The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has two places to eat: their formal table service restaurant Amuse, and the informal counter service Best Cafe. Best Cafe offers pizza, salads, wraps, sandwiches, BBQ sandwich, hot dogs, and desserts. They also offer wine and have a coffee station. We recently had lunch at Best comprising a chicken bbq sandwich and soup. Both were very good. read more

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Best Cafe is a good spot for a quick beverage or meal in the VFMA. I've only had drinks there, including coffee, beer, and hot apple cider. Their hot apple cider is especially tasty. There are restrooms adjacent to the cafe, and it's easy to locate near the entrance on the museum's first floor. Service is quick and friendly too. read more

BEST Cafe - Inside VFMA We stopped by this cafe after overhearing someone talking about the frozen margaritas, and let me tell you, they did NOT disappoint! There were two options, Mango Frozen Margarita and Blackberry Lime Margarita and both were delicious, super refreshing, and hit the spot. The place was busy and overall was a good quick sit down. The outside area was very nice it was just too hot to sit out there for too long. The service was quick and friendly, and even though we didn't try the food (they had items like pizza and pastries). It was perfect for a drink break while exploring the museum! read more

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I love the VMFA Sculpture Garden, so really enjoyed the outdoor seating of Best Cafe and its view of the garden. ***LOCATION*** This is right inside the VMFA. If you're using the main entrance of the VMFA, you'll walk past the admissions desk and to the right towards the big windows. You'll see a sign that says Best Cafe. You can park inside their parking garage or find street parking near the museum. ***EXPERIENCE*** It's set up like a cafeteria (think Ikea cafeteria feels). They have a cafe section and a food section. Although I haven't had their food, a friend of mine who works here says the soup is good and the rest is just ok. I got a tasty lavender lemonade kombucha. My friend ordered a cream soda. We coworked together outside. ***PRICE*** My membership gave me a small discount on my kombucha which made it about $6. ***BATHROOM*** The bathroom for the cafe is the same as the one for the museum. It's divided by Women and Men. There are a lot of stalls in the Women's bathroom and a good amount of sinks and paper towel dispensers. ***CONCLUSION*** This is a wonderful spot to read a book, write, or get some work done. The wifi is strong and it has an A+ atmosphere. read more

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Beautiful cafe in the museum that is great for coffee, refreshments, and a light bite to eat. Everyone is so friendly and it has a great view. read more

Every time I try the Best Cafe I hope for the best, no pun intended, but this last visit was awful. It was a Sunday at lunch and the offerings were pitiful. The staff were just standing around and didn't look particularly interested in engaging with anyone. We purchased two sandwiches from the grab and go case and both were terrible. The egg salad wrap felt like it was made days ago, and the chicken salad sandwich came in pieces...had to make it ourselves at the table. It was a total mess and completely unenjoyable. As a member, I try to create a full experience when I go to the VMFA, but I'm done trying with this place. read more

I got chicken, bean, rice soup today @ 1:30. I love eating on their big open deck. But, the soup today, was not hot, it was room temp and when I got home I had horrible diarrhea, which I NEVER get!! I think it had been sitting out too long, unheated. I eat there a lot. This was not a good experience. read more

5:30 happy hour on fridays! Half priced alcohol ;) the VMFA is a wonderful place to relax and hang out with friends! this cafe has a decent wine selection and some snacks to enjoy. Don't forget to visit the museum exhibits as well read more

It is a little overpriced as many art museum cafes are. I guess it makes up for the free museum. Overall it is a beautiful space, clean, and modern. The coffee is ok. The muffins are ok. It serves lunch items, soups, pizza etc. They also serve beer and wine. You get 10% off of you have a museum membership. On Thursdays they have live music in the evenings. It is lovely and worth it. read more

Normally I would not eat at a museum cafe because the food is not good quality and overpriced. This is NOT the case at the Courtyard Cafe @VFMA. There was a coffee bar with some pastries that would make a nice snack. There was a hot food counter but the lights were off and it didn't appear that they were serving anything. We visited on a weekday around 3 so I would have expected some kind of hot lunch options. The only options available were prepackaged meals and items in a refrigerated case. The sandwiches looked good as did the salads. We opted for a dip platter that had hummus, red pepper hummus, and baba ganoush. It had a lot of raw veggies and crackers to dip. The platter also had two greek dolamades. It was really good and enough to share and it was $7. We also shared a salad that was made with farro, kale, cucumber dices, and dried cranberries. It was tossed with a light dressing and it was soooooo gooood! It was only $4. There was seating inside which was bright and modern. We chose to sit outside on a patio what was surrounded by a large pond with fish and plants. There was a gorgeous courtyard that would make an amazing place for pictures. There were some sculptures and a waterfall. I loved the lilly pads and the people making wishes on coins they tossed in. Honestly, the food could have been bad and I still would have written a positive review base just off of the pondside patio! Another perk is that you save 10% if you are a museum member! read more

