Go-Go Museum & Cafe

D.C.’s Best Museum Restaurants and Cafes | Eater DC

"A highly anticipated ode to Go-Go music opening in Anacostia emphasizes food as much as sound: Angela Bethea, the former executive chef at Smoke & Mirrors and a Chopped finalist, created an intentional menu to capture Go‑Go’s roots in Black culture. “Go-Go started where it was influenced, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, then all the way up to D.C.,” says Bethea. “This whole genre was influenced by many places and then made it into its own. We want the menu to reflect that story.” Expect jollof rice, a Cuban sandwich, grilled plantains, various spiced meat and vegetable kabobs, and of course, D.C.’s beloved mumbo wings and half-smokes; backyard grilling and street foods play into its outdoor Go‑Go party theme. As Bethea explained, “We want people to come and enjoy the music and be able to eat while they dance.”" - Abi Newhouse

A Go-Go Museum and Cafe Nears Opening Date in D.C. | Eater DC

"I learned that an 8,000-square-foot museum and live performance space in Anacostia will celebrate D.C.'s official music with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting on November 18, nearly a year after breaking ground; co-founders Ron Moten and Dr. Natalie Hopkinson—who launched the #DontMuteDC movement in 2019—dreamed up the project. The museum will include interactive holograms of music icons Ralph Anwan Glover and Sugarbear of EU, a graffiti exhibit with digital tags, and a collection of go-go artifacts (including a Rare Essence bomber jacket). Angela Bethea, formerly executive chef at Smoke & Mirrors and Nordstrom, will run the café and has teased a culinary and hospitality mentorship program. The museum will be open for special events and ticketed guests on the first and third Saturdays of each month starting January 18." - Emily Venezky

Opened in 2025 in Anacostia, this community-built space preserves DC’s official music with interactive exhibits, live sets, and a café celebrating the diaspora. Covered by the Washington Post and tourism editors, it’s a powerful, local-first cultural stop.