United States
New York (NY)
New York City
Things to Do in New York City
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
See all things to do

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

See all things to do
See all things to do
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
4.5
#96 of 1,447 things to do in New York City
Historic SitesArt Museums
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Write a review
About
A 21st-century museum housed in New York City’s landmark Carnegie Mansion, Cooper Hewitt offers four floors of galleries dedicated to all disciplines of design, a permanent collection of more than 210,000 design objects fully digitized and available online, and a world-class design library.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view

Top ways to experience Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum and nearby attractions

The area
Address
Neighborhood: Upper East Side
Combining quiet residential neighbourhoods that have easy access to Central Park with world-famous cultural institutions, the Upper East Side is one of the most livable places in the city. Along beautiful Fifth Avenue, you’ll find Museum Mile, which houses many of the nation's most famous attractions in a single stretch, like The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim Museum. Walk a few blocks into the neighbourhood, and you’ll come to Park Avenue, the poshest address in the city, lined with grand apartment buildings as far as the eye can see. Even if you can’t afford the luxury goods along Madison Avenue, it’s still a great spot to window shop an afternoon away.
How to get there
  • 86th St • 8 min walk
  • 96th St • 8 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
7,116 within 5 kms
Cafe Sabarsky
702
0.4 km₱₱ - ₱₱₱ • German • Austrian • Cafe
Pascalou
259
0.2 km₱₱ - ₱₱₱ • French • European • Vegetarian Friendly
Paola's Restaurant
308
0.2 km₱₱ - ₱₱₱ • Italian • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Bluestone Lane
152
0.1 km₱₱ - ₱₱₱ • Cafe • Australian • Vegetarian Friendly
Naruto Ramen
202
0.6 km₱ • Japanese • Asian • Soups
Bocado Wine Bar & Restaurant
215
0.5 km₱₱ - ₱₱₱ • American • Bar • Wine Bar
Table D'Hote
101
0.2 km₱₱ - ₱₱₱ • French • European • Gluten Free Options
Shake Shack Upper East Side
596
0.7 km₱ • Quick Bites • American • Fast Food
The Wright
165
0.2 km₱₱ - ₱₱₱ • American • Cafe • Vegetarian Friendly
Sfoglia
151
0.4 km₱₱₱₱ • Italian • Vegetarian Friendly • Gluten Free Options
See all
Attractions
1,519 within 10 kms
The Jewish Museum
489
0.1 kmSpeciality Museums
The Episcopal Church of The Heavenly Rest
24
83 mChurches & Cathedrals
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
5,643
0.2 kmArt Museums
National Academy of Design Museum
27
0.1 kmSpeciality Museums
Carl Schurz Park
90
0.3 kmParks
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
55,168
0.7 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Art Museums
Neue Galerie
1,617
0.4 kmArt Museums
Central Park
133,984
0.8 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Parks
Park Avenue
441
0.5 kmNeighborhoods • Historic Walking Areas
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir
153
0.6 kmBodies of Water
See all
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
593 reviews
Excellent
351
Very good
145
Average
49
Poor
35
Terrible
13
RoadtripMommy
California172 contributions
Beautiful museum in a stunning mansion
Oct 2023 • Couples
This unassuming museum is beautifully curated with fun activities for the entire family. I particularly loved the Language of Symbols and Dorothy Liebes exhibits. The Carnegie Mansion is the perfect location. Unfortunately, when we went, the cafe and garden were not open but we still had a great time. It was very quiet when we went so it was a nice break. We were able to take our time and enjoy reading everything.
Written 4 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Annette K
34 contributions
Disappointing visit !
Jun 2023 • Friends
So disappointing!
I visited with my daughter who’s studying graphic design and loves all things design related.We were totally underwhelmed by the lack of information, creativity and items on display.Even the website has articles that are no longer there… they were pre covid!
As such a total waste of our precious time and money!
Written 2 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ArtsyGalBaltimore
Maryland813 contributions
Disappointment at the Cooper Hewitt
May 2023
It's really about an impressive building with incredible wood work. There are a few scanty exhibits, the main one was the W. E.B. DuBois exhibit on deconstructing power tying the past to current data visualization trends and the Language of Symbol, mildly interesting with somewhat of a focus on Olympic sport symbols. The immersion room allows for experimentation for a person or two. There was a admission fee which is not characteristic of the Smithsonian Washington practice and certainly not delivering the same quality. I guess it's NYC. There is small cafe and outdoor tables. I found the Cooper Hewitt to be a very disappointing experience.
Written 28 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MeganMunro
Toronto, Canada1,306 contributions
