Amazing experience from start to finish. The location and views alone make it worth visiting, but the food was really good! I ordered the Mexican Caesar salad with salmon, and it was absolutely delicious. For appetizers, we shared the wings and truffle fries, and neither disappointed. Everything we ordered was flavorful, well-prepared, and beautifully presented. We had red velvet cake for dessert, served with strawberry ice cream. Those flavors paired well together and were a surprisingly delicious combination. It was the perfect way to end the meal. Service was good as well. There was no outdoor seating available, which looked like a great option for enjoying the scenery. We sat inside but stepped out onto the balcony to take pictures and take in the incredible views of Washington, D.C., and the Capitol. There's no smoke and mirrors here--the city views are stunning from here. The view alone makes this place worth a visit. While it is on the pricier side, the combination of great food, excellent atmosphere, and breathtaking scenery makes it well worth the cost. I would definitely recommend Smoke & Mirrors for a special night out and look forward to returning. read more

See all

Smoke & Mirrors has everything going for it on paper. Rooftop views of the Capitol, an expansive indoor-outdoor space, fire pits, a full bar. It's the kind of place that should be a reliable go-to for a group looking to catch sunset drinks before dinner. We made a reservation for eight, which turned out to be completely unnecessary given how empty it was when we arrived. After getting seated, 15 minutes passed without a single server coming by. Not a water drop, not an acknowledgment, nothing. A few of us eventually walked up to the host stand and asked if we could just order drinks at the bar while we caught the last of the sunset on the patio. Even that took far longer than it should have. This isn't a packed Friday night situation where you chalk it up to volume. The place was largely empty. The bar was slow regardless. We made it back to the table. Another 15 minutes before anyone came by to offer water or take drink orders. At that point, we looked at the limited snack menu, decided dinner was happening elsewhere, and let the host know we were leaving. The one server who did eventually stop by apologized and volunteered that the bar was just slow to get drinks out. At least someone said it out loud. The number of empty tables confirmed that plenty of other people had already figured this out on their own. The setting here is genuinely good. The views are real, the space is well-designed, and there's no reason this shouldn't work. But the service infrastructure clearly can't support even a moderately sized group on a slow night, which is a significant problem for a place marketing itself as an events and reservations venue. You can't charge Navy Yard prices and run a bar that moves at this pace. Wouldn't go back unless something has visibly changed. read more

Smoke & Mirrors - Bars Near Me - Washington Dc, District of Columbia

A large group of us decided to go out for our friend's birthday. We made a reservation in advance because we heard this place could get busy but when we got there, there was plenty of space for our party of 8. I ended up getting their espresso martini and we ordered a bunch of appetizers to share. Unfortunately, I didn't grab any pictures of the appetizers but I really enjoyed their wings, brussel sprouts, and flatbread. I will say that many people dined outdoors but we ended up dining inside and there aren't many options for chairs with backs on them as the atmosphere indoors tends to give more of a lounge vibe. I think ideally this is a great place to come to after work or on the weekends to eat and drink at the bar with your significant other. read more

See all

Visited DC and went for drinks on my birthday! For one I love the ambiance and inviting lounge seating. It's dim, but not so dark which I loved. The views are impeccable and I loved the drinks. I went with my server's recommendations for drinks and enjoyed myself. My favorite was the Nordic Nectar, perfect for a spring/summer sip! read more

Smoke & Mirrors - Nordic Nectar - Bars Near Me - Washington Dc, District of Columbia

This is a great restaurant if you are looking for a dark and moody vibe that elevates your dinner experience. We had a great waitress Desiree who was very helpful with her service. My date and I both ordered the Bee's Knees for drinks and the Sriracha Hot Honey Wings for an appetizer, which were both great! By the time our food came out, (we both ordered two different types of burgers), I immediately noticed that there was a tiny green bug crawling over the top of my sandwich. Desiree was immediately sorry and took the plate back with no hesitation. Despite the great service, I feel like management should've stepped in because not only was there a bug on my meal.. I had to wait about 15 minutes for a new plate as my date had to finish his meal so it wouldn't get cold. By the time my plate came out, my date was just waiting for me to finish up, but at that point I didn't really want the food anymore and we just took it to go. We're super thankful for our server Desiree but management could've shown face for 30 seconds to apologize. We were not looking for a comp or a free tab but communication goes a long way, and it's hard to want to spend additional money at a location where that doesn't happen. read more

