Gem of a museum. Outstanding collection. PROTIP: take a look at who is facing the Donald Trump portrait.
We spent a few quiet hours here on a Sunday afternoon getting some work done before flying out. The atmosphere in the courtyard changes with the light through the amazing ceiling. The high roofline allows for sound to filter through the space, mixing the conversations with the sounds of children and the water running across the floor. Truly a special place with an amazing aesthetic.
The cafe provides sandwiches, small bites, and a continual flow of coffee to keep you moving.
While we were there, they were setting up for a private dinner with 24 guests; adding to the allure of the space.
a perfect place to dodge the rain and cold and get a nice study session in a beautiful open space.
Every portrait in these walls has a story to tell
Gorgeous open indoor courtyard with high ceilings and great natural light. Lots of seating space. Coffee is definitely overpriced so keep that in mind. But a great place to meet a friend for a chat or do some work.
Courtyard is stunning, but the café itself is just okay
The perfect spot to have lunch or a snack. The shallow pools that we have seen many of our visit add tranquility, and the light beaming in from the HIGH glass ceiling (roof) makes the place joyful. Then you have the choice of two marvelous museums: Portrait (more than pictures - a little history thrown in) and Art.
Whether new to area or a local, this indoor courtyard is a great one to pass time. There’s small bites and WiFi, which are ideal for enjoying while taking in the natural light, floral arrangements, and AC!
Noelle Gonzales Jackson
+5
n o t e
- i did NOT purchase food from the cafe itself
c o m m e n t s
the national portrait gallery court cafe is a must see! it's designed to mimic the natural world, particularly elements of nature that make our country unique. there are stunning plants from all around the country; the tropical ones being a personal favorite. the ceiling is designed to let in natural light, creating a peaceful ambience. I recommend visiting at different times of day to take note of the changing light.
additionally, there is plenty of seating in this space where you can eat food, converse with friends, and take in the scenery. I was allowed to eat and drink outside food and sit on one of the marble planters/benches while doing so.
one of the best parts of the entire gallery is the water feature in this room! the sound itself is serene, and it perfectly echoes throughout the space. the rectangular water panels are meant to emulate the ocean and are parallel to the floor. there's no depth to the water, so it's safe for young children and adults to play in! you can dip your toes in the water which was, to my surprise, pleasantly warm.
if you don't have time to check out the gallery, I'd definitely stop by this cafe! it's the perfect place to meditate and reflect, and best of all, it's completely free :)))
She who must not be named
+4
What a wonderful museum. I really enjoyed the art on display. You can get lost for hours. I spent 4 hours in the museum and took two breaks in the cafe. The cafe compared to other museum cafes was just mediocre. But it fulfilled it’s purpose of hydrating me. I wasn’t really interested in the presidential portraits. But they had artists I had never heard of before and great collections of statues and paintings. I could easily spent so many more hours in there and still see new things. Always worth a visit!
Great find in the heart of the city! Really enjoyed the 20th century area on the top floor as well as the Obama exhibit. Not very crowded either as it’s near Chinatown, quite removed from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the Smithsonian museums lining the Mall.
Just stunning. Beautiful in any season on any day.
This place was one of my highlights during my vacay. Thoroughly enjoyed looking at the presidential portraits which had amazing captions of mini-history lessons.
The National Portrait Gallery also had portraits of well-known athletes and many dynamic world-changers.
This was my favorite of all the museums!
Excellent free tours also
Friendly service, prices are high as expected, dining area is beautiful and worth the visit in itself.
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