Bar Manager

Riggs Washington DC sits on the iconic downtown corner of Penn Quarter’s 9th and F Street in a historic building once home to Riggs National Bank. Each of the Hotel’s 181 guest rooms offers a playful nod to the building’s legacy. Riggs is home to the all-occasion European brasserie-inspired restaurant Café Riggs, as well as Silver Lyan – a subterranean bar from the internationally acclaimed Ryan Chetiyawardana, also known as Mr Lyan.

The Café Riggs Bar Manager is responsible for leading and inspiring the bar team to deliver exceptional hospitality and memorable guest experiences while maintaining the highest standards of service, beverage quality, and operational excellence. This role oversees all aspects of bar operations, including staffing, financial performance, inventory management, beverage programming, and team development.

A successful Bar Manager is a hands-on leader, coach, and mentor who is passionate about developing talent, fostering a culture of accountability, and creating opportunities for career growth within the team.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• Recruit, hire, onboard, train, and develop a high-performing bar team that embodies Café Riggs' service standards and culture.
• Create comprehensive onboarding and training programs for new team members, ensuring confidence in service standards, product knowledge, and operational procedures.
• Conduct regular one-on-one coaching sessions, performance evaluations, and development conversations to support individual growth and career progression.
• Build individualized development plans for bartenders and bar support staff, identifying opportunities for skill advancement and internal promotion.
• Lead ongoing beverage education, including spirits, wine, beer, cocktail techniques, seasonal offerings, responsible alcohol service, and hospitality standards.
• Organize regular team trainings, menu tastings, service refreshers, and pre-shift education to continuously elevate knowledge and performance.
• Mentor emerging leaders by providing opportunities to lead shifts, train new hires, and take on additional responsibilities.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and inclusive workplace culture built on accountability, communication, teamwork, and mutual respect.
• Recognize outstanding performance and celebrate team achievements while addressing performance concerns with timely coaching and clear expectations.

Operational Excellence

• Oversee all daily bar operations, ensuring consistency, efficiency, cleanliness, organization, and adherence to brand standards.
• Develop, maintain, and continually improve standard operating procedures for bar service, opening and closing duties, inventory management, cash handling, and sanitation.
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, sanitation, and alcohol service regulations.
• Maintain equipment and coordinate preventative maintenance to ensure uninterrupted operations.
• Collaborate with restaurant leadership to optimize service flow and support overall operational success.

Guest Experience & Hospitality

• Lead by example in providing warm, genuine hospitality and personalized guest service.
• Build relationships with guests, anticipate needs, resolve concerns professionally, and create memorable experiences.
• Coach the team on service techniques, hospitality standards, and guest engagement.
• Monitor guest feedback and identify opportunities to improve service quality and operational execution.
• Maintain a visible presence on the floor during service to support staff and ensure exceptional guest experiences.

Financial Management

• Develop and manage the bar budget while monitoring labor costs, beverage cost, and operating expenses.
• Analyze sales trends, labor performance, and inventory reports to maximize profitability.
• Implement strategies to increase revenue through menu engineering, promotions, upselling, and premium beverage offerings.
• Monitor product waste, shrinkage, and inventory variances while maintaining cost controls.
• Partner with leadership to establish and achieve financial goals.

Beverage Program & Quality Control

• Curate and maintain a creative, diverse, and high-quality beverage program that reflects Café Riggs' culinary vision and guest preferences.
• Collaborate with the culinary team to develop seasonal cocktail menus and beverage pairings.
• Ensure consistency in recipes, presentation, execution, and quality through ongoing training and recipe adherence.
• Maintain accurate inventory levels, ordering schedules, and vendor relationships.
• Stay informed on beverage industry trends, emerging products, and innovative techniques to continuously enhance the guest experience.

Training & Learning Culture

• Champion a culture of continuous learning by creating structured monthly and quarterly training initiatives.

• Develop educational materials, training guides, recipe manuals, and operational resources for the team.
• Schedule regular product knowledge sessions with distributors, wineries, breweries, and spirit partners.
• Evaluate training effectiveness through observations, guest feedback, performance metrics, and practical assessments.
• Encourage professional certifications and continuing education in hospitality and beverage programs.
• Promote cross-training opportunities with restaurant and culinary teams to strengthen collaboration and operational knowledge.
• Build a succession plan by identifying high-potential employees and preparing them for future leadership opportunities.
• Lead by example through ongoing self-development and staying current with hospitality, leadership, and beverage industry best practices.

Compensation

Annual Salary 77,000.00-82,000.00

Benefits

At Riggs Washington DC we are committed to giving our employees the skills and support required to deliver extraordinary experiences, and most importantly, to grow in their careers. On top of this we also like to offer our teams a wide range of benefits including:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance (for full-time employees)

• 6 complimentary nights a year at any Lore Group hotel

• Lore Group Employee & Immediate Family Rates

• Lore Group Friend and Family Rates

• 50% Employee discount and 25% Friends and Family discount at over 800 partner hotels via Lore Discovery

• 50% discount in Lore Group restaurants and bars

• 10 Days Vacation - Plus every year an extra day

• Company Paid Life Insurance 1.5X annual salary

• Employee Assistance Program

• Referral Incentive

• 401K with 5% Match

• Training and Development Programs

• Additional perks via United Healthcare

• Complimentary Employee Meals

• Employee Recognition programs

Equal Employment Opportunity

Lore Group does not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment based upon race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family responsibilities, genetic information, matriculation, or political affiliation. We will make any reasonable effort to ensure that all applicants and employees receive equal opportunity in personnel matters, including recruiting, selection, training, placement, promotion, wages and benefits, transfers, terminations, and working conditions.

Location: Washington, DC