Impressive building, small museum
Apr 2023
Arriving right at ten, I wanted to beat the crowds and try to see most of it before the Guggenheim (next door opened).
I had a bite to eat in their pretty little cafe and explored.
The museum is small, but I loved the exhibitions.
One was on 'what if we lived in a time of peace'. Very thought provoking.
The other was what I came for - the Hector Guimard 'How Paris got its curves'. I loved this! Fascinating and great collection show.
The price is high for the amount to view, but the building itself is also something to see - it is so gorgeous and gives you a glimpse into the guilded age of NYC.
Written 12 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
operalover939
Toronto, Canada2,977 contributions
Interesting museum in an impressive mansion
Apr 2023
There were two interesting exhibitions at the time we visited, one focusing on W.E.B. Du Bois at the 1900 World Fair in Paris, outlining the condition of the Black population of Georgia, and the other on the work and ideas of Hector Guimard, the famous French architect and designer who was active from the late 19th century onwards. The third floor was devoted to international cooperation and peacekeeping, a rather different subject but also worth a visit.
Written 18 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ek1974
Hartland, WI230 contributions
disappointing
Dec 2022
I went to Cooper Hewitt after visiting Neue Galerie. It is short walking distance from Neue Galerie. Its building and garden is amazing, but the display is really disappointing. To the honest, I think it is total waste of space of this great building.
Written 3 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tanya P
1 contribution
Underwhelming and disappointing
Sep 2022 • Family
First of all, the exhibits were not at all impressive, memorable (except in a bad way), or beautiful, something I would expect in a design museum. Secondly, the subject matter of the exhibits was trendy and tiresome—“peace,”“childcare equality,” “immigration,” “Covid,” “healthcare,” etc. I wish I could say the museum was inspiring, but instead the exhibits were discombobulated, all held together, I suppose, by a sort of “progressive” agenda. I came away feeling tired and down. Finally, to put icing on the cake, the design shop, process lab, and any other interactive exhibits were closed, making my family feel swindled. Even the outdoor garden was unimpressive. I had heard good things about this museum in the past. Seems like it is not the museum it used to be. So disappointing! Save your money and time and walk across the Brooklyn Bridge or along the High Line to experience some compelling design.
Written 14 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert N
Brooklyn, NY59 contributions
Now a must miss Museum
Aug 2022 • Friends
I visited this museum numerous times in the past and it had featured extensive exhibits on the history of design of furniture, dining pieces, doll houses and fabrics. With the exception of dining pieces. All that is gone and has been replaced with trendy “peace architecture” and Covid field hospital history. I did not come for such nichy one-off and frankly, boring exhibits. I’m on their mailing list so I hope they let me know when they return to their roots of furniture and appliance design history. A major disappointment for myself and my picky out of town guest. It’s no longer what’s advertised unfortunately.
Written 17 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rcole123
New York City, NY4 contributions
A design museum that needs exhibit redesign
Aug 2022
I live in Manhattan and so I visit this museum at least once each year. The building is magnificent as it was once the home of Andrew Carnegie and so for that reason alone it is worth a visit. The exhibitions however are hit and miss with more misses. The curatorial approach is very academic which makes the experience often times feel like hard work and so the fun is removed. On top of that, the light level for artifacts is so low that objects appear dull, loose their luster, and the text is difficult to read. Lastly, many of the artifacts are so far away that a closeup experience is not possible. For a design museum, the viewing experience should never be dull or lifeless and yet it often times feels just that unfortunately.
Written 7 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan C.
La Jolla, California, USA472 contributions
cooper hewitt design museum
Jun 2022
Visited this museum during Museum Mile Week - there was a line out the door and around the corner, but the staff moved everyone along quickly. It was definitely a very interesting museum that showcased the broad diversity of design, from epidemiological and medical design during COVID to designing peace between populations and countries.
Written 5 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2
…
Showing results 1-10 of 496
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

COOPER HEWITT, SMITHSONIAN DESIGN MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum:
Restaurants near Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum: View all restaurants near Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum on Tripadvisor