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A Landmarked Masterpiece Meets French Cuisine at Marcel on Madison Avenue

Located within the iconic Breuer building, the all-day, convivial dining room-cum-gallery is already the most sought-after reservation in town

By Christina Ohly Evans
Elegant restaurant dining area with neatly set tables, white tablecloths, plush seating, and artwork on wood-paneled walls.
Marcel at the Breuer Building. Photo: RICH STAPLETON

This week marks the highly anticipated opening of Marcel in the iconic Breuer building on New York’s Upper East Side. Set within Marcel Breuer’s 1966 brutalist masterpiece that was once home to the Whitney Museum of American Art, and now serves as Sotheby’s New York headquarters, it is already the most sought-after reservation in town. A vibrant setting for Modern and Contemporary marquee sales, the site will now house an all-day, convivial dining room-cum-gallery where art—and objects for sale—will meet French-inflected cuisine.

Man and woman in formal attire standing by a staircase with concrete walls in an industrial setting.
Robin and Stephen Alesch. Photo: Cass Bird.
Elegant restaurant interior with large windows, set tables, and a decorative vase with flowers.
Marcel at the Breuer Building. Photo: Rich Stapleton

A partnership between Roman and Williams founders Robin and Stephen Alesch – the duo behind celebrated hospitality venues including Soho’s La Mercerie and the sublime Estelle Manor in the English countryside—and Sotheby’s, the restaurant named for the Bauhaus-trained architect, will welcome diners from morning through elegant evenings. The pair have embraced the midcentury aesthetic of the space and enhanced it with rich, walnut-paneled walls, warm candlelight (a Roman and Williams forte), and an open plan kitchen that adds to the theatrical hum.

Elegant restaurant interior with dim lighting, featuring a central bar, high stools, and tables set for dining.
Marcel at the Breuer Building. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby’s

A new, dedicated entry welcomes visitors with touches of walnut and bronze that set the stage for the big reveal downstairs. A central dining room highlights Breuer’s bush-hammered concrete columns, with all original lighting details thoughtfully preserved. The kitchen serves as the room’s focal point—one with space for 140 guests—with walls paneled in book-matched Black Figured and Claro walnut and sumptuous banquettes swathed in cocoa-tinged Pierre Frey mohair that are ideal for intimate conversation. A mirrored bar highlights vintage steel and leather Bauhaus stools paired with original Breuer lamps sourced at auction. Art takes center stage as well with objects displayed in Goppion-designed vitrines, and works of art hung on steel picture hangers—always in rotation like an ever-changing, dynamic gallery.

Roasted chicken garnished with herbs on a silver platter, served with red wine, lettuce, and bread on a white tablecloth.
Poulet Roti. Photo: NICO SCHINCO
A basket of crispy golden fries on a white tablecloth with a bottle, glass with olive, and salt shaker nearby.
Savory Frites. Photo: NICO SCHINCO
Elegant seafood salad with shrimp, grapefruit slices, and greenery on a white plate, accompanied by a glass of white wine.
Cocktail De Crevettes Marie Rose. Photo: Nico Schinco
Bakery display with colorful macarons, croissants, and pastries in glass cases and shelves decorated with elegant boxes.
La Mercerie Patisserie. Photo: Rich Stapleton
Two powdered pastries on a plate shaped like shells, with a cup of tea and a pastry box in the background.
Madeleines in Shells. Photo: NICO SCHINCO
Layered pastry dessert with cream filling, topped with powdered sugar and pink flower, served on a marble tray.
Mille-feuille. Photo: NICO SCHINCO
Assorted pastries and cakes on a marble counter with colorful decorations and elegant presentation.
La Mercerie Patisserie. Photo: Rich Stapleton

Equally spectacular is the food—from a dedicated La Mercerie Patisserie for all-day madeleines and casual coffee, to lunch and dinner that’s overseen by chef-partner Marie-Aude Rose. With menus conceived by executive chef Juan Moncalvo, continental classics such as ham and comté tartines at lunch and confit de canard will appear throughout the day—often with wine pairings in partnership with Sotheby’s specialists. Every tabletop detail has been thought through, from midcentury typefaces that appear on menus and packaging to the Roman and Williams-designed Hyssop vases and candlesticks that highlight the room in patinated bronze. Handcrafted flatware and exquisite glassware from Japan, as well as Arita porcelain in a slight silver hue, all add to the serene atmosphere.

Elegant dining table setting with silver platter holding matchbooks, white tablecloth, plates, and glassware.
Marcel at the Breuer Building. Photo: FREYA GOTHELF
Cozy restaurant interior with candlelit tables, white tablecloths, and wooden paneling on the walls, creating an intimate ambiance.
Marcel at the Breuer Building. Photo: Rich Stapleton

Of special note is the original sculpture garden, which will now seat 70 additional guests for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Just steps off bustling Madison Avenue and yet surrounded by nature and art, this garden oasis is the perfect spot for a casual morning coffee or plein air dinner.  For lovers of great design—midcentury and contemporary—as well as delicious, creative cuisine, Marcel is New York’s new top table.