It took a while for the food to arrive, but the food was really good. I got the short rib and we also got shares on the table. Even though the price was a bit high because fries were $14, I think you're paying for the ambience and the clear view of the capital. You're also paying for the vibe, and the rooftop aesthetics as well as the nice views. But the food matched the aesthetics as well as everything else because it was nice in general. The food tasted really good as well. Although the short rib could have had a bit more flavor, I believe the surrounding foods around the short rib or also good for tasting. The wings were absolutely delicious as well as the flatbread and the regular fries. The wine of flight was also really good as well. Highly recommend if you want a bang for your buck in term of drinks. read more

Stopped here for an after dinner drink. You need reservations if you want a table or more comfortable seating area in the outdoor area. There are bar stools around the perimeter which are first come, first serve. The drink prices reflect the ambiance but it's worth it. We ordered 1 spicy marg, and the bartender put an entire chili pepper in the drink - so don't order one unless you love spice. Would definitely return! read more

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

See all

I've seen a lot of reviews about Smoke and Mirrors and was really excited to try it for after dinner cocktails and a small snack. We were able to get sat down with a walk in but they were fairly busy. I was a little disappointed with how long drinks took, we ordered a glass of wine and a beer and it tool about 20 minutes. The table across from us ordered cocktails but their drinks came in 5 minutes or so. We ordered the Blackened Prawns and you got 4 large prawns for $30. The dish was good but really salty. While I didn't love the service and we didn't try the cocktails or other food, I loved the ambiance and the decor. I might go back to try more of the menu. 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

The ambiance and views here were really nice. The food menu was really small and didn't have any options to choose from. I ordered the shrimp and grits and it was really good however the portion was really small. It was maybe one scoop of grits spread all over the plate with 4 shrimp and a fried egg. For the price it didn't really seem like a good value. The espresso martini was really good and strong. I probably won't return though. read more

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

I haven't done the quintessential "pros and cons" review in quite some time.. Well, it's time.. Lol! The pros of Smoke and Mirrors are so good that even though there are some noticeable cons, they are ultimately diminished. Pros: -Location, location, location. Although it's in the Uber popular "Navy Yard" section of Washington, DC, it's away from the hustle and bustle, so street parking isn't hard to find. -the place itself is freaking gorgeous with a huge outdoor covered patio. It has its own separate entrance and elevator and sits on the top floor of the AC Hotel. Like I was telling my friend, Smoke and Mirrors is the closest thing to "The Bygone" in Baltimore and that's saying A LOT! -their cocktail prices aren't ridiculous given the venue. -our server "Justice" was delightful and took a lot of pride in her job! Cons: -On Open Table, you cannot request patio seating, so that's first come first serve. The hostess was nonchalant in helping me secure a seat even though I was letting her know I could see a couple free tables. My perseverance eventually paid off..lol. -The dinner menu is limited. They have steak frites on the lunch but not the dinner menu which I found a bit odd. -My number one gripe is, no dress code. Who would imagine a place this nice would allow the men to wear baseball caps on backwards, sweat-suits, hoodies. Basically, anything. Not feeling that at all! My first visit was especially nice because it was a random near 80 degree February day in DC and we were dining on a damn Rooftop..#Dope! If Smoke and Mirrors makes a few tweaks, their rating would be a strong 5 with no possibility of dropping!! read more

See all

Upscale place that definitely knows how to make drinks. Be willing to wait for a drink especially if it's on a Thursday- Saturday night... ask for Alexia G when setting up your reservation. Call the day before for best reservation experience. By the way.. the best view of the capital at night by far! Absolutely beautiful! read more

See all

Vibes are great, views are great, drinks are expensive lmao good time at one of the best rooftops in the city. Crab Dip was really good too! read more