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First is it a cafe. You go through the chow or cafeteria line and pick what you want. Several salads, soups, pizza, all beef hot dogs and premade sandwiches, yogurt, and fresh fruit. They have a coffee bar and some cookies as well. The people working her are extremely nice. The atmosphere is nice. Try jazz night on Thursday but get there early as its pack. In the end, if you don't want the more expensive sit down meal at Amuse, Best Cafe is a good choice for lunch or a snack while visiting the museum. read more

Updating to add another star, but this still isn't my favorite place to lunch in the area. It definitely gets 5 stars for atmosphere. It doesn't get any better than being at the VMFA looking out on the lawn on a nice day. The children playing, sculptures, and general good vibes will stay with you for the rest of the day for sure. However, they are still sorely lacking in the food department. Like, for real. I love, love, love their Best Cafe blend of Blanchard's Coffee. OMG- so good! But, beyond that, meh. The create your own salad bar is pretty good and fresh, but I still haven't found anything beyond that that is worth getting (BESIDES the desserts!). Ugh, upping the food quality would literally take this place over the top. I hope that they take the advice and make Best Cafe the literal best! read more

This cafeteria in the VMFA is really good. It has floor-to-ceiling windows that right now overlook a site-specific Chihuly installation as well as part of the grounds. Nice, casual atmosphere that's filled with light. Today I had the potato leek soup, salmon salad sandwich on pumpernickel and a bottled water for around $11 (VMFA members get a discount). SO good. Unfortunately, the portion size is too small, and I was still hungry when I was finished. Food and atmosphere are great (5 stars). Value, not so much (3 stars), but I guess that's to be expected of a museum restaurant. read more

I've only been to Best Cafe when enjoying the free Thursday night jazz so this review is for the combined experience broken down as follows: Five stars for the jazz! If you haven't heard, VMFA and the Richmond Jazz Society host this free concert every Thursday from 6-9pm and it has become quite popular. The artists are a mix of styles too, so one week might be instrumental jazz and R&B and the next might be bop or Latin or vocal standards or .... It's a great way to spend an hour or two hearing some of our local talent and then walking around the museum. Ahhh culture! Three stars for the food. I've eaten a variety of the food served here and it's always been good, not great but good. It's a cafe so i don't expect to be blown away. They usually have a variety of sandwiches, salads, pizza and a mix of specials. My last visit I had a half sandwich and bowl of mixed fruit for $8. Besides the standard fountain drinks, they also serve beer, wine and coffee drinks. VMFA members get a discount too (I think it's 10%). read more

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It's pretty much like a cafeteria, pick what you want to eat and pay at the cash register. My friend and I got this chicken and chipotle soup and it was delicious! It did not look appetizing, but our taste buds approved. We also got a sandwich, forget what type it was- made with pretzel bread and went perfect with the soup. We got a water cup, but when I went push the water tab and took it back to the table it tasted like sparkling water... not a huge fan of that. My friend went back to get water again and it came out normal. So just make sure to check if you're not a huge sparkling water fan or vice versa. There is also outside seating for those breezy Summer days or even for the crisp air of Fall. read more

BEWARE: Tips added by cashier without telling customers! I purchased an iced tea the morning of Wednesday March 11, 2020. The cashier had her foot propped up on the register...looking very comfy. She handed me an empty plastic cup (the ice tea carafe is by the soda) and announced my total as $2.54. I handed her my card, and she ran it, and asked if I wanted a receipt, and I said 'no'. Well wouldn't you know, my account showed a debit of $3.05, which means she added a 20% tip without my permission. I'm a good tipper, but to add any tip without asking the customer if they WANT to tip is ILLEGAL. Especially egregious for a 20 second transaction that involved handing a customer an empty cup. ALWAYS ASK FOR A RECEIPT - lesson learned! VMFA - please train your staff properly, and let them know they are breaking the law! read more

HAPPY HOUR. I have been a member of the VMFA for years, but somehow had never been to Happy Hour at Best Cafe until Friday night. A+ ambiance seated in the sculpture garden. A+ wine prices ($4/glass, $17 for our bottle of Rose) A+ sandwich quality, taste, and price ($5.50) Slight deduction for the size of the sandwich. Ideal for a snack, but certainly not a meal. As long as the weather is nice, I will certainly be back. Get here early to get a table outdoors. read more

Whether lunching with a laptop or enjoying half price lunch on Friday evenings, Best Cafe is a great option for a beautiful setting. It's relaxed, yet still sophisticated - probably an inevitable result of the gorgeous museum location. I've been here a few times, and although the lunch and happy hour experiences are very different, the overall feel is the same. The food isn't the best, since it's really a cafeteria style dining option, but the patio and museum ground views more than make up for it. And the space is so bright with natural light that you can't help but be happy while you're there. As for happy hour, I can't turn down discounted wine, and their selections cover all the major bases. I went with sauvignon blanc on my last visit and it was chilled to perfection. Definitely satisfying on a warm Friday evening. The happy hour seems to be really popular, and it was totally packed last week. I'd suggest getting there on the early side to snag a table. My guess would be the patio is in high demand when the weather is nice. If you're looking for a fun and classy hh spot for pre-dinner drinks, or just to start the night off right, definitely check out Best Cafe! read more

