Fancy a side of Picasso? You’ve come to the right place.
What’s better than enjoying a feast for your eyes as well as your tummy? Very little, if you ask us.
Sure, a delicious meal can be gorged on anywhere from a street corner to a greasy spoon, your own kitchen table to a dazzling restaurant, but if you’re splashing out for a special occasion, a side of Picasso is hardly gonna go amiss.
Restaurants all over the world are pairing their innovative fine-dining with immaculately curated collections of fine art, and we weren’t joking when we said Picasso is in the mix.
But that’s far from all: Yayoi Kasuma, Francis Bacon, Takashi Murakami, Miró and Matisse are just some of the world-famous artists who feature on these fabulous walls. Don your napkin and tuck in, guys – it’s time for dinner and a show.
Restaurants with next-level art collections:
Audrey in Nashville
Chef Sean Brock’s new Nashville restaurant is a love letter to his Appalachian heritage and a backdrop for his personal art collection.
The jaw-droppingly beautiful interior feels like a warm, welcoming museum, and guests are encouraged to discover what’s on display – from Mary Mooney’s ethereal abstracts and a vast array of folk art to Brock’s own photography.
The chef explains that Audrey’s food is inspired by the art on the walls. In the same way that artists give new life to textiles and materials, Brock combines ordinary ingredients to craft something entirely new and luxurious.
Osteria Francescana in Modena
In addition to being one of the world’s best, most recognisable chefs, Massimo Bottura is an art junkie. It’s no surprise then that Osteria Francescana, his three-Michelin-starred Modena restaurant, houses some of his favourite works. Perhaps most noteworthy (and misunderstood) is Gavin Turk’s Trash sculpture, a wonderfully lifelike painted bronze cast of a very full trash bag.
Elsewhere in the restaurant, guests will find contemporary works from artists including Maurizio Cattelan, Damien Hirst and Takashi Murakami.
Casa Lever in NYC
Until recently, this sleek Italian restaurant in Midtown was home to 32 of Warhol’s iconic silk-screen portraits – including recognisable faces like Judy Garland, Aretha Franklin and Alfred Hitchcock. The current collection at Casa Lever, which debuted
in 2019, is nothing to scoff at either. The Warhols have been replaced with works by British artist Damien Hirst. In the private dining room, you can spot Since the Majority of Me Rejects the Majority of You, a glossy, butterfly-filled masterpiece. Then there’s Denatonium Benzoate, a hypnotising white canvas that’s covered in colourful polka dots.
Red Rooster Overtown in Miami
Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s first Miami restaurant is a feast for the senses – the menu is rife with Southern comfort food, the playlist is always bumpin’ and there’s art everywhere you look.
Curated by Derek Fleming and David Simkins, Red Rooster Overtown’s collection showcases conversation-starting works that embody ‘the excellence in the African-American experience.’
While you wait for your food to arrive, scan the room to find pieces from the likes of Kara Walker, Derrick Adams, Elizabeth Catlett and Rashid Johnson.
La Colombe d’Or in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France
If walls could talk, they’d have plenty to say about this remarkable inn and eatery in the French Riviera. After swinging open its doors in 1931, La Colombe d’Or became a refuge for artists who were drawn to the area during both World Wars. Over the years, the list of regulars grew to include the likes of Matisse, Picasso and Miró – all of whom left art on the walls here.
The collection has only grown since, and it’s worth venturing outside to view the Fernand Léger mosaic as well as an Alexander Calder mobile that stands guard over the pool.
Kronenhalle in Zürich
There are plenty of out-of-this-world attractions to bookmark in Switzerland, from the picturesque Rhine Falls to the cloud grazing Matterhorn. But for a taste of art and culture, skip the museums and make a reservation at Kronenhalle, a Zurich institution that’s been serving hot meals to noteworthy guests since 1924. In the ‘40s, the owners befriended artists like Picasso, Matisse and Miró – collecting their work with the money they had and graciously accepting the occasional gift from their new friends. After dessert, ask your server to point out works by Marc Chagall, Georges Braque and Robert Rauschenberg.
Atlas in Atlanta
Atlas isn’t your average hotel restaurant – the splurge-worthy dining destination inside the St. Regis Atlanta doubles as a venerable art museum thanks to its ever-changing gallery of modern 20th-century art that has included pieces like Francis Bacon’s Study for Portrait and Picasso’s La Famille. Currently on display is a treasure trove of 39 works by Japanese-French painter and printmaker Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita, who’s known for his portraits of women and cats. After dinner, consider a
nightcap in sister restaurant The Garden Room, where a Klimt-inspired mosaic is a colourful focal point.
Sketch Gallery in London (pictured above)
Even if you haven’t had the chance to dine at this iconic London eatery, there’s a good chance you’ve seen it on your Instagram
feed. The decidedly pink, wonderfully whimsical restaurant is an art lover’s dream, thanks in part to 91 colourful works by award-winning artist David Shrigley. The tongue-in-cheek graphic prints range from a portrait of a cat to a news bulletin that proclaims ‘Woman Spills Coffee.’
You’ll also find Shrigley’s work on the table at Sketch – the artist has designed a handful of ceramic pieces that are emblazoned with words like ‘It’s not OK’ and ‘Dirt.’
(Article source: Time Out)
