Hot Take: Murray Hill Is Not Just for the Finance Bros
This past summer, my roommate and I came across a COVID deal we couldn’t refuse and found ourselves moving to the notorious Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan. Fresh off of NYU graduation, our insufferably artsy duo would be making its way from the well-matched West Village to the land of skyscrapers and suits. Murray Hill is a place of paradox: doormen and flex walls, foreign consulates nearby the UN and zero other diversity, commuter bars nearby Grand Central that are also home to an extremely regular local crowd. The neighborhood gets a bad rap for its fratty population (the sound of “Closing Time” and the scent of flavored vapes linger in the streets) and its proximity to Midtown (there are more office buildings than lunch places open on the weekends). Also, contrary to popular belief, Murray Hill is actually a hill, a concept rarely encountered by Manhattanites but one that has left my roommate and I with amazing calves and a fear of CitiBiking.
But I’m here to attest, after a year of living in Murray Hill, that not all the rumors are true. The neighborhood is actually charming, convenient, and home to several spots now beloved by our painfully quirky friend group.
Living in Murray Hill means being able to walk to both the Wicked Square of the West (Times) and the Good Square of the East (Union). Our offices, Broadway theaters, and the downtown bars and shopping of our NYU youth are all within easy reach. Both Grand Central and Penn Station are within walking distance as well, meaning I’m spared half the time and money it might otherwise take to visit my tri state area family. I was initially devastated to leave Washington Square Park and Hudson River Park, but Bryant Park and the East River Esplanade make suspiciously accurate clones. We even have the trifecta: a Trader Joe’s, a Whole Foods, and a good bodega.
While it may lack the mystique of other neighborhoods’ speakeasies and cleverly themed clubs, Murray Hill offers many Stefon-worthy hidden gems in terms of bars and restaurants. Karaoke and trivia abound. El Rio Grande on 37th offers authentic Mexican food on a sweeping outdoor patio. Their margaritas are famously lethal—just one will leave you stumbling uphill, which is why they’re rumored to contain Everclear. Baby Bo’s Cantina on Second Ave is another hopping Mexican spot with slightly tamer margs. The Junction on Lex is a cherished local spot with friendly staff, a vaguely Irish theme, and legendary tater tots. Uncle Charlie’s is a gay piano bar nestled beneath the Chrysler building that will make you feel like you’re on Glee. Franchia offers delicious vegan pan-Asian food, and Park Avenue Tavern boasts bougie sandwiches and salads. The further down Third Avenue you venture, the more youthful bars and brunch spots you’ll find, and along the way you’ll encounter a liquor store with a street-facing window that’s home to a little dog named Rosie.
In some ways, Murray Hill lives up to its stereotypes. It’s the first stop postgrad for many a fratty finance boy and the last stop before Grand Central for many a Connecticut commuter. But the place has a certain charm, and its brownstones just off of tree-lined Park Avenue certainly don’t hurt. If you and your roommate are also a pair of geeky college friends looking for a sweet one-bedroom flex deal, Murray Hill just might be the place for you.
