Do Italian museums have restaurants or cafes in them? I was just at the Galleria della Accademia (Venice) website and it didn't mention one. I visited the Uffizi in the 1980s and don't recall one there then. When we visited England a decade ago, some of the London attractions had reasonably priced cafes inside. We had wonderful fresh-made crisps at the Tower of London and minted lamb sandwiches in the garden of Hever Castle, Anne Boleyn's home. But our most memorable restaurant experience in England was in the cellar of St. Paul's, not far from the burial place of some of England's most notable citizens. A wedding party came through while we were eating, with the men in their tails & top hats and the women in their frilly dresses and hats. We were enthralled! It seems that there's a small chapel in the cellar that can only be reserved for services by someone who's been knighted. After everyone had left, we sneaked into the chapel and knicked a program that someone had left behind after the wedding. It's in our scrapbook from the trip. Oh, and food was good, too.
Posted by
Kamloops, BC, Canada
405 posts
The Uffizi has a cafe, but it's quite expensive. At least that's what I found when I was there 3 years ago...
Posted by
Cesena, Italy
791 posts
I can't say for all of them but the few I've tried were over priced and the food passable to lousy.
Posted by
Calgary
2297 posts
The Uffizi cafe has some beautiful views but it is pricy. We tried out museum cafes in many places (not Italy though) and so far I've only come across one where I was impressed with the food - Tate Modern in London.
Posted by
Ottawa
1446 posts
The Uffizi's cafe has an outside terrace. The birds are cheeky enough to come to your hand for scraps of expensive & forgettable sandwich. The coffee was very good though, and it was a good opportunity for a break and some rooftop photos. Just down the street from the Accademia, there's my second favorite gelato place: Carabe (Vestri is #1!)
Posted by
Diamondhead, MS
132 posts
Some do. But my overall experience is it's pricy and limited. My personal experience however seems to have been different from others; the Uffizi was probably one of the better museum cafes we grabbed a bite at. Either I was lucky, selected well or so hungry and tired anything was good. As I recall, Accademia (Florence) doesn't have one. Vatican museum does kind of out of the way just before the sistine chapel. Bargello doesn't. Borghese I believe does in the basement.
Posted by
OP
Vestavia Hills, AL, 35216
109 posts
While we're on the topic of chow in the land of ciao (sorry), has anyone tried the McItaly burger there? I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile to try one, since all I ever do is get one of those berry smoothies at the drive-thru.
Posted by
Atlanta, Georgia
565 posts
You have to go to McDonalds. It will be your worst meal in Italy but you can pick up so much about the culture (not anything deep or moving mind you). I go to one in every country I visit, order something odd like a McAsian Burger, really, and watch everyone else who's on lunch break. When I get back home and go to lunch with my coworkers, everyone tunes out when I tell them about the Uffizzi, etc, but when you mention you ordered beer at a McDonalds drive-thru to go with your Royale with cheese, the whole lunch table hangs on your every word.
Posted by
Ottawa
1446 posts
Oh Leslie, that's too funny!! I never step foot in a McD at home, but I can count on the fact that, more often than not, while in Europe, I can step into a McD, not order anything, and have access to free wi-fi...
{off topic, off topic - I know...}