Best Brunch Restaurants in Murray Hill
20 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Utopia Bagels Midtown
Well-known Queens bagel institution bringing slow-fermented bagels to Midtown East.
Notable Picks
8.5
The Manhattan outpost of Queens-born Utopia Bagels brings its glossy, slow-fermented bagels and loaded sandwiches to a busy corner of Murray Hill. With a full menu of breakfast and lunch options, it works as both a grab-and-go stop and a casual sit-down spot for serious bagel fans.
Must-Try Dishes:
Everything bagel with nova and scallion cream cheese, Bacon, egg and cheese on an everything bagel, Open-face smoked salmon bagel
What Makes it Special: Well-known Queens bagel institution bringing slow-fermented bagels to Midtown East.
#2
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.
#3
Friedman’s
8.4
A hip, casual restaurant specializing in gluten-free comfort food with a modern twist, from brunch to dinner.
Must-Try Dishes:
Gluten-Free Fried Chicken, Pancakes with Maple Syrup, House-Made Biscuits
What Makes it Special: Comforting gluten-free takes on classic comfort food dishes.
Hole in the Wall’s Murray Hill outpost is an Aussie café where flat whites, banana bread, and hearty breakfast plates share space with cocktails. It’s a reliable pick for solo breakfasts at the bar, relaxed brunch dates, or fueling up before a walk along the East River.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chilli Scramble, Smashed Avocado Toast, Banana Bread
What Makes it Special: Aussie café combining serious coffee with creative, filling brunch plates.
8.4
Little Ruby’s brings an Australian café feel to Kips Bay, but its Bronte Burger has become as much of a draw as the brunch plates. Expect a lively room, strong coffee, and burgers built on soft buns with thoughtfully layered toppings.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bronte Burger, Classic Cheeseburger, Fried Chicken Burger
What Makes it Special: Australian-style café where the signature Bronte Burger rivals brunch.
8.4
Fumo Kips Bay is a busy neighborhood Italian where thin-crust pies, big bowls of pasta and a lively bar anchor everything from brunch to late dinners. With $12 weekday pastas and a strong happy hour, it’s as much a casual hang for locals as a reliable date or group spot.
Must-Try Dishes:
Margherita Pizza, Spaghetti Vongole, $12 Lunch Pasta Special
What Makes it Special: High-volume neighborhood Italian with strong value, pizza and pastas.
Handcraft Kitchen & Cocktails is a neighborhood bar-restaurant focused on updated American comfort food, strong cocktails, and a boozy brunch program. Since 2015 it’s been a go-to for locals who want sliders, nachos, and drinks in a warm, reclaimed-wood space.
Must-Try Dishes:
Nachos, Burger Sliders, Truffle Fried Burrata
What Makes it Special: Cocktail-focused neighborhood spot modernizing American comfort standards.
8.3
The Flying Cock is a lively Murray Hill bar where truffle parmesan fries, house-cut fries, and sweet potato fries are headliners alongside brunch plates and burgers. It’s the kind of place where fries are not just a side, but a centerpiece snack to share over cocktails, sports, and long happy hours.
Must-Try Dishes:
Truffle Parmesan Fries, House Cut Fries, Sweet Potato Fries
What Makes it Special: Sports-and-brunch bar where multiple styles of fries pair with long happy hours.
8.3
Semicolon Cafe brings Korean-inspired brioche sandwiches and serious coffee to a compact 3rd Avenue space, with options like egg-and-corn breakfast builds, spicy chicken, and LOX sandwiches. Lines form daily for its soft brioche, sweet-savory sauces, and photogenic lattes, making it a favorite for brunchy sandwich runs and mid-morning breaks.
Must-Try Dishes:
S.O.S. Sandwich, Avocado Brioche Sandwich, Chicken Brioche Sandwich
What Makes it Special: Korean-style brioche sandwiches and specialty coffee in a stylish, compact cafe.
#10
Albert's Bar
8.2
Albert's Bar is a polished Midtown cocktail bar that doubles as a New American hangout, serving serious drinks alongside a tight menu of upgraded comfort food. Near Grand Central, it’s become a go-to for smash burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and brunch plates in a high-ceilinged, design-forward room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Albert's Double Deluxe Burger, Golden Boy Chicken Sandwich, Forbidden Rice Arancini
What Makes it Special: Cocktail-first Midtown bar with a surprisingly ambitious New American comfort menu.
