37 Most Iconic Filming Locations in New York City

Destination: New YorkWhen to Visit: Year-roundGreat for: Arts + History
Written By The Exploreist
 
By Todd Maurer | Updated: January 03, 2024

NYC boasts many locations that have made their appearances in movies and shows, and it doesn’t cost a penny to pose for a photo or selfie with them. Bring a friend and recreate a classic movie scene! Popular spots include FDNY Ladder 8, home to the comedic parapsychologist trio in Ghostbusters, Holly Golightly’s brownstone apartment from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and Joker Stairs from Joker. Here is a list of iconic filming locations in NYC that both visitors and locals shouldn’t miss, especially if you’re a movie fan.

1: Tiffany & Co.

Holly Golightly enjoying her pastries in front of the display windows of Tiffany & Co. in “Breakfast At Tiffany’s.”

Best known for its turquoise blue, Tiffany & Co. is an American luxury jewelry and specialty retailer owned by LVMH headquartered in NYC and is the dream place for every girl. You’ll recognize this famous jewelry store in Breakfast at Tiffany’s when Holly Golightly steps out of a cab and eats pastries while admiring the jewelry in Tiffany’s window before returning to her hum-drum life. Also, you can now literally have breakfast at Tiffany’s in its Blue Box Cafe.

This beautiful cafe in Tiffany’s signature eggshell blue features a $29 breakfast, which includes tea or coffee, a croissant, fruits and berries, and a choice of smoked salmon and bagel stack, truffle eggs, buttermilk waffle, or vegan avocado toast. Tiffany & Co. is also where Andrew asks Melanie to marry him in Sweet Home Alabama. If you want a turquoise box but don’t have a diamond-sized budget, you can get a silver Tiffany chain for $50.

2: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Blair, the Queen B eating yogurt with the girls at The Met in “Gossip Girl.”

The Metropolitan Museum of Art on the Upper West Side is the nation’s largest museum, with 3 locations in the city. It’s so massive that you can easily spend several days here. On the big screen, this is where Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan take a stroll in When Harry Met Sally. Also, Pierce Brosnan steals a Monet painting from The Met in the 1990s remake of The Thomas Crown Affair. It’s also where Blair Waldorf, “the Queen B,” sits to eat yogurt with the girls in Gossip Girl, as well as the location of the main heist sequence in Ocean’s 8.

Read More: Unique, Cool Museums in NYC That Deserve a Visit

3: The Plaza Hotel

The Plaza Hotel room in “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.”

On the southeastern corner of Central Park and just west of Fifth Avenue, The Plaza is a 19-story, French Renaissance-inspired château-style hotel that has welcomed guests worldwide for over 100 years. Also, this luxury hotel is featured in many films, including the Christmas class, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, where Kevin uses his dad’s credit card to stay there when he mistakenly gets on a plane headed for New York instead of Florida.

While not everyone can afford a room here, which can cost a few thousand per night, you can check out the gorgeous lobby where many of the movie’s scenes were shot. Other films that feature this luxurious hotel are North By Northwest, Crocodile Dundee, The Great Gatsby, and Bride Wars.

Read More: Best Christmas Movies to Watch This Year

4: Grand Central Terminal

The battle scene in “The Avengers” featuring Grand Central Station in NYC.

One of the world’s most gorgeous train stations, Grand Central Terminal has been featured in dozens of movies. The main hall is the site of the flash mob scene at the end of Justin Timberlake’s movie Friends With Benefits. Beneath the station is the famous Grand Central Oyster Bar, where George Clooney has lunch with his daughter in One Fine Day. Will Smith has been back to Grand Central twice, filming for I Am Legend and Men in Black.

You’ll also recognize the station in the opening scene of the first episode of Gossip Girl, the climactic battle scene in The Avengers and Madagascar, where Marty tried to run away to Connecticut until Alex, Melman, and Gloria caught up to him and got themselves cornered by the NYPD. While there, you can photograph the celestial ceiling or grab banana pudding from Magnolia’s or coconut creme donuts from Doughnut Plant at the food hall.

