Dining at the Smithsonian

Addthis Share Tools

Information subject to change.

Please review our hours and admission information and tips and safety protocols to plan your visit. All Smithsonian museums and the zoo are closed on December 25. 

  • African American History and Culture Museum

    Sweet Home Café
    Sweet Home Cafe is temporarily serving a limited menu. 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.
    11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

    Visitors may obtain a Dine and Shop Pass to facilitate museum entry to dine in the Sweet Home Café or shop in the museum store. 

  • Air and Space Museum

    Mars Café
    (Lower Level)
    Coffee and full espresso bar, featuring locally roasted “Bird Friendly” artisan coffees, specialty teas, and a selection of seasonally inspired sandwiches, warm paninis, salads, and pastries.
    10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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

    Shake Shack
    Shake Shack favorites including burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, fries, frozen custard, coffee, and shakes—including two exclusives, the Constellation Crunch Concrete and Out of This World Shake. In addition, pre-packaged salads and sandwiches are available as a quick pick option.
    11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • American Art Museum and Portrait Gallery

    Courtyard Café
    The Café offers a fresh and seasonal menu of American-inspired dishes, as well as coffee drinks, wine, beer, and desserts. Specialty sandwiches, soups, pastries, organic salads, wraps, antipasti, and organic options are all on the menu at this gorgeous, all-seasons location.
    11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • American History Museum

    Eat at America's Table
    (Ground Level)
    Eat at America’s Table is the main eatery at the museum. The menu includes traditional culinary dishes from our nation’s kitchens, cheese and charcuterie, and classic American sandwiches, great American barbecue and grill favorites (burgers, hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches etc…) as well as cooking inspired by Tex-Mex and 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 desserts are made in house.
    11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

    Jazz Café 
    (1st Floor)
    Enjoy a specialty coffee, cold drink, light lunch, or delicious pastry.
    11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • American Indian Museum

    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.
    11 a.m. to 4 p.m., subject to change

    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 4 p.m., subject to change

  • American Indian Museum New York

    Mili Kàpi Café
    Temporarily closed.
    (2nd Floor)
    Mili Kàpi means “give me some coffee” in the Native language of the Lenape people, the original inhabitants of New York City. The Café features hot and cold beverages and light casual fare—sandwiches, salads and sweets—highlighting ingredients indigenous to the Americas. The Café serves coffee from Stumptown Coffee Roasters.
    10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  • Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

    Café (Ground Floor)
    Operated by Italian restaurant and caterer Tarallucci e Vino, the cafe offers a seasonal menu featuring Italian pastries, espresso, salads, soups, and panini, as well as a large selection of wines by the glass.
    10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Monday
    Closed Tuesdays

  • 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.
    10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    10% discount for Hirshhorn members

  • National Zoo

    For everyone's safety, dining options and gift shops may be limited as the Zoo takes COVID-19 precautions. Visitors are welcome to bring their own food and snacks into the Zoo.

    Hours subject to change due to weather

    Elevation Burger at Mane Grill
    (near Tiger/Lion Hill)
    Hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, vegetarian burgers, vegan burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese, chicken tenders, fries, and milkshakes.
    10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (winter)
    10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (summer)

    Sbarro
    (Panda Plaza)
    Pizza, stromboli, hot dogs, chicken tenders, soft drinks.
    9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (winter)
    9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (summer)

    Auntie Anne's & Carvel
    (Panda Overlook)
    Soft pretzels, pretzel dogs, frozen lemonade, Carvel ice cream, soft drinks.
    10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (winter)
    10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (summer)

    Food Trucks
    Ben & Jerry’s, Bootheel Bar B Que, Dippin’ Dots, Dolci Gelati, Popcorn Wagon, Vintage Views Bar
    Hours and locations vary

  • Natural History Museum

    Atrium Café
    (Ground Floor)
    The museum’s largest café, featuring Butcher Craft Burgers, Flatbreads, Pasta, and a Chef’s Market Table.
    11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

    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.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.
    11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • 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).
    10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays)

    Outdoor Carts
    Open seasonally