Rent a diner by the hour in Washington, DC

Restaurants, diners, and cafes are an important part of the American cultural landscape. They are gathering venues where many people exchange gossip and have a good time. Diners are such recognizable venues that the decor and menu selection is a reliable way of helping the audience place the location and date a film is set in. That makes diners and restaurants in demand for filmmakers.
Unfortunately, diners are also some of the most difficult sets to design. They require a lot of expensive props that may only be used for a single scene. Filmmakers tend to rely on one of two options: working inside of a set designed to look like a diner or locating an authentic diner that's open to filming. Both systems have advantages and disadvantages yet you can easily explore both in Washington, D.C.!

Film-friendly businesses offer you the opportunity to work inside of a working diner or restaurant. These are the best choice if you need the highest-quality props and a truly authentic space, especially for historic films where you want the footage set in that location.
The disadvantage to working inside of a real diner is that the business will likely allow filming only during certain periods, such as weekends only or after hours. A diner also isn't designed for filming so you may not find lights or power ports in the places you'd expect. That said, the historic architecture of many classic DC bars, taverns, pubs, diners, and restaurants make them attractive options. Especially if you want to make it clear that your film is set in Washington, D.C. by choosing a well known establishment for your film!

Your second option is to book a diner set inside of a film production studio. Diner sets recreate the interior of a restaurant but give you full flexibility. You can book them anytime you wish, for one. You'll also have total control over the environment; you can move items around as needed and change the light or decor. A diner set will have light and power outlets in convenient places and is built into a production warehouse or other sound controlled space. Diner film sets are just one part of a film production complex. There are extra amenities that come with your booking like access to staff lounges, changing rooms, loading bays for production equipment, and more!