National Gallery of Art - East Building

Stunning extension of the National Gallery of Art connected via underground tunnel. Free entry and coat check everyday with the exception of Christmas and New Years, this place features hundreds of works of art and is constantly changing. The website offers an app that provides backstory for what you are viewing and there are also excellent docent guided tours throughout the day detailed on the website or on the board in the main foyer of the building. The East building has a cafe, espresso and gelato bar, and plenty of shopping opportunities for that particular souvenir you are seeking. Incredible place and national treasure!

This is my favorite museum in the city! As a photographer and artist, I find it particular inspiring. Love it when my clients choose to have their engagement photos taken here - so much fun variety to work with, and no permit needed! Be sure not to miss the awesome tunnel that connects the east building to the west building - the Multiverse light sculpture is great for pictures! @emchastainphoto

The East Building of the National Gallery of Art contains all the contemporary and modern art. It's much brighter and more spacious than the main building, and definitely worth a visit!

I never wanted to leave, such beautiful art. They have a Van Gogh exhibit, Caravaggio, Monet, Degas, Warhol, etc. Ballet Class, by Degas, is on display, too. Their Baroque section is so pretty. If you schedule it ahead of time, you’ll be allowed to take a tour of their archive room, which is where the rest of the art is stored. I don’t remember if you have to pay for this additional tour, though. You should also stop by the other Smithsonian’s while you’re here, too. There is also a lunch cafe in the basement, the pesto chicken is good but it’s overpriced. There is a gift shop, too, but that is also heavily overpriced, unfortunately. The art is amazing and you can often see people there painting their own versions of the paintings. Be mindful and do not get in their way. Wonderful place if you can visit. There are plenty of areas exhibits in DC, such as Art Tech house and the museum of women in art and history, where Freida khalo is on display.

A local recommended this place. This was a very nice, relaxing, peaceful place to sit and quietly talk in comfort and pleasant decor. Get a coffee or some pancakes or good eggs benedict just a few steps off of the busiest roads of Georgetown. The place seems higher end. A bit pricier than many breakfast joints, I'm sure. My only complaint was that the pancakes could have been hotter. It appeared that they took reservations for breakfast which seemed a bit unusual to this out-of-towner, but as this place gets busier and more popular, such reservations may be helpful.

There was plenty of seating, and the place was about half-full when we left. The food came out quickly. The service was great. The elegant hostess was beautiful, with a lovely 1920s, almost flapper-girl haircut that I admired. I fell in love with her.

Make sure that as you leave you walk out and look at the Potomac River where you will have a beautiful view of the Kennedy Center and can walk straight North for a mile or so along the Patimac to emerge at the base of The Exorcist stairway! I am a big horror film fan. A very nice visit and a sweet respite from our gallivanting around D.C.

Amazing museum with modern and traditional art. You can find Picassos, Van Goghs, and so much more. Give yourself time as it is two large buildings with many many rooms. Great thing is it is free so come and go as much as you want!

World class museum of art and sculptures - from medieval times to contemporary pieces. A vast collection.
Free entry.
3 cafes to choose from.
A gift shop.
Highly recommend to art lovers visiting Washington DC.
Adjacent to the US capital.
Adjacent to a cluster of world class museums like Air & Space, American History, Archives, .....
Guided tours and helpful staff.
I make it a point to visit several times a year as they have new temporary exhibits.

East building has definitely different vibes compared to the West one. I am not a big fan of contemporary art, but it was still enjoyable. I didn't have enough time so couldn't see all the collections but I saw some amazing artwork. They have lots of artworks done by famous/popular artists. I highly recommend this east building if you are interested in modern art more than classic art.

Very friendly and helpful staff. Relaxed atmosphere. So much to see!!! Loved it!

The East Building is a big spacious place with a lot of natural light and air. We were lucky to catch Mark Rothko's exhibition and it was an incredible experience. The exhibition is smartly built, so you can watch his talent development and rise. Other exhibitions are also well done. Gift shops have a lot of interesting and unique souvenirs. The only thing that I wish was better is having a coffee machine at the cafe, drip coffee is not my favorite.

It has an excellent collection of American art.The temporary exibitions are highly recommended.

I must admit that I equally love the East and West buildings of the National Gallery of Art. The east building is focused on modern art, which is my preferred art style. Yet, the west building features many artists whose artwork I also highly love. As for the east building, I am a huge fan of the featured work of Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Jasper Johns, Pablo Picasso, Matta, Frederick Hammersley, Judith Godwin, Carmen Herrera and several other artists. It is a pleasure to see their work up close.

A challenge finding the elevators, but they are there. Great variety of art. Next time I’d check before, so we could catch some of the free, themed guided tours. And, the waterfall & flowers in the cafeteria are gorgeous.

The National Gallery of Art - East Buildings in Washington is spectacular. The architecture itself is a work of art, and it hosts the grandest works of the American greats. I got there just before it closed and ran around imbibing as much of the ambiance as I could in one quick swallow. I am full and rich with history, invention, growth and inspiration.

One of the best spots on the National Mall! If you like Modern Art make sure to stop by. Awesome architecture and the exhibits are well curated. Often not too crowded and quiet compared to other Smithsonians

Make sure you go to the rooftop and check out the blue chicken! Staff was very helpful in pointing out different exhibits and pieces for our younger children to enjoy. Concourse connects the two gallery buildings, which is nice on a hot day.

NGA is the place to go for modern art. Most impressive pernanent room is Mark Rothko's as seen in the video. Up to April 2024 there is a remarkable collection of his early work, some at surprisingly small frames. That's big inspiration to those willing to understand his art pathway.

Beautiful place to visit with friends and family. This national art museum holds over 141,000 works of Western art, spanning from the middle ages through today.

Bonus: It's completely free to visit.

Very interesting exhibit covering the entire liver level on Philip Guston. Includes an hour long doc. and multiple rooms for each stage of his career . Tge permanent collection highlights many iconic 20th century artists. Calder’s mobile - Henry Moore / Ernst - fascinating jewelry and ceramics in the big gift shop. And lots of good eats outside strolling on the mall .

This is a great place to see the best art and styles from around the world. There are many stiffened styles and the guitars are really nice. The food is a tad bit expensive and so is the gift shop stuff but That is expected. And there's white squirrels!