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American · Fine Dining Bar · NYC

Monkey Bar NYC Menu Prices 2026: Full Menu, Cocktails & What to Order

Full Monkey Bar NYC menu prices for 2026 — every appetizer, main, side, dessert and cocktail priced. The Hotel Elysée's landmark Midtown restaurant is a power-lunch institution dating to 1936. Steakhouse mains from $32, appetizers from $16, and a classic cocktail program anchored by the signature Monkey's Uncle at $22.

Since 1936Hotel Elysée · East 54th StPower lunch & dinner destinationF1-themed monkey muralsReservations recommended
Jump to full menu Cheapest items
Sample · $$$

Signature items

NY Strip Steak (12 oz)$52
Monkey's Uncle$22
Shrimp Cocktail$22
Spaghetti & Meatballs$32
Banana Split$14
Jump to: History & murals Power lunch guide Steakhouse classics Cocktail bar Full menu Location FAQ
Quick answers

What to know about Monkey Bar before you go

Four essential questions about Monkey Bar's menu, atmosphere, and pricing — answered at a glance.

Best main
NY Strip Steak $52

12 oz USDA prime, aged and grilled to order. The flagship dish since the 2010 revival.

Signature cocktail
Monkey's Uncle $22

House bourbon-Manhattan riff with Amaro Montenegro and grenadine. Named for the bar.

Best starter
Shrimp Cocktail $22

Jumbo Gulf shrimp, house cocktail sauce, fresh horseradish. The most-ordered first course.

Reservations
Required for dining

Tables fully booked most weekday lunches and Thu-Sat dinners. Bar walk-in sometimes available. Book via OpenTable or monkeybarnyc.com.

History & the famous murals

A Midtown Manhattan landmark since 1936.

Monkey Bar opened in 1936 as the cocktail bar of the Hotel Elysée — a boutique property on East 54th Street that would become one of Midtown's most storied residential hotels, housing Tennessee Williams, Tallulah Bankhead and Joe DiMaggio at various points in its history. The bar's most distinctive feature has always been its murals: whimsical oil paintings of monkeys engaged in quintessentially New York social scenarios — dancing at supper clubs, hailing cabs, reading newspapers on park benches.

The original murals were painted in the 1930s and restored and extended by caricaturist and illustrator Edward Sorel in 2009 as part of the renovation overseen by Graydon Carter, then the editor of Vanity Fair. Carter reopened Monkey Bar in 2010 as a proper full-service restaurant and bar with an American fine-dining menu, reviving its identity as a power-lunch destination for the media and finance worlds of Midtown Manhattan.

Today the venue operates as one of the few genuinely old-school Midtown power-dining rooms left in New York — the murals unchanged, the white tablecloths crisp, and the martini prepared with the care of someone who has been doing it for decades.

1936Original opening
2010Graydon Carter revival
2009Edward Sorel murals
54th StHotel Elysée, Midtown
Power lunch guide

What to order at Monkey Bar for a business lunch

The weekday lunch service (noon–2:30 pm) is the meal that defined Monkey Bar's modern identity. These are the six dishes most associated with the power-lunch crowd — efficient, substantial, and appropriate for a business setting.

  1. 1Shrimp CocktailAlways order this first. Arrives quickly and signals you've been here before.$22
  2. 2Iceberg Wedge SaladThe other classic opener — quick to eat and easy to share between two people.$18
  3. 3NY Strip Steak (12 oz)The main event for a proper lunch. Order medium-rare; it arrives pre-rested.$52
  4. 4Spaghetti & MeatballsThe sleeper pick — the most relaxed main, genuinely excellent, cheapest on the list.$32
  5. 5Creamed SpinachThe obligatory side with the strip. Non-negotiable if you're ordering steak.$14
  6. 6Dry MartiniThe lunch cocktail at Monkey Bar. Gin with a lemon twist; request Plymouth or Tanqueray.$22
Lunch timing note. The power-lunch crowd peaks between 12:30 and 1:30 pm on weekdays. For a relaxed meal, book the 12:00 or 2:00 pm slot. A three-course lunch with one cocktail will typically run $80–$120 per person before gratuity — budget accordingly.
Steakhouse classics

Monkey Bar's steakhouse cuts — prices and what to order

The mains menu is anchored by USDA prime steakhouse cuts. Two cuts dominate: the NY Strip at $52 and the Filet Mignon at $54. Here's how they compare and which to order depending on your preference.