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

My sister,cousin and I met up at Smoke and Mirrors for brunch to celebrate my sister's birthday. It's located in the AC Hotel so there was only street parking around. After circling the block twice we were able to find a fairly close spot. An employee of the hotel gave us access to get upstairs to go up to the restaurant. She said normally there's a security guard but he hadn't showed up yet. The restaurant is very cute inside but it's clear they put aesthetic over functionality. The tables all had low chairs and some tables had poufs in lieu of chairs so good luck with that if you have a bad back or weak knees. The waiter was nice but service was extremely slow and we didn't order anything extra fancy. I got the kale salad with grilled chicken which was mediocre. My sister got a traditional breakfast w/eggs, breakfast potatoes, toast and sausage (she said the sausage tasted like a hot dog). My cousin got the chicken and waffles (she said the chicken was bland). We got an order of truffle fries to share and they were the star of the show. They were delicious. Our waiter never refilled our water and only checked on us once after getting our food even though it wasn't really busy. There's a 2 hour limit, so at the 1 hour 50 minute mark, a woman I assumed to be a manager told us that we'd have to leave soon. I told her no one had come back by, so were we expected to check ourselves out? She walked off and then returned with the check. Our waiter then magically appeared again to take the payment. I went to the bathroom, and when I returned, my sister and cousin were standing at a high top table by the bar. They said the manager told them they had to leave the table (eventhough there were several empty tables all around us) but they could still enjoy the restaurant by the bar and gave them a glass of prosecco on the house. The food wasn't nasty, but with the exception of the truffle fries,nothing was that great. Coupled with the customer service and the inconvenient parking I doubt I will ever return. read more

See all

As all the reviews note - the view from the rooftop at Smoke & Mirrors is stunning!! I doubt there's another rooftop that will give you such a beautiful panoramic view of the Capitol Building... And that's definitely the comparative advantage that the venue has above a lot of other rooftops. The decor is also stunning - both with the dining options inside and outside, each table has great personality and is trendy and comfortable!! Unfortunately, in my opinion the brunch menu is extremely limited. For an establishment that is as exclusive as this - there should be way more options offered at brunch, and for the menu options that they do have... In my opinion, there's much room for improvement. For example, the chicken and waffles which I ordered came with chicken tenders and not the option for white or dark meat. Their lunch and dinner menus had options which seem much more appetising, but of course - we couldn't order from those menus. Overall the service was good, after asking 3 times for slices of lemon for the water at the table - I walked to the bar myself to get them . Would I go back - yes, for drinks and for the view. Hopefully in time the brunch, lunch and dinner menus get a revisited and expanded!!! Aside from that, it's overall great vibes . read more

See all

First time here, found them on Tiktok! Located in the AC hotel. What a great spot. Went for Rooftop brunch. Service was great. Highly recommend the mumbo wings and potstickers read more

See all

This place was okay. Ambiance is great. Hours are pretty good. Service is truly, truly lacking. The Island Bird drink was delicious and smooth, but I felt nothing after three. Further, the wings were just okay, not well done enough for my liking. We sat at the bar, directly in front of the bartender, and couldn't get them to ask us what we wanted to save our lives. The guy serving us acted incredibly bothered every time we asked for more to drink. read more

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

5/5 and I rarely give 5 stars. The food , the views, the drinks, the service all SPECTACULAR !!! The dumplings, Brussels, ribeye,, and fish would be my recommendations. The curry mussels had the mussel flavor but something was a bit off for me. Please note this is a pricey resturant. You literally see the capital and the lux vibes felt when there are definitely the reason why - which is understandable. They also have happy hour and brunch. I am definitely interested in returning for brunch read more

See all

Be VERY careful how they charge you for your bar tab if paying cash! Sent my husband to the bar to order a wine that was $12 and a black whiskey that was $14....total was about $30. My husband came back and said, I think the bartender charged me $60? I was like, there is no way our tab was $60! He said I gave her a $100 bill and I only got $30 back? So I went to the bar to find out what happened, and the bartender made like she had no idea that she short changed him. No receipt or bar tab was given as well but she definitely knew she didn't give him the proper change as she immediately started to remedy the situation. Don't want to think that she was gonna pocket the $40 tip but not many people pay cash nowadays so she definitely knew what she was doing. Just wanted everyone to be aware of what the bar is charging you if you're paying cash! read more

