Hotels in Murray Hill, NYC: A Quiet Base in Midtown
Murray Hill is a residential pocket between Grand Central and the Empire State Building. It is close to everything in Midtown, but the side streets are calm at night.
Quick answer
Good hotels in Murray Hill include The Kitano New York, the Library Hotel, Pod 39 and The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue. Grand Central is a short walk for the 4, 5, 6 and 7 trains. It is quieter at night than Times Square.
What Murray Hill is like
Murray Hill runs roughly from 34th Street up to 42nd Street, between Fifth Avenue and the East River. The name comes from the Murray family, who had a farm here in the 1700s.
Today it is a mix of brownstones, apartment towers and small hotels. The side streets are full of trees and quiet after dark. Third Avenue and Second Avenue have plenty of casual bars and restaurants, popular with young New Yorkers.
For visitors, the big plus is location. You can walk to the Empire State Building, Grand Central, the New York Public Library, Bryant Park and the United Nations. Yet you sleep somewhere calm.
Hotels in Murray Hill
The Kitano New York, 66 Park Ave at E 38th St. A Japanese-owned hotel known for quiet rooms and polite, calm service. Its bar has live jazz some nights.
Library Hotel, 299 Madison Ave at E 41st St. Each floor is themed on a section of the library classification system, and the rooms hold real books. Steps from the New York Public Library.
Pod 39, 145 E 39th St. A budget micro-hotel in a 1920s building, with a rooftop bar. A good choice for solo travelers.
The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue, 400 Fifth Ave at W 36th St. On the western edge of Murray Hill, with some of the largest rooms in Midtown and a short walk to the Empire State Building.
The William, 24 E 39th St. A small boutique hotel in two townhouses, with some suites that have kitchens.
Murray Hill hotels are often a little cheaper than similar hotels near Times Square, and the rooms are often quieter.
Just outside Murray Hill
Arlo NoMad, 11 E 31st St. Small, clever rooms and a rooftop facing the Empire State Building.
Hotel Giraffe, 365 Park Ave South at E 26th St. A boutique hotel with free evening wine and cheese for guests, a few blocks south.
Lotte New York Palace, 455 Madison Ave at E 50th St. A grand hotel further north, near St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
See our guide to hotels in Midtown East near Grand Central for more choices to the north.
Things to do near Murray Hill
The Morgan Library and Museum. At 225 Madison Ave at E 36th St. J. P. Morgan’s private library, with three floors of wood-paneled bookshelves and rare manuscripts. One of the most beautiful rooms in New York.
Grand Central Terminal. Look up at the painted ceiling in the Main Concourse, then find the Whispering Gallery near the Oyster Bar. See our Grand Central guide.
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt. An observation deck with mirrored rooms, next to Grand Central. Read our SUMMIT guide.
The Empire State Building. At 34th Street and Fifth Avenue, a 5- to 10-minute walk from most Murray Hill hotels.
Koreatown and Curry Hill. Koreatown is on W 32nd St, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Curry Hill, with Indian restaurants and grocers, is on Lexington Avenue in the high 20s.
Getting around
Grand Central–42 St has the 4, 5, 6, 7 and the shuttle to Times Square. Metro-North trains leave here for Westchester and Connecticut.
The 6 also stops at 33 St on Park Avenue South. To the west, 34 St–Herald Sq has the B, D, F, M, N, Q, R and W trains.
For LaGuardia, a taxi from Murray Hill is often 25 to 40 minutes, or take the Q70 LaGuardia Link bus from Jackson Heights. For JFK, the LIRR from Grand Central Madison to Jamaica connects with the AirTrain. See NYC airports.
A two-day plan from a Murray Hill hotel
Day one. Breakfast near your hotel, then the Morgan Library when it opens. Walk to the New York Public Library and Bryant Park. After lunch, cross to Grand Central and go up SUMMIT One Vanderbilt in the late afternoon. Dinner in Koreatown.
Day two. Ride the 6 or the 4 and 5 up to the Upper East Side for the Met. Walk back through Central Park, then take the shuttle from Times Square to Grand Central after a Broadway show.
Because Murray Hill sits in the middle of Midtown, most days start and end with a short walk or one subway ride. That saves time and energy on a busy trip.
The neighborhood is also handy for the United Nations, a 10-minute walk east, and for NYU Langone and other hospitals in nearby Kips Bay. See our page on hotels near NYU Langone.
Who should stay in Murray Hill
Couples and older travelers who want calm nights close to Midtown.
Business travelers with meetings near Grand Central or the UN.
Commuters on Metro-North or the Long Island Rail Road from Grand Central Madison.
It is less ideal if you want nightlife outside your door. The bars on Third Avenue are casual.
Common questions
Is Murray Hill a good place to stay in NYC?
Yes. It is central, close to Grand Central and the Empire State Building, and quieter at night than Times Square.
Where exactly is Murray Hill?
Roughly between 34th and 42nd Streets, from Fifth Avenue east to the East River, in Midtown Manhattan.
Is Murray Hill safe?
It is a residential area and generally considered one of the safer parts of Midtown. Use normal city sense at night.
How far is Murray Hill from Times Square?
About 10 to 15 minutes. Take the shuttle from Grand Central to Times Square, or walk west along 42nd Street.
Are Murray Hill hotels cheaper than Times Square hotels?
Often slightly, and the rooms are usually quieter. Compare the total price with tax and any daily fee.
Keep reading
Hotels near Grand Central · NoMad hotels · Hotels near the Empire State Building · Koreatown hotels · Hotels near NYU Langone · Midtown and Fifth Avenue