$52 · USDA prime · 12 oz

New York Strip Steak

The boldest cut on the menu — more marbling, more flavour, a pronounced char on the outer crust. Served with a choice of peppercorn, béarnaise or au jus. Order medium-rare for best results. The more assertive option for guests who want presence on the plate. The most frequently ordered main at Monkey Bar.

$54 · USDA prime · 8 oz

Filet Mignon

The most tender cut — less marbling, more uniform texture, a cleaner, more delicate flavour profile. Two ounces smaller than the strip but $2 more — reflecting the scarcity of the tenderloin cut. Preferred by guests who want refinement over the brute character of the strip. Order medium-rare to medium.

$36 · Best non-red-meat main

Roast Chicken

Half a free-range bird, roasted with lemon-herb jus and seasonal vegetables. The most consistent, reliable non-steak main — ordered when the table has a guest who doesn't eat red meat, and often praised as one of the better roast chickens in the neighbourhood.

$55 · The showpiece

Dover Sole (Whole, Tableside)

The highest-priced main on the menu and the most theatrical. A whole Channel Dover sole, brought to the table and filleted tableside by the captain in brown butter meunière sauce. The dish most likely to draw attention from other tables. Requires about 25 minutes; best ordered at the start of the meal.

Sides

The best sides to order with steak at Monkey Bar

Sides are a la carte at $12–$14. The classic combination with the strip is Creamed Spinach + French Fries.

  1. 1Creamed SpinachThe steakhouse essential. Order automatically with any red meat.$14
  2. 2Truffle Parmesan Potato GratinThe most indulgent side — thin-sliced potatoes in truffle cream. Pairs beautifully with the filet.$14
  3. 3Mac & CheeseThree-cheese gratin bake — a comfort side that doubles as a standalone bar snack.$14
  4. 4Onion RingsBeer-battered with ranch. Better with the strip than the filet.$13
  5. 5Roasted AsparagusThe lightest side. Good with the salmon or roast chicken.$13
  6. 6French FriesCheapest side. Double-cooked, crispy, and a perfect baseline with any main.$12
Classic cocktail bar

Monkey Bar's cocktail menu — signature drinks and classic standards (2026 prices)

The Monkey Bar cocktail program is rooted in classic American bartending — stirred Manhattan-style drinks, gin sours, and Collins-style long drinks. The two house signatures are the Monkey's Uncle and the Elysée Sling. Cocktails run $18–$22.

$22 · The house signature

Monkey's Uncle

Bourbon, sweet vermouth, Amaro Montenegro, house-made grenadine and Angostura bitters, stirred and served up with a brandied cherry. A bourbon Manhattan built with more complexity — the Montenegro adds a herbal bitterness that keeps it from being cloying. The cocktail most associated with Monkey Bar and the one to order if you want the authentic house experience.

$20 · Hotel Elysée original

Elysée Sling

Gin, Cherry Heering, Bénédictine, pineapple juice, fresh lime, soda and Angostura — a refined riff on the Singapore Sling created for the Hotel Elysée. Lighter and less sweet than the original; more sessionable. The best option if you want something long and fruity without veering into novelty territory.

