Top 9 Restaurants Near the MoMA, New York

New York’s Museum of Modern Art is home to some of the finest modern art on the planet. Van Gogh, Picasso, Kahlo, Dali, Kusama and Warhol are just a few of the ground-breaking creators represented here. Touring these galleries is inspiring, and can be tiring. Keep your energy up with breakfast, lunch or dinner nearby; here are the nine best restaurants near the MoMA.

Best restaurant near the MoMA for Mexican food: Dos Toros Taqueria

52 West 52nd Street, NY 10019

Specializing in tacos and burritos, Dos Toros (two bulls) Taqueria is the top Mexican restaurant near the Museum of Modern Art. There’s no better spot for soft buttery beans, sumptuous salads and gorgeous guacamole. It’s popular, but slick service means the queues move fast.

Fresh ingredients, vegetarian and vegan options, and positive community support make this a great place for your fix of tacos on the go. And you’ll find branches all over New York.

Nearest restaurant to the MoMA: The Terrace Cafe

Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53 Street, NY 10019

Stroll to the sixth floor of MoMA and you’ll find the Caroll and Milton Petrie Cafe. The small but perfectly-formed menu offers light lunches with thoughtful taste combinations. The desserts are the stars; who could resist vanilla pannacotta with caramel sauce?

There’s a relaxed atmosphere even on the busiest days, and outdoor dining with a courtyard view when weather allows. This is one of the nearest restaurants to MoMA and it’s a gem.

The best restaurant near the MoMA for bagels: Ess-a-Bagel

831 3rd Avenue, NY 10022

Since 1975 Ess-a-Bagel has been serving New Yorkers with moist, chewy bagels. Choose from more than ten types of bagel and an expansive range of fillings from classic to flavoured cream cheese. 

Beyond bagels, you can also get croissants, cookies and brownies. There are also knishes, a traditional Ashkenazi Jewish snack of baked or deep-fried dough with a filling.

Looking for cheap restaurants near MoMA? With a faithful local following, Ess-a-Bagel and its retro feel deserve a place in your New York itinerary. Book your entry ticket to MoMA and enjoy a great breakfast or lunch at Ess-a-Bagel.

Best restaurant near the MoMA for Korean food: Naro

610 5th Avenue, Rockefeller Centre, NY 10020

Traditional techniques combine with fresh seasonal ingredients at Naro. The menu is bursting with authentic Korean elements:  mugworth, birch and cherry blossom vinegars; ice cream flavoured with black walnuts. Kimchi goes beyond cabbage and radishes to include tomatoes, chillis and mustard leaves.

The slick service fits the futuristic decor of this distinctive restaurant. There’s nowhere else like it. The best Korean restaurant near MoMA offers high-end dining with prices to match, but it’s worth it. 

Best restaurant near the MoMA for ramen: Kohoku-ku

709 9th Avenue, NY 10019

This cosy, intimate ramen spot looks, and tastes, just like a little slice of Japan in New York. With its Japanese posters and stacks of sake barrels, you could easily be in Kohoku-ku, the ward of Yokohama after which this ramen spot is named.

Attention to detail is high here. The pork broth is 48 hours in the making. Yakitori ranges from port belly to asparagus and bacon. There are several vegan options. Even the menu features cute Japanese-style cartoons.

If you’re looking for a genuine Japanese experience, Kohoku Ramen is the best restaurant near MoMA. It’s also a great cheap restaurant near MoMA.

The best restaurant near the MoMA for burgers and shakes: Bill’s Bar & Burger

16 West 51st Street, NY 10019

Bill’s is a great place to eat near the MoMA. It looks like an old-fashioned burger joint and serves all the classics. There’s a huge beer menu and the 400-seat capacity almost guarantees a seat.

Bill’s takes its food seriously. Its Fat Cat Burger is a winner of CNN’s Top 10 Burger Award. The loaded nachos and smoked bacon chilli will distract you before you choose your burger. And the monster shakes are hard to beat, especially the 4th of July with its banana split with vanilla ice cream and strawberry and chocolate sauce.

Best restaurant near the MoMA for upscale French cuisine: La Grande Boucherie

145 West 53rd Street, NY 10019

This grand dining destination promises upscale French cuisine and one of the best wine lists in Manhattan. All kinds of steak and beef, oysters and seafood galore, and exquisite onion soup are just some of the delights on offer. The charcuterie bar and cheese options alone could keep a diner happy for hours.

This brasserie in Art Nouveau style has an underfloor-heated outdoor area with arched skylight allowing year-round dining en plein air. Helmed by masterchef Maxime Kien, La Grande Boucherie is one of the top restaurants to eat near the MoMA.

Make it a day of art with the NYC Art Bundle and then indulge in a top-class dinner at La Grande Boucherie.

Best American diner near the MoMA: Westway Diner

614 9th Avenue, NY 10036

There should be space for a genuine old-school American diner in every New York holiday. And Westway Diner is bursting with character and great food. The portions are generous and the service is quick.

Breakfast all day, eggs a dozen ways, waffles, bagels and lox – Westway has all the old diner favorites. This is one of the most authentically New York places to eat near the MoMA. It’s the kind of place you expect to fall into conversation with an interesting stranger – and you probably will.

Best restaurant near the MoMA for halal food: The Halal Guys

West 53rd Street & 6th Avenue, NY 10019

On the lookout for a quick, cheap lunch near NYC’s Museum of Modern Art? This food truck, well-established yet still with a cult following, is one of the best cheap restaurants near the MoMA. 

The Halal Guys started in 1990 with a mission to provide NYC’s Muslim taxi drivers with halal food. Now their fresh, delicious gyro and chicken is popular with locals and tourists alike. You’ll find the truck by the long queue but it moves fast, and your reward is a taste of American halal food from pioneers of the cuisine.

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Planned what to eat? Here’s all you need to know about The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)