National Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art boasts a wonderful collection of the world's finest art. I particularly like the Renaissance sculpture, but every gallery on every floor has something to delight, inform and amaze. The West Wing is my favorite because that's where you find the grand masters, but the East Wing is a treat for those more into modern art and special exhibits. But art aside, there's another reason to like the West Wing: food! There's a courtyard cafe there that is a true delight. They change the menu to match the current exhibits -- for example, when a Spanish artist was being featured, the menu was focused on traditional Spanish foods as selected by the chef at the award-winning Jaleo; when Cezanne was featured, they recreated a French bistro menu. The food is first rate and the setting is so very "arty" with columns and a pleasant fountain. Open until 3 or 4 in the afternoon only, it's the perfect place to take a break from staring at Greek & Roman sculpture or Titian's oils.