The Balcony Lounge Reviews

Perfect place for a respite while visiting the museum. It’s quiet and comfortable and away from the crowd. An opportunity to absorb everything you just viewed before heading back into the bustle of the city.

Prior to the pandemic, this was a lounge for the lesser members who could not enter the Patrons Lounge on the 4th floor. The patrons' space seems to have disappeared. When I visited the Balcony Lounge last week, I found it had completely changed. Formerly it was a place to rest where light refreshments were available at a cost. Now it is an expensive restaurant. The lighting, formerly harsh, has been reduced, but to the point, that reading is difficult for my old eyes. The seating is far less comfortable than the old Patrons Lounge. I doubt I will revisit the place and having a higher membership that has lost one of its prime benefits seems unnecessary.

You need to be a member to be able to visit the Balcony Lounge. It is a lovely place, with great (but not inexpensive) food. If you want, you can relax with a glass of wine

This is a contemporary lounge for Members at the Friend and Sustaining levels and above. Farm-to-table menu and refreshments. The service staff is absolutely superb, there are many special offerings including wine and cider tastings from time to time, and most of the great Met publications are available for reading. The best part is that this is a quiet place to rest up from art overload. The tables overlooking the Main Entrance tend to be very noisy -- this lounge has all those benefits and peace and quiet as well.

Our lunch in the more casual, limited-menu Met members’ dining area was delicious and light, so we didn’t walk the museum with overly full tummies. 2 of us had Avocado Toast with an egg on top and the two others had a crunchy eggplant sandwich. Don’t go if you want a filling meal but do enjoy it if you have friends who are members.

Had a very disappointing first experience. Had been very excited to try this latest addition to the Met museum but in many respects did not live up to expectations. First the setting itself was unbelievably bland - like an uninspired hotel lobby. Second the food we ordered was mediocre at best and mostly terrible. We tried the charcuterie plate (the liver terrine was spoiled- we informed the waiter and he basically shrugged; the two pieces of toast were burned); the 3 quarter-sized cheddar biscuits (for shocking price of $12) were served w a puzzling mound of what looked to be Oscar Mayer ham. The Naan was gelatinous and the tuna was low grade canned tuna. Only the grilled cheese was any good and that was just served plainly on an unappetizing plate. Although i did not expect amazing food, i did think there would be some basic level of quality. All in all really quite bad. If u go stick to the drinks.

While only accessible to Museum members at a certain level, the Balcony Lounge offers a tranquil setting for a cup of coffee or a light meal. Highly recommended.

The setting is comfortable but very bland- actually a welcome respite from the sensory overload of the museum. At first the place was beautifully quiet, but by now it is beng discovered by ladies and others who lunch. The menu is very limited and often weird, although the ingredients and presentation are usually good. It's expensive for what it is.

The food is not the reason you will eat here, although it is not bad. Come here for the comfortable ambience and a rest, after spending some time in this world class museum. Please note it is only available to Dual Members or a higher membership level.

Yes the food is good and yes the room is attractive but the best part is a quiet place to refuel your body and your mind. PEACEFUL wow a rare commodity in Manhattan and especially the Met

As previous reviewers have noted, this is a lovely spot to rest and refresh between exhibitions at the Met especially if you can grab a spot on one of the comfy sofas. It becomes crowded at lunch time however, and one definitely pays a bit of a premium for the ambiance, but it’s worth it. We had coffee, tea, and a plate of cookies for about $20, so it’s not cheap.

Good for a Coffee or tea. Sandwiches not bad. View was great plenty of seating.its on the pricey side.

Great experience. Greeted by the folks at the front-really lovely and friendly. Our server was fabulous as well as all the other staff. Wine was great and the potato chips and chicken panini were fab. I will definitely be back soon!

Why? For the musical performances. The fare is limited but one comes here for the opportunity to sit lazily at the Balcony and look at the throngs abuzz in the lobby. And the music

They have a god selection of coffees, cocktails and light fare. My only negative is that there were no sandwiches available when we arrived, so we had to eat small plates.

You will pay at least 10-17 for a drink. The sangria is weak and overpriced but the martini's are good. The large cheese plate was 34 and it only had two selections of cheese and a lot of smoked meats. The olives were the best deal. the hand cut potato chips were good but again pricey for such a tiny portion. The location on the second floor cannot be beat. So stop, have one cocktail and the olive plate to reflect on all the amazing art you just saw and enjoy.

The setting is lovely. One is surrounded by Chinese antique porcelains and there is a piano and string group that is usually playing classical music. Service is good, but the prices are too high for the musical benefits. A separation of music and a trip to a real restaurant would serve both needs far better.

With my husband, after a day in the museum, we visit the balcony. It gives us a chance to talk about what we saw, and to order, for me, an unusual cocktail. I am a non-drinker but cannot resist the Lychee martini, guaranteed to interfere with my walking ability, in a pleasant atmosphere in which to turn off from a tiring day. Good people watching too. FIne for singles. Nice light snacks; professional wait staff. We have been here often.

The Balcony Lounge is a peaceful oasis amidst the crowds of museum guests. Very relaxed setting, impeccable service and great good and wine choices. We shared small plates and each had a glass of wine. Next time I’ll try the tea with a glass of Prosecco / it looked lovely!

Only open to members but a worthwhile stop if you are a member or you accompany a member. Light snacks and beverages in a sedate setting.

We joined the museum as we knew we would visit a couple of times throughout the year and also had the Cloisters on our "to do" list. The lounge seems to be a location to stop, catch your breath, have a cocktail and a snack, then get back to enjoying the art. Our waiter was polite and attentive. We enjoyed some wines and small plates. When visiting we will definitely be back.

A glass of Austrian white wine, some great chips - chamber music - and a chance to rest my complaining legs after visiting an exhibition - what's not to like?

Nice scenic spot in the met on the second floor balcony to have a bite. Not fancy but nice solid food, something to drink and maybe dessert. Prices a bit high but the views are great. They do have sone nice salads

We had the steak tartare and chicory salad and both were delicious! Nice attention to detail, beautiful ambiance and warm and friendly staff!

This is a nice spot to rest and get a bite to eat - and maybe a nice glass of wine - after touring the museum.

I've spent many hours at this lounge over the years. The current version of the Balcony Lounge is disappointing: 1. It looks and feels like you're sitting in a hospital emergency room. 2. The decor is cold and sterile. 3. The cheap, high-efficiency lighting is similar to a Chinese restaurant (or ER). 4. The hot drinks (coffee and latte) are luke warm. Who drinks or wants luke warm coffee?? Please, please do better, Met. Otherwise, please give me my money back on the membership.

This is a gem. Just what the Met needed. It offers good food in a beautiful yet casual atmosphere. Far more comfortable yet no less tasty than the Member's Dining Room. The food is slightly stuffy -- tea sandwiches? -- but the salads and sandwiches are good. The service is a tad spotty.

This little restaurant/bar was once a cherished part of having a Met membership. I can honestly say the meal i had today was the worst dining experience I've had. Their idea of a beet salad is 2 huge beats on top of a few ting pieces of some green. Almost inedible. This place was great before Covid. What happened?