In an area not necessarily known for bars geared toward ‘adults,’ Tavern 29’s location off the beaten Murray Hill path is a much welcomed excuse to head into the neighborhood. The rustic exterior surrounding signage leads inside to a modernized pub space, equipped with darkly painted walls brightened up a bit by the overhead hanging chandeliers and several flat screen televisions each showing sporting events. Once inside, two castle-like private rooms sit to the right and left of the host stand, ideal for more private dining experiences. But for our brunch here, we ponied up to a table in the center of the first floor for pour after pour of bloody Mary mix and mimosas.
Before dining, I made my way upstairs to scope out the second floor space which leads to the small but excellent rooftop. Atmospherically, the upstairs exudes the comfortable feel of a throwback bar. Old barn wood is literally everywhere with the walls and corners lined by comfortable looking old-fashioned booths as knick-knacks and photographs of Manhattan’s emergence sit all around you. When I return, my food is tableside. Moving my thrice filled mimosa glass aside, I dig into the “Tavern Cheddar Burger” topped with mozzarella cheese and a “Tavern Benedict,” served on a poppy seeded ‘blini’ rather than an English muffin. The fare suits my growling stomach well as I yearn to recover from a wild night prior. But soon, with this many mimosas, I’m back where I started- slurring a bit, laughing a lot, and in a great place. That is until, tomorrow morning.

The Rundown

Bar Type - Hard to define. It’s essentially three different bars- sports/dive, upstairs lounge, and rooftop space- each of which are pretty unique to be found within the confines of a singular space, and Tavern 29 has ‘em all.

When to Visit – Weekends are likely the best bet, although the beer selection and rooftop are ideal any weeknight as well. But for a day drink or for a night time destination, you can’t go wrong with Saturday.

Value – It’s an extra $15 for bottomless brunch- mimosas and bloodies. Anything else is meaningless.

The Lowdown - The name isn’t all that catchy but Tavern 29 as a bar stands out on its own. It’s both fun and versatile, and is a unique respite from an otherwise fratty neighborhood- albeit one that does seem to be slowly developing and improving with each passing month. But Tavern 29 gives us as good enough a reason as any to drop by Murray Hill and especially to ‘Drink Here Now.’