San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)

Two entrances: 151 3rd St. & off Howard St., South of Market, (415) 357-4000. 16 Daily 10am-5pm, Thur to 9pm. 16 $25, 65+ $22, 19-24 $19, under 19 free; audio tours $3-$6.
SFMOMA reopens this weekend, on Saturday, May 14, 2016.

Located within a striking contemporary 5-story building designed by Mario Botta of Lugano, Switzerland, and closed for the past 3 years to complete a 10-story expansion by architect Snohetta that triples the gallery space, SFMOMA originally opened at another location in 1935. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art was the first museum in the West devoted entirely to 20th-century art. Its collection is the world’s largest of contributed art and includes abstract art, photography (now the largest such gallery in the U.S.), and the work of acclaimed contemporary artists. Accesss to the first two floors is free. The most efficient way to see everything is to take the elevator to the 7th floor and work down. The new wing embraces an environmentally-friendly design that includes a self-watering vertical wall bearing green plants and a façade of rippling panels. Many outdoor spaces display sculpture and offer city views.

The museum gift shop purveys an array of exceptional merchandise and has a particularly noteworthy section for children. Adjacent to the previous rooftop sculpture garden casual Cafe 5 offers a lunch menu including organic salads, open-face sandwiches, and light snacks, and Sightglass at SFMOMA serves up coffee and pastries. Off the 3rd Street entrance, Situ, helmed by three-star Michelin chef Corey Lee, will open in June for lunch and dinner.