Smoke & Mirrors - Bee's Knees - Bars Near Me - Washington Dc, District of Columbia

See all

I guess I'm between a 3 and a 4, and rounded up. The location is beautiful. We sat outside, roof top, view of the Capitol on a beautiful night. The drink menu was interesting. I got two cocktails. The second was a little too sweet, and too much going on. The flatbread and fries were delicious. read more

See all

We haven't been to smoke and mirrors in years and decided to give it another chance. They have had some improvements over the years and the food seems to have e gotten better. Their drinks are still great as I noted in my first review. We had the chicken wings and fries and the birria tacos. Everyone seemed to enjoy the food for the table and we would get these items again. Smoke and mirrors is still a place for before or after drinks if in the area. read more

See all

Will have to come back...came for the rooftop deck but it was closed (not sure why) - but the floor to ceiling windows made it such a vibe. The view is amazing. So much unique comfortable seating. Great service. Extensive menu. Bathroom is so cool - gender inclusive washing area with mirror and individual bathrooms. I want to come back! read more

See all

Smoke & Mirrors ooh la la! I've been here before but never for date night! I came twice, once for an event but since it was a private party I didn't get to experience the venue like a date night! I learned that there are two entrances, one on the side of the hotel and one through the lobby of the AC Hotel. Service both times were great! Food, well Let's Get Into It! Crab Dip: Super Good! Short Rib: LITERALLY amazing!!!!! Salmon Salad: Delicious! Everything met or exceeded expectations! That short rib was dreamy! Drinks were great too! Definitely the "cool" kids playground! Sexy! Date Night worthy! Girlfriend's night out worthy! read more

See all

I came here with two friends to celebrate. We had a great spot on the rooftop. Our waitress was super nice. She was delayed in giving me a drink so she gave me the first one on the house which I thought was very nice. I didn't even complain and she just did it. The food was great, but we ordered way too much. The views of the capitol were great - fun party spot and definitely a go to if we come back to DC. My photo doesn't do it justice. read more

Smoke & Mirrors - View from our seats on roof top - Bars Near Me - Washington Dc, District of Columbia

Very kid friendly! Patio full of screaming elementary children while parents hang out and drink. Definitely not the "young professionals upscale cocktail" vibe. Food was great and so was service. Especially to the 15 kids and their parents allowed in the bar. Chucky cheese upgraded for sure. read more

Part 2 of my birthday weekend . Best part about this restaurant is the view of the capital and the overall ambiance! Menu didn't have to many options and the options were basic, but I will say I really enjoyed my tacos. Waiter was kind . Drinks were pretty and effective lol . read more

See all

An absolutely beautiful restaurant! Came here for a birthday dinner for a friend and the staff was great in accommodating our party. It was a little frustrating as the QR code on our table wouldn't really work and they only had 1 physical menu to provide. For dinner, I had the wings and a couple of cocktails and while the wings were good, they were small to be $23 with no sides and it seemed to take a while to get cocktails although the restaurant was very empty. read more

The views at Smoke & Mirrors are definitely five stars, but unfortunately, the customer service leaves much to be desired. This is the main reason I cannot rate this place five stars solely based on the view. There are many other rooftop restaurants and lounges in the DMV area with far better service. We decided to visit Smoke & Mirrors for the first time last Friday (August 22nd). The weather was perfect, and when we arrived, it wasn't too busy. We were seated quickly, but we waited quite a while before our waiter finally approached us. My boyfriend inquired about the specialty drinks, but the waiter simply told us to check the menu. When I asked which tequilas they offered, he was unaware. We also asked if he could recommend any starters, but he didn't suggest anything. The interaction felt awkward, as if we were interrupting his break. We quickly began to regret our decision to dine here and wished we had chosen another restaurant. On a positive note, the food was delicious. We started with the crab dip and lamb skewers, both of which were so generous in portion that we ended up taking our entrees to go. The starters were fantastic, and we were glad we chose them. For our entrees, we both ordered the Mexican kale Caesar salad with added seafood and chicken, which we enjoyed later at home. While the food and ambiance were amazing, the poor service is the reason I'm hesitant to return. After dropping off the check and processing our payment, the waiter approached us twice to remind us to sign the receipt, which frustrated both of us. It seemed like he was more interested in ensuring a tip than providing good service. I left a tip of 15%, but I would have given my usual amount if the service had been better. We noticed him doing the same at another table. Smoke & Mirrors has the potential to be one of the hottest spots to enjoy when the weather is nice, but unless we're served by someone else, we won't be coming back. read more