The Café at the VMFA is convenient. The offer the standard sandwich and drink options however have choice pastries and coffee options as well. A bit higher priced than I feel they should be but it's a tourist site so that is to be expected. The café is clean and the staff keeps the tables and floor tidy. The view of the small pond and red Chichuly glass spears is beautiful! read more

Located off the atrium on the main level, Best Cafe is VMFA's more casual dining option (there's also Amuse located upstairs that is considered "fine dining"). Best Cafe provides food options like sandwiches, soups, salads and specialty pizzas that change daily. There are also "grab and go" entree options that rotate regularly - this weekend they had mediterranean plates. I think the biggest downfall for this cafe is the expense. However, this is to be expected since it's a heavily trafficked tourist spot. In VMFA's defense, it does help to support the museum, so look at it as a built-in donation along with your food. The place is pretty impressive in terms of cleanliness considering how much foot traffic rolls through. The staff walk around picking up trays, wiping down tables and straightening the drink station. The bathroom is kept clean and organized as well. Large glass windows provide a great view of the lawns from your seats within BC. The sculpture garden, reflecting pool and red Chihuly "reeds" protruding from it are some of the main highlights. read more

Best Cafe - Ruby Slipper cake pops in honor of the Hollywood Costumes exhibit (at a price of $4.50/each!!) - Cafeteria Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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The upscale cafeteria food is overpriced, but this is a terrific setting for working and meetings during the day, as well as events some nights. Plus you can get booze with lunch, and the cuppa coffee is bottomless. Overall, the VMFA is a tremendous resource. Best may not be the best, but it serves its purpose, as well as a good cause. read more

This has an amazing setting, extremely clean atmosphere, and pleasant, cute staff. The mediterranean plate (in the cold grab-and-go section) is the best value and delicious, though I don't like how chunky the baba ganoush is. Good coffee, sitting on the patio offers wonderful views of the red reeds and sculpture garden. I'll address that the prices are higher than at an average cafe, but come on, you are in a museum and that's pretty typical. read more

Adequate cafeteria food at museum prices. Grossly overcrowded and under staffed/organized. At 1:30 pm on a Wednesday there were long lines for everything, and no hope of finding a table. read more

I've only been to the Best Cafe for their wine and beer happy hour (half priced) on Friday, but it was a great choice for what we were feeling. A very amusing variety of people, from college students to older patrons, though the happy hour reception definitely has a younger vibe. People were decked out in suits, though I didn't feel out of place in a casual sweater. The deals are pretty good and though it gets crowded the line moves quickly. It got pretty loud so don't expect an intimate conversation to take place but it's a fun place to grab a drink with some friends. Go early and check out the museum as well which is a surprising delight. read more

The friday night wine happy hour is hard to beat! It is such a great place to meet up to start the weekend. Half price wine, beautiful atmosphere, what more could you ask for?!? I have not really tried many of the food options but I have heard they are very good too. read more

The BEST Café at the VMFA is a lovely place with the floor to ceiling glass windows, the patio and the Chihuly glass "reeds" in the reflecting pool but unfortunately the WINE, especially the reds are totally "Rot Gut." Often I will hear folks comment on the great prices of wine at the museum. Sure, if you want to suffer from a headache for 3 days go there and experience the $4 per glass goodness of it and see for yourself. Now, don't get me wrong, the food is delightful and the atmosphere certainly appealing but let's do SOMETHING about the REDS...PLEASE!! Gag!! read more

Since I feel like I spend half my waking life at the VMFA I'm here a lot but for the first time came on a Sunday morning. What a great spot, especially when so many restaurants are ultra-busy with brunch (at best, a rushed meal). Granted, you can't get a full breakfast menu here but coffee and a pastry can't be beat and Best Café is in its down mode if you get here on a Sunday morning before noon and the hordes descend. Great coffee, lovely terrace in good weather, and nice to watch people stroll and walk their dogs outside. Good vibes. read more

Great Happy Hour on Fridays. Good food, very friendly staff, and patrons. This is one of my favorite places. I can enjoy a quiet cup of coffee or a few drinks with friends. Lovely. read more

the cafe itself was very neat and clean, but the food was not good at all. i ordered a grilled cheese and when i got it, the cheese was hardly melted and there were tomatoes in the sandwich when the menu said nothing about tomatoes. besides all that, the service was good. read more

Room for improvement. my family had lunch at the cafe this week and it was less than stellar. The pizza hedged on being burnt, and the bottom was covered in sandy cornmeal. Please work on your dough recipe, I see that amazing pizza oven you have, so it's operator error that the pizza is bad. I had a chicken and goat cheese pannini. The goat cheese was good, but I got less than an ounce of sliced chicken (not enough)...and it seemed like packaged deli meat, not fresh cooked and sliced. the staff were kind of aloof and it didn't seem very organized. I don't care for the coffee at VMFA, local or not. The ice cream was fabulous and so was the fruit tart and chocolate mouse cup...the cookies are dry, yuck! I would like to see more variety, as a regular the burnt pizza is unappetizing and same things are offered for entirely too long. It's a decent place though and they have half price wine night and jazz! read more