My boyfriend and I went here for Valentine's day and it was such an amazing experience! We got escorted up to the 11th floor (the floor the restaurant is on) and I got a complimentary rose handed to me when I walked in from the amazing staff. If we were 21 we would have also gotten 2 compliments glasses of champagne. The set up was beautiful with a candle on the table, and the view of the city was gorgeous! The food was absolutely delicious, the burger was very juicy and the fries were so good! The service was beyond amazing and professional. Our waiter was Tyler, he was great! The bathrooms also were squeaky clean and very fancy! read more

See all

Can you say simply amazing?! If you're interested in having a great time and living a little, then you should check out Smoke & Mirrors. It's a nice, elegant restaurant & lounge, meant to quench your thirst! So, it's located on the 11th floor of AC Hotel Capital Hill which is a Marriott property and I absolutely love it! Not only is the vibe super dope but the ambiance, food and service is astounding! I had 2 amazing bar tenders James and Alan (east on the eyes btw) who placed so much love into creating a few masterpiece drinks! Happy Hour starts from 4-6 and it's so worth it! I had the house white wine which was great! Hmmm...I was able to have a few glasses and I opted for the Duck Tacos and the Pork Belly Sliders. Can I say the Duck Tacos were to DIE FOR and the pork belly sliders weren't too shabby either! When I say I chose the right hotel...I did ..right in the city close in proximity to everything! read more

See all

We started my boyfriend's birthday celebration at Smoke and Mirrors, and it was the perfect choice. The place has a lively atmosphere, with cozy seating and beautiful décor. The views are stunning, especially from the rooftop. We really enjoyed the wings and brussels sprouts--they were delicious. Although I'd read some negative reviews about the customer service, our experience was very positive--the staff were friendly and helpful. I definitely plan to return to Smoke and Mirrors, particularly in the summer, to make the most of the rooftop and the spectacular scenery. read more

Lovely view and our server was great! I do think the kitchen and bartender may have been a bit backed up as things were taking a while to come out. I got the crab dip which was fine but didn't come with an enough bread which was also a bit overdone and I expected more for the price. My friends loved the burgers and I thought the truffle fries were excellent. I got the Lady's Choice cocktail which was good followed by a recommendation from our waiter which I don't know the name of but I liked that too. Great rooftop hangout spot and when it started to sprinkle, they put the roof cover up for us so we were able to stay outside. Cool spot to hang out and chat with friends so I'm sure I'll be back! read more

Smoke & Mirrors - Lady's Choice - Bars Near Me - Washington Dc, District of Columbia

Visited this place and was greeted by an amazing staff member at the door who was a security guard. He checked our identification and handbags. Then we went on the elevator to the rooftop of the establishment. No was there to greet us so I asked another friendly security guard about the setting arrangements. I was informed after 10:00pm you sit anywhere and have to order from the bar. This was completely weird because their was staff walking around. We ordered from the bar and the one of the drinks on the menu was an espresso martini, which was terrible. I would not return... the drinks were terrible and no staff to take your order. It definitely self service and the prices do not reflect that. read more

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

We came to Smoke and Mirrors for dinner on a Friday night. It's definitely aesthetically pleasing and has pretty good food but the customer service is lacking. The menu is affordably priced, and the food didn't disappoint. We had the Filibuster Burger with fries and the Jerk Shrimp Tacos--both were good and satisfying. Overall, a nice date spot. read more

Smoke & Mirrors - Filibuster Burger and Jerk Shrimp Taco - Bars Near Me - Washington Dc, District of Columbia

We had such a great experience thanks to our waitress, T! She was so kind, attentive, and genuinely made us feel welcome. Hands down the best service we've had in a long time. T went above and beyond--thank you for making our visit special! read more

