Must See Museums in New York City and Nearby Restaurants
New York City is blessed with a number of world class museums. We here at Ahoy New York want to highlight some of those museums so here is our guide to the must see museums in New York City and where to dine nearby. Set a day (or two) aside as there is so much to see!
Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) – 1000 5th Ave
New York City is home to some of the most renowned art museums that showcase iconic works of art. One of those is the MET. In addition to their collection of paintings and sculptures from all around the world, they also have on display a huge collection of armor and weapons. After a trip around the museum, you can check out Café Boulud (20 E 76th St). Café Boulud has been around seemingly forever and can be considered a renowned foodie landmark and a neighborhood staple. The restaurant focuses on French classics such as seared foie gras and glazed duck breast. A little bit of advice, don’t leave Café Boulud without dessert!
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) – 11 W 53rd St
MoMA is another one of New York City’s premier art museums and it has one of the best collections of modern Western masterpieces. MoMA features works such as The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh and The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dalí. The Modern (9 W 53rd St) is a good option for dinner and it is located right inside the MoMA. Another option is Le Bernardin (155 W 51st St), one of the most celebrated and treasured restaurants in New York City. In fact the French seafood restaurant is rated one of the best in the world. Simply put their prix-fixe dinner menu features dishes that you will remember the rest of your life.
Guggenheim Museum – 1071 5th Ave
The Guggenheim Museum has a vast collection of modern and contemporary art that is definitely a must see. The building, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, alone is a work of art. There are several Daniel Boulud restaurants nearby like Café Boulud, Daniel (60 E 65th St) and Boulud Sud (20 W 64th St) but if you are willing to travel a bit, Quality Meats (57 W 58th Street) is one of our favorite steakhouses. It is luxury at its best and their steaks can be considered a work of art.
The New Museum – 235 Bowery
A walk around the New Museum is a like whimsical snapshot of the minds of some of the edgier and up and coming artists. This theme does not have to stop at the museum. In this same neighborhood only 10 blocks away is a whimsical restaurant featuring edgy, “modern” dishes. Chef Wylie Dufresne’s wd-50 (50 Clinton St) offers a tasting menu that is always lined with crazy dishes that you can’t find anywhere else in the world.
American Museum of Natural History – Central Park West at 79th St
There is so much to see in American Museum of Natural History that it one could easily spend an entire day to truly take in all the exhibits. One of the biggest draws of the American Museum of Natural History of course are the dinosaur fossils. The sense of discovery doesn’t have to stop there. Land (450 Amsterdam Ave) is a David Bank Thai restaurant and it features stunning dishes like the green papaya salad and oven roasted lemongrass chicken along with Thai classics such as Pad Thai with shrimp and Pad See Ew with beef.
Lower East Side Tenement Museum – 103 Orchard St
A tour through the Tenement Museum is like stepping back in time; one can easily revisit the days of the former immigrants living on the Lower East Side and learn about their journeys to America. Looking for lunch or dinner nearby? You can’t beat Katz’s Delicatessen (205 E Houston St), another place rich in history. Their pastrami sandwiches on rye are legendary.
Museum of Chinese in America (MoCA) – 215 Centre Street
On the outskirts of Chinatown there is the Museum of Chinese in America. It is small but it has hosted a lot of interesting exhibits on Chinese American history and culture. Red Egg (202 Centre St) is just across the street from MoCA and they specialize in fun fresh takes on classics Chinese dishes and dim sum. Their Peking duck sliders are especially delicious.