Smoke & Mirrors - Bars Near Me - Washington Dc, District of Columbia

I wanna began and say the decor here is sooo beautiful . I booked a Sunday reservation for 2 at 2 pm to take my daughter's father out for his belated birthday . We were seated at the sunniest table ever. I asked for a shady spot apparently there was no open tables for that but it most certainly was when I looked around. Our server told us brunch was over at 3pm mind you we got there at 2 pm. We ordered our drinks after melting in the sun for 20 mins she told us she would be right back to take our food order but never came back after another 20 mins. The young ladies next to us were experiencing the same issue. The service was sooo bad I just got up and walked out and went to find something else to eat I wanted to order the chicken and waffles so bad but was sooo disappointed that I couldn't eat. read more

See all

In my top 5 best and favorite brunch. The hangover pizza was savory. The wings were good. I liked the catfish and grits and french toast. Drinks were strong and tasted good, customer service was great, lots of recommendations from staff. Parking not so great, parking really expensive in the area my only pet peeve. read more

See all

Nice place. No bar service outside? That was weird. Had to go inside to order food and drinks. Bartender wasn't familiar with whiskey options. Overall nice place Great for pictures. Food was good. American appetizers. read more

Rarely do, I find the place to have my all you can eat buffet breakfast that is still my last place to have a drink after my production, all that with the view of the capital not too bad read more

We checked out Smoke & Mirrors after going to Uncorked DC at the Nationals Stadium. Surprisingly, we were able to grab some first come, first serve seats outside with no reservations. The jerk shrimp tacos & crab dip did the trick for us. Of course everything was a little pricey, but the food came out hot & fresh. The music and views were on point, and we had a good time! read more

See all

~ Amazing Staff ... Amazing Staff ... Amazing Staff~ I went on a Sunday to check out the brunch vibes, it I had a great time. It was too crowned & I love the space they have. I started off sitting outside and ordering the bottomless mimosas while listening to the amazing DJ. I forgot her name, but she said she's always there & only plays there. So, I hate scanning QR codes to access a menu, that really bugs me for some reason. Then, I had to go to the bar & order my drinks. Mind you , I got the bottomless mimosas. So I had to go back and fourth like I was a waiter . Super tacky . I ended up just moving inside right behind the D.j booth. From there, the amazing barber started bringing me my drinks. She was love !! From there , it was uphill. I ordered Old Bay dry rub wings, which were a 10. I'm def in love with their wings now. I also got the chicken and waffles . 7/10. This was better than expected . Which is enough for me to come back. Thanks to the staff, I was able to hang around a little to chat with the bartender & D.j about culture .. Music culture.. The D.C .. & Art .. It was a vibe. Trust me. I'm all for Smoke & Mirrors & will be bringing some friends with me next time. Hope you all enjoy. read more

See all

This is a cute date night spot with a great view of the Capital Building! The hidden-ness of this place makes it a great spot to eat at and marvel at the views of our Capital without the crowd. The service was nothing exemplary, but it wasn't bad either. They were great and friendly, but nothing stood out. For the food and drinks, I started with the Maverick. This refreshing gin-based drink is clean and crisp! Not too sweet or sour. For food, I ordered the Thai Curry Mussels, which came with a side of grilled focaccia to soak up the Thai curry. The flaky salt on top of the grilled focaccia was a great pairing with the curry flavors. I wasn't expecting that many mussels (which I'm not disappointed about) and there were cooked well! I wish the mussels were marinated in the Thai before it was served so the mussels could get more of that sweet Thai curry flavor! For dessert, I got a red velvet cake with strawberry ice cream! It was decadent, but I would like to see a lighter cream cheese frosting, it was very dense for the moist cake. Overall, I'd recommend this place for a date night! The views are great (but don't tell the tourists )! read more

See all

Celebtated my girls bday and we had an awesome time!! Great vibe. The DJ was awesome! The food was great. No complaints at ALL!! read more