  1. 1Dry MartiniGin or vodka, stirred with dry vermouth. The power-lunch standard.$22
  2. 2Monkey's UncleHouse signature bourbon-Manhattan. Start here.$22
  3. 3ManhattanRye whiskey, Carpano Antica, Angostura. Served up with a Luxardo cherry.$21
  4. 4Old FashionedBourbon, demerara, bitters. Stirred two minutes; served on a single large ice sphere.$21
  5. 5Elyse SlingGin-based tropical sling. The house long drink.$20
  6. 6NegroniGin, Campari, Cinzano Rosso. The aperitivo of the list.$20
  7. 7Tom CollinsThe lightest and most affordable cocktail on the menu.$18
Bar seating note. The bar at Monkey Bar is one of Midtown's better places for a solo or duo cocktail visit without a full dinner reservation. Walk-in seating at the bar is first-come, first-served. The bar program is strongest during the pre-theatre and early-evening window (5–7 pm) — arrive early for the best seat.
Browse the menu

Jump to a menu category

Six menu categories — from appetizers to desserts and the full cocktail and wine list.

Appetizers8 itemsMains8 itemsSides6 itemsDesserts4 itemsClassic Cocktails7 itemsWine & Champagne3 items
The full menu

Monkey Bar NYC complete menu with 2026 prices

Every item across all six categories. Prices shown are documented averages as of May 2026 — confirm with the restaurant before visiting, as fine-dining menus change seasonally.

About these prices. Pricing shown is based on publicly available menu data and restaurant review sources as of May 2026. Fine-dining menus at Monkey Bar change seasonally; items rotate, and prices adjust with ingredient costs and market conditions. Confirm current pricing directly with the restaurant or via their official website at monkeybarnyc.com before visiting.
Price comparison

How Monkey Bar NYC prices compare to other Midtown steakhouses

Monkey Bar sits at the mid-to-upper tier of Midtown fine-dining pricing — not the most expensive room in the neighbourhood, but firmly in the fine-dining range. This table compares like-for-like against comparable Midtown restaurants.

CategoryMonkey BarSmith & WollenskyThe 21 ClubFour Seasons Restaurant
NY Strip / prime steak$52$62$58$68
Most affordable main$32$38$34$42
Signature cocktail$22$20$22$24
Classic starter (shrimp)$22$24$20$26
Dessert$14$14$14$16

Comparison pricing is approximate and based on publicly documented menu data. Smith & Wollensky at 49th/3rd Ave; The 21 Club at 52nd St; Four Seasons Restaurant at 99 East 52nd St. All Midtown Manhattan fine-dining benchmarks.

Location & access

Finding Monkey Bar in Midtown Manhattan

Monkey Bar is located at 60 East 54th Street in the Hotel Elysée, between Park and Madison Avenues in Midtown Manhattan. The entrance is through the Hotel Elysée lobby off 54th Street.

The nearest subway stations are: Lexington Ave/53rd St (E, M lines — two blocks south and one block east); 51st St (4, 6 lines — three blocks south on Lexington); and Fifth Ave/53rd St (E, M lines). Grand Central Terminal is a 10-minute walk east.

The venue does not have its own parking lot — street parking in Midtown is limited. Nearest garages are on 55th and 57th Streets between Park and Lexington Avenues.

  • Address: 60 East 54th Street, Hotel Elysée, New York, NY 10022
  • Neighbourhood: Midtown East, Manhattan
  • Subway: E/M at Lex/53rd; 4/6 at 51st St
  • Reservations: OpenTable or monkeybarnyc.com
  • Dress code: Smart casual to business formal
  • Bar walk-in: First-come, first-served
Ordering guide

What to order at Monkey Bar — tips for a first visit

Always order this

Shrimp Cocktail first

At $22, the Shrimp Cocktail arrives quickly, doesn't occupy much table real estate, and is a signal to both your dining companion and your server that you know what you're doing. Four jumbo shrimp with fresh horseradish — don't skip it.

Best value main

Spaghetti & Meatballs

At $32, this is the most affordable main on the menu by $4 and arguably the most interesting — house-made spaghetti with a slow San Marzano ragù. Don't let the setting intimidate you out of ordering it. It's excellent.

The cocktail to start

Monkey's Uncle

The house signature at $22. A more complex bourbon Manhattan — the Amaro Montenegro gives it a bitter herbal lift that the classic recipe doesn't have. Order it before food arrives; it's the perfect aperitif for this menu.

