MEET THE TEAM

Tom Martinez

General Manager

Born and raised in California’s Bay Area, Tom Martinez took a winding path to hospitality, living in Oregon and Africa and working as a writer, photographer, community organizer, and on-camera personality along the way. Wherever he landed, bars and hotels were often where he connected most naturally with people. Since settling in Washington, DC, he has spent more than a decade at some of the city’s most celebrated bars, including Columbia Room, Room 11, Allegory, and Café Riggs. Tom was drawn to Bar Betsie’s potential to combine the comfort of a neighborhood standby with the creativity of a progressive cocktail bar. Inspired by its fresh yet timeless design, he brings that same sensibility to the drinks: thoughtful cocktails that surprise without making a fuss about the techniques behind them. For Tom, the best part of hospitality is giving people a comfortable place to settle in, reconnect with familiar faces, and get to know someone new.

Jean Paul Sabatier

Co-Founder / Owner

Growing up in Puerto Rico, Jean Paul Sabatier was surrounded by a culture in which good food, generous hospitality, and frequent gatherings were part of everyday life. After attending the Culinary Institute of America, he realized that what interested him most about food, wine, and cocktails was their ability to bring people together. He built his career leading the teams at some of Washington’s most acclaimed restaurants, including Rappahannock Oyster Bar, Maydan, and Compass Rose. At Bar Betsie, JP draws on that experience to shape a bar that pairs serious cocktails with an easy, unpretentious sense of hospitality—creating the kind of place where guests feel welcomed, cared for, and immediately part of the party.

Drew Porterfield

Co-Founder / Owner

Drew Porterfield brings a background in art, design, and events to Bar Betsie. After studying photography at Appalachian State University and continuing his education at Parsons School of Design in New York, he moved to Washington, DC, in 2006 to become curator and director of Long View Gallery. There, he helped transform the gallery into both a leading contemporary art space and one of the city’s most distinctive event venues, earning recognition from the Washington Business Journal’s “40 Under 40.” Drew entered the hospitality industry in 2010 as an owner of Beau Thai and later helped create BKK Cookshop and Jane Jane. At Bar Betsie, his eye for art, atmosphere, and experience helps shape a space that feels polished but playful—and always ready for a party.

Ralph Brabham

Co-Founder / Owner

A North Carolina native and former attorney, Ralph Brabham found his way into hospitality after investing in Beau Thai in 2010. What began as nights and weekends spent learning every front-of-house position quickly became a new career. In 2012, he left legal practice to work full-time in hospitality, helping grow Beau Thai and later opening BKK Cookshop, Jane Jane, and Bar Betsie with his husband, Drew Porterfield, and their partners. Ralph is particularly drawn to the ways bars and restaurants can create connection: between guests, within neighborhoods, and across a city. That belief also shaped his years of civic work, including serving as chairman of Shaw Main Streets when the organization received the Great American Main Street Award. At Bar Betsie, he focuses on creating a welcoming, community-minded bar where thoughtful details never get in the way of having a good time.