See all

I'm giving this place 2 stars primarily because the location and the views are very nice, outside of that, this place has the worst service I've ever seen in 60 years, they literally forgot my order and brought it an hour after I sat down, my drink came AFTER I was finished eating. I had the beef short ribs and it had more fat than Ms. Piggy and it came just warm. Music too loud, can't have a conversation without screaming! This is a shame because it's a lovely place with fantastic views, but the overall atmosphere and the experience was horrible!!! Definitely won't be back, the entire staff is incompetent. Bill was $478, they will not spilt or itemize, we had a table of 8, asked her to split it 4 ways, we gave her 4 credit cards and tried charging each card $172 which is $688, mind you the tip was included in the $478.... Her math clearly wasn't mathing! read more

Smoke & Mirrors - Short Ribs - Bars Near Me - Washington Dc, District of Columbia

Work hard and play hard in the capital. @smokeandmirrorsrooftop is a must for the views and vibes. the bar gets busy, so a reservation is recommended for full service. I won't lie I really wanted to try the capital smoke show but they were out of an ingredient so my husband reverted back to my usual Mexican mule which never disappoints. Next time we go, I hope to try one of their signature cocktails. I need Apple to add tots as an emoji, highly recommend the Smokey Tots for your appetizer! The smoked Gouda sauce with the bacon and scallions .. babyyyyyy I definitely wanted a second order. The Jerk Shrimp tacos had a little spice with the balance of the mango salsa and lime creme. I can't lie I probably could've added a little cholula but overall I'd get them again. My husband had the trout with dirty rice and collards. Ya girl just started eating fish a few years ago and wasn't sure if I'd like it, but that fish was so good!! Plus the seasoned dirty rice together it was hittin. Have to admit, we'd just came from NOLA the week before and had the best greens of my life so the comparison was not really fair. I won't knock them because if it, we'll just say they could've come from anyone's aunty house, they weren't exceptional, but they'll do to make the plate complete. Overall, on a Yelp 5 Star Rating I give . Some tweaks with food and assuring they have the ingredients on deck for their signature cocktails will give the fifth star. But have no doubt, I will come back! That's not enough to deter me from this amazing spot. read more

See all

The food, the atmosphere, the views, the service, the music...all 5 stars!!! Usually places like this scare me because when the atmosphere is well planned, the food and/or service is usually terrible but that was not the case Smoke & Mirrors. Everything was excellent!! This restaurant is on the rooftop of the building where the AC Hotel is located (across the street from Whole Foods). We found (paid) street parking, arrived for our 5 pm reservation, and were immediately seated in the outdoor section of the restaurant. This restaurant has 2 bars (one indoor & one outdoor) and the views are amazing!! For dinner, we had the truffle fries, the short rib meal, and the trout meal. All of it was delicious. The trout (served with dirty rice and collard greens) was well-seasoned and cooked perfectly! The short ribs (served with mashed cauliflower and roasted carrots) was also very good. There is also a HH menu that includes cocktails and food items. I will definitely return to this restaurant! read more

See all

Location: Rooftop of the AC Hotel Parking - Street parking, valet hotel parking or garage parking near Whole Foods Large space with beautiful decor. The restrooms are gender neutral and they each have a sink install the stall. It was different but a cool concept. There are two bars one inside and the other is outside on the patio. The patio has several tables and a nice view of DC. Customer service 3/5 We were told all tables were reserved when we arrived. My party of 7 found a side table with barstool to sit. We had to ordered our drinks and food from the bar. After waiting about an hour and noticing majority of the seats were still empty, I asked the hostess if there was a wait list for cancellations. She informed me that we could sit anywhere we wished. Of course I was confused because we were told all tables were reserved an hour prior . Make that make sense smh. I mentioned to the bartender that we found a table and our food should be delivers to our new location. Surprisingly, he got a noticeable attitude, rolled his eyes, mumbled under his breath and went to the kitchen (I'm guessing to give them the update on our new location) Either way, I don't appreciate the attitude. Customer have a choice of where to spend their money and the customer service here could use some work. Entree: Braised short rib 5/5 it was tender and delicious Trout, dirt rice and collard greens 5/5 - the food was seasoned to perfection. I cleaned my plate. You can't go wrong with either of these items. Overall, the food was delicious. The customer service sucked and I would waste my time sitting in the restaurant. But i would absolutely order takeout . SN: Initially, I thought this place had hookah or cigars based on the name but they don't order either . Just an FYI for anyone read more