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

Smoking mirror is a very sexy bar/lounge located in the Navy yard area. I went there on a Thursday night with a group of ladies to decompress from the week. The vibe was an upscale chill environment. They played mostly hit R&B songs over the sound system. The outdoor rooftop patio offer a nice view of the city and you can see the capital building. The view was extremely gorgeous at night time. The only drawback of the establishment is their limited food menu. However, the drinks were amazing and they had a large list of craft and mixed drinks available. read more

See all

The restaurant is beautiful. The furniture is comfortable. The ambiance is a bit romantic. My drink was delicious-I had the It Jiggles (I think that's what it's called)-a very sweet espresso Martini. To fill my hungry tummy, I had the brioche French toast with peach compote. The peaches were tender and sweet, the bread was thick and fluffy, and the whipped cream was flavorful and heavenly. The service was attentive and friendly. I was well pleased with the entire experience. read more

Smoke & Mirrors - Brioche French toast with peach compote. Yes, please. - Bars Near Me - Washington Dc, District of Columbia

We went here for a friend's birthday. I will admit you're mostly paying for the view. The menu is extremely limited and so is their drink menu. Once you're upstairs it's extremely disorganized. Our server was Nicole, she was super nice, but very overwhelmed. So we honestly saw her very few times. We were constantly flagging her down or trying to get someone to grab her. One of the other servers/staff members named Justice ended up being our go to. She saw we needed assistance and she began just grabbing our drinks and stuff. She also kept checking to see if we were good. Like I said ppl come here for the aesthetic and to take pics. There was no sign on the door or anything. but this short female would literally RUN from across the restaurant and rudely stand in front of the door and not let anyone outside to take pics. I think her name is was Danica or something like that. She was so rude. I was amazed at how awful she was acting. There was a couple that had just got engaged and she wouldn't let them outside. She didn't give an explanation, just rudely stood in front of the door. I swear she she had Superman's vision because she would literally run from across the restaurant, just to make sure no one went outside. Here's the kicker, the manager and other servers had no idea why this female was doing this, because they were telling everyone that they could take pics outside. Which is why they were going there. It was super weird (and we were blessed with a table by the door lol, so we saw the shenanigans all night). Anyway, the limited menu was good. I ordered a burger and the kale Caesar salad was literally one of the most amazing things I've ever eaten. My friend ordered the wings, they were scrawny. She also ordered the potatoes WITHOUT hemp seeds and each time Nicole brought it, they had hemp seeds (literally 3x). Nicole forgot to order the birthday girl's steak. And since we had all been sharing food, we didn't notice until we wanted to try hers. So then Nicole says "oh let me check on that" aka let me put it in really quick. The steak was over cooked, so we sent it back. The drinks are small and overpriced... not worth it. After we ate, we flagged down Nicole almost 3 different times for the bill. She kept "forgetting". So, we just sat there waiting for her. We were trying to go somewhere else that night and she was taking forever. About 10 mins later the security from downstairs starts kicking people out talking about they're closing... we had to tell him on more than 1 occasion we were waiting on the bill. The way they operate here is unprofessional and is extremely lacking. My rating is based off of how amazing Justice was, my kale salad and the aesthetic (when lil Ms. Danica or whatever her name is wasn't in the way). read more

See all

I really love the views here. It's really in the heart of the city and you can see everything from the rooftop. I've been here a few times and never was disappointed by the food. If you want stellar service I suggest coming when they first open. Not to say it's bad any other time, but I noticed that around dinner time when it's packed even on weekdays, the service is a little slower. If you are looking for a good happy hour spot or somewhere for a romantic dinner, this is the place for you. The crowd is calm and the music is eclectic. read more

