Dinner and a Museum

Even culture vultures will appreciate the artistry of the dishes and décor at these restaurants.

Museum-going can rev up an appetite along the scale of the Roman Coliseum. When you get your fill of eye candy, why not treat your taste buds to a glass of wine and good eats? Not only do these seven spots serve up exhibit-worthy plates of food, they also offer contemporary design and cool lighting concepts to rival any museum experience.

Amélie (Cable Car Museum)
Euro tunes play nightly as groups convene by the ruby-red bar, at tables in the back and on vintage ‘60s theater seats. Expertly presented cheese plates come with such accoutrements as homemade blackberry jam or toasted nuts to round out the offerings. 1754 Polk St., 415-292-6916

Americano (Contemporary Jewish Museum)
Italian dishes get a Northern California twist, like flaky-crusted pizzas topped with everything from nopales to shaved black truffles. Housed on the first floor of Chip Conley’s sleek Hotel Vitale and across the street from the Ferry Building, the light-infused space pays homage to natural elements (echoing the hotel’s modern aesthetic). 8 Mission St., 415-278-3777

District  (Museum of African Diaspora)
It’s hard to categorize District: neither a wine bar nor a restaurant, but a happy hybrid of both. The small plates—such as crisp risotto fritters (arancini di riso), steamed mussels with Pernod and spicy Italian sausage and artful cheese and salumi plates—are a good match for wines of all types. 216 Townsend St., 415-896-2120

Pomelo (de Young)
It’s as stylish as it is cozy, with a small open kitchen from which exotic scents drift past the equally minute bar. Freshen up on geography with the menu, which spans Latin America, Asia and the Mediterranean. 92 Judah St., 415-731-6175

Pres a Vi (Exploratorium)
This eclectic small-plates restaurant from the owners of Va de Vi, in Walnut Creek, has a cavernous appeal thanks to the wine-barrel ceiling and the large expanse of floor space. For off-hours dining, the “Bites” menu features a decadent lamb burger with apple chutney that’s motivation alone for eating at unconventional times. 1 Letterman Dr., 415-409-3000

South Food and Wine Bar (SF MOMA)
Mod-Oz is the overarching theme of this Aussie-inflected space across from the Fourth Street Caltrain depot. South has a modern Down Under sensibility, with food that’s light and healthy, and peppered with Asian flavors. 330 Townsend St., 415-974-5599

Zebulon (Cartoon Art Museum)
With an inconspicuous Natoma address, Zebulon is easy to pass by, but you won’t want to miss this little spot that serves sandwiches and sweet-potato fries to the lunch crowd, and margaritas and mojitos to the happy-hour crowd. 83 Natoma St., 415-975-5704

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