Dining

From freshly made dishes created with local ingredients to gourmet coffee, craft beer, and local wines, you'll find delicious, sustainable, family-friendly options to tempt every palate.

The Academy is proud to work with the following fine local food and beverage purveyors: Frog Hollow Farms, Belfiore, Niman Ranch, Andytown Coffee Roasters, California Endive Co, and Coke Farms.

Hours of operation (Sept. 3–Nov. 22)
Daily, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. ​​​​​​
NightLife Thursdays, 6–9 p.m.
Map

The Terrace Restaurant is located in the beautiful West Garden and features dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. Relax with a glass of wine, or try our selection of regional beers. 

This fall, enjoy additional dining options in the Food Garden (weekends and holiday Mondays, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Sept. 7–Nov. 22), featuring burrito bowls, grab-and-go items, and lemonade. 

Partially closed for renovations (Sept. 3–Nov. 22)

Pardon our dust! The Academy Café is undergoing a mouth-watering makeover this fall, including a brand-new menu with more plant-based and self-serve dining options and a roomier floor plan with a fresh look and feel. 

During the Café's partial closure, snacks, hot and cold drinks, and grab-and-go items will still be available for purchase, and the Terrace Restaurant will be open daily with an exciting, expanded menu.

We appreciate your patience!

Chef Rob Lilly comes to us from Harlem, New York City, where he spent more than 10 years as Executive Chef and Owner of a full-scale events and catering company. His passion for food comes from growing up in a melting pot of culture where he was exposed to cuisines from all over the world.

He has worked alongside dozens of restaurateurs and hotel groups, creating menus, training staff, and providing guidance and insight into how to run a successful operation.

He has made the Bay Area his home and is thrilled to blend his East Coast flair with a little West Coast seasoning while serving the guests and staff here at the California Academy of Sciences. Stop by the Café or The Terrace Restaurant to say hello!