Food is Art

best MUSEUM restaurants

Food is Art

by Renee Dee

It’s an inspiration to all your senses to enjoy culinary excellence in the halls of the country’s most impressive art museums.

What could make for a better “live beautifully” day than to tour an awe-inspiring, well-designed, architecturally interesting art museum with works by the most-known masters and dining to elevate the spirit. It’s an A-plus day for all your senses, and we recommend making sure you experience each of these fine culinary destinations as you travel to America’s most iconic cities to savor the best museum restaurants.

IN SITU at MOMA

San Francisco

Just as the San Francisco Museum of Modern art curates its collections, this exhibition restaurant, In Situ brings together a revolving collection of culinary influencers, innovators and icons to make their contributions accessible for greater public engagement. Some of the most sought-after chefs in San Francisco and the nation assume a guest spot in the In Situ kitchen, as chef, Corey Lee, faithfully replicates dishes created by Sean Brock, Alice Waters and other notables, making the offerings as curated as the installations.

THE MODERN at MOMA

New York

I never miss a chance to dine at The Modern at the Museum of Modern Art, notably located across the street from Baccarat Hotel. The Modern features a sophisticated environment for Chef Allan refined, contemporary cooking in a beautiful setting overlooking the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden. Order from a seasonal menu or to enjoy the tasting menu, which I highly recommend. Every dish is plated like artwork and totally Insta-worthy. Be sure to save room for artistically designed desserts made by Pastry Chef Jiho Kim. The Modern holds two Michelin stars.

TERZO PIANO at THE ART INSTITUTE

Chicago

My hometown of Chicago has provided so many fond memories in the world of food and art, and most of them have been at The Art Institute, notable for dining, theatre and some of the most coveted acquisitions in the world. Among them is James Beard Award-winning Chef Tony Mantuano, whose four-star Spiaggia is one of the country’s best Italian restaurants and who also served as Bravo’s Top Chef Masters, who is at the helm at Terzo Piano, a beautifully minimalist dining room flooded with natural light that overlooks all highlights of the Windy City— the city skyline, Millennium Park and Lake Michigan.

UNTITLED at THE WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART

New York

Danny Meyer’s second museum restaurant Untitled at The Whitney Museum of American Art features farm-to-table takes on New York diner classics. Chef Suzanne Cupps’s bright, artful cooking in an optimistic setting leans heavily into vegetables, and the menu lends itself easily to sharing. Untitled, like the Museum around it, is designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano and showcases views of the Hudson River and High Line Park from every seat as well as contemporary American artworks from the Museum collection.

RAY’S | STARK BAR at LA COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART

Los Angeles

Also designed by architect Renzo Piano, Ray’s | Stark Bar, named in honor of film producer Ray Stark, in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is a contemporary work of art unto itself. Floor-to-ceiling windows make it look like a jewel box. Dancing teacups designed from 1850 to 1950 float throughout the space. Outside, artist Chris Burden’s iconic “Urban Light” installation of 202 decommissioned Los Angeles-area streetlamps makes for a striking backdrop.

THE COLLECTIONS CAFÉ at CHIHULY GARDEN AND GLASS

Seattle

A museum in its own right, Chihuly Garden and Glass, offers the culinary side with The Collections Café, which honors glass artist Dale Chihuly’s passion for collecting objects. Vintage accordions hang from the ceiling and glass-topped dining tables double as display cases for clocks and toy soldiers. The food is Northwest hearty—a pressed pork sandwich with apple butter and spicy cider vinegar slaw and expect plenty of craft beers and regional wines.

465 BAR AND RESTAURANT at MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS

Boston

The Museum of Fine Art’s newest dining venue 465 Bar and Restaurant features executive chef Brian Flagg’s seasonal menu emphasizing fresh local ingredients with an innovative root-to-stalk approach. The restaurant offers a view of world-class art with cocktails or mocktails, a multi-course meal or a quick bite and discussion before or after a film, lecture or program. Originally designed by I. M. Pei, the space has been renovated and redesigned by Bergmeyer.

THE SOURCE BY WOLFGANG PUCK in NEWSEUM

Washington, D.C.

Wolfgang Puck brings his original brand of Asian fusion to this tribute to all things media in the Newseum at The Source. Chef Scott Drewno keeps his menu in tune with the seasons. The sleek restaurant spans three levels—a casual bar, an elegant main dining room and a subterranean private dining room. The modern design boasts floor-toceiling windows and a two-story glass wine wall that holds more than 2,000 bottles of the restaurant’s impressive collection.