Brunch near the Barnes Foundation?
 

My husband and I will be visiting Philadelphia on the 4th May specifically to go to the Barnes Foundation. However, the train times and our timed ticket for the Barnes Foundation do not quite marry up, leaving us with 1.5 hours between our train arriving (10.00) and our Barnes Foundation ticket time (11.30).

Is there anywhere near the Barnes Foundation where we could maybe have brunch or coffee? Or is there anything else you would recommend doing with that 1.5 hours?

We do not know Philadelphia at all (this is our first time visiting) so nothing too far afield for this time :p

A small restaurant called Rembrandts (741 N. 23rd St.) is in the "Art Museum" neighborhood (which is where the new Barnes museum is). I haven't been there in a year or so (I moved away from Philly) but it's always been a favorite brunch spot and within easy walking distance (1 mile, 15 minutes or so) of the museum. Enjoy your visit to my home town!

Forgot to mention that you will be within strolling distance of the Phila. Art Museum, where the Rocky statue is located. If you're interested in this type of 'modern' history, you can run up the steps to the Art Museum and have your own "Rocky" moment. :)

Oh absolutely you should go for brunch at the Blue Cat on Fairmount Avenue. http://www.bluecatrestaurant.com/ It's probably a 15 min. walk (or a 10 min. bus ride) from the Barnes (through a nice residential neighborhood) or a cab would be very cheap.

It's a Latin-themed restaurant, very sleek, but the brunches are - flat out - among the best we've ever had. Their <i>Chilaquiles</i> is probably the best thing I've had for breakfast in years, and trust me, there's a lot of Mexican-inspired food in that history.

Our son and his family live nearby, and introduced us to the Blue Cat last year. It's now a must-stop every time we come to Philly for face time with our grandson. Don't hesitate.

The Garden Restaurant within the Barnes opens at 10:30 am. According to the website,
>The modern, light-filled, sit-down restaurant offers a seasonal à la carte menu of hot and cold entrées, salads, and desserts, as well as a wine list featuring an array of local, domestic, and international wines, and a variety of specialty cocktails.

Menu here--
http://www.barnesfoundation.org/asse...all%20Menu.pdf

You might want to phone and check that you will be able to access the restaurant before your ticketed entrance time.

Full disclosure: I have not eaten at the restaurant; just wanted to inform you that it is there and might be a convenient choice for your visit.

Another option: The newly renovated Rodin Museum is on the Parkway next to the Barnes.
http://www.rodinmuseum.org/285-96.html

Thanks so much for all these great suggestions! Plenty of food for thought here and I'll be sure to come back and tell you all about our short trip to Philly :)

rmwhitt, just FYI, Rocky is no longer at the top of the steps :-( He has been relegated to a nook at the bottom and to the right of the stairs, where street photographers hassle tourists to have their picture taken with him. Bummer!

Are you coming into 30th St station? And do you mind walking? If your answers are yes and no, I would walk from the station to Rittenhouse Square and eat at Parc or a. kitchen and then walk over to the Barnes. The weather should be lovely at that time of year.

ooh more responses since my last visit :)

We are coming into 30th St station. Walking is fine. We are looking forward to better weather as our last visit to the US was in February last year! New York in particular was freezing & windy!

If you find that you are a bit pressed for time, due to a train delay, there is a Whole Foods Market, on Pennsylvania and 20th (Callowhill store). It is directly across the street from the parking lot for the Barnes. You could get something and picnic. I am not sure if there is cafe in the store.

The Garden Restaurant in the Barnes is expensive with small portions. The Barnes also has another place to eat in the lower level..mainly sandwiches and drinks with a few places to sit.
If you have the time eat elsewhere.

Hi bds, I think you will really like the Barnes.

Sabrina's is really close; my friend and I liked it there.

Recently, I've eaten twice at the London Grill and really liked it there (I noted afterwards they don't get fabulous reviews on yelp, but I did like both my meals. I was with my boys both times, and they have a menu of bar type foods (cheesesteaks, etc) that they really liked, plus some other stuff (that I preferred).

More great info here - thanks! Definitely good to know about the supermarket just in case :) I'll let you know where we end up going and more suggestions in the meantime are definitely welcome if anyone else finds this thread :)

and if you are looking for something to read on the train back.. there is a very good used book store, called the Book Corner 311 N. 20th Street right near the Barnes .. it doesnt look too big from the outside, inside you wander through a series of rooms. lots of good reads there and they are cheap

maxima - that is a good book store. It's run by the Free Library next door and I LOVE that library.

Today we ate at Rembrandt's at 23rd and Aspen (right off Fairmount Ave., a block from the London Grill). We had a great early dinner - my husband and I had different flatbread pizzas; my son got ribs that came with mac and cheese. My husband was happy to help my son finish what he wasn't able to. :)

I took my trip, guys! We loved the Barnes Collection and our brunch :)

Trip report here: http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...travaganza.cfm