Monkey Bar
American restaurant · Midtown East
60 E 54th St, New York, NY 10022
Highlights
Retro murals & swanky furnishings fill this exclusive American eatery
Retro murals & swanky furnishings fill this exclusive American eatery
"If you’d like to eat a splashy lunch and briefly forget what time it is, there's Monkey Bar. An attractive dark yellow light casts itself across the cave-like Midtown restaurant at all times of the day, making the idea of a stiff drink and some red meat seem all the smarter. Going back into the daylight will be hard, but the 2pm burger and cosmo make it all worth it." - willa moore, bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick, will hartman, sonal shah
"This revamped Midtown restaurant still has a big sunken dining room that features plush red booths and a wraparound mural of Jazz Age celebrities, but now it's run by the people behind 4 Charles Prime Rib. Hearty and unpretentious, the food includes everything from pasta and fried chicken to steakhouse staples like a dry-aged porterhouse. Notably, they serve the same cheese-smothered burger that you’ll find at Au Cheval, and you should eat one in the walk-in-only tavern area." - bryan kim, sonal shah, molly fitzpatrick, willa moore
"Like The Grill, Monkey Bar nails the old-school NYC aesthetic that seems to work best in Midtown. The sunken dining room is lined with murals and glossy red booths, and it’s always packed with people drinking Old Fashioneds. If you want a burger, theirs is great, but you can also get everything from pasta and chicken parm to steak and crab rangoon. Unfortunately, reservations can be tough. Book at least a week in advance, or stop by for lunch." - bryan kim, will hartman, hannah albertine, kenny yang
"How similar is it to TGI Fridays? Strip away the zebra print and servers in formalwear, and there’s a decent resemblance. Monkey Bar has been around in some form since 1936, but the people behind 4 Charles Prime Rib and Au Cheval took over in 2022, bringing with them a menu that spans from lobster spaghetti to crab rangoon. Against all odds, there are very few misses—but you should probably just get the burger. If you need an Applebee’s-adjacent place with an old-school feel and a quality old fashioned, book a big red booth in the sunken Midtown dining room." - bryan kim
"An iconic bar with a Jazz Age essence and art deco interior, known for its deep red leather booths and golden hues, offering a relaxed energy despite being a sought-after reservation."
