The Cafe

Located on the second level of the Getty Villa grounds you’ll find the Café—serving Mediterranean fare including sandwiches, wraps, pizza, pasta, desserts and a variety of drinks including wine. Enjoy your meal in the outdoor dining area and bask in the beautiful view and serene ambiance of the Getty Villa. The Café uses locally grown and organic produce, meats and other ingredients whenever possible to ensure the freshest and most flavorful dishes.

Start your meal off with a refreshing Mediterranean platter—delightful hummus, tabbouleh, mixed olives, feta cheese and warm pita. Or, try the house made peasant bread, salami and melon salad and the grilled flatbread with stone fruit platter. The Café offers a variety of sandwiches including the eggplant Panini, grilled portabella sandwich, seared wild salmon burger, Greek chicken wrap and the caprese style Roman burger—beef steak tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil leaves, aioli and balsamic gastrique.

For a heartier meal, order from the main entrée menu with options including the sweet corn ravioli prepared with crispy pancetta, wild arugula and truffle cream sauce. Or, try the lasagna, frittata and the handmade pasta with garlic pesto chicken, grilled zucchini and cherry tomatoes. For the children in your group, the Café offers several options including pasta, meatballs, grilled cheese Panini and parmesan chicken fingers.

Be sure to save some room for desert because the Café sweet treats are in a class of their own, select from the artisan cheese platter—a trio of cheeses served with dried market fruit and pecan raisin toast. Or, indulge in the chocolate sunflower cake and the spring berries semifreddo. Finally, try the sweet bruschetta prepared with grilled sourdough, chocolate shavings, berries and fresh mint cream.

Open since 2006, the Getty Villa is dedicated to sharing the arts and culture of ancient Greece, Rome and Etruria. You can explore more than 1,200 works of art in the 28 indoor and outdoor collection galleries take a stroll through the gardens and enjoy live performances, lectures and symposia in the auditorium or amphitheatre. Admission to the Getty Villa is free, but you are required to make a reservation in advance for each adult.

HelloMetro Tip: Reservations must be made online for a specific timed ticket. Each ticket is good for one adult and up to three children ages 15 and under. Parking at the Getty Villa is $15 per car during the day and it is free for evening programs held after 5 p.m.

- by Jennifer Pruett, Santa Monica Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Jennifer Pruett

A self proclaimed “queen of everything," Jennifer is a writer, planner and passionate lover of making exciting events extra special. As a creative mother of two she loves art, music, family, friends, exotic cuisine and exploring new areas of self improvement. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal studies from the University of Oklahoma and has been writing restaurant and attraction reviews in the Phoenix Metro area since January, 2009.