5: New York Public Library

New York Public Library featured in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

With nearly 53 million items and 92 locations, The New York Public Library is the country’s second-largest public library and a famous filming location. The library is known for its appearance in Ghostbusters, where the protagonists meet the ghost of a librarian, Eleanor Twitty. It is also featured in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Day After Tomorrow and is the devastating scene from Sex and the City where Carrie throws the bouquet in Big’s face at their wedding. While there, be sure to check out the beautiful Rose Main Reading Room.

Read More: Most Instagrammable Places in New York City

6: Empire State Building

Sam Baldwin and Jonah meet at the Empire State Building on Valentine’s Day.

Your trip to NYC won’t be complete without seeing the city from the top of the Empire State Building. This 102-story Art Deco skyscraper is featured in the original 1930s movie King Kong and over 250 films and TV shows, including Sleepless in Seattle, Elf, Oblivion, and the romantic classic An Affair to Remember. There are two observatory decks: the 86th and 102nd floors. The views from the 86th-floor outdoor observatory are excellent. You can plop down $33+ per person to go to the 102nd-floor observatory.

Read More: How to Visit the Empire State Building and Local Tips

7: Katz’s Delicatessen

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal having lunch at Katz’s Delicatessen in “When Harry Met Sally.”

Located at 205 East Houston Street in Lower Manhattan, this kosher-style sandwich shop is known for its huge portions of matzo ball soup and pastrami on rye sandwiches, as well as the appearance in When Harry Met Sally, where Meg Ryan faked an orgasm over lunch with Billy Crystal. You can sit at the same spot under a sign that says “Where Harry met Sally…hope you have what she had!” The deli also appears in Enchanted and Donnie Brasco.

8: FDNY Ladder 8

FDNY Ladder 8 featured in Ghostbusters from the 1984 original to the 2016 remake.

FDNY Ladder 8, on 14 North Moore Street at its intersection with Varick Street, has been an operating firehouse for over a century, but it is best known as the base for the “Ghostbusters” from the 1984 original to the 2016 remake. While the firehouse served as the set for the exterior scenes, the interior of the “Ghostbusters” base was shot in a Los Angeles studio.

Once you have taken just enough photos of the exterior, look down — the station’s insignia, which features the “Ghostbusters” logo, is painted on the sidewalk! You can explore FDNY Ladder 8 on your own or book an NYC TV and Movie bus tour, which makes a stop at this iconic Tribeca location.

9: Times Square

Captain America’s reality after he wakes up after 70 years in “Captain America: The First Avenger.”

Times Square, one of the world’s busiest pedestrian intersections, has been featured in over 35 classic movies. The most iconic moment, though, is from Vanilla Sky, in which David Aames spins around, and as the camera follows him, all the neon lights and billboards that characterize Times Square are highlighted. It also appears as Michael Keaton’s nightmare in Birdman and Captain America’s reality after he wakes up after 70 years in Captain America: The First Avenger. Other movies in which this famous crossroad is featured include Spider-Man 3, Letters to Juliet, and more!

10: Radio City Music Hall

NYC Radio City Music Hall featured in “The Godfather.”

Best known for its Christmas classic, Radio City Music Hall is also a famous filming location. If you’re a fan of The Godfather, you’ll recognize this theater as the spot where Michael Corleone and Kay Adams learn about the assassination attempt on Don Corleone. Planning a visit to New York City during Christmas? Be sure to watch a holiday ballet show there. You’ll step inside Radio City Music Hall as it transforms into a winter wonderland, where wooden soldiers dance, ice skaters glide, and snowflakes swirl.

Read More: Best Christmas Shows in New York City

11: The Unisphere

The Unisphere is crashed and destroyed by a flying saucer in “Men in Black.”

Located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, the Unisphere is the world’s largest globe, commissioned to celebrate the beginning of the space age. Though you might have seen it destroyed by a flying saucer in the movie Men in Black, the real-life Unisphere still stands tall in the park. In addition to its appearance on the big screen, the park is famous for its cherry blossom festival, Sakura Matsuri, which takes place every Saturday in mid-April.

12: Rockefeller Center

Kevin reunites with his mother at Rockefeller Center at the end of “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.”

