5 Must-Try Restaurants Near the MoMA
The Museum of Modern Art (aka the MoMA) is one of the most popular museums in all of New York City. But before you head in, be sure to eat at one of these 5 must-try and best restaurants near the MoMA.
If not, you’ll end up hungry with more floors to explore.
We’ve included five unique cuisines, differing price ranges, and some faster options if you’re in a time crunch.
Here’s an overview of five, + a bonus, restaurants to eat at near the MoMA:
- Pazza Notte – Italian
- Kin Ramen – Ramen/Japanese
- La Bonne Soupe – French
- Bengal Tiger – Indian
- Blue Willow – Chinese
- burger joint – Burgers
Let’s check out each place to eat below. 👇
PS- See all 6 spots on our handy Google Maps list here, and we will add additional restaurants!
Note: This article was written by a real live human being, not artificial intelligence. 🥸
5 Best Restaurants Near the MoMA Podcast Episode
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Brief Overview of the MoMA
While we’ll save a full review of the MoMA for another article, we want to provide a brief overview.
The Museum of Modern Art boasts 708,000 square feet of total floor area, with 5 floors, and thousands and thousands of art pieces. It also averages over 2 million visitors per year!
Some of the popular pieces at the MoMA include:
- Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night
- Pablo Picasso’s Boy Leading a Horse
- Henri Matisse’s L’Atelier Rouge
- Henri Rousseau’s The Dream
- Andy Warhol’s Campbell Soup Cans (as of October 2023)
- And many, many more
It is also home to my personal favorite art piece, Monet’s Water Lilies. That room at the MoMA is the definition of peaceful.
We partner with a few ticket partners, offering discounts, loyalty points, and a streamlined experience to help you avoid lines.
Get a MoMA ticket via Viator here. You’ll earn rewards when you book through Viator, which you can use to redeem for future travel/reservations. 🙌
Get a MoMA ticket via GetYourGuide here.
Now, let’s look at each place to eat near the MoMA. 👇
1. Pazza Note – Italian Pasta and Pizza
Pazza Notte is a 4-minute walk from the MoMA and has a wide range of delicious Italian dishes.
You can share some delicious salads, pizzas (it made it on our best NYC pizza guide), and kinds of pasta.
Plus, they offer 2-for-1 cocktails all day, every day! It just has to be two of the same cocktails. 🍸🍸
They don’t usually take reservations, but you can almost always get a walk-in unless it’s a weekend during prime dinner time.
The price range is average for a sit-down Italian spot in Midtown. You can expect to pay anywhere from $15-$30 per person for food. Also, the vibe is laid-back, so don’t sweat your attire.
Maximize your time in NYC by demystifying the art of navigating the subway, taxis, walking, and biking around the Big Apple!
Free Guide to Getting Around NYC 🗽
PS- Check out our favorite Italian spot in NYC – Giano in the East Village!
2. Kin Ramen – Ramen/Japanese
Kin Ramen is one of our favorite Ramen spots in the heart of Midtown, plus it’s really close to the MoMA.
The ambiance is second to none and the food is always on point! Plus, the staff is friendly, provides quick service, and always has great recommendations.
We highly recommend their classic Kin Ramen, the Chicken Karaage, and any of their cocktails!
The price range is average for ramen and the vibe is laid back, making it a perfect restaurant near the MoMA. Be aware that they don’t accept reservations and it can be busy!
Oh, and they likely have the best-decorated bathroom in all of New York City. ⏬
Check out our full Kin Ramen review here.
3. La Bonne Soupe – French
We first stumbled upon La Bonne Soupe while exploring Midtown on a weekday evening.
This bistro-style French restaurant opened in 1973 and offers a variety of dishes, including their popular French onion soup!
On certain nights they also have live music nestled up in the entrance corner.
The price range for sit-down French cuisine is average: You can plan to spend about $35-$50 per person.
And while it’s not overly fancy, I wouldn’t show up here in shorts or a ballcap. It’s a great sit-down restaurant option near the Museum of Modern Art!
Check out La Bonne Soupe here.
4. Bengal Tiger – Indian & Cheap Food Near the MoMA
Bengal Tiger has phenomenal appetizers, entrees, and drink options at a fair price. It’s conveniently located in Midtown West, close to the MoMA and Broadway shows!
They were located on 56th near 6th Avenue, closer to the Museum of Modern Art, but recently moved a few blocks west on 56th between Broadway and 8th Ave. At only a roughly 10-minute walk from the museum, it’s still our favorite fair-priced option for Indian food in Midtown.
Bengal Tiger’s new location is a welcome upgrade to their previous upstairs, cramped space. Their latest spot has more than double the cozier seating and upgraded decor and now serves alcohol, but only beer and wine.
First off, try their butternut squash soup. It’s phenomenal!
Their lunch special makes for a perfect meal before enjoying the MoMA. For $17, you get a tasty appetizer, like the soup above, and an ample-portion entree.
It’s probably the cheapest lunch near the MoMA, at least from a sit-down perspective.
You have to try their coconut naan, too!
5. Blue Willow 夜来湘 – Chinese
Blue Willow is a sit-down Chinese spot in the heart of Midtown. It has beautiful decor, dim sum offerings, and a unique cocktail menu.
Every dish we’ve had offered unique flavors and fair portions. What more can you ask for?
Plan to spend about $20-$40 per person, about average for a sit-down spot in Midtown near the MoMA.
Maximize your time in NYC by demystifying the art of navigating the subway, taxis, walking, and biking around the Big Apple!
Free Guide to Getting Around NYC 🗽
6. burger joint – Also This Episode’s “You’ll Have to Check It Out” Segment
While it’s not much of a hidden gem anymore, burger joint in Midtown is a unique, almost speak-easy-style burger joint inside a hotel.
The interior is full of stickers, posters, and graffiti, giving it a true burger spot feel.
Oh, and yes, the burgers are absolutely delicious!
It’s just over a 5-minute walk from the MoMA, too. And for this list of restaurants, it’s by far the most casual and the best option for a quick bite!
Restaurants Near the Museum of Modern Art in NYC Recap
Whether traveling or living in NYC, the MoMA should be at the top of your list of things to do.
Before you head in, be sure to snag a bite at one of these restaurants near the MoMA so you can enjoy every floor of this iconic museum!
As a recap, here are the restaurants (links open Google Maps listings):
- Pazza Notte – Italian
- Kin Ramen – Ramen/Japanese
- La Bonne Soupe – French
- Bengal Tiger – Indian
- Blue Willow – Chinese
- burger joint – Burgers
Going to the MoMA on a date? Check out 21 Central Park date ideas for after the museum.
Prefer a drink after all the beautiful artwork? Check out 5 fun NYC bars here.
Devin Stagg
As long-time lovers of New York City we made the plunge to move across the country to NYC in early 2021... with our 3 dogs at the time (RIP Buddy). We consider ourself experts in exploring new restaurants, finding the best-rated bars, and activities actually worth doing. Plus, my Google Maps organizational skills are 2nd to none. 😜
