Inspired by a meal and moments of reflection at the Louvre in Paris, these Phoenix cultural attractions are elevating the dining experience.


When I visited Paris, I dined in all types of establishments. And even though I was traveling in sophisticated French cuisine circles, the most memorable meal I ate was in the Louvre Museum, at Le Café Richelieu/Angelina, tucked next to Napoleon III’s personal apartments with a panoramic view of the iconic Louvre Pyramid.

As I nibbled on Quiche Lorraine and sipped a sparkling rose from Cotes de Provence, I reflected on my exhausting, but educational, excursion through the world’s largest museum. Normally I wouldn’t want to linger and dine at a major sightseeing attraction. But at the Louvre, I was invited to savor the museum’s monumental details over an above-average meal in a setting that transported me to the Age of Enlightenment — when the great intellectuals of the world gathered in public spaces and salons to discuss art and culture over a sumptuous meal. 

After returning, I realized Greater Phoenix has something distinctly in common with the City of Light. Dining at many notable museums here is an equally elevated social experience, where food isn’t just an afterthought, but a satiating event as special as the collections and artifacts that call these spaces home. 

 

Gertrude’s

Located at the Desert Botanical Garden

The Desert Botanical Garden's upscale restaurant (pictured above, photo by Adam Rodriguez) and bar pays homage to the garden’s founder, Gertrude Divine Webster, and her mission to conserve the desert surroundings. Many of the herbs and vegetables used are sourced from Gertrude’s patio garden as well as DBG’s community garden.

The seasonal American menu showcases ingredients from farmers in Arizona and the Southwest, represented in dishes such as the Niman Ranch ham steak with Anson Mills grits, red eye gray and watermelon pickles. Local wines and beers are plentiful as are a selection of botanically-infused cocktails—think the agave sunrise reposado, a spirited concoction of elderflower, Brut bubble, fresh grapefruit and lime juices and bitters. The piece de resistance at Gertrude’s, though, is the outdoor patio area, a coveted dining spot where visitors can soak up the award-winning cuisine amid flora and fauna. 

1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix

 

Café Allegro

Located at the Musical Instrument Museum

Indicative of MIM's mission to support a universal message of music, the casual, self-serve dining spot offers diverse culinary notes, serving a changing lunch menu of global, local and regional dishes, grilled specialties, soups and salads and made-from-scratch desserts.

The dining atmosphere is illuminated by sunlight views of the museum’s courtyard entrance, but the station-style food setup doesn’t diminish the highly-developed flavor profiles or nutritional content of Café Allegro’s thoughtfully-designed menu that features vegan, vegetarian, organic and minimally-processed items like the farm-to-fork Arizona chicken salad, Jamaican jerk spiced pork ribs and lemon tahini-sauced falafel.

The café also features a robust lines of local, regional and international wines, including Pillsbury’s Wild Child White from Cochise County, Arizona. 

4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix
 

The Courtyard Café

Located at Heard Museum

The Heard Museum, which houses a prominent collection of American Indian art, stays true to its regional roots with a seasonal menu featuring salads, sandwiches, entrees and desserts that spotlight indigenous, sustainable and locally sourced ingredients.

Though the menu evolves with the seasons, Southwestern art aficionados have dined on Courtyard Café permanent favorites like the Heard signature meatloaf made with ground bison, ground beef, applewood-smoked bacon, grilled onions, house-made smoky tomato jam and country white bread for years. Other long-time culinary fixtures at the café include the warm tepary bean salad, acclaimed posole and fry bread.

The cozy feel of the Heard makes the quaint restaurant and its lush courtyard patio the perfect midday space to refuel and reflect on the museum’s historical significance to cultural preservation of the region.

2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix