The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts offers two outstanding options for dining that celebrate the best of Virginia and also enable enjoyment of the E. Claiborne and Lora Robins Sculpture Garden.
“Being open 365 days a year makes the Virginia Museum the most accessible museum in the country, which also means our dining options are open daily. And yes, that includes Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, which always sell out,” Director Alex Nyerges said.
Best Café is the casual dining location for Richmonders kicking off a weekend or for brunch or lunch with a view. The expansive waterside terrace overlooks the sculpture garden including works by Dale Chihuly, Jun Kaneko, and Henry Moore. As a part of the VMFA’s initiative to enjoy its grounds, the garden offers Wifi, a variety of seating options, and is ABC licensed. Café visitors are free to enjoy their food and beverages outside throughout the garden.
Best Café fare features the best of Richmond and Virginia. Specials include house-made salads, sandwiches, and pizza, as well as locally sourced desserts, ice cream, snacks, and coffee. Virginia beer and wine include selections from Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Legend’s Brewery, Star Hill, Bold Rock Virginia Cider, Michael Shaps Wineworks, and Chateau Morrisette.
Amuse Restaurant, the award-winning fine dining restaurant located on level three of the museum features indoor and outdoor seating with excellent views of the VMFA grounds. Amuse serves lunch daily, dinner on Thursday and Friday nights, and Sunday brunch, always featuring local ingredients and creative cocktails. Menus change monthly. Chef Greg Haley features local and regional ingredients such Grayson Cheese from Meadow Creek Dairy, Manakintowne greens, and Homestead Creamery ice cream.
Below is a selection of some of Virginia’s finest purveyors that provide fresh, seasonal products for Best and Amuse.
Best Café
WPA Bakery
Lucille’s Bakery
Homestead Creamery Ice cream
Biscotti Goddess
Candy Valley Cake Company
Route 11 Potato Chips
Blanchard’s – Coffee and Espresso
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Legend Brewery
Starr Hill Brewery
Bold Rock Cider
Amuse Restaurant
Manakintowne Specialty Growers
Belmont Butchery
Homestead Creamery
Ayrshire Farms
Milton’s Local Harvest
Agriberry Farm and CSA
A.M. Fogg Farms
Meadow Creek Farms
Oak Spring Dairy
Blanchard’s Coffee
Wines
Barboursville Brut “Cuvee 1814”
Linden “Hardscrabble”
Jefferson Vineyards Pinot Grigio
Prince Michel Petit Manseng
Barboursville Phileo
VMFA Meritage and Viognier (Michael Shaps)
Lovingston “Rotunda Red”
Barboursville “Octagon”
White Hall Cabernet Franc
Beers
Hardywood Forbidden
Legend Brown
Lost Rhino Face Plant
Blue Mountain Full Nelson
Liquors
Belle Isle Moonshine
Blue Ridge Vodka
Bowman Brothers Whiskey
Captain Applejack Apple Brandy
About the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
VMFA’s permanent collection encompasses more than 33,000 works of art spanning 5,000 years of world history. Its collections of Art Nouveau and Art Deco, English silver, Fabergé, and the art of South Asia are among the finest in the nation. With acclaimed holdings in American, British Sporting, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist, and Modern and Contemporary art – and additional strengths in African, Ancient, East Asian, and European – VMFA ranks as one of the top comprehensive art museums in the United States. Programs include educational activities and studio classes for all ages, plus lively after-hours events. VMFA’s Statewide Partnership program includes traveling exhibitions, artist and teacher workshops, and lectures across the Commonwealth. VMFA, a certified Virginia Green attraction, is open 365 days a year and general admission is always free. For additional information, telephone 804-340-1400 or visit www.vmfa.museum.
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