Located conveniently in San Francisco's Civic Center and surrounded by some of the city's most remarkable architecture, the Asian Art Museum is a living monument to the city’s history. Built in 1917, its stately beaux-arts building was originally the Main Library, re-imagined as a modern museum while retaining its original character.
An architectural gem ideal for corporate events, meetings, weddings, anniversary celebrations and more.
The Asian Art Museum has one of the most spectacularly vast and largest collection of Asian art in the world. Numbering more than 18,000 pieces, the collection spans thousands of years and from Southeast Asia all the way to Japan. Due to light sensitivity, the collection is regularly rotated, so from one visit to the next, you could see something totally new.
The Asian Art Museum Store extends and enhances the museum experience, offering the chance to discover Asia through one-of-a-kind objects.
In addition to remarkable collections and special exhibitions, the Asian Art Museum offers another important element of Asian culture to savor: diverse and delicious cuisine. Cafe Asia’s menu offers a range of dishes from a variety of traditions, made with fresh, seasonal ingredients and served in a relaxed yet sophisticated setting.
In celebration of our 50th anniversary, the Asian Art Museum has partnered with San Francisco ice cream innovators Humphry Slocombe to create a limited-edition signature flavor. Adzuki Almond Cookie, an unexpected-but-perfect blend of two classic staples in Asian desserts, is available now exclusively at Cafe Asia.
The Looking East: How Japan Inspired Monet, Van Gogh and Other Western Artists exhibit has ended. Please visit The Asian Art Museum for current exhibitions.
Home to the oldest Japantown in the U.S. and also the oldest Chinatown in the U.S., and one of the largest, San Francisco also is home to Little Saigon. The Asian Art Museum, a stroll through the Japanese Tea Garden and souvenir shopping along Grant Avenue are “musts” for visitors.
