Museum Cafe at Peggy Guggenheim Collection — Restaurant in Venice

Oh Dear. A museum café, I should have known better. We went on a guidebook recommendation that said it was "expensive but very good". We don't mind paying a bit more for good food, and our expectations of portion sizes are average European, not North American. In order to make an informed choice, I asked the waiter about the dish of the day (eggplant parmigiana) - is it served with any side dish or not? Is it a main meal or more of a starter potion size? He just looked at me blankly and said he didn't understand my question and when I tried to clarify he said "it's the normal size you get in a restaurant". Wow.

What we ended up with was: 2 small round slices of eggplant with some sauce and parmigian for me (basically a small starter, though officially a main meal), chicken strips and potatoes for my husband (about 1/3 of an average main meal) a small basket of bread sticks and a 65cl bottle of water. All for the bargain price of €48.

On the plus side: the café is beautifully situated in a quiet, lush garden with jasmine flowers everywhere. It's a calm spot to have a quick coffee break from touristing, but only if you also plan to fully enjoy the superb art collection (you can't access the café without a museum ticket).

Save your money,...

Probably one of the rudest most inconsiderate servers I’ve ever encountered. Young woman with streaked hair and horned rimmed glasses. Asked her questions like may I see the menu and refused to even acknowledge my question. Told me they don’t serve outside yet she was serving 2 tables outside I left the cafe without dining because she so severely put me off and had me lose my appetite. They should recruit servers who know...

Incredible setting in a beautiful courtyard right next to the museum, might be a good place for coffee, beer, or water. But for us, the two items we ordered: spinach lasagna and a vegetable sandwich were not very flavorful. It appeared to be understaffed and service was slow. Two service people were working very hard but with so many tables and quick turnover, they could not keep up. Overall- nice spot for a break but...