Five Things to Do at SFMOMA

There is always something new to see at SFMOMA. Start your trip with this shortlist of highlights. Enjoy multiple floors of awe-inspiring art, grab a bite to eat, and shop the museum store.

Experience the moment Matisse shocked the art world

Floor 4

Matisse’s Femme au chapeau: A Modern Scandal explores how Henri Matisse sent shockwaves through the art world with Femme au chapeau (Woman with a Hat), a portrait of his wife, Amélie, painted in bold color and loose brushstrokes that defied convention. The exhibition brings the original stakes and controversy into focus, restages the painting’s 1905 debut at the Salon d’Automne in Paris with other artworks from that historic display, and demonstrates the enduring impact of of Matisse’s iconic work on artists working today.

Matisse's Femme au chapeau: A Modern Scandal (installation view, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art); photo: Don Ross

Don't miss new installations of visitor favorites

Floors 3, 4, 5, and 6

Reimagined: The Fisher Collection at 10, which opened on April 18, 2026, marks the first complete transformation of the Fisher Collection since it opened to the public as part of SFMOMA’s building expansion in 2016. The new Fisher Collection galleries reveal an ambitious, multi-pronged approach to storytelling, that emphasizes accessibility across a broad range of audiences and encourages personal reflection and connection to the works on view.

Memory and Matter: Personal and Collective Histories (installation view, SFMOMA) part of Reimagined: The Fisher Collection at 10; photo: Don Ross

See What's On View

Explore moments from the rich history of the San Francisco Art Institute

Floor 2

People Make This Place: SFAI Stories spotlights works by more than 50 SFAI alumni and former faculty included in the museum’s collection. The presentation underscores the school’s crucial role in fostering creativity and experimentation, featuring works across media since the post–World War II era by artists like Ansel Adams, Joan Brown, Miguel Calderón, Imogen Cunningham, Mike Henderson, Candice Lin, and Carlos Villa, among others.

George Kuchar (far left) teaching filmmaking in Studio 8, ca. 1978; photo: David Hallinger, courtesy SFAI Legacy Foundation + Archive

Grab a bite and enjoy the museum

Floor 1, 2, and 5

Choose from multiple dining options at the museum. Try Cafe 5 for lunch with a view, Steps Coffee for a beverage and puzzle, or the wide variety of food and beverage options at our brand new cafe on Floor 1, Jane on Third. Each offers a welcoming gathering place for our SFMOMA community that’s sure to satisfy any palate!

Dining Options

Header image: Matisse’s Femme au chapeau: A Modern Scandal (installation view, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art); photo: Don Ross