We will be meeting an old friend in New York and she cannot be on her feet very long. We want to spend the day and a half with her in a couple of museums.
Does The Met have many benches?
Which New York museums have the most places she could rest while still viewing the exhibits?
Which museums have nice cafes and/or restaurants?
Thanks!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
388 posts
8 weeks after a major foot surgery I was visiting our daughter in New York City. I was still recovering and couldn’t stand for any period of time. I was delighted to discover that the Metropolitan Museum of Art has a robust accessibility program offering a fully accessible entrance and routes through the museum, folding stools and manual wheelchairs to borrow on a first come first served basis. https://www.metmuseum.org/visit-guides/accessibility
The museum has several cafe options but looking at the website it looks as if at least two are temporarily closed. The American Wing Cafe appears to be open. It’s very casual but good food and visually lovely with a view out to the park on one side and an open sculpture gallery on the other.
If you are interested in Austrian and German art, I can recommend the Neue Gallery. Just up 5th Ave from the Met, this small museum has an entire room of Klimt paintings including “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer” aka “The Lady in Gold.” I was just there in November and sat on a very comfortable bench in front of Adele. The museum also offers wheelchair loans per their website. Although I haven’t eaten at the very upscale Cafe Sabarsky on the entrance level of the museum, I’ve peaked in and it has a lovely, old world charm and always a long line to get in.
I haven’t been to The Frick since the recent renovation but that might be a nice manageable option. Also not far from the Met.
Posted by
Virginia
591 posts
I have some experience with that as my elderly mother lives in NY. Agree that most areas of the Met have places to sit and rest, although not necessarily in every room. The Frick not so much in the galleries themselves as I recall, but it is not a large place, and there is a central atrium with benches.
Posted by
seattle
2303 posts
Consider borrowing museum wheelchairs. They typically are in great condition and make navigating a museum mire pleasant.
Posted by
Washington
1089 posts
The Morgan Library has a Renoir exhibition at the moment, and they have a very nice atrium cafe.
Posted by
75 posts
I second the Morgan--it also has a small enough footprint to not be too taxing.