Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Smoke & Mirrors

    3.3 (318 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

    Smoke & Mirrors Photos

    SMOKE & MIRRORS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Smoke & Mirrors

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Kineshia C.

    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.

    Nordic Nectar
    Cedric J.

    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!

    Bee's Knees

    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.

    Mushroom flat bread
    Stuart O.

    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.

    Baby Don't You Gogo
    Katie N.

    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.

    Bobbi D.

    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!

    The beautiful view of the city of D.C.
    Nessa R.

    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!

    View from our seats on roof top
    Becky H.

    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.

    Me
    Sunshine L.

    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 .

    Latrika W.

    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.

    Tameka R.

    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.

    Daisa J.

    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.

    Kelci S.

    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!

    Chicken & Waffles  Southern Hot Honey Chicken, Dill pickles, chives, & cheddar cheese.

    See all

    Photo of Heather H.
    131
    123
    336

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sandra Z.
    12
    31
    48

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Iva S.
    210
    552
    2889

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 41
    Thanks 2
    Love this 41
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Crystal C.
    7
    106
    250

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jazz T.
    194
    270
    4512

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 1
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Mr. C.

    Mr. C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 8

    Ask the Community - Smoke & Mirrors

    Is there parking?

    They don't specifically have a parking lot or garage. Street parking is surrounding the venue. LAZ Parking is at Whole Foods, 101 H St. SE. Or you can valet at AC Hotel.

    Do they take walk ins for the rooftop bar or need reservations?

    I made reservations. Glad i did because almost every out door table was full. Especially if its a nice day.

    Is this place ok for kids?

    Nope. It's a mature adult vibe.

    Is music played here late night? What genre?

    It's just laid back music. Nothing like a club. It's an upscale lounge. Serves drinks and food.

    Is it really busy/crowded on Friday or Saturday nights? Do they allow standing at the bar area without reservations?

    Yes it is. I highly recommend a reservation for those days. You could go to the bar without it but doubt you'll be able to find space there

    View All 7 Questions

    You might also consider

    Toastique - Avocado Smash Toast

    Toastique

    4.4(393 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    We stay at the Wharf more now when visiting DC, so when we do, we make sure to stop at the nearby…read moreToastique location. Its warm, clean design makes it quite welcoming for enjoying avocado toast with smoked salmon, which brings one to a place of spiritual oneness. With white walls, natural wood-grain tables and countertops, Toastique's design radiates minimalist, urban style while remaining inviting. Any time I have been there, the wait times have been stress-free, and the queues move quickly. Food-wise, you can't go wrong with their avocado toast with smoked salmon. With a generous portion of smoked salmon on top of avocado mash, on perfectly toasted sourdough bread, creating a place of tremendous well-being. The cucumbers, marinated tomatoes, red onion, capers, and a sprinkle of microgreens make for a fully satisfying meal without feeling like you are overdoing it with your life choices. Drink-wise, I always go for cold brew and the cold brew never lets me down there. Last time, they had a peanut-butter cold brew and a black cherry one, both of which were magical. This Toastique delivers every time.

    My friend and I stopped in here after hours of exploring Cherry Blossoms and Bloomaroo at the Wharf…read more- it was late afternoon on a very busy Saturday. We hoped to find a place that offered decaf coffee since it was late in the day, but really wanted something warm since it was a bit chilly outside. Unfortunately, this location of Toastique does not offer decaf - they only have a single hopper for their coffee, so it is not an offering. We were going to find another place, however, they said how about a hot chocolate or a tea. My friend is vegan and inquired if their hot cocoa was vegan, as most places have dairy in the chocolate. The cashier went to look at the chocolate syrup and also had another person look at it to verify it's vegan. My friend ordered a hot chocolate with oat milk. Even though it was busy, we only waited about 5 minutes for her drink. We appreciated the effort to double check it was vegan, though I do wish they had decaf options.

    Photos
    Toastique - Ambience

    Ambience

    Toastique - Frosé

    Frosé

    Toastique

    See all

    Smoke & Mirrors - bars - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...