#11
The Station Cafe
8.1
The Station Cafe is a neighborhood coffee bar between Murray Hill and Kips Bay that leans hard into pastries and donuts alongside a serious espresso program. Opened in 2024, it has quickly become a morning stop for locals who want bomboloni-style donuts with their lattes rather than a grab-and-go chain experience.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bombolone Nutella doughnut, Nutella donut, Red Velvet Latte
What Makes it Special: Italian-style bombolone donuts served in a modern, commuter-friendly cafe setting.
#12
Dim Sum Garden
8.1
Dim Sum Garden is a casual Hong Kong-style dim sum house near Grand Central where bamboo baskets of dumplings, buns, and rice rolls anchor most orders. It’s more about steady comfort than ceremony, with a menu that lets you build a full meal from small plates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shanghai soup dumplings (Xiao Long Bao), Signature dim sum platter, Pan-fried pork dumplings
What Makes it Special: All-day dim sum with soup dumplings and a broad menu of classic baskets.
#13
Fumo
8
Fumo’s Kips Bay outpost is a casual Italian-leaning spot where pizzas, pastas, and burgers anchor a neighborhood-friendly menu with strong happy hour deals. It works equally well for cozy dinners, group catch-ups, and relaxed weekday lunches.
Must-Try Dishes:
Penne Vodka, Penne Funghi, Spaghetti Vongole
What Makes it Special: Neighborhood workhorse for pastas, pies, and easygoing Italian-American fare.
Worthy Picks
#14
Leslie
7.9
Leslie is a newer New American restaurant in Murray Hill from a husband-and-wife team, serving deviled eggs, Korean-style ribs, and seasonal mains in a cozy, polished room. Early feedback points to dialed-in flavors and a welcoming, date-friendly atmosphere.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tuna Tartar, Korean Style Baby Ribs, Deviled Eggs
What Makes it Special: Owner-run New American spot balancing comfort dishes with cheffy touches.
#15
Hummus Kitchen
7.8
Hummus Kitchen in Kips Bay leans Israeli-Middle Eastern, focusing on hummus platters, pitas, and salads that work as casual sit-down meals or slightly elevated takeout. It’s a flexible option for vegetarian-leaning lunches, brunches, and easy weeknight dinners built around dips and grilled proteins.
Must-Try Dishes:
Classic hummus platter with warm pita, Sabich sandwich with eggplant and egg, Chicken shawarma pita or platter
What Makes it Special: Kosher Israeli-leaning hummus bar with lots of vegetarian options.
#16
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.
7.7
Bagel Boss Murray Hill is a kosher-leaning bagel shop and deli offering smoked fish, omelets, and full breakfast plates alongside classic bagels and flagels. It’s more of a sit-and-eat operation than a pure grab-and-go counter, giving neighborhood regulars a place to linger over brunch-style plates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bagel Boss Plate with eggs, home fries and bagel, Plain bagel with schmear and smoked salmon, French toast breakfast with a side bagel
What Makes it Special: Kosher-style bagel shop where smoked fish, egg platters, and bagels share equal billing.
#18
Rose Bakery
7.7
Inside Dover Street Market, Rose Bakery serves vegetable-forward salads, quiche, and refined baked goods with a minimalist, fashion-adjacent café vibe. Shoppers and nearby office workers use it for lighter breakfasts, coffee breaks, and simple lunches that feel calmer than the surrounding neighborhood.
Must-Try Dishes:
Quiche of the day, Blueberry donut, Seasonal fruit tart
What Makes it Special: Design-forward café bakery tucked inside Dover Street Market’s fashion space.
7.6
A bright Gramercy cafe that sneaks in a surprisingly satisfying pho option alongside its brunch-and-lunch core. The broth leans comfort-forward and dependable rather than deeply traditional, making this a practical neighborhood bowl when you want warmth without a full Vietnamese-restaurant production.
Must-Try Dishes:
Angus beef pho, Chicken pho, Vietnamese iced coffee
What Makes it Special: A cafe-format pho fix in Gramercy with all-day utility.
#20
The Gem Saloon
7.5
The Gem Saloon is a sprawling bar in Murray Hill that flips into a bottomless-style brunch destination with avocado toast, chicken and waffles, and big pitchers. It’s less about delicate plating and more about long tables, sports on TV, and a social brunch that can stretch into afternoon.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken & Waffles, Avocado Toast, Breakfast Burrito
What Makes it Special: Large-format bar brunch built around bottomless drinks and crowd energy.