Drinks can be a little pricey, but what rooftop isn't -- so other than that, this place is IT. There's a door for Smoke & Mirrors specifically, which just is a rather dim hallway with an elevator. Usually there's someone there to buzz you up, but if there's not, you can't get to it on your own... wait for security or staff. It's connected to the AC Hotel, so if the dim hallway gets you uneasy, the front desk is right next door. Once you're buzzed up, you're all set! Smoke & Mirrors is a spacious rooftop bar with great views. It's a perfect summer stop if it's not too hot. The last time I happened to stop by was the day there was a beautiful rainbow outside --- they look quite stunning from rooftops I have to say! The only downside was that it had rained quite a bit, and the seats were wet. I appreciated that both the bars inside and outside were open, and service was fairly quick. It definitely was starting to get crowded, so that's a good sign. I've had various cocktails in my multiple visits, and they were all well-made, even the rails (like my gin club)! If you don't want to spend as much, definitely go for the rails. Between the decor, the music and the overall vibe of the place, I recommend it to anyone in the neighborhood. I don't know many rooftops outside of NW and NE, so this is different! I have not had the food yet, which seems to be the low for many people. I'll update once I do! read more

Card was charged twice and couldn't get ahold of accounting any time I called. Will charge twice even after paying for service. I DONT RECOMMEND. Bartender was lovely although managers were very rude when asked to rectify situation. read more

The service here leaves much to be desired as we were seated for 20 minutes before someone came over to us reservations are apparently your best option. This spot is located on the rooftop of the AC hotel. We ended up getting drinks at the bar and enjoying the city views here. I got a lemon drop with tequila instead of vodka (pro tip). read more

See all

The ambiance was just as amazing as the view! Sat on the rooftop patio and had a drink with my coworker since we were there for work. It was drizzling throughout the day but their patio is covered and they even have heaters available. Since we traveled from Texas we found the heaters unnecessary but we made due. Their drinks selection had variety and the prices and service was pretty good too. read more

I made reservations on a Friday night to have dinner after seeing a video on TikTok. I brought my friend who was in town visiting and we enjoyed ourselves. We were sat immediately and given the choice of inside or outside seating. We opted for outside because the weather was perfect. The restaurant is located on the rooftop of the AC hotel. The ambiance and view were really nice. We ordered the Prawns, truffle fries and crab dip. Everything was really good and came out super fast. Our server was really sweet and attentive. I also ordered the frozen strawberry drink and it was good but needed another shot. All in all I would recommend and will return. I took off one star because there menu is very small and limited. read more

See all

I joined a colleague here for dinner on a Saturday evening. It had just opened at 5pm so it wasn't crowded. Food: 7.8/10 -the food was decently good overall. The shrimp tacos and truffle french fries were really good. The trout was a bit on the "fishy" side and the collards were really good, and probably would've been even better had they not been cold. The Cabernet Sauvignon was really good! Service: 9/10 - the staff is very nice and accomadating. Our server even gave thorough recommendations and knew the menu and drinks well. Ambiance: 10/10 - This is probably one of my favorite rooftop bars in dc. The views of the Capitol building is by far one of the nicest! read more

See all

This place is gorgeous and very upscale!! There's a bouncer at the elevator who checks your ID before leading you up there. Very modern simple look! My friend and I got the burger...I would say it's the equivalent of a burger you can get at an airport restaurant, don't waste your money. We asked the bartender if we could switch to truffle fries instead of regular (not minding an up charge) he said he'd ask but he never did nor did he seem to care about our experience. The view of the Capitol is great, but that's about it. It's just buildings surrounded other than that. read more

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

See all

Amazing ambiance and wonderful views! This is the perfect after work spot or anytime after-they-open place to chill. We visited after dinner to grab a drink and it did not disappoint. While we couldn't actually see the sun go down, the affects of the sunset over the Capitol building was so lovely to see. Since we didn't have a reservation, we went outside to hunt down an empty high-top table or a spot at the bar since all other tables were reserved. It took a little while to find a table, but one became available a little after grabbing a drink at the bar. I noticed they didn't have staff regularly walking around to clean off tables, which bothered us a bit since our table was filled with many drinks from the couple before us. We actually had to get the bartender to clear it off, which she did with no problem. As we were ordering our last drink for the night, the bartender advised that the outdoor bar was now closed for the night and that we could grab a drink at the indoor bar. It was maybe an hour and a half before closing. We had a tab open and we're told the tab "should still be open inside". Well it wasn't, which was fine I guess, but the misinformation did cause a bit of a mixup after ordering drinks inside. All in all, it was a great time. I'd love to come back to try some options off the food menu. read more

