Is the Menil Open on Mondays? Hours, Parking & What You Need to Know

The Menil Collection is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. It reopens Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 7pm, and entry is always free. That unusual closure schedule catches a lot of visitors off guard, but knowing it means you can plan the rest of your day in Montrose around buildings that are open.

What Days and Hours Is the Menil Open?

Open Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 7pm. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. The Menil sits on a 30-acre campus with several buildings open to visitors: the Main Building, the Menil Drawing Institute, the Cy Twombly Gallery, the Dan Flavin installation at Richmond Hall, and the Menil Bookstore.

Is the Menil Collection Actually Free?

Entry to every Menil building is always free. It's one of the finest free museums in the country, and the Renzo Piano-designed Main Building is worth the trip on its own.

Where Do You Park at the Menil?

Visitor parking lots are at 1515 West Alabama Street and next to Richmond Hall at 1500 Richmond Avenue. Street parking is also available on the surrounding blocks. The Menil's site does not say whether the lots are free, so check signage when you arrive. Montrose street parking is a mix of metered and unmetered zones; read the signs.

What Else Is on the Menil Campus?

The campus is a full afternoon. Start at the Main Building, then walk to the Cy Twombly Gallery for a single-artist collection in another Piano pavilion. The Dan Flavin installation at Richmond Hall is a fluorescent-light piece in a former grocery. The Menil Drawing Institute shows works on paper in a building designed by Johnston Marklee. Walking the lawns between them is half the experience: the campus is lined with bungalows painted Menil gray, live oaks, and sculptures you come across by accident.

Can You Visit the Rothko Chapel the Same Day?

Yes, and you should. The Rothko Chapel is a short walk from the Menil's main entrance. It's a separate organization, not part of the Menil, but the two pair naturally. The chapel is an octagonal meditation space housing 14 of Mark Rothko's darkest paintings, lit only by a skylight. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm, including holidays. Closed Mondays. It closes for public programs or private events about twice a month, so check the chapel's events calendar first. Street parking is free on Yupon, Branard and Sul Ross streets. The Moran Parking Garage at Graustark and West Alabama charges $10 per car.

What's the Best Time to Visit?

Wednesday to Friday are the quieter days. Late afternoons in spring and fall have good light in the galleries and on the grounds. In summer, plan for the hottest part of the day to be indoors; walking between buildings can be brutal in July.

What Should You Not Miss Inside?

The Main Building holds some of the finest pieces in the collection across several areas. The Surrealist collection includes Victor Brauner, Max Ernst, and René Magritte. The Fresco Building, which once held 13th-century Byzantine frescoes, has been closed since 2018 and reopens in late 2027 with a site-specific installation by Teresita Fernández. The Cy Twombly Gallery is a complete immersion: Twombly paintings and sculptures in a building he helped design. If you only have an hour, spend it in the Main Building and walk through the Twombly Gallery on your way out.

Can You Bring Kids?

Yes. The Menil is not explicitly a children's museum, but it's quiet, manageable in size, and free. Strollers are allowed. The grounds are easier for toddlers than the galleries; bring a blanket and let them run on the lawn between buildings. For a more structured kid day, pair the Menil with Hermann Park or the Children's Museum Houston, both a short drive east.

Is There Food on Site?

Food and beverages are not allowed in the museum buildings, so plan to eat before or after - Montrose has plenty of options close by.

What Are the Other Montrose Museums?

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston are both a short drive southeast, in the Museum District. CAMH is always free and open Wednesday to Sunday, with late hours until 9pm on Thursdays. An MFAH All Access adult ticket (19+) is $24, but general admission to the permanent collections is free every Thursday, courtesy of Shell USA. If you're planning a full museum day, start at the Menil in the morning, drive to the Museum District for lunch and the MFAH in the afternoon, then end at CAMH before it closes.

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