Every December, this historic landmark in the heart of Manhattan transforms into a winter wonderland, welcoming people all around the world to see the spectacular tree lighting. It is also where Kevin reunites with his mother at the end of Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. As you walk down 50th Street and Madison Avenue, you’ll pass by Lotte Palace New York, the city’s first 5-star hotel that has appeared in movies like 27 Dresses and Just My Luck. It is also the home of the studios for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and Saturday Night Live.

Read More: Best Things to Do at NYC’s Rockefeller Center

13: Central Park

The sing-along at picturesque Bethesda Fountain, Central Park in “Enchanted.”

This vast green space has appeared in almost every New York-based movie ever made. You’ll recognize the park’s bench-lined Mall in Kramer vs. Kramer and Maid in Manhattan, the picturesque Bethesda Fountain as the sing-along site in Enchanted, and Wollman Rink as the romantic backdrop in Serendipity and Love Story. The restaurant, Tavern on the Green, also has been featured in dozens of films, including Wall Street, Beaches, and Mr. Popper’s Penguins. It is also where poor Louis Tully bangs fruitlessly on the windows, trying to escape a demon dog in Ghostbusters.

Read More: Best Things to Do in Central Park

14: The Big Short, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Hitch

Located at the intersection of Broadway and Morris Street, Charging Bull is the talisman for New York Stock Exchange traders and a symbol of strength and courage. This charming statue is popular among tourists who want to take playful shots with its balls and has appeared in movies like The Big Short, The Wolf of Wall Street, and the 2021 Hitch, Arthur remake.

15: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Guggenheim Museum’s spiral gallery featured in “Mr. Popper’s Penguins.”

The Guggenheim features both a permanent and an ever-changing rotation of exhibits. The white exterior of the Frank Lloyd Wright design can be spotted in Men in Black, Bye Bye Birdie, and When in Rome, while the interior’s spiral gallery is featured in the 2014 remake of Annie, Mr. Popper’s Penguins and Manhattan. Even if you don’t know any of the movies, the sheer wonder of the building itself is enough to incite an incredible feeling of awe. Spend some time exploring the space and take some Instagrammable photos.

16: American Museum of Natural History

Larry Daley at the American Museum of Natural History in “Night at the Museum.”

AMNH on the Upper West Side features incredible exhibitions about human cultures, nature, and the universe. Plus, it is a filming location the whole family can appreciate, best known for its appearance in Night at the Museum, where Larry Daley got more than he bargained as a night security guard for when the museum exhibits come to life. Here, you can explore the real exhibits behind the characters in the movie, such as the Tyrannosaurus Rex in the Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs and the Capuchin Monkey in the Hall of Primates.

Read More: The Best, Coolest Museums in New York City

17: Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty battle in “X-Men.”

The Statue of Liberty needs no introduction. This iconic landmark has been featured in a dozen movies, including X-Men, Titanic, On the Town, Splash, and the shocking final scene in the original Planet of the Apes, where the protagonist finds the Statue of Liberty buried in the sand. You can take the ferry to visit Lady Liberty, and tickets can be purchased online or at the ticketing windows in the Castle Clinton National Monument or Liberty State Park.

18: Brooklyn Bridge

Miranda and Steve reunite after their separation in “Sex and the City: The Movie.”

Connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn is an iconic cable-stayed bridge every visitor to New York City should see: Brooklyn Bridge. It spans over the East River and often takes 30 to 35 minutes to cross, during which you’ll see Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Statue of Liberty. You’ll recognize this landmark in Sex and the City: The Movie, where Miranda and Steve reunite after their separation. It’s also where Alvy professes his love for Annie in Annie Hall. If you cross the bridge in the early morning or late at night, bring an extra layer.

19: Joker Stairs

Joker as he dances down the stairs in a bright red-colored suit and clown makeup.

Along Anderson Avenues at West 167th Street in the Bronx, these steep stairs are where Arthur Fleck, the main character in Joker, is repeatedly shown walking up and down as part of his daily routine. Later in the movie, he dances down the stairs in a bright red-colored suit and clown makeup that represent his character, Joker. Also, there is a joker sticker on the wall next to the stairs on Anderson Avenues, so if you see it, it means you’re at the right place. We visited the stairs during the pandemic in 2020 when it was super empty.

