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Visitor Information
Admission
Free admission:- Smithsonian museums & the National Zoo (DC, VA)
- American Indian Museum Heye Center (NYC)
- Cooper-Hewitt Museum (NYC) (closed for renovation)
Information for
For Kids & Families
Kids Tips (PDF)
Dining at the Smithsonian
Smithsonian cafes are generally open in conjunction with museum hours. Restaurant hours may be confirmed at any museum information desk or by calling 202.633.1000 (voice/tape).
Group Options are available for parties of 10 or more. Please call us toll-free at 866.868.7774 or email groupsales@si.edu
Click on the museum name below
to see its dining options..
- Smithsonian Castle
- National Air and Space Museum
- National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (Chantilly, VA)
- National Museum of American History
- National Museum of the American Indian
- National Museum of Natural History
- Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture
- National Zoo
Featured Menus
Seasonal Menu from the American Indian Museum Mitsitam Café »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.
Smithsonian Castle, Information Center
1000 Jefferson Dr SW, Washington DC 205608:30AM - 5:30PM daily
Specialty sandwiches, soups, pastries, organic salads, wraps, panini sandwiches, antipasti, organic coffee, espresso/cappuccino bar, teas, bottled beverages, beer, wine, and premium ice cream.
Closed for the season.
Discounts available in Castle Café for Smithsonian Members
Free public Wi-Fi
National Air and Space Museum
6th Street and Independence Ave SW, Washington DC 20560
Food Court (First Floor-East Wing)
10:00AM to 5:00PM daily. Open until 7:00PM during the museum's extended hours.
McDonald's, Boston Market, and Donato's Pizza: hamburgers, French fries, chicken, pizza, salad, milk, sodas, shakes and desserts.
McDonald's and McCafé
(Upper Level, Enter from Food Court)
10:00AM to 5:00PM daily. Open until 7:00PM during the museum's extended hours.
Specialty coffees, teas and frappés.
*Subject to early closure for non-public museum events.
10:00AM to 5:00PM. Open until 7:00PM during the museum's extended hours. Opens seasonally and weather permitting.
• Kiosk offers McDonald's quarter-pound hamburgers, Chicken McNuggets, French fries, and beverages.
• Carts offer Hot dogs, chips, pretzels, bottled beverages, and ice cream
National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly VA 20151
McDonald's (1st Floor)
10:00AM -
5:00PM daily. Open until 7:00PM during the museum's extended hours.
Full-service McDonald's menu featuring burgers, salads, fries, chicken sandwiches, sodas, shakes and desserts.
National Museum of American History
14th Street and Constitution Ave NWWashington DC 20560
Stars and Stripes Café (Ground floor)
11:00AM to 3:00PM daily* (may stay open later if visitor demand warrants extra hours)
Natural and sustainable foods including natural beef burgers, pizza, hot dogs, BBQ,
Sandwiches, soups, salad bar, fountain and bottled beverages and desserts.
Discounts are available for Smithsonian Members with a valid membership card.
Constitution Café(1st Floor)
10:00AM - 5:00PM daily
Sandwiches, salads and soups made with natural and locally grown ingredients. Pastries, ice cream and specialty coffees, bottled sodas and water.
Free public Wi-Fi in Cafés
*Subject to early closure for non-public museum events. Please click here for additional information
National Museum of the American Indian
4th Street and Independence Ave SWWashington DC 20560
Mitsitam Café
11:00AM to 5:00PM
(Limited menu after 3:00PM off season)
Visit the Mitsitam Café website
"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.
Mitsitam Espresso Bar
10:00AM to 5:00PM
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.
Discounts are available for Smithsonian Members with a valid membership card.
Free public Wi-Fi
National Museum of Natural History
10th Street and Constitution Ave NWWashington DC 20560
*3-Star Certification as a Green Restaurant
Atrium Café (Ground Floor)
Monday-Friday: 11:00AM-3:00PM
Saturday: 11:00AM-5:00PM
Sunday: 11:00AM-4:00PM
Open until 5:00 PM when the museum has extended hours.
Natural and sustainable foods including BBQ beef brisket, rotisserie chicken, burgers, pizza, hot dogs, gourmet sandwiches, house-prepared soups, fresh salads, organic fruit, bottled and fountain beverages, and homemade desserts.
Ice Cream and Espresso Bar (Ground Floor)
Daily from 11:00AM-5:00PM
Open until 7:00 PM when the museum has
extended hours.
Ice cream, homemade desserts, specialty coffees, gourmet sandwiches, and fresh
salads.
Fossil Café (1st Floor)
Daily 10:00AM to 5:00PM
Open until 7:00 PM when the museum has
extended hours.
Specialty coffees, gourmet sandwiches, fresh salads, organic fruit, beer, soft drinks and desserts.
Outdoor Carts
11:00AM to 5:00PM, weather permitting
March 28-Sept 5
Hot dogs, sodas, and
ice cream.
Discounts are available for Smithsonian Members with a valid membership card.
Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture
8th and F Streets NWWashington DC 20001
Courtyard Café
11:30AM to 6:30PM* daily
Soups, made-to-order salads and salad bar, panini, sandwiches, bottled beverages, wine, beer, coffee, teas, pastries and ice cream.
Discounts are available for Smithsonian Members with a valid membership card.
*Subject to early closure for non-public museum events.
Free public Wi-Fi
National Zoological Park
3001 Connecticut Avenue NWWashington DC 20008
Mane Restaurant (near Lions and Tigers)
10:00AM to 4:30PM daily
Fast food service including burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, salads, snacks and beverages.
Group dining packages are available. Call 202.633.4480 or email grouptours@fonz.org for more information.
Travel Planner
The goSmithsonian» Visitors Guide has information on hotels, restaurants, and transportation for the D.C. area and more!
Tourist Information
More Smithsonian
- Environmental Research Center Edgewater, Maryland
Hiking trails, canoe launch, guided public programs. - Smithsonian Marine Station Fort Pierce, Florida
Visit the Marine Ecosystems Exhibit. - Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Panama
Visit the Punta Culebra Nature Center or tour a research facility.
