Frank Gehry’s transformation of the Philadelphia Museum of Art may only be revealed in 2020, but the first elements of Gehry’s master plan have been unveiled in the form of Stir, the museum’s new restaurant that is also the only Gehry-designed fine dining establishment on the American East Coast.
The 76-seat restaurant exudes an intimate and inviting ambience with seating and tables designed by Gehry partners, Douglas Fir clad walls, red oak seating and a dramatically sculpted ceiling feature shaped in Douglas Fir that flows outward above the main dining room, exhibiting Gehry’s fluid stylistic signature. Frosted glass walls lends a clean modernist feel while maintaining a cloistered, intimate atmosphere, while onyx-topped tables and leather upholstered dining chairs and booths add warmth. Stir serves a seasonal menu of elevated comforts made from locally sourced produce by executive chef Mark Tropea.
Neighbouring Stir is the museum’s renovated cafeteria, which accommodates 160. Extended to match the width of the museum building, the enlarged cafeteria boasts idyllic views of the East Terrace and its garden on one side, and the Schuykill River and West Philadelphia on the other. An espresso bar is also scheduled to open in early 2019 to accompany the new North Entrance, which makes the museum’s storied Vaulted Walkway accessible to the public once more.
Gehry’s renovation of the museum’s historic 1928 building will add around 67,000 square feet of new public space and an additional 23,000 square feet of gallery space. Collectively known as The Core Project, the ambitious master plan combines infrastructural improvements with a reorganisation of the circulation through the heart of the building to massively improve the experience visiting the museum.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy
-
Studio Urquiola’s immersive Kvadrat textile forest is inspired by the Nordic landscapeDuring Chart 2025, Studio Urquiola and Danish designers Tableau team up to present a textile installation showcasing Kvadrat’s nature-inspired new collection
-
The new Plaud Note Pro deploys AI to transform the spoken word into searchable dataThe Note Pro promises full-on conversational AI, a pocketable device that can capture roundtable chats and correctly attribute speakers, thoughts and action points. Help or hindrance?
-
10 things not to miss at London Design Festival 2025We bring you the best new installations, exhibitions and products to launch at London Design Festival 2025 (13–21 September)
-
Javier's, a new cathedral-inspired restaurant in downtown LA, offers a divine take on Mexican cuisineAt the restaurant's newest location, discovery lies around every corner – and on every plate
-
Why everyone in LA is talking about Café TondoHelmed by chef Valeria Velásquez and designed by Aunt Studio, this new spot delivers Latin American buzz all day long
-
Size doesn’t matter at Now Now, a micro-hotel for solo travellers in New YorkCan you pack style into 32 square feet? We find out
-
At this LA dining hotspot, go Spanish or Japanese as you pleaseA dual-concept dining destination designed by the Rockwell Group brings Mediterranean warmth and Japanese precision to Century City
-
The Benjamin’s chic new upstairs bar is Hollywood’s hottest hideawayAt Bar Benjamin, speakeasy mystique meets elevated snacks, cocktails and views
-
More is more at Bar Issi, a maximalist new dining destination in Palm SpringsFettle studio fuses eco-conscious materials with bold design gestures in this playful space inside the new Thompson Hotel
-
Do luxury hotels need a farmer-in-residence?From Ibiza to Indonesia, hospitality brands are cultivating a new travel experience, where wellness begins in the soil and ends at the table
-
A local’s guide to AtlantaDrawn by the city’s diversity and queer community, life coach and writer Cator Sparks returned to Atlanta after 25 years away. He shares his favourite haunts
