Best known for its proximity to the Empire State Building on 34th Street, Murray Hill is a residential neighborhood south of Midtown East – bordered between East 40th Street and East 34th Street; Madison and Third Avenues. Murray Hill derives its name from the Murray family, 18th-century Quaker merchants mainly concerned with shipping and overseas trade. Here you’ll find a variety of residential choices, from condos and luxury high-rises to co-ops and charming old brownstone apartments, as well as a variety of amenities in Murray Hill to make life easy and convenient for residents – from boutique shopping and ethnic restaurants (some favorites include Dhaba and Vatan) to local pubs, bars and cafes. Neighborhood residents also represent a good mix, including longtime residents who love the area’s convenience and recent college grads who find Murray Hill an ideal residential area given its prime access to travel anywhere in the city.
Notable spots include the historic and landmarked Morgan Library & Museum (on the northeast corner of 36th Street and Madison Avenue), which was founded to house the private library of J. P. Morgan in 1906 and the venerable department store, Lord & Taylor.
Given Murray Hill’s vicinity to the United Nations Headquarters and the area’s availability of old mansions, many countries, Mexico and South Africa, operate embassies and consulates in Murray Hill – lending a cosmopolitan style to the neighborhood.