I'll visit again if only for the cool rooftop vibe. read more

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I loved it here. It was my first time trying Gin - other than taking shots of it in college- and I was impressed!! They are known for their Gin and I already want to go back. The service was great from the moment I walked in. The waiter helped me pick out my drink and I have to say it was my favorite. I had the Few American Gin and it was refreshing and it didn't have the strong taste of Gin. I loved how my ice cube was in the shape of a heart with the apples inside of it. The grilled pineapples and avocado was delicious! I had the pork tacos and that was very good. If you want to have light appetizers and a good drink, I recommend this place. It's a small area, so I recommend going early if you want to have a place to sit. read more

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I came here with friends but I'm not drinking currently, and was planning on just drinking water. Our incredible waiter was amazing and offered to make me an espresso which is not on the menu technically and it made such an amazing experience! Could not give this place high enough stars. Can't wait to come back and get a drink in a couple weeks! read more

What a lovely little secret spot to enjoy a great brunch. Space is intimate but open. Service was fantastic and the menu had a lot to choose from. I had a seafood omelette that was amazing. My husband had a skillet dish with tender delicious meats with egg and hash browns. So good. read more

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We held a very small gathering on the rooftop bar. The food and service was unbeatable. Drinks were amazing. Everyone wore masks when we walked in. I felt very safe. We will be back soon. Our guests are raving. They did a great safe job!!! read more

The drinks are good, the food is so-so, and the prices are what?! Happy hour is only from 4-5:30, so save this for a day you leave work a little early. My friend and I went right after work and by the time the waiter came to take our order, we had missed happy hour. For three drinks and two small snacks, our bill was ~$90 (before tip). The drinks were excellent, which is why the 3 stars. But the food was bland and overpriced. I got pea tortellini and each lil tortellini was about $4. My friend ordered goat "tacos" that were kinda more like tostadas. He said they were ok but more sauce than meat. The atmosphere is chill. The music - bluegrass covers of classic hip hop and pop songs - was amazing. Fans and shade screens made this a nice place to be on a warm summer evening. This would be a great place to come at the end of a special date, after you've eaten, when you each just want one more drink and a little more time together. I do not recommend it for an every-day happy hour sort of meet-up. Note: the menu photos on yelp are bit outdated. Some of the options have changed and the prices have gone up. (example, the drink I ordered is $15 in the photo and currently $18 at the restaurant). read more

The Betsey Bar via a back alley is a treasure! I visited this rooftop oasis to have after brunch drinks with my gals. #dontjudge Arslan, my new favorite bartender was attentive and his curated cocktails are unmatched. His warm, welcoming personality and his well-crafted drinks made our first-time experience worthwhile. We will definitely be back to escape quarantine life and enjoy a good laugh with Arslan. read more

The Betsy - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Great spot! Good drink/cocktail selection, good food, and always incredible service that takes good care of us. Definitely worth a visit!