Arts Travel: Artful Dining

The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego’s Museum Cafe offers luxurious outdoor seating. Credit: Philipp Scholz Rittermann

Museums across the country pair a gourmet experience with art. We suggest you try them all. Here’s a quick sampling:

Come prepared to sink into your chair at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego’s Museum Cafe in La Jolla, Calif. The outdoor seating overlooks the Pacific Ocean, and the organic ingredients are locally sourced by chef Giuseppe Ciuffa. Breakfast and lunch include classics like huevos rancheros and caprese, along with more adventurous dishes like the mango jalapeño quesadilla. Prices range from $7.50-$13.95, and cafe patrons receive 20 percent off admission to the museum. Visit www.mcasdcafe.com for details.

Sure, you could stay on the ground floor of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and enjoy a meal at Caffè Museo while surrounded by art. Or, you could trek up to the roof (museum admission is required) and enjoy the modern and contemporary sculpture at the Rooftop Garden Blue Bottle Coffee Bar. Sip on coffee or tea and—if you have a sweet tooth—dig in: the coffee bar offers cookies and cakes inspired by artworks on view at the museum. Prices range from $2.50-$8 for drinks and desserts. Visit www.sfmoma.org for more information.

Finally, hit the East Coast for your choice of dining experiences at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The Garden Café Français offers French cuisine by award-winning chef Michel Richard in honor of “From Impressionism to Modernism: The Chester Dale Collection” through Jan. 2, 2012. If you’d like a panoramic view of the sculpture garden, hit the Pavilion Café for specialty pizzas, sandwiches, salads and desserts. And if you need a pick-me-up, go straight to the Espresso and Gelato Bar, where you’ll find an assortment of snacks and beverages. Visit www.nga.gov for all the details.