This is a collaboration post with On Location Tours.
If you’re anything like me, aka an obsessed TV and movie fan, visiting New York City is a must. My first trip was when I was sixteen years old and I did such intense research beforehand that I already knew where to find the movie theater from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, the restaurant from Mad About You, and the apartment building from Enchanted.
My obvious must-do activity was a tour of TV and movie locations with On Location Tours, and I loved it so much that here I am, almost nine years later, working for them! These are my favorite filming locations around New York City.
Click here to book a tour with On Location Tours.
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Monk’s Diner, Seinfeld
Even the casual Seinfeld watcher would recognise the bright red neon “Restaurant” sign, where the gang regularly talk about nothing. The cafe is known as Monk’s diner, but in real lif, it actually called Tom’s Restaurant; and in every scene, the word “Tom’s” is cropped from the frame. And from now on, you’ll never be able to unsee this.
Tom’s/Monk’s is located on the corner of Broadway and W112 Street and is a short walk/ride from the very north of Central Park. Indeed, this is exactly how I visited it myself. My only regret is I did not stay for a tuna salad.
Friends Apartment Building
Friends has been my absolute favorite television show since I was fourteen years old, so naturally, the building shown in ten years’ worth of establishing shots as the home of the world’s six favorite friends has always been one of the most exciting locations to see. It’s in the West Village, at the intersection of Bedford and Grove Streets, and even though the cast of the classic sitcom never stepped foot in the building, it’s still a must-see on the NYC TV & Movie Tour.
Serendipity 3
Serendipity, starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, is one of my favorite movies of all time, and this restaurant plays an important part in the story! Not to mention it’s simply adorable and the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate is delicious. It’s a popular spot amongst celebrities as well.
Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, Central Park
Bethesda Terrace and Fountain is one of the most filmed sites in Central Park. Remember when the tip of the statue tears the engine away from Santa’s sleigh in Elf? That was Bethesda Fountain! Other movies that have filmed there are One Fine Day, Made of Honor, When Harry Met Sally, Enchanted, and The Producers.
Rockefeller Center
Ah, Rockefeller Center. A magical place, especially during the holiday season! Saturday Night Live films inside the NBC studios there, as did 30 Rock (and its show-within-a-show, TGS).
30 Rock also did a lot of filming outside, all around Rockefeller Center. During the holidays, this is where you’ll find the huge Christmas tree and the ice skating rink, where movies like Elf and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York filmed. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt also filmed a scene here during its first season (when Kimmy and her fellow mole women are on the Today Show).
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building, the most famous skyscraper in NYC, has been seen in an endless list of movies and television shows. King Kong climbed it back in 1933. An Affair to Remember set the standard for romantic meetings at the top of the Empire State Building, infamously mimicked in Sleepless in Seattle and later in TV shows like Gossip Girl and The Mindy Project.
New York Public Library
The main branch of the New York Public Library, situated on the edge of Bryant Park, is one of the most peaceful places in the city, which makes it one of my favorites. Many well-known movies have filmed there, including Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Ghostbusters, Spider-Man, Sex and the City, and 13 Going on 30.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The steps in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art are a famous spot for filming and can be seen in Gossip Girl and Hitch. And the “pepper on my paprikash” scene in When Harry Met Sally took place inside the Sackler Wing of the museum. Other movies that have filmed at the Met include Maid in Manhattan and The Nanny Diaries.
Bow Bridge, Central Park
Bow Bridge is another of the most filmed locations in Central Park – and for good reason! Spanning a portion of the Lake, this beautiful bridge can be seen in Woody Allen’s Manhattan, Glee, Made of Honor, Enchanted, Little Manhattan, and Uptown Girls.
Washington Square Park
The heart of Greenwich Village is Washington Square Park, and it’s one of my favourite places to spend time in the summer. It is the titular park in Barefoot in the Park, and is featured prominently in When Harry Met Sally, August Rush, and I Am Legend. It’s also a popular filming spot for TV shows, like Blue Bloods, Glee, and Gilmore Girls.
McGee’s (MacLaren’s), How I Met Your Mother
McGee’s Pub on 55th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue is the real-life inspiration for one of the most iconic bars in the history of TV shows: MacLaren’s Pub from How I Met Your Mother. The creators of the show used to come here for drinks and were inspired by the atmosphere to create a similar version for their sitcom.
Head there on Monday evening and watch an episode of H.I.M.Y.M. while enjoying a Suit Up Sandwich and a Robin Sparkles Cocktail. If you are lucky, you will get a table at one of the booths and feel like Ted, Barney, Robin, Marshall and Lily. Even if you are not a huge fan of the show, you will still be able to enjoy their superb food and affordable drinks. The cast of the show used to come here too at least once a year for a huge party. By 197travelstamps.com
Magnolia Bakery
Magnolia Bakery has actually been featured in several films. Most famously, it has appeared in Sex and the City a couple of times. Not that I’ve watched it ever, but I’m lead to believe it was a favourite of Carrie’s. It was also mentioned in The Devil Wears Prada. However, most unashamedly, in Spin City – a great show from the 90s – Charlie brings Magnolia cupcakes for his then-girlfriend Caitlin. There are many outlets through NYC, but the original is on Bleecker Street.
Staten Island Ferry
One of the most popular tourist attractions in New York is the Staten Island Ferry, which goes from the southern tip of Manhattan to Staten Island. A trip on the ferry makes it very clear to everyone that Manhattan is an island. But best of all: the ferry is for free! And movie freaks will freak out, cause it is also well-known from several films like How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, a movie starring Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson, where, in one scene they take a ride together. The ferry also starred in Spider-Man: Homecoming, where the ferry scene is even one of the film’s biggest set pieces.
Soup Man
I started out with a Seinfeld reference location, so I’m ending with another – Soup Man, the home of the infamous “Soup Nazi” in Seinfeld. I have yet to visit the original location seen in the show, but I have tried the soup and it’s excellent!
This list could easily be longer – New York is the most filmed city in the world, after all. But these famous locations, seen in many beloved movies and TV shows, should give you a good start when you’re planning your next trip to NYC!
For further reading on New York make sure you check out the fun I had last time I visited NYC.
Click here to book a tour with On Location Tours.
Heading to New York soon? Use Booking.com because they have free cancellation on most rooms. I’ve cancelled stuff before and it was really easy and cost me nothing.
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Great post! :)