The 25 Best Museum Restaurants

The only thing better than seeing art is eating food right afterward.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Once upon a time, not so long ago, museum-goers with the zeal and audacity to work up an appetite were condemned to go hungry. Or worse, they were forced to shuffle plastic trays through cafeteria lines and scoop bland food from lamp-heated buffets.

Those were the dark ages, but in recent years, institutional cuisine has experienced a renaissance. Museums around the world have connected with seasoned chefs and notable designers to upgrade their eateries, providing culinary sustenance along with intellectual and cultural nourishment. These settings provide ample inspiration for unique and delicious dishes, which can and do take inspiration from any number of sources, such as regional cuisine and local ingredients or the surrounding art, artifacts, and architecture. The plates are sometimes as beautiful and innovative as the works on display.

From casual cafe fare to elegant fine dining, these restaurants and cafes are not only amenities but attractions all their own. Come for the food, and stay for the art at The 25 Best Museum Restaurants.

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25. The Garden Museum Cafe

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24. Cafe Asia

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23. Acropolis Museum Restaurant

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22. Ammo

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21. Palettes

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20. Provenance

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19. Le Georges

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18. Bixby's

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17. Gather by D'Amico

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16. Untitled

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15. Ray's and Stark Bar

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14. Oleum

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13. Frank

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12. Museo-Atelier Canova Tadolini Ristorante

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11. Mr. Rain's Fun House

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10. Musee d'Orsay Resaturant

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9. Ludwig im Museum

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8. Terzo Piano

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7. The Modern

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6. Mitsitam

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5. Hermitage Restaurant

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4. M. Wells Dinette

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3. Cafe Sabarsky

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2. Nerua

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1. Cafe d'Art

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