20: Veniero’s Pasticceria & Caffe

Opened in 1894 by award-winning baker Antonio Veniero from Sorrento, Veniero’s is known for its traditional and regional Italian confections, including handmade Italian butter cookies, biscotti, cannoli, and tiramisu. Not only can you enjoy yummy treats at this family-owned pastry shop, but it’s also a filming location for shows like The Village, Live with Regis and Kelly, and Curb Your Enthusiasm (episode 76), where the main character uses the bakery’s hard crust Italian bread as an improvised weapon.

21: Holly Golightly’s Apartment

Holly Golightly’s apartment in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

Breakfast at Tiffany’s fans will recognize this beautiful white brownstone on the Upper East Side, where Holly Golightly spends her days sleeping off the hangover from the night before. While most of the interior shots were filmed in Los Angeles, the exterior shots of the apartment were right here!

22: Sutton Parks

Isaac Davis and Mary Wilkie snuggle on a bench with amazing views of the Queensboro Bridge in “Manhattan.”

Once a neighborhood known for gangs of street toughs in the 1900s, Sutton Parks is now a favorite hangout for the nearby residents and a famous filming location. You’ll recognize this beautiful spot in Manhattan, where Isaac Davis and Mary Wilkie snuggle on a bench with views of the Queensboro Bridge. Even if you don’t know the film, this park offers breathtaking views and is the perfect place for a romantic stroll. The bridge has also been featured in 1936’s My Man Godfrey, where Irene convinces Godfrey to marry her.

23: Puck Building

The Puck Building in Nolita is a historic landmark, a perfect example of the German Rundbogenstil style of architecture and a filming location. This building will be immediately recognized by Will & Grace fans as it is the exterior shot for Grace Adler’s office. It’s also been featured in When Harry Met Sally, American Psycho, and the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

24: Carrie’s Brownstone

Carrie’s brownstone in the West Village of Manhattan.

Although in the HBO series Sex and the City, the apartment of the main character, Carrie Bradshaw, is in Upper Manhattan, the real thing is actually located downtown in the West Village. Just like most TV shows, the inside of the apartment is filmed in a studio, but fans will immediately recognize the exterior from the many times Carrie goes in and out.

25: Daily News Building

Also known as the News Building, this 476-foot skyscraper was the headquarters for many famous newspaper publishers, including New York Daily News and United Press International. The structure is featured in the original 1978 Superman as the headquarters of Daily Planet. Stepping in and seeing the big globe will immediately make you remember Christopher Reeve as Clark Kent and his high-flying alter-ego, Superman.

26: The Dakota Building

The Dakota Building in “Rosemary’s Baby.”

This late-19th-century cooperative apartment appears in the 1968 psychological horror film Rosemary’s Baby, where Rosemary and her demon neighbors live in the film. It’s also featured in Hannah and Her Sisters as Sam Waterson takes Diane West and Carrie Fischer on a tour of this building.

27: Flatiron Building

If you’ve ever wandered through the Flatiron District, you won’t miss this iconic NYC landmark, a triangular 22-story, 285-foot office building. This uniquely shaped building plays the role of the Daily Bugle in the original Spider-Man trilogy and appears in This Is Us and Armageddon.

28: 7B Horseshoe Bar aka Vazacs

The famous filming location, 7B Horseshoe Bar in the East Village of Manhattan.

This East Village bar with a red door, a jukebox loaded with punk, and an old-school photo booth is the setting of the scene where Tony ambushes Frank, and Michael Corleone says hello in The Godfather Part II. It has also been featured as the setting of one of Nadia’s many deaths in Russian Doll, the Life Cafe in Rent, and Luke Cage’s bar in Marvel’s Jessica Jones.

29: Tom’s Restaurant

Tom’s Restaurant featured in the “Seinfeld” comedy series.

This was the first restaurant I ate at when I came to New York. In addition to its fame for being frequently visited by President Obama when he was a student at Columbia University, Tom’s Restaurant is known as the hangout for the main characters of Seinfeld throughout its lengthy run.

30: Washington Square Park

Washington Square Park, where Carey Mulligan swears up a storm in “Inside Llewyn Davis.”