See all

Highly recommend taking anyone new to the city here for a rooftop dinner! It's got really great views and you just need to make an outdoor reservation using Open Table to secure the spectacular view. I got the jerk shrimp tacos which are really yummy and juicy and comes with 3 tacos. The mango pieces added a unique flavor to it too. My friend got the lamb skewers and loved it as well. I got the SPICY MARIPOSA for my drink and it was really yummy but definitely spicy too! My friend got the French kiss which was very strong. Overall great experience and our sever was really nice to take a pic of us in front of the view as well. The surrounding area is also very friendly and walkable for a post dinner stroll in Navy Yard. Overall great experience! read more

See all

I took my wife to Smoke and Mirrors for Mother's Day, and the experience was disappointing. When we arrived, the waiter told us they were only serving the pre-fixed Mother's Day menu. I wish I had known that beforehand because my wife was really interested in other items on the menu. When the waiter took our order, he said, "I'm not trying to rush you, but we are running out of food, so it would be best to put your order in now." That really set the mood for the experience as a whole. As we were eating our main course, we were told that they ran out of the original dessert we ordered (peach cobbler), so we had to settle for the lemon tart (neither of us wanted it, but I basically already paid for it since we HAD to select the pre-set menu). My wife was very disappointed by this, and I felt bad since it was my idea to come there. The ambience is top-tier. There was an amazing view of the city (even though there were a lot of flies by the stools overlooking the city), and the restaurant's setup was really nice. After we left, we went to another restaurant to salvage the evening, so Mother's Day wasn't a complete bust. I'm not too sure we would go back. read more

See all

10/10 -- I really enjoyed everything I purchased at Smoke & Mirrors! I've actually been twice, and both visits were a great experience. The food was good overall, especially the salmon, wings, and truffle fries. The space is beautiful inside and has a great vibe. Service was about a 5/10, but I'd still come back again for the food and atmosphere! read more

Came here for dinner on the 4th of July with my family. We were seated outside at one of the high-top tables. We had a great view of the Capitol building. We shared a cheese and charcuterie board. For dinner, I got the pesto chicken flat bread, which was very good. Lots of chicken and sun-dried tomatoes. We also split the chocolate cake and the key lime pie. Both were very good! Throughout our meal, we got to see so many fireworks all around us. read more

This is by far my favorite rooftop in DC! The view of the Capital is breathtaking, the drinks are made right, and the food is cooked to perfection. I went to Smoke & Mirrors on a date with my good girlfriend and it was definitely a vibe. The fireside tables add a nice touch to the ambiance & the playlist was just right. I really enjoyed myself. Let's get into the food. For appetizers, we ordered the pork potstickers & crispy Brussels. Neither disappointed! The potstickers were def some of the best I had, flavorful & crispy. I love me some Brussels. The goat cheese was different but yet made it a nice combination. For dinner, I ordered a NY Strip med rare since I was craving steak all week. It was so good & the compound butter had a sweetness to it that added so much more flavor. I was really impressed with my meal here. For dessert, I ordered the key lime pie & red velvet cake since everything else was a 10/10. Two desserts you can't go wrong with & they did not disappoint either. Thank you Smoke & Mirrors for the vibe you bring to DC. I will be back. Oh yeah our server Tyler was the best! Thank you so much Tyler. You made our experience very rememberable. read more

See all

The restaurant is gorgeous. The food was good. We had the crab dip - yummy - the deviled eggs were good and interesting and the truffle fries were crisp and delish!! Service was good too. Great vibe. read more

Let's first start by saying the ambiance at this place gives beautiful, upscale, and intimate. The decor on the inside portion of this establishment is vibrant and makes you want to take pictures. The patio, on the other hand, is a whole other vibe. The scenery, the skyline, and the cute bonfire style... It definitely gives come back and just chill. I was absolutely a fan in how they went about styling and decorating. Now to the service... Unfortunately, the service was incredibly poor... i.e slow. It took 25 to 30 minutes for drinks to come out. THEN the food took 50 minutes to an hour. Then to that, the birthday girl, received her food LAST, which was a whopping hour wait time for some tacos that very much gave basic... i.e her dish could have been prepared in 15 minutes. The food... I sampled the wings, which I was definitely fan of, so no complaints there. I ordered their burger which was pricey ($28) in my opinion. And pricey for it to be an average tasting burger which was oversalted. The french fries, however, was a hit for me. Overall, I would give them a rating of three out of five. read more

