Rent the perfect business lunch venue in Midtown

Located in Midtown’s Murray Hill, Leonetta is a gorgeous restaurant serving Mediterranean flavours to American diners. Pleasingly close to the action yet somehow sheltered from Midtown’s main drawback - heavy traffic and the perpetual wailing of sirens - it makes a great summer option for al fresco dining. Featuring a warm lightwood interior and street seating for summer days, the setting is at once relaxed and luxurious, a gentle oasis for the eyes after a morning of staring at the blue light dawn of Microsoft’s Office suite. The menu, as promised, is heavily inspired by the coastal Mediterranean, with an array of fish and salads alongside mezze classics and dip-based appetisers.

Leonetta offers options for a bevvy of private events, including a full venue buyout, ensuring you can accommodate a business lunch for the whole team if necessary.

1 Penn Plaza is more than a single venue. A skyscraper home to some of the world’s most prestigious businesses, the ground floor and ground floor mezzanine are open to the public, featuring a fountain, two restaurants, a cafe, and innumerable breakout areas and seated spaces for more privacy after your meal. The building - designed as a flagship project by Kahn & Jacobs in the 70s - is both corporate and opulent, making it a perfect venue for a business lunch.

For food, The Landing (located on the mezzanine) offers an option for diners preferring Modern American cuisine, with a menu featuring oysters, lobster rolls, and a variety of meat and fish plates. Downstairs, Blue Ribbon Sushi & Steak… well, what it says on the tin.

Both restaurants offer reservations for up to twenty guests and more. The plethora of workspaces located in the lobby ensures that if the laptops need to come out, you’ll be able to find a place to hash out anything work-related, should you have the misfortune.

A timeless favorite, Union Square Cafe is a staple for classic New York lunches. Since opening in 1985, this historic, award-winning restaurant has earned its reputation, sparking the creation of Union Square Hospitality Group and has been a top contender on Zagat’s “most popular” list an astounding nine times. Known for impeccable service, a relaxed atmosphere, and exceptional dishes, it’s the perfect backdrop for business lunches. Nestled between Union Square, Gramercy Park, and the Flatiron Building, Union Square Cafe is a nice breather from the overwhelm of Midtown without straying too far from the office. Whether you’re impressing visitors or enjoying a local favorite, it delivers every time.

The restaurant also features a house cocktail menu with some truly memorable and unusual flavours to accommodate a liquid lunch if preferred.

Reserve the 45-person Park & Irving Room, the semi-private Alcove for up to 10, or opt for a full restaurant buyout for up to 200 guests.

The first challenge of Sakagura is finding it. Self-described as “a unique and hidden location”, you can find Sakagura in the basement of an unremarkable office building at 211 East 43 Street, not far from the Chrysler Building. You’ll need a reservation in advance - although I can’t imagine the restaurant gets too many walk-ins - and you may need to reassure your guests once or twice that you aren’t going to partake in some illegal gambling for lunch. Still, the unique setting really does feel like you’re entering a hidden world. It’s a great spot to impress those not intimately familiar with New York’s dining world.

The menu is equally as memorable as the venue. Serving over 260 different Sake options, as well as traditional izakaya-style dishes, all in a casual yet chic setting.

Maybe it’s because I’m a sucker for Italian food. Maybe it’s because Osteria Al Doge just happened to be the first restaurant I stumbled upon on my first night in the city. Maybe it’s fate. Maybe it’s Maybelline? Whatever it is, Osteria Al Doge holds a place in my heart. An unpretentious, classic Italian restaurant with a premium location, OAD feels a little Venice, a little New York, a little Vegas – ideal if you’re hosting international clients A surprisingly cavernous space with a boutique entrance in the Theatre District, there’s a real emphasis on fresh produce and high-quality ingredients that make the traditional recipes really pop, and this underlines its comfortable ambience. Offering seating options for 20+ guests, I hope it finds a place in your heart, too – even if it’s just for a routine business lunch.