Neue Galerie New York is a museum of early 20th-century German and Austrian art and design, inside the William Starr Miller House at Fifth Avenue and 86th Street, across from Central Park. Its intimate galleries bring paintings and decorative objects together, with Gustav Klimt’s Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I among the main draws. You’ll also find work by Egon Schiele, Oskar Kokoschka and artists linked to German Expressionism. Café Sabarsky serves Viennese food and pastries in the building, so you can add a coffee stop to your visit.
A mansion on Museum Mile
Neue Galerie occupies the William Starr Miller House at Fifth Avenue and 86th Street, across from Central Park. The brick-and-limestone mansion was built by Carrère & Hastings, the architects of the New York Public Library. Its Beaux-Arts rooms and wood paneling give the collection a domestic scale, and the central atrium staircase brings natural light into the interior.
Founded in 2001, the museum focuses on German and Austrian fine and decorative arts from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The collection spans paintings, sculpture, photography, furniture and other design objects. Rather than covering a broad sweep of art history, it concentrates on a defined period and place.
Klimt, Schiele and Viennese art
Gustav Klimt’s Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I is the collection’s best-known painting. It is displayed alongside works by other Austrian artists, including Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka. The galleries also bring attention to the era’s decorative arts, including objects associated with the Wiener Werkstätte.
The Austrian works share the museum with German art from movements including Der Blaue Reiter, Die Brücke and the Bauhaus. Artists represented include Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Otto Dix and George Grosz. The pairing lets you look at painting and design from both countries within one visit.
Taking in the galleries
The collection is arranged across exhibition floors, with Austrian works on one floor and German works on another. The relatively focused scope makes it easier to spend time with individual paintings and objects instead of trying to cover a large, encyclopedic collection.
Photography is prohibited in the galleries. The museum also has a no-phone policy intended to keep attention on the art, so check the rules before taking out your device. For commentary on selected works, download the museum app and bring earbuds. Tickets are sold in the ground-floor lobby, and advance booking is recommended.
Café Sabarsky and the design shop
Café Sabarsky brings a Viennese coffeehouse setting into the museum, with Austrian cuisine and Viennese pastries. It gives the visit a natural pause between the galleries. The building also has a second café option downstairs, according to visitor accounts, though availability can vary.
The design shop and bookstore add a stop for visitors interested in early 20th-century art and design. The shop carries housewares connected to Austrian designers including Josef Hoffmann and Otto Prutscher.
FAQ
What is Neue Galerie New York known for?
It is devoted to German and Austrian art and design from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Klimt’s Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I is a central work.
Can you take photos inside Neue Galerie?
Photography is not allowed in the galleries. Check the museum’s rules before using your phone.
Does Neue Galerie have a café?
Yes. Café Sabarsky serves Austrian cuisine and Viennese pastries inside the museum.
When is admission free?
The museum has free Friday evening admission on select Fridays. Entry is first come, first served, and lines can be long.