Smoke & Mirrors - Bars Near Me - Washington Dc, District of Columbia

I'm honestly surprised that Smoke & Mirrors has so many good reviews on some websites because my experience was absolutely terrible. As a rooftop bar, you'd expect great service to match the ambiance, but that was far from the case. The bartender completely forgot to make my drink, and when I politely reminded him, he responded with an attitude and outright refused to serve me--which is absolutely unacceptable. I have dined at hundreds of restaurants around the world, and I have never experienced this level of disrespect. It was such a shocking experience that I actually took a photo of him. I would never recommend this place to anyone looking for quality service. Save yourself the disappointment and go elsewhere! read more

See all

Pork Belly Deviled Eggs: 8/10 Tuna Poke Nachos: 9/10 Maverick: 9/10 Service: Rough but the server made up for it at the end. Ambiance: Super cute. Dress cute casual. read more

Smoke & Mirrors - Maverick - Bars Near Me - Washington Dc, District of Columbia

See all

Excellent spot for a date night with fun, elevated casual atmosphere both inside and out. I recommend the outside rooftop seating. Beautiful views of Capitol Hill! The food is great but the drinks are even better, and Shawon provides outstanding service!! Great personality, highly recommended! We will be back. read more

See all

Showed up at 4:30pm and was welcomed by Paige and another lady. Asked for a place to sit for a quick bite and drink, just landed from a 5 hours flight and I'm starving. She told me there is place for me except the far bar against the wall or cold outside, mind you, the place is completely empty! I asked if I could sit at any of the table and leave early when they have reservations, nope, there is absolutely no wiggle room. They are even not trying to accommodate me. At this point, I'm staying at the hotel and starving so I decided to sit at the bar against the wall in an empty place unhappy of my wall view. But then Rod, the bartender saved the day by asking me if everything is okay. I then proceeded to tell him that that my salmon was excellent but the view sucked. In 2 min, he had me moved to the middle of the room with a gorgeous view and beautiful smile. Thank goodness for him, this is what customer service should be! I had told myself I would never come back to this restaurant but I may give it a shot again only if Rod is working. Thank you Rod! You made my day and the ladies should learn from you! PS I came in at 4:30pm on a Saturday and left at 6pm and counted 5 empty tables read more

See all

It would be 5 stars however our waitress Tietta ruined our experience she was RUDE she had a NASTY ATTITUDE however the food and drinks were good the trout with rice 5/5 jerk shrimp tacos 2/5 chipotle chicken 5/5 lamb skewers 2/5 truffle fries 5/5 Brussel sprouts 5/5 wings 3/5 Cocktails omg 55555555555 Service 0 Service 0 Service 0 Her attitude was thee worst And the worst part is the 20% WAS ALREADY INCLUDED our bill was $600 so she definitely made a nice tip that's the worse part when you don't have an option and you must tip PISS POOR SERVICE Didn't get many photos read more

See all

What's a trip to the Navy Yard without stopping at Smoke & Mirrors? This place has the best views of the Capitol, a friendly staff, and a sexy ambiance. It's a must-visit every time I'm in town! (Bonus Perk: they have the best bathroom setup! It's so cute and the perfect place to grab a pic durning a night out) read more

Smoke & Mirrors - Bars Near Me - Washington Dc, District of Columbia

See all

Located on the rooftop of the AC Hotel, which is nestled between Capitol Hill and Navy Yard, Smoke & Mirrors is a trendy spot that you must visit especially if you enjoy a good IG worthy picture. While the space is absolutely beautiful, the menu is very limited and on the pricey side. With that said, I will say the drinks were good and strong and the while we were only there to grab a quick drink before heading to the next spot, we actually ending up staying longer than expected so we ordered the Filibuster Burger with a side of sea salt fries. Both were good and flavorful. All in all, I would definitely go back to Smoke & Mirrors to grab a quick drink and enjoy the ambiance. read more

Smoke & Mirrors - Filibuster Burger and a side of sea sat fries - Bars Near Me - Washington Dc, District of Columbia