Head Bartender
Cafe Riggs, Riggs Lodge, Washington D.C.
Tom Martinez was born and raised within the Bay Space, California, and he lived numerous life earlier than settling down behind a bar. Just a few years in Oregon, a couple of years in Africa, and numerous time touring the globe. He labored jobs together with, writing, photographing, group organizing, and dealing each in entrance of and behind a stay digital camera, earlier than touchdown in Washington D.C.
As Tom traveled the world he’d discovered that he linked with folks finest in bars and hostels – so it solely made sense to begin working in them when he returned dwelling. Since then he’s spent over a decade in a few of D.C.’s finest bars, together with Columbia Room, Room 11, and Allegory, and now because the Head Bartender on the Cafe Riggs within the Riggs resort, the place he’s coming into his third yr.
Opened by the Lore group in 2020, the Riggs Lodge was constructed within the historic headquarters of the Riggs Nationwide Financial institution, which dates again to the mid Nineties. The financial institution impressed the resort’s design with sweeping views that recall the golden age of banking and the roaring 20’s. The Riggs has rapidly earned a status as among the finest lodges within the nation’s Capitol. Situated within the coronary heart of downtown D.C, simply steps from the Nationwide Portrait Gallery and the Capital One Space, the resort has introduced a brand new component of Glamour and Luxurious right into a neighborhood that has revitalized itself after covid.
Tom settled naturally into the resort, the place he discovered his earlier life touring the world offers him numerous alternatives to make connections with the friends who go to the bar. Listed within the Michelin information, the Cafe is an all day, daily house the place there bartenders are equal elements knowledgeable cocktail makers and ambassadors to the town.
The Cafe has established itself as a pressure in D.C.’s thriving restaurant scene regardless of the hour. On weekends you’ll discover boozy bottle service mimosa brunches, energy lunches and locals working through the day, and a bustling cocktail bar late into the night time. Drop by within the night and also you’ll nearly actually see friends across the bar imbibing a Nitro Espresso Martini, which has grow to be the resort’s signature drink – within the busy season they’ll promote over 1,000 of them a month.
