There are some very excellent museums to explore while you are in Quito. Make sure not to miss:
Museo Guayasamin/La Capilla del Hombre: La Capilla de Hombre (The Chapel of Man) is Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamin’s recreation of a pre-columbian temple in the Bella Vista neighborhood north of the Centro Historico. Some of the abstract works are very large. It was completed in 2002, after his death, and is considered to be his masterwork. It is meant to document man’s cruelty to man but also the potential for greatness within humanity.
Next door is the artists home and studio where you can see pre-Columbian artifacts that influenced his paintings, works by other artists such as Miro and Picasso and the artist’s own paintings. To me the studio was the highlight of the house. This was one of the highlights of my trip to Quito.
There is a small cafe and several shops within both structures.
Museo Casa de Sucre: This is a small museum that is worth walking through while in the Centro Historico. It is at the corner of Venezuela No. 573 and Sucre in the Centro Historico. This was the home of Antonio Jose de Sucre who helped Ecuador become an independent country and became its first President. His body is buried in the main Cathedral.
Casa del Alabado: This is an exquisite museum of pre-Columbian art from Ecuador located at Cuenca N1-41. It was opened in 2011 and has beautifully displayed ceramics, jewelry, metal and stone objects. You can really get close and see the intricate details of each object. The large glass room in the back is by far one of the most stunning you will see in any museum. This is a must for your list of things to see in Quito. There is also a small cafe in the courtyard and a very nice museum store, off the entrance lobby, with folk art and other craft pieces. The building was originally a Spanish residence from 1671 that has been beautifully restored.