Overpriced cookies or a rotisserie porchetta with sunchokes and fennel? You’re probably used to seeing the former but these museum cafés and restaurants are so good that many visitors forget to stay for the art. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite places to have a bite after a long day. From outdoor cafes to Native American’s cuisine, these restaurants round out the perfect day of museum hopping. Feel free to go just for the food, we won’t judge.
The Wright at Guggenheim
The Wright features artist’s installation from time to time and gives the visitors a whole new dining experience. Artist Sarah Crowner’s current installation at The Wright echoes the restaurant’s modern and creative dishes. A daytime cafe, The Wright has a wide range of cocktails and brunch menus.
The Wright, 1071 5th Avenue New York NY 10128
Studio Cafe at Whitney Museum
Located on the 8th floor of Whitney, its menu highlights James Beard Foundation award-winning chef Michael Anthony’s seasonal, contemporary American cooking, offering toasts, soups, salads, and light fares for museum-goers. During the warmer months, the cafe offers outdoor seating and 300-degree views of the city, the Meatpacking District, the Hudson River, and the High Line. Grab a glass of rosé and enjoy the view.
Studio Cafe, 99 Gansevoort Street New York, NY 10014
Cafe Sabarsky at Neue Galerie
Café Sabarsky, which bears the name of Neue Galerie co-founder Serge Sabarsky, draws its inspiration from the great Viennese cafés that served as important centers of intellectual and artistic life at the turn of the century. It is outfitted with period objects, including lighting fixtures by Josef Hoffmann, furniture by Adolf Loos, and banquettes that are upholstered with a 1912 Otto Wagner fabric. A Bösendorfer grand piano graces one corner of the Café and is used for all cabaret, chamber, and classical music performances at the museum.
Cafe Sabarsky, 1048 Fifth Avenue (at 86th Street) New York, NY 10028
Caffe Storico at New York Historical Society
A charming and sunny restaurant located at the New York Historical Society, Caffe Storico brings the visitors traditional Italian fare and authentic espresso. Executive Chef Tim Kensett and his team provide exceptional dishes using fresh and regional ingredients. Museum admission is not required to dine in the restaurant.
Caffe Storico, 170 Central Park West at Richard Gilder Way (77th Street) New York, NY 10024
Verde at Pérez Art Museum Miami
Known for its beautiful views of Biscayne Bay, Verde Waterfront Restaurant & Bar is a modern and casual restaurant with indoor and outdoor settings. Visitors can choose from a big variety of handcrafted cocktails and creative cuisine. The restaurant is also very popular among the local residents. On a sunny afternoon, the place is packed with trendy people who come for coffee and light fares by the water.
Verde, 1103 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33132
Otium, 221 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
“Mitsitam” means “Let’s eat!” in the Native language of the Delaware and Piscataway peoples. Mitsitam Cafe’s executive chef Freddie Bitsoie came to the Mitsitam with 10 years of experience fusing his classical culinary training with knowledge of Native American foods and ingredients. The authentic Native American’s cuisines provide the visitors a new way of experiencing Native American’s culture and history.
Mitsitam Cafe, 4th St NW & Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20560
Collections Cafe décor draws in part from Chihuly’s iconic Boathouse on Seattle’s Lake Union, and the combination of colors and materials motivated Chihuly to share some of the very collections that adorn the walls of his home and studio spaces. Visitors can enjoy traditional Northwestern fare with a Mediterranean twist. The restaurant also carries regional handcrafted beers and wines from Washington and Oregon.
Collections Cafe, 305 Harrison St Seattle, WA 98109
In Situ at SFMOMA
Food critic Pete Wells said that “By avoiding originality, In Situ is the most original new restaurant in the country.” Indeed, one can not simply categorize In Situ as a New American restaurant. The restaurant brings chefs and dishes from all over the world to curate a modern and global dining experience. The menu is a map that shows where the dishes are inspired from.
