Just as painters are artists who color new worlds on blank canvases, so too are chefs who introduce new flavors beautifully presented on a plate. Here we round up six Michelin-starred restaurants housed in major museums around the world.
The dining room at The Modern.
The Modern
9 W. 53rd Street, New York CityIt goes without saying that The Modern has one of New York City’s most prized locations, designed to capture the iconic feel of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in which it is seamlessly housed. Art enthusiasts have always appreciated its timeless and glorious surroundings and are sure to notice the acoustics, which facilitate quiet conversation and match the calm of the view over the sculpture garden. The state-of-the-art kitchen allows the team to exercise its full creative potential—both in the dining room and at the buzzy bar. Chef Abram Bissell and crew are truly wowing globe-trotting patrons with excellent food and warm, well-timed service. Appealing dishes on the seasonally-based menu showcase clean flavors like black-truffle covered heirloom tomato raviolo with wild spinach, and Champagne-poached chicken with lettuce, tomato and foie gras sauce.
Odette
National Gallery Singapore, #01-04, 1 St. Andrew's Road, SingaporeHoused within Singapore’s National Gallery and occupying what was once the registration room of the Supreme Court is Odette. Named for chef Julien Royer’s grandmother, this is the most discreet and intimate of restaurants. Royer’s superlatively modern dishes use top-notch ingredients and are not just dazzling in their looks but also display great finesse and elegance. Service is very polished and the glass doors into the kitchen give glimpses of the alchemy within.
Photo courtesy of Erik Smits.
RIJKS®
Museumstraat 2, AmsterdamThis lively, luxurious brasserie belonging to the Rijksmuseum is a surefire winner. The flavors are recognizable but the inventive style of cooking is a surprise and—despite the huge range of flavors and textures—everything is well-balanced. With intriguing and exciting menu descriptions, the dishes live up to expectations.
Nerua
av. de Abandoibarra 2, Bilbao, SpainThough this restaurant is tucked inside the Guggenheim Bilbao, it has its own entrance, where the minimalist-style dining room, as well as a kitchen, is visible. Here, chef Josean Alija conjures up modern cuisine and intricately developed dishes, which are enhanced by the addition of innovative touches. The menus are changed three times during the year—spring, summer and fall/winter—and feature nine, 14 or 18 courses.
L'Imbuto
via della Fratta 38, Lucca, ItalyAt the Lucca Museum of Contemporary Art, the self-taught chef Cristiano Tomei’s avant-garde style of cooking comes through in the innovative dishes that show off his imagination. One just needs to taste part of the menu—offering five, seven or nine courses—to experience the surprises that it can bring.
La Leggenda dei Frati
Costa San Giorgio 6/a, FlorenceThings kick off beautifully and only get better throughout your experience. Once you have entered the beautiful Villa Bardini not far from Palazzo Vecchio, you are plunged into an elegant and welcoming ambience. This serves as the perfect setting for delicious, creative and modern cuisine by chef Filippo Saporito. Also, there is an additional treat: anyone who dines at the restaurant can visit the museum after hours as the restaurant owner has a set of keys. La Leggenda dei Frati is a truly multi-sensory experience.
This story, written by Tang Jie, originally appeared on the Michelin Guide Hong Kong-Macau website.
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