Top 7 Must-Visit TV Locations in New York City

Even if you’ve never been to New York City, chances are one of your favorite television shows has already transported you there, given that many of TV’s most beloved programs are set right in the heart of the Big Apple. You’ll surely recognize many of the major landmarks and locations that serve as establishing shots for your favorite shows. Moreover, you can find yourself hot on the trail of iconic characters like Jerry Seinfeld, Carrie Bradshaw, or Rachel Green, at their on-screen apartments, workplaces, and hangouts. Here are the top seven TV filming locations to visit in New York City, allowing you to relive your favorite moments from the small screen right on the scene.

Monk’s Café, Seinfeld

Monk’s Café, Seinfeld, Iconic TV Destinations in NYC
Photo credit: Neville Elder / Corbis via Getty Images

Many hilarious Seinfeld moments about nothing occurred during the inane in-booth bantering between Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer in the fictional Monk’s Café coffee shop. You’ll find the exterior of this eatery, with its distinct neon signage, at Tom’s Restaurant, an old-school diner located at the corner of West 112th Street and Broadway, near Columbia University. Just don’t expect the TV magic to continue inside: There’s no real-life “Larry the Cook,” and the interior shots were actually filmed on a California soundstage. (Fun fact: The diner also inspired one of singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega’s most popular songs, “Tom’s Diner.”) 2880 Broadway at W. 112th St., Morningside Heights, Manhattan

Carrie Bradshaw’s Apartment, Sex and the City

New York City was essentially the fifth major character in this classic HBO romantic comedy/drama about four wild girlfriends and their adventures in the big city. While we’re led to believe that leading lady Carrie Bradshaw lived in a snug apartment on the Upper East Side, the exterior scenes were actually filmed in front of a West Village brownstone on Perry Street. Additionally, find the Magnolia Bakery nearby (at 401 Bleecker Street), where Miranda and Carrie shared cupcakes in a memorable Sex and the City scene. 66 Perry St., btwn Bleecker & W. 4th sts., West Village, Manhattan

Monica, Rachel, Chandler, and Joey’s Apartment Building, Friends

Friends Apartment Building, Iconic TV Destinations in NYC
Photo credit: Mark Mainz / Getty Images

While the coffee shop hangout, Central Perk, from Friends is sadly nonexistent in reality, the apartment building where four of the six “friends” lived does exist. You’ll need to suspend disbelief about Rachel’s waitressing gig or Joey’s struggling acting career, as it’s hard to believe they could afford the rent for this posh West Village address. Nonetheless, visiting the facade at the intersection of Bedford and Grove Streets is a fun experience. While it served as Friends on-screen home for many seasons, unfortunately, the cast was never actually on-site. All shots of Rachel and Monica’s — and Joey and Chandler’s apartment — were filmed on a soundstage in LA. 90 Bedford St. at Grove St., West Village, Manhattan

Lotte New York Palace, Gossip Girl

The posh residence for privileged teen Gossip Girl leads Serena van der Woodsen and Chuck Bass is actually a high-end hotel on Madison Avenue in Midtown. You’ll recognize Lotte New York Palace’s courtyard exterior, which regularly served as a dramatic setting throughout the series. The fine-dining ground-floor eatery Villard set the stage for several scenes, including one where Serena indulges in a truffled grilled-cheese sandwich. 455 Madison Ave., btwn E. 50th & E. 51st sts., Midtown, Manhattan

Café Grumpy, Girls

Café Grumpy, Iconic TV Destinations in NYC
Photo credit: Café Grumpy

What Central Perk was to