The KC Cafe:
Casual dining spot ideal for a quick meal on the go or pre-performance. The extensive menu features gourmet sandwiches, a salad bar with a variety of fresh greens, vegetables, and antipasto dishes, and, depending on the performance schedule, a Chef’s Table with daily specials of pasta, fish, and meats prepared to order.
Roof Terrace Restaurant:
Pre-performance cocktails and food in an intimate setting.
Easily one of the best places to watch a variety of entertainment. I’ve been to the KenCen dozens of times now, and I’ve yet to have a bad seat (and that’s saying something considering that I usually sit in the balcony). I am also glad that they don’t allow you to bring food/drink into the theatres, which is the only downside I have with going to the Warner Theatre. The Kennedy Center is always very clean, and I pretty much always walk out the back side of the KenCen to take in a view of the Potomac River.
The Kennedy Center is a gem in the heart of DC. Pure top notch entertainment. All of the shows I have seen there have been fantastic from opera, ballet, symphonies, aerial acrobatics, to live bands and more. I always am excited when I go there for an event. The Millenium Stage has free daily shows early in the evening. They also have a good restaurant with great view on top level.
What a gem! This absolutely lovely performing arts center is always active, often with free events, and reasonably priced activities.Climb to the roof top and see the entire city. Also, on the weekends, they serve a price-fixed brunch up there with a live, 4-piece band and open kitchen buffet. It’s excellent for an after-church event, or to host visiting family members. When I went, it was $40 per person for a fantastic meal (appetizers, main course, dessert) and a glass of champagne (you could also select a mimosa).
I came to see Giselle the ballet here in the fall. The ballet itself was excellent, but there wasn’t a live orchestra and I feel that really affected the quality of the experience. A live orchestra would have made it so much better. Before the show they were hosting one of their free performances (they do these most days). The one on the day I was there was a bizarre under the sea themed puppet show (and it was aimed at children) so it wasn’t really worth me watching. Some days I think are better though but it can be hit or miss. I really enjoyed watching the sun set on the enormous patio and deck area. You can look across at Georgetown and also see some of the monuments light up at night. On a nice evening, it is the perfect place to wait.I took the bus to and from and it was very easy, much easier than the metro.
A beautiful venue for the performing arts, John F. Kennedy Center is actually the busiest performing arts facility in D.C. Some of the greatest performing artists have sung, danced, played instruments, and acted in this center. It’s supported by both companies and private donors/foundations. Both the exterior and interior of this building is beautiful. Through one set of plaza doors is the Hall of States, which hangs the flags of all 50 states of the U.S., as well as its territories. Through the second set of plaza doors to the Kennedy Center is the Hall of Nations. This hall hangs the flags of every country with which the U.S. has diplomatic relations, so it’s a parallel to the Hall of States. As you walk past these halls, you’ll enter the grand foyer, which acts as a lobby and is considered one of the largest rooms in the world. The grand foyer has 16 hand-blown crystal chandeliers, gifts from Sweden, 8 high mirrors from Belgium, and red carpet. From the grand foyer, you can go to the concert hall, opera house, or the Eisenhower theatre. As the names suggest, the opera house is mostly for ballet, opera, and musical theatre; the concert hall is for classical music performances, symphony orchestras; and the Eisenhower Theatre is for theatrical performances. At the north end of the grand foyer is the Millennium Stage, where the Kennedy Center holds free performances at 6pm every day of the year. These free performances are a mix of symphony orchestra, chamber music, dance, jazz, and even storytelling and theatre. Be sure to check out the roof terrace, which overlooks the Potomac River. You can see Georgetown, the National Cathedral, and Roosevelt Island from here. It’s a great place to hang out while you’re waiting at intermission or before/after the performance. On a beautiful, sunny day, it’s a great spot for photo ops. I’ve been here to see the Army/Navy bands play winter concerts, the Russian ballet perform Nutcracker and Giselle, the National Symphony Orchestra, and Li Yundi, a famous pianist. All the performances were breathtaking. The acoustics in the concert hall and opera house are equally fantastic. It’s always such a thrill to come here, because I know the space is exquisite and the performances will be phenomenal. Everyone around you is equally excited too, so that just adds to the atmosphere. In my 20+ years of living in the D.C. area, I’ve never grown tired of coming to the Kennedy Center. It is definitely worth a visit if you’re a tourist and if you can catch a performance, that’s even better. There’s a free shuttle that runs every 15 minutes from 9:45am-midnight on weekdays and 10am-midnight on weekends from the Foggy Bottom Metro stop to the Kennedy Center. You can also park at the Kennedy Center for $22. If you spend more than $10+ at their gift shops, you get 60 minutes of free parking (need to validate at the box office or gift shops).