Mini-Reviews, Smithsonian Institution Cafes, Washington, D.C.

American History Museum

I stopped by both cafes here but did not stay and rest at either one. The LeRoy Neiman Jazz Café was on the first floor, a colorful spot featuring regional menus and a coffee bar, with tall windows on one side that look out on the front courtyard of the museum.

Their Eat at America’s Table cafe on the ground floor was a vast space with low ceilings and, frankly, the uninviting school cafeteria atmosphere which usually sends me packing. Huge, unadorned support pillars added to the gloom. I didn’t give it a chance and decided to press on to the Natural History Museum and see what they had. Surely it must be better than this. I do indeed understand museum cafes often have to serve large volumes of visitors (the American History Museum website said their Eat at America’s Table cafe seats 600.).

I took some grim photos of it - and looked on the web for better ones. It’s worth noting that there are not a lot of photos of it on the web! Even on their own site. Which tells you something. It’s the food that matters, I suppose, and I’m sure they work hard at it, but atmosphere is mostly what I write about here.

High marks, though, for a creative display at the entrance – a collection of popular lunchboxes through past American eras.

Natural History Museum

This was one long, steamy day in July, and my iPhone had recorded over 20,000 steps already. I had spurned the American History Museum cafes in hopes of a more refreshing spot at the Natural History Museum. When I finally arrived there, footsore and frazzled – I discovered that a new café was under construction – and the stopgap in the meantime was an old gallery on the top floor that looked like an over-sized school gymnasium. High, opaque windows and all. With school cafeteria tables and chairs (serves me right) – and a row of vending machines and a pay station. That was it. By then I was willing to sit down even in a gym for a cold drink and a snack. Any port in a storm. So I did.

Smithsonian Castle - Castle Café

The Smithsonian Institution encourages visitors to begin their museum journey here at the Castle - the signature building and home of their Visitor Center. Everything you need to know to plan your visit is here – as well as the Castle Café. The Castle was completed in 1855 – and while the café is just a modern snack bar in a corner, with tables in the lobby, the 1855 part becomes clear when you look up at the ceiling. Literally – a highlight. I ended up stopping here last, not first, (trust me to do things backward) on the morning I was headed to the airport to go home, but a treat and a place to sit down is always welcome on a busy day. Especially with such a palatial feel. Now, that’s atmosphere.