Best Trendy Restaurants in Murray Hill & Kips Bay (10016)
8 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Scarpetta
Modern Italian icon with famous pastas and a refined, romantic room.
Notable Picks
#1
Scarpetta
8.7
Scarpetta, in The James New York–NoMad, is a polished Italian dining room known for handmade pastas, polished service, and a softly lit atmosphere that reads as classic New York date night. It’s a go-to for anniversaries and big milestones when you want white-tablecloth energy without old-school stuffiness.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spaghetti with tomato and basil, Creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms, Braised short ribs
What makes it special: Modern Italian icon with famous pastas and a refined, romantic room.
#2
Norma
8.7
Norma’s Murray Hill outpost leans into Sicilian comfort cooking, from arancini and panelle to richly sauced pasta alla Norma and pan-style pizzas. The cozy room and attentive staff make it a go-to for lingering dinners that feel more like a trattoria in Catania than a Third Avenue address.
Must-Try Dishes:
Arancini Siciliani, Pasta alla Norma, Rianata Sicilian Pan Pizza
What makes it special: Sicilian-focused trattoria known for arancini, pasta alla Norma and warm hospitality.
#3
Little Alley
8.7
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Group Dining Gatherings
Hidden Gems Heaven
Business Lunch Power Players
Little Alley channels a modern Shanghainese tavern, turning out soup dumplings, Dong Po pork, and small plates in a lively but comfortable room. It’s a go-to in Murray Hill when you want regional Chinese flavors and a stronger wine-and-cocktail program than most neighborhood options.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pork soup dumplings (Xiao Long Bao), Dong Po pork with buns, Soft shell crab rice cake
What makes it special: Shanghainese cooking with stand-out dumplings and braised pork in a cozy bistro setting.
#4
Tara Rose
8.4
Tara Rose is a cocktail-driven Irish bar with a New American menu of burgers, pastas, and hearty plates that works as well for brunch as it does for late-night drinks. Regulars treat it as a go-to for upbeat gatherings where the bar program is as important as the food.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tara Rose Burger, Irish Chicken Curry, Fish & Chips
What makes it special: Lively cocktail bar energy wrapped around a comfort-heavy American menu.
8.4
Vintage Green Rooftop sits atop the Shelburne Sonesta as a garden-like terrace and atrium with direct views of Midtown icons and an all-season indoor–outdoor setup. Cocktails skew creative and the food menu runs from sliders to pizzas and charcuterie, making it a polished yet relaxed choice for groups who want a full evening on one rooftop.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pastrami spiced chicken wings, Wild mushroom pizza, Chicken katsu sliders
What makes it special: Lush, greenhouse-style rooftop terrace with a surprisingly deep small-plates menu.
8.3
Rosehill Rooftop crowns a Rose Hill hotel with a 1970s-inspired lounge that leans into skyline views, fire pits, and shareable plates. It reads like a year-round rooftop party spot, with mini tacos, pizzas, and sliders built to pair with frozen cocktails and spritzy signatures.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mini tuna poke tacos, Truffle fungi pizza, Wagyu beef sliders
What makes it special: Skyline-facing rooftop lounge with fire pits and shareable, cocktail-friendly plates.
#7
Wine 30
8.1
Wine 30 is a townhouse wine bar and restaurant just off Park Avenue offering thirty wines by the glass, a 300-bottle list, and a menu of shareable plates. Between its front sidewalk tables, brick-walled interior, and leafy back garden, it’s a flexible hangout for dates, post-work glasses, and long tapas-style dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Burrata-Serrano Ham Flatbread, Chili Garlic Shrimp, Crab Cakes
What makes it special: Townhouse wine bar with both sidewalk tables and a leafy back garden.
Worthy Picks
#8
Banc Cafe
7.7
Vibes:
Brunch Bliss Spots
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Trendy Table Hotspots
Banc Cafe is a long-running Murray Hill bar-restaurant that leans hard into brunch with Benedicts, steak-and-egg plates, and well-priced cocktails. The room works for both game-day crowds and low-key weekend catchups, especially when you want sit-down service without a scene.
Must-Try Dishes:
Avocado Toast, Banc Benedict, Steak Benedict
What makes it special: Neighborhood standby pairing hearty brunch plates with a bar-forward room.