There are places where art hangs on gallery walls, protected by silence and soft lighting, and then there are those where it shares space with the clink of wine glasses, the murmur of conversations and the lingering aroma of a delicious meal. Across the world, a handful of restaurants blur the boundaries between the culinary and creative, transforming dining rooms into living galleries where walls tell a story.
These establishments invite guests to feast with their eyes as much as their palates. Here, masterpieces are not merely objects placed at a distance to be admired but act as your companions through a meal. So are you ready to find out where you could casually dine with Picasso, Matisse, Warhol, or Miró, among others? Come along!
Frevo, New York City, USA
Tucked behind a concealed door in a contemporary art gallery in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, Frevo brings together contemporary art and fine dining. Co-founded by Brazilian chef Franco Sampogna and restaurateur Bernardo Silva, the Michelin-starred restaurant invites diners to walk through a rotating gallery exhibition before discovering an intimate dining room centred around a 16-seat chef’s counter and open kitchen.
The gallery hosts changing exhibitions of contemporary artists, with original works available for purchase, while the restaurant’s tasting menu showcases Sampogna’s sauce-focused cuisine, rooted in classical French techniques and influenced by South American and Asian flavours. The artwork, menu, and beverage pairings evolve regularly, making each visit a meeting of visual art and culinary craftsmanship.
Restaurant Buech, Herrliberg, Switzerland
Perched above Lake Zurich in a historic country inn surrounded by vineyards, Restaurant Buech offers diners a meal accompanied by an exceptional collection of modern art. The restaurant’s walls feature works by celebrated artists, including Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, reflecting the influence of Swiss art dealer and collector Bruno Bischofberger, who helped bring pieces from his collection into the dining rooms.
The result is an intimate setting where original artworks sit alongside traditional interiors, panoramic lake views and seasonal cuisine. Since 2025, the century-old establishment has been run by the Caminada Group, with chef Nicolas Schröder leading a kitchen focused on regional ingredients and straightforward, flavour-driven cooking. At Buech, art is woven into the character of the restaurant rather than confined to a separate exhibition space.
La Colombe d’Or, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France
A historic inn on the French Riviera, La Colombe d’Or has spent nearly a century bringing together art, hospitality and Provençal cuisine. Founded by Paul Roux and his wife, Baptistine (Titine), in the 1920s, the establishment became a favourite haunt of artists who frequented the village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence. With a keen interest in art, Roux built a remarkable collection by acquiring works from artists who sometimes exchanged their paintings for meals and accommodation.
Today, the restaurant’s interiors feature works associated with Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, Marc Chagall and Georges Braque, while a colourful Fernand Léger ceramic adorns the terrace and an Alexander Calder mobile adds to the setting around the swimming pool. The collection has grown across generations of the Roux family, making the restaurant feel less like a conventional dining room and more like a living museum. Complementing the art is traditional French and Provençal cooking, served in an atmosphere that retains the warmth of a family-run inn.
Kronenhalle, Zurich, Switzerland
Since opening in 1924, Kronenhalle has established itself as one of Zurich’s most celebrated dining institutions, distinguished by a collection of original artworks that turns its dining rooms into an informal gallery of modern art. The restaurant’s artistic legacy is closely tied to Gustav Zumsteg, an art collector and son of founders Hulda and Gottlieb Zumsteg, who began displaying works from his collection in the restaurant during the 1940s.
Today, diners can enjoy their meals beneath paintings by masters such as Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Joan Miró, Pierre Bonnard and Georges Braque. Each space has its own character, from the Chagall Room to the Swiss Gallery, which showcases Swiss artists’ works. The collection also extends to the adjoining bar, where artworks by Miró, Picasso and Paul Klee complement the interiors, which feature bespoke lighting by sculptor Diego Giacometti. Alongside this artistic heritage, Kronenhalle serves traditional Swiss and French-inspired cuisine, including its celebrated Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, a Zurich-style sliced veal dish. Here, art is not behind gallery ropes; it is part of the dining experience.
Sessions Arts Club, London, UK
Housed in the Old Sessions House, an 18th-century Grade II* listed former courthouse in Clerkenwell, Sessions Arts Club is a restaurant, art gallery and performance space rolled into one. Founded by artist and creative director Jonny Gent alongside chef Florence Knight and other collaborators, the venue embraces a studio-like ethos, with its interiors and curated art programme evolving with the seasons. Rotating exhibitions bring contemporary artworks into the historic dining room, while installations, performances and cultural collaborations extend the experience beyond the table.
The setting, with its grand arched windows, restored chandeliers, eclectic furniture and rooftop terraces, is as much a part of the experience as the food. Knight’s seasonally driven cooking draws on British, French and Italian influences, making Sessions Arts Club a destination where art, architecture, music and gastronomy intersect.
