Best Mediterranean Restaurants in Murray Hill & Kips Bay (10016)
6 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Çka Ka Qëllu - Manhattan
Deep-cut Albanian and Kosovar dishes served in a living-history townhouse.
Notable Picks
8.8
Çka Ka Qëllu brings Kosovar and broader Balkan home cooking to a townhouse space that feels part museum, part dining room, with shelves of antiques framing hearty platters and slow-cooked stews. Opened in 2020, it’s become a destination for regional specialties and long, family-style meals fueled by raki and grilled meats.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fli (layered crêpe-style pie), Tava Kosi, Çka Ka Qëllu Mixed Meat Combination
What makes it special: Deep-cut Albanian and Kosovar dishes served in a living-history townhouse.
#2
Leonetta
8.6
Leonetta spins flavors from around the Mediterranean coastline into a sleek, high-energy dining room with a serious bar program. The menu stretches from spreads and stone-fired pita to seafood and lamb, making it a flexible option for both cocktails-and-snacks and full celebratory dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Black Garlic Hummus, Rock Shrimp Cous Cous, Grilled Dorade
What makes it special: Modern Mediterranean cooking wrapped in a polished, scene-y room.
8.5
Family-run since 2002, Sahara’s fills a long Kips Bay dining room with meze platters, charcoal-grilled meats, and a steady hum of birthday dinners and big-group celebrations. Its combination of longevity, warm service, and generous portions has made it a neighborhood standby for Turkish feasts.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mixed Cold Appetizer Plate, Iskender Kebab, Kunefe
What makes it special: Long-running Turkish spot with big platters and family-style hospitality.
8.3
Turkish Kitchen is a classic sit-down Turkish restaurant that’s been drawing Midtown and Kips Bay diners for years with a sprawling menu of meze, grilled meats, and slow-cooked stews. High review volume across platforms reflects a dependable option for both business lunches and lingering dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Iskender Kebab, Manti Dumplings, Shepherd Salad
What makes it special: Large-format Turkish menu with decades of steady neighborhood demand.
#5
Sophra Grill
8.2
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Opened in 2018, Sophra Grill is a compact, family-run Turkish shop turning out salads, meze, and grilled platters at prices that work for regular neighborhood lunches and weeknight dinners. The focus is on fresh salads, classic cold appetizers, and straightforward plates rather than a long night out.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mixed Appetizer, Shepherd Salad, Hummus with Babaganush
What makes it special: Family-run Turkish counter spot with strong meze and salads.
Worthy Picks
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Business Lunch Power Players
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Omar’s East Midtown location is a fast-casual Mediterranean grill where office workers line up for shawarma, kebab pitas, and mixed platters built from a charcoal grill and a broad case of sides. It’s built for speed and customization more than lingering, with predictable portions and plenty of takeout traffic.
Must-Try Dishes:
Omar’s Signature Dish (Mixed Grill Kabob), Chicken Shawarma Platter, Falafel Pita Sandwich
What makes it special: Charcoal-grilled shawarma and kabobs served fast with flexible sides.