Murray Hill

The best thing about Murray Hill is that it's so close to a lot and yet it has it's own quiet demeanor. Running from about 42nd to 34th Street on the East Side, you can find quite a number of quaint apartments in pre-war walkups, or even lovely condos in hi-rises with doormen. The area accommodates a lot of tastes and also is close to some very business epicenter which includes Grand Central Station. If you are interested in adopting pets, you will also be close to the Bide a Wee pet shelter, and there are tons of shopping to be had along Fifth Avenue and the other avenues as well. The area is fairly well known for its cafes and shake shops. There are also a number of shops that cater to tourists so you can find places that sell cameras and other types of electronics here. The Empire State Building is also within walking distrance from this area, and although it's not as exciting as being in Rockefeller Center uptown, the Empire State Building still retains its charm, and being as tall as it is you will still enjoy the panoramic views at the top.

If you are looking for "fun fun" then consider a short walk across town to the West side where things are more affordable and where there is a lot more variety with respect to shops and things to do, especially in Times Square, which is the epicenter for tourists and shoppers.

Murray Hill is quiet relatively speaking so those looking for a more low key NY experience will like it here. Those seeking a party atmosphere will be disappointed.

I've always lived on the West Side of Manhattan, and am generally anti-East Side. Even so, if I had to live somewhere on the East Side I think I'd live in Murray Hill.

For me, I hate the financial feel of Midtown East and the farther North you go up the East Side, the more boring and uninspired life becomes. South of Midtown, however, where Murray Hill is, there are some promising signs of life.

There are some awesome buildings in Murray Hill, lots of converted carriage houses from way back when are now lovely, charming homes. Brownstones and new construction create an interesting, diverse mix of styles that are all elegant and unpretentious.

Trendy cafes and dinner spots abound, with some especially good seafood options. More and more night spots and rooftop bars are popping up, keeping Murray Hill popular all hours of the day.

Grand Central is right at the tip of Murray Hill, and with the FDR and the 4, 5 trains, traveling in, out, and around the city is very easy.

Best of all, residents of Murray Hill are passionate about their neighborhood, giving it more of a community feel almost anywhere else on the East Side.

For some reason Murray Hill has a reputation for being the dowdy, residential neighborhood among its more sterling and elite neighboring areas, like Gramercy Park. It's true that residence here is a bit less pricey, most certainly when compared with the astronomical prices of apartments in Midtown or in Gramercy Park. So it is a kind of middle class Mahnattanite scene, which by the standards of any other city would still be insanely expensive. I don't know why this is, but when I was looking for apartments in Manhattan, it seemed that the listings for places in Murray Hill always seemed to be the ones that looked really lame in photos. Does no one in Murray Hill have the typical New York stylish sensibility when it comes to apartment furnishings? This one was hard to explain. I don't see much reason to hang around in the area, since it caters to residents and their daily needs, and far less to a nightlife crowd: so, typically, dry cleaners and gym facilities abound. I see this place in particular as a residential option for people who are too snobbish about living in Manhattan to actually move to Brooklyn, but who can't afford “real” Manhattan rents. So, in other words, the insecure, upwardly mobile middle class. Maybe that explains the questionable furnishings?

Murray Hill is sometimes referred to as Lower Midtown East, and expands from Fifth Avenue to the United Nations. There is so much traffic and pedestrian congestion in Murray Hill that it is a constant source of contention among locals. The Queens-Midtown Tunnel is also unbearable to drive. To escape the hubbub, you must take a walk around some of the quieter residential streets (they are few and far between).

Architectural highlights and attractions include Grand Central Station and the Chrysler Building. Check out the impressive railroads at Grand Central, along with the grand staircases, brass clock, and celestial ceiling. Grand Central Station also boasts three famous restaurants: the Oyster Bar, Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse, and Metrazur.

Murray Hill is a great place to stay while visiting New York City. It is close to many Midtown attractions and offers numerous hotels. Moderately priced hotels include the Ramada Inn Midtown as well as the stylish Park South Hotel. For something a little more upscale, stay at the Affinia Dumont all suite hotel. Just a block north on Park Avenue, take a stroll through the gardens of tulips in the spring or begonias and cherry blossoms in the summer.

There are plenty of hotels in this neighborhood, if you happen to be looking for a place to stay that is close to the Empire State Building or Rockefeller Plaza. This neighborhood is relatively residential, and seems to offer only the basics to its residents. That is, if you are looking for plenty of places to indulge yourself by eating or shopping, you won’t find too much to do in Murray Hill. However, if you just walk south a bit you will find that the neighborhood begins to cater to tourists more and more as you get closer to the tourist attractions mentioned above.