This park might be small, but it is one of the most recognizable spots in NYC for its many roles on the big screen, from a romantic spot in When Harry Met Sally, an empty wasteland in I Am Legend, to a battleground in Avengers: Infinity War, and where Carey Mulligan swears up a storm in Inside Llewyn Davis. Even if you don’t know any of these movies, you can play chess or bocce ball or sit on the wooden bench or in the shade on the lawn for a moment of peace. During select times, there are also shows and cultural events.

31: Friends Apartment

Located at the corner of Bedford Street and Grove Street in the West Village, this tan brick building has been featured in every episode of the popular 1990s TV series Friends. While the show was filmed in Los Angeles, this NYC building indeed served as the exterior of the apartment.

32: The Belnord

The Arconia from “Only Murders in the Building.”

The Upper West Side residents will instantly recognize the Arconia in the newest crime series, Only Murders in the Building. This “problematic” structure is a mash-up of three buildings in New York City, the most recognizable of which is the Belnord, a residential property located at 225 West 86th Street. When you visit, you’ll recognize both the exterior and courtyard of this gorgeous luxury condominium featured in the show.

33: Coney Island Beach

Eilis Lacey and Tony go on a date to Coney Island Beach in “Brooklyn.”

In addition to being an escape from the hustle and bustle of NYC, Coney Island’s beach is a filming location featured in movies like the 2015 romantic drama Brooklyn, where the two young lovebirds go on a date. This is also where the boardwalk scene at the beginning of Beaches was filmed, as well as where Alvy Singer’s flashbacks to childhood take place in Annie Hall.

34: Serendipity 3

Serendipity 3 featured in a romantic scene of “Serendipity.”

At this cheery, kitschy Upper East Side family spot, dessert outshines salads, burgers, and sandwiches to be the highlight. However, the draw of this place is its appearance in the 2001 romantic comedy Serendipity. The restaurant’s decadent desserts have also popped up in other movies and TV shows, including Gossip Girl, One Fine Day, and Trust the Man. The most popular item on the menu is the trademarked Frrrozen Hot Chocolate, a brain-freezing chocolate slushie. It is huge, so be sure to bring a friend to share it with.

Read More: Best Desserts in New York City to Try

35: Cafe Lalo

Cafe Lalo, where Kathleen Kelly and Joe Fox meet in person for the first time in “You’ve Got Mail.”

Set in a brownstone on a tree-lined street, Cafe Lalo has made a cameo in the 1998 classic You’ve Got Mail, where Kathleen Kelly and Joe Fox went from online friends to meet in person for the first time. If Meg and Tom isn’t your thing, the cafe is also known for its insane abundance of more than 100 cakes, pies, and desserts to tempt your sweet tooth.

36: Macy’s

The country’s largest department store is featured in the holiday classic Miracle on 34th Street, where Macy’s Santa tries to convince a little girl that he is the real Santa Claus. This is also where the holiday magic happens, from decked-out window displays to immersive experiences of Santaland.

37: Columbia University

Columbia University has appeared on the big screen, too! You’ll recognize the Low Memorial Library in Hitch, where Alex “Hitch” Hitchens discovers his life purpose of becoming a love guru as he trips up Low Steps. The campus is also featured in The Detective, where Frank Sinatra first sees Lee Remick, who plays a Columbia professor, as she strolls into Low Library, and in The Nanny Diaries, where Scarlett Johansson applies to Columbia’s graduate anthropology program and sits on the penis fountain in front of Low.

38: 52nd St. And Lexington Ave

Marilyn Monroe and her signature pose in “The Seven Year Itch.”

Fans of Marilyn Monroe are surely familiar with The Seven Year Itch, in which she moves in above a man whose wife is away for the summer, and he becomes fascinated by her. Even if you don’t know the story, you must know the iconic scene when Monroe steps onto a subway grate, and her white dress blows up. You can visit that exact spot on Lexington Avenue between 52nd and 53rd Street. However, we don’t recommend recreating this scene!

Alright, these are some of the most iconic filming locations in NYC we have visited so far. If you know any other famous filming locations that should be here, let us know in the comments below.


 
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