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de Young MuseumvsMusee Mecanique
Both are highly recommended by professional travelers. On balance, de Young Museum is preferred by most reviewers compared to Musee Mecanique. de Young Museum comes in at 91 with praise from 10 sources including goop, Frommer's and Condé Nast Traveler.
de Young Museum
Fodor's
Concierge
Travel + Leisure
Condé Nast Traveler Condé Nast Traveler Travel + Leisure
Michelin Guide
Afar Magazine
goop
National Geographic Show All Reviews
50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118
From $0/night
Fodor's "The building almost overshadows the de Young's respected collection of American, African, and Oceanic art." Full review
Concierge "The permanent collection comprises American, African, Oceanic, American Indian, New Guinea, Maori, and Filipino art and includes some notable works by Frida Kahlo."
Travel + Leisure "The aggressively 21st-century recycled-copper-clad building looms in the park like an avant-garde aircraft carrier with a crazily torqued tower." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "The beauty of the Beaux Arts-style Legion of Honor is matched only by the incredible views afforded by its hilltop, ocean-side setting...the focus is on ancient and European art here." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "Comprises American, African, Oceanic, American Indian, New Guinea, Maori, and Filipino art and includes some notable works by Frida Kahlo." Full review
i
The museum stays open late for its "Friday Nights at the de Young" program
Travel + Leisure "The de Young is one of the most renowned museums in San Francisco, and it attracts big names in historic and modern art for its ongoing exhibitions." Full review
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"A total of 950,000 pounds of copper was used to sheath the building and over the course of the next decade it will fade from bright copper to cinammon." Full review
Afar Magazine "The de Young Museum, with its perforated copper facade and spiraling tower in the center of Golden Gate Park, is as dramatic outside as it is inside." Full review
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Make sure to visit the observation deck at the top of the tower.
goop "The de Young Museum is San Francisco’s encyclopedic public cultural offering—with a significant collection of Asian Art and celebrated holdings in sculpture, painting, and works on paper." Full review
National Geographic "With controversial architectural design; extensive collections include American, African, and Pacific Islander art. " Full review
i
Tip: Use your ticket for free same-day admission to Legion of Honor, another of city's top museums.
Musee Mecanique Fodor's Concierge Condé Nast Traveler
Where
Atlas Obscura
Time Out Afar Magazine
Frommer's
Lonely Planet
The Wall Street Journal
Pier 45 Shed A San Francisco, CA 94133
From $0/night
Fodor's "A time-warped arcade with antique mechanical contrivances, including peep shows and nickelodeons, Musée Mécanique is one of the most worthwhile attractions at the Wharf." Full review
Concierge "Bring quarters (or dollars for the change machine) so that you can fully enjoy this bizarre collection of historic arcade games housed at this wacky museum on Fisherman's Wharf."
Condé Nast Traveler "Enjoy this bizarre collection of historic arcade games housed at this wacky museum on Fisherman's Wharf." Full review
i
Kids will love the clockwork farm
Where "Before television and video games, there were arcade machines and coin-operated musical instruments." Full review
Atlas Obscura "A collection of 20th-century automata, penny arcade games, and musical contraptions. " Full review
Time Out "A museum in name only, everything at the Musée Mécanique can, and should, be played with." Full review
Afar Magazine "Musée Mécanique, at Pier 45 in Fisherman’s Wharf, is one of the largest privately held collections of vintage mechanical arcade machines in the world." Full review
Frommer's "Once located at the Cliff House, this mechanical-minded warehouse of around 300 antique coin-operated penny arcade diversions is guaranteed fun. " Full review
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"Where else can you guillotine a man for a quarter? Creepy 19th-century arcade games like the macabre French Execution compete for your spare change with the diabolical Ms.Pac-Man." Full review
The Wall Street Journal "Equal parts phantasmagoric museum and retro arcade. There, a collector and his family have amassed over 300 mechanical artifacts from the early 20th century onward."
San Francisco Lives, Despite Reports to the Contrary: A Traveler’s Guide
September 20, 2023