Don't skip

Creamed Spinach with steak

At $14, Creamed Spinach is the side that belongs with any of the steak mains. Order it automatically when you order the strip or filet — it's a non-negotiable part of the Monkey Bar steakhouse experience.

Best for the bar

Mac & Cheese at the bar

If you're sitting at the bar rather than dining formally, the Mac & Cheese ($14) and Onion Rings ($13) work well as standalone bar snacks alongside a Manhattan or Old Fashioned. The full dining menu is also available at bar seats.

End on this

Banana Split

The most unapologetically fun item on the menu at $14. A generous interpretation with three scoops of vanilla, hot fudge, caramel and strawberry. Don't overthink the dessert — this is the one to get.

Common questions

Monkey Bar NYC — frequently asked questions

Quick answers to the most commonly asked questions about Monkey Bar's history, menu, pricing, reservations and dress code.

Where is Monkey Bar NYC located?

Monkey Bar is located at 60 East 54th Street in the Hotel Elysée, Midtown Manhattan, New York City, NY 10022. It sits between Park and Madison Avenues — a short walk from Grand Central Terminal, the 4/5/6 subway lines at 51st Street, and the E/M lines at Lexington Ave/53rd Street. The entrance is through the Hotel Elysée lobby.

What is the history of Monkey Bar NYC?

Monkey Bar opened in 1936 in the Hotel Elysée as a Midtown Manhattan cocktail bar and supper club. It quickly became a celebrity haunt — Tallulah Bankhead reportedly kept a suite at the Elysée and was a regular at the bar. The venue is famous for its whimsical monkey murals depicting primates in various New York social situations, originally painted in the 1930s and later reimagined by caricaturist Edward Sorel in 2009 during the renovation led by Graydon Carter (then editor of Vanity Fair). Carter revived Monkey Bar in 2010, transforming it from a faded relic into one of Midtown's most prominent power lunch and dinner destinations. The restaurant quickly attracted a media, finance and entertainment clientele that has defined it ever since.

Do I need a reservation at Monkey Bar NYC?

Yes — reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for dinner and for the power-lunch service (typically noon–2:30 pm weekdays). Monkey Bar operates at capacity most weekday lunches and Thursday through Saturday dinners. Walk-ins are occasionally accommodated at the bar on a first-come, first-served basis, but seating at dining tables is almost always fully reserved. Book in advance via the Monkey Bar website or through OpenTable.

What is the dress code at Monkey Bar?

Monkey Bar is a smart casual to business-formal environment. There is no strict written dress code, but the clientele — predominantly business professionals, media figures and hotel guests — tends to dress accordingly. Jeans are acceptable if paired with a jacket or smart top; athletic wear, trainers and casual beachwear are out of place. The dinner service skews more formal than lunch. When in doubt, dress as you would for a business dinner meeting.

What are the best dishes at Monkey Bar?

The Shrimp Cocktail ($22) and Iceberg Wedge Salad ($18) are the most-ordered starters and the ones most deeply associated with the Monkey Bar experience. For mains, the New York Strip ($52) and Filet Mignon ($54) are the obvious choices — this is a steakhouse-first menu. The Spaghetti & Meatballs ($32) is the sleeper hit and the best non-steak choice. For dessert, the Banana Split ($14) is a crowd favourite and one of the few lighthearted indulgences on an otherwise serious menu.

What are the signature cocktails at Monkey Bar?

The two signature cocktails are the Monkey's Uncle ($22) — a house-created bourbon Manhattan riff with Amaro Montenegro and house grenadine, named for the bar — and the Elysée Sling ($20), a gin-based riff on the Singapore Sling created specifically for the Hotel Elysée. The bar is also well known for its precise preparation of classic stirred cocktails: the Dry Martini ($22), Manhattan ($21) and Old Fashioned ($21) are all benchmarks. The cocktail program is firmly old-school — this is not a venue for elaborate molecular mixology or novelty serves.

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