Dining at the Smithsonian

A wide variety of drinks, snacks, and dining options are available in and around our museums. Pick up quick bites from our food carts located on the National Mall side of the Air and Space, American History, and Natural History museums, and the Smithsonian Castle (seasonal, weather permitting).

Group sales options are available for parties of 10 or more. Please call Smithsonian Enterprises at 866.868.7774 (toll free) or email groupsales@si.edu

Please note: No accommodations are available for eating bag lunches within the museums except in the Kogod Courtyard of the Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture.

  • African American History and Culture Museum

    Sweet Home Café
    The 2017 James Beard Award nominated Sweet Home Café boasts both refined and down-home cooking intricately linked to the geographic regions that inspired each dish, revealing stories about African American culture through food. 
    10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily

  • Air and Space Museum

    The Museum’s cafeteria is being renovated to better serve our visitors.  A temporary cafeteria featuring sandwiches, salads, hot and cold drinks, and desserts is now open in the former McDonald’s location on the first floor.

    Group dining packages »

  • Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

    McDonald's
    Full-service McDonald's menu featuring burgers, salads, fries, chicken sandwiches, sodas, shakes, and desserts.
    10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Open until 6 p.m. during the museum's extended hours.

    Group dining packages »

  • American Art Museum and Portrait Gallery

    Courtyard Café
    The Café offers a fresh and seasonal menu of Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Using primarily local, organic, and sustainable ingredients, the lunch menu includes salads, soups, quiche, sandwiches, and a selection of cheeses. The Café also offers desserts, such as cheesecake, bread pudding, and kid-friendly cookies and cupcakes.
    11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.* daily (Lunch menu served until 3 p.m. weekdays and 4 p.m. weekends)

    Free visitor Wi-Fi
    Discounts are available for Smithsonian Members with a valid membership card.
    *Subject to early closure for non-public museum events.

    Group dining packages »

  • American History Museum

    Eat at America's Table
    (Ground Level)
    Eat at America’s Table is the main eatery for the National Museum of American History. The cafe seats 600 and is able to accommodate large groups. The menu includes Traditional culinary dishes from our nation’s kitchens, cheese & charcuterie, & classic American sandwiches, great American barbecue & grill favorites (burgers, hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches etc…), as well as cooking inspired by Tex-Mex & Native-American traditions. The café also offers classic salads made fresh with seasonal inspiration.
    Guests will find freshly brewed coffee as well as wine, beer, and other bottled beverages. All our desserts are made in house.
    11 a.m. to 5 p.m., peak season, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. off peak-season

    Jazz Café 
    (1st Floor)
    Sandwiches, salads and soups made with natural and locally grown ingredients. Pastries, ice cream and specialty coffees, bottled sodas and water.
    10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
    Open until 7 p.m. when the museum has extended hours.

    Discounts are available for Smithsonian Members with a valid membership card.
    Free visitor Wi-Fi in Cafés.
    *Subject to early closure for non-public museum events.

    Group dining packages »

  • American Indian Museum

    Mitsitam Café
    "Mitsitam" means "Let's Eat!" in the Native language of the Delaware and Piscataway peoples. The café enhances the museum experience by offering Native-inspired cuisines from five regions of the Western Hemisphere, including the Northern Woodlands, South America, the Northwest Coast, Meso America and the Great Plains.Tamales, roasted turkey, grilled salmon, homemade seasonal soups, buffalo burgers, Indian fry bread, a seasonal variety of aqua fresca and desserts.
    11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
    (Limited menu after 3 p.m. off season)

    Visit the Mitsitam Café website

    Mitsitam Espresso Bar
    Pastries and casual fare from the cafe’s repertoire, plus Tribal Grounds Coffee—organic, fair-trade coffee grown by indigenous farmers and imported, roasted, and provided to the museum by the Eastern Band of Cherokee.
    10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Free visitor Wi-Fi
    Discounts are available for Smithsonian Members with a valid membership card.

    Group dining packages »

  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

    Café (Ground Floor)
    Italian restaurant and caterer Tarallucci e Vino operates our new ground-floor café, featuring a contemporary layout and expanded seating inside and outside in the adjoining Arthur Ross Terrace and Garden.

    A seasonal menu offers Tarallucci's popular pastries, legendary espresso, salads, soups, and panini, as well as a large selection of wines by the glass.

    The café, along with the garden is accessible without an admissions ticket.

    Weekdays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    Sundays, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

  • Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

    Dolcezza Coffee & Gelato @ Hirshhorn
    Handmade seasonal gelato, specialty espresso drinks, and small batch pastries from one of D.C.’s most popular locally-owned coffee purveyors, housed in a stunning new lobby coffee bar designed by celebrated artist and architect Hiroshi Sugimoto. The space also features furnishings created by Sugimoto and his studio, including tables from a 700-year-old Japanese nutmeg tree.
    8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends

    10% discount for Federal employees with ID and Hirshhorn members

    Free visitor Wi-Fi

  • National Zoo

    Visitors can enjoy a variety of foods at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, including vegetarian and gluten-free options, at food trucks and stands throughout the park. Please note food truck options and availability are subject to change.

    Group meals can be pre-ordered for 10 or more guests.

    Mane Grill 
    (near Tiger/Lion Hill)
    Angus burgers, chemical- and hormone-free grilled chicken, kids' meals and to-go items.
    10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fall/Winter
    10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Spring/Summer

    Sbarro
    (Panda Plaza)
    Pizza, stromboli, hot dogs, chicken tenders, soft drinks

    Auntie Anne's & Carvel
    (Panda Overlook)
    Soft pretzels, pretzel dogs, frozen lemonade, Carvel ice cream, soft drinks

  • Natural History Museum

    Ocean Terrace Café
    (First Floor)
    The Ocean Terrace Café has been developed with a greater focus on grains and vegetables being at the core of a daily diet. Entrees feature sustainable items, seasonally available local produce, artisan craft foods, vegetable focused entrees, and the reduced use of proteins. Featured items include our Global Vegetable Grain Bowls, Sandwiches, and Market Plates. In addition to lunch try our fair trade certified coffees and teas along with cold brewed and espresso based beverages. Round off our offerings with house baked pastries, desserts, and local crafted gelato. While visiting the café, check out the Mega-toothed Shark exhibit in the first-floor atrium.
    10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Coffee Bar
    11 am. – 4 p.m. Food Service

    Atrium Café
    (Ground Floor)
    The museum’s largest café, featuring Butcher Craft Burgers, Flatbreads, Pasta, and a Chef’s Market Table.
    11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

    Group dining packages »

  • Smithsonian Castle

    Castle Café
    Specialty sandwiches, soups, pastries, organic salads, antipasti, Peet’s coffee, espresso/cappuccino bar, teas, bottled beverages, beer, wine, and novelty ice cream (seasonal).
    Discounts available for Smithsonian Members.
    Free visitor Wi-Fi
    8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily

    Outdoor Carts
    Open seasonally

    Group dining packages »