Today, Thursday, Aug. 6, several museums on the National Mall including NMAA are closed due to a mechanical issue. Please explore our online offerings. See si.edu/visit for more details.

Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art National Museum of Asian Art
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Dining

Ceramics, prints, and textiles decorate hanging shelves behind a white cafe counter and leafy planters.

The Moongate Cafe

The Moongate Cafe serves food and drinks inspired by the traditions and cultures of Asia. The cafe is located in the East Building (Arthur M. Sackler Gallery) pavilion, where it looks out onto the Moongate Garden, a unique and beautiful corner of the Enid A. Haupt Garden. The cafe’s serene atmosphere will invite you to reflect and recharge in this oasis amid the hustle and bustle of the National Mall.

Hours

10 a.m.–4 p.m. on days the museum is open.
Lunch service: 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
No reservations required.
Plan Your Visit
  • People stand in line and peer at display pastries at a cafe counter, behind which menu screens and decorated shelves hang.

    Origins and Inspiration

    Read about the ethos driving the cafe as well as its inspirations in cuisine, art, design, and architecture.

    Read Blog Post

Thoughtful Design

  • An L-shaped couch and coffee table.

    Mah Jong Couch and Table

    Settle into this modular couch and table set inspired by the Chinese tile game mahjong and designed by Hans Hopfer. Kenzo Takada composed the richly detailed, multi-patterned fabrics, drawing inspiration from ancient Japanese kimonos used in noh theater.

  • Minimalist wood chairs at a cafe table.

    Leeway Chairs

    Keichi Takeuchi designed the gracefully minimalist Leeway Chair to support maximum freedom. Its crescent-shaped, solid wood backrest supports the side-to-side movements people make when socializing and collaborating.

  • Two upholstered armchairs on a yellow rug.

    Edito Armchairs

    The Edito armchair's innovative, fluid, and organic shape was created by Sacha Lakic. Contained dimensions and outstanding comfort make this chair both stylish and playful.

Meet Chef Risé Namiki

Born in Sakae, Japan, Risé graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 2009. She began her career in catering in New York with the culinary collective Abigail Kirsch before running her own private catering company. Risé then spent eight years with Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua, Maui, and Amelia Island Plantation, and also worked with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. In February 2020, Risé joined Jacksonville University, where she excelled in cooking demonstrations for homecoming and introduced the popular Sushi Hour at Riverview Dining Hall. In 2023, she brought her culinary expertise to Washington, DC, joining Georgetown University. Today, Risé is the Chef at the Moongate Cafe at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, where she celebrates Asian cuisine and creates memorable dining experiences for guests.

A smiling woman wearing a chef's uniform.
Photo courtesy of Raya Sfeir, Restaurant Associates

Art to Savor

Let food and drink be an entryway to learning something new.

  • A black jar sits on a red tray. Two more jars wear fabric covers. A floral fabric and wood boxes spread across the background.

    Reasons to Gather: Japanese Tea Practice Unwrapped

    April 12, 2025–April 26, 2026

    This exhibition presents eleven historic tea utensils and accessories that accumulated significance over generations of use at tea gatherings.

    View Exhibition
  • Three side-by-side close-ups of decorated ceramic vessels. The left-most detail shows a purplish iridescent glaze. The middle detail shows a yellow and white leaf against a pale pink glaze. The right-most detail shows a design of a leaf set against a dark reddish brown glaze.

    Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea

    December 9, 2023–2026

    This exhibition explores the distinctive, hand-molded ceramics called Raku ware and their close relationship to Japanese tea culture.

    View Exhibition
  • A shallow silver dish with gold relief decoration featuring a man on horseback drawing a bow

    Feast Your Eyes: A Taste for Luxury in Ancient Iran

    Ongoing

    The wealth and power of ancient Iran was in part expressed in portable luxury objects fashioned from precious metals and decorated with royal imagery. Silver vessels, including bowls, goblets, plates, and ewers, graced imperial banqueting tables, where they inspired awe and commanded respect in friends and foes alike.

    View Exhibition
  • Detail, white ceramic bowl, painted with red and black floral designs with Arabic script around the edge

    Engaging the Senses: Arts of the Islamic World

    Ongoing

    According to classical and Arab philosophy, the five outer senses—sound, sight, taste, touch, and smell—are directly connected to the inner senses that define us as human beings: understanding, imagination, and memory.

    View Exhibition

More to Explore

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