Mingei International Museum

Betty Trinh

I think the musuem had a reopening sometime last year or within the last 6 months after a long hiatus and remodel. I remember them closing long before the pandemic. Most of the collection of Asian artifacts were moved to the Art Museum. The musuem now focuses on ethnic wares and whimsical art from the past and near-present. Post-remodel, the Mingei now features a swanky restaurant center stage on the first floor, which is open to guests free of charge. There is also a beautiful reference library full of arts and culture books patrons can peruse as they like. The gift is still there, offering wordly goods for all budgets. The space feels modern and industrial and even the adjacent, more affordable cafe has been upgraded from before. The butterfly flower lemonade has a tangy syrup that's perfect for a hot day.

LULU . LIVE

Can I say this museum is my favorite museum so far in San Diego? I didn’t plan to visit here today but it was at museum month when I just walked by, I decided to have a look. I got a half price ticket because of the museum month. The exhibition is amazing! I really love how the curators curated all the folk craft arts from all over the world. I can see the arts are very different in their own cultural ways based on their history and location, but also kinda connected in someway based on the whole human beings’ cultural development. I love to see how folk arts influence and reflect our society.

Raymond Hitchcock

The newly renovated Mengei Museum is a great addition to the Balboa Park experience. The first floor is open to the public with the gift shop, cafe, and a display area. Most of the exhibit space is on the second floor. There is also a new outdoor patio area that overlooks the plaza. Look for the best bathrooms in Balboa Park.

Jaleisha Jacobs

There’s limited gallery space, but overall, it was a lovely experience. There’s a diverse collection of folk art, mostly from Japan, but also some pieces from many other countries like Myanmar, India, Ethiopia, and Mexico. The terraces on the second level were an expected discovery. You get a unique view of the park. The art library is closed Sundays, otherwise, I would have liked to explore that too. I spent about 45 minutes there. The new cafe on the first level is a really great. The menu is pretty large for a small cafe. I didn’t order any beverages, but purchased the lavender shortbread cookie, brownie, and ham & cheese croissant. I can’t wait to enjoy these treats at home.