New Walk-In Dining Space on the National Mall Inspired by Traditions and Cultures of Asia
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art is excited to announce the opening of the Moongate Cafe, a new dining destination inspired by the rich culinary traditions of Asia. Situated at the entrance to the museum’s east building (Arthur M. Sackler Gallery), the cafe serves as an entryway to the cultures represented in the museum’s collections, allowing visitors to deepen their cultural journey through the art of food. This casual walk-in dining space serves light fare such as rice bowls, sandwiches and desserts, along with a curated selection of teas and coffee. The menu includes classic Asian dishes like Vietnamese banh mi and Thai mango sticky rice, as well as twists on American favorites using Asian flavors. Run by Restaurant Associates and chef Risé Namiki, the cafe provides a much-needed dining option on the south side of the National Mall, located close to the Smithsonian and L’Enfant Plaza Metro stations.
The cafe takes its name from the Smithsonian’s Moongate Garden, a part of the Enid A. Haupt Garden. The Moongate Garden, designed by architect Jean Paul Carlhian, was inspired by the gardens and architecture of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. The cafe looks out onto the garden, where visitors can enjoy outdoor seating, and Smithsonian Gardens will bring the garden inside with interior horticulture displays.
Entry to the museum and the cafe is free. The cafe is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on days the museum is open.
“Cuisine plays a central role in many cultures and speaks to people in profoundly personal and material ways,” said Chase F. Robinson, the museum’s director. “The Moongate Cafe gives us a unique opportunity to foster understanding of the arts and cultures of Asia and the Near East through food and drink. I am excited to see the new ways people will connect with our collections, with the cafe as their welcome and entryway.”
About the Chef
Chef Risé Namiki was born in Sakae, Japan, and 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 in Florida, and she also worked with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. In February 2020, Risé joined Jacksonville University, where she led engaging cooking demonstrations and introduced a popular “Sushi Hour” experience. In 2023, she brought her culinary expertise to Washington, D.C., joining Georgetown University. As the chef at the Moongate Cafe, Risé seeks to celebrate Asian cuisine and culture, bringing her culinary heritage to every offering to create memorable dining experiences for guests.
About the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art is committed to preserving, exhibiting, researching and interpreting art in ways that deepen the public and scholarly understandings of Asia and the world. The museum opened in 1923 as America’s first national art museum and the first Asian art museum in the United States. It now stewards one of the world’s most important collections of Asian art, with works dating from antiquity to the present, from China, Japan, Korea, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the pre-Islamic Near East and the Islamic world (inclusive of Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa). The museum also stewards an important collection of 19th- and early 20th-century American art.
Today, the National Museum of Asian Art is emerging as a leading national and global resource for understanding the arts, cultures and societies of Asia, especially at their intersection with America. Guided by the belief that the future of art museums lies in collaboration, increased access and transparency, the museum is fostering new ways to engage with its audiences while maintaining its commitment to excellence.
Located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the museum is free and open 364 days a year (closed Dec. 25). The Smithsonian, which is the world’s largest museum, education and research complex, welcomes 20–30 million visitors yearly. For more information about the National Museum of Asian Art, visit the museum’s website.
About Restaurant Associates
Recognized as the nation’s premier on-site dining management company with a heritage steeped in quality and innovative dining, Restaurant Associates delivers hospitality excellence to guests at corporate workplaces, cultural and entertainment centers, professional schools and catered events in metro New York City, Washington, D.C., Boston and Atlanta. Headquartered in New York City, Restaurant Associates is a subsidiary of Compass Group, the world’s leading food service organization.
