Rubin Museum of Art

West Village, Chelsea & Meatpacking District


The Rubin is the first museum in the Western world to dedicate itself to the art of the Himalayas and surrounding regions. Its impressive collection spans 1500 years to the present day, and includes Chinese embroidered textiles, Nepalese gilt-copper bodhisattvas, Pakistani stone sculptures and intricate Bhutanese paintings, as well as ritual objects and dance masks from various Tibetan regions. Fascinating rotating exhibitions have included Victorious Ones, comprising sculptures and paintings of the Jinas, the 24 founding teachers of Jainism.

Cafe Serai serves Himalayan-inspired foods and hosts 'Himalayan Happy Hour' on Wednesday night from 6pm to 9pm. Later in the week, Serai transforms into the K2 Lounge, where you can sip wine and martinis after visiting the collection on free Friday evenings.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby West Village, Chelsea & Meatpacking District attractions

1. Tibet House

0.29 MILES

With the Dalai Lama as the patron of its board, this nonprofit cultural space is dedicated to presenting Tibet’s ancient traditions through art exhibits,…

2. Chelsea Hotel

0.3 MILES

This red-brick hotel, built in the 1880s and featuring ornate iron balconies and no fewer than seven plaques declaring its literary landmark status, has…

3. White Columns

0.34 MILES

Geographically, White Columns is part of the Meatpacking District, but aesthetically speaking, it's in Chelsea. The sedate, multiroom space hosts a wide…

4. Chelsea Market

0.41 MILES

In a shining example of redevelopment and preservation, the Chelsea Market has transformed a former factory into a shopping concourse that caters to…

5. Lord & Taylor Building

0.41 MILES

On the southwestern corner of Broadway and E 20th St stands the old Lord & Taylor Building, former home of the famous Midtown department store (now a…

6. Salmagundi Club

0.43 MILES

Far removed from the flashy Chelsea gallery scene, the Salmagundi Club features several gallery spaces focusing on representational American art set in a…

7. Flatiron Building

0.43 MILES

Designed by Daniel Burnham and built in 1902, the 20-story Flatiron Building has a narrow triangular footprint that resembles the prow of a massive ship…

8. Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace

0.46 MILES

This National Historic Site is a bit of a cheat, since the physical house where the 26th president was actually born was demolished in his own lifetime…