See all

When you walk up to one of the city's newest hotels, the AC Hotel, you'll notice the hotel sign reads "AC Hotel Capitol Hill." Locals will find this funny because the hotel is south of the highway, putting in the Navy Yard neighborhood. The confusion is likely thanks to the Whole Foods across the street that opened with signs calling the neighborhood "South Capitol Hill." Let be know this neighborhood is NAVY YARD, an area full of surprisingly gems and worthy of being called its own name. Despite that, the hotel, a Marriott brand, is beautiful and the best part is on its rooftop- Smoke and Mirrors. Take the elevator to the top floor and you'll find a spacious restaurant/bar with a large open-air rooftop with views of a very close U.S. Capitol Building. With plenty of seats, tables and couches around firepits, you're bound to find space to sit and relax. It's a great spot for groups. The food menu is diverse and the bars (yes, there are multiple) can make any type of drink. My friend ordered a martini and I a more sweet cocktail with black salt on the rim. For the price point, we both found our drinks watered down, but for the view, we'll take it. read more

See all

Great views, nice lighting for pictures. The service was extremely slow, they ran out of food and alcohol during brunch. Mind you our reservation was for 12:30, we just getting started what's happening? The seafood was fishy, salty, and over cooked. They need to run a tighter ship overall, the energy and restaurant was just off. Won't be back. read more

The service was pretty good...it's a little hard to find the door if you're not paying attention or familiar with the area. Views were great but was definitely a little pricier than I expected. read more

Loved this place it was located inside of the AC hotel. When we arrived you have to check in with security who checks your ID before you are escorted onto the elevator. You arrive on the floor where you will meet the host who were very nice. It was a quiet, cute, and classy location. The ambiance we very laid back and sexy. The view was nice at night. We ordered 4 drinks that were good and strong. We were able to meet the chef who was very hospitable. The red velvet was phenomenal definitely wasn't too sweet but just the right amount of cream cheese. The bathrooms are beautiful unfortunately I didn't get a picture but it's black and white with nice doors and a communal sink station. Overall the experience was lovely and I would definitely come back to this establishment. read more

See all

A very sleek rooftop - a little pricey but it's a Navy Yard rooftop so that's expected. It's a regular weekday happy hour and weekend pregame spot - a lot of dressed up attractive young professionals. The drinks are great (their espresso martini is lovely and my go-to). The bartenders are great with recommendations and conversation too (Louis is the best!). Their food isn't that good in my opinion, other than the pork belly deviled eggs, which are delicious. read more

I just came back to say the staff is STILL rude. I came for a corporate event with 30+ people and the bartender with the glasses was short with many of us and dismissive. It's a shame because the venue is gorgeous and the food has improved. But at this point, I won't be back. Companies spending $1,000+ for events should be able to expect courteous service. read more

The idea of this restaurant is the main attraction. The location is ideal, the view is perfect in the city, the decor inside creates a comfortable lux, but the menu falls short of making you return for the food. I was eager to come because I've seen it's Tiktok attraction, but the reviews everywhere should be listened to. The cocktails are crazy overpriced. Nothing under $18+. The food has so much potential through name, but fell short with everything. The Brussels had way too much going on that distracted the taste and enjoyment, the salad was basic enough to make at home, the fries were mid, & everyone at the table ate slowly trying the convince themselves their food was worth the cost. I will commend the Pork Belly Deviled eggs as I enjoyed that most at the restaurant. I'd come back here if I was invited and the other person was paying. It's a good restaurant for nice pictures and a glass of wine. Justice was also a great server! read more

See all