Musée du Quai Branly

This museum was conceived by President Jacques Chirac as a showcase for art from Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania. Parisians have warmed to architect Jean Nouvel’s elaborate $300 million building on the banks of the Seine. It’s a rather complicated set of buildings, with a curious mix of pavilions, hanging gardens, sleek glass walls, louvered steel facades and walkways, but there’s no denying the magic of the 3,500 objects on display, including African masks, totem poles and Aboriginal art. Les Ombres, the museum’s glass-ceilinged restaurant, has gorgeous views of the Eiffel Tower and the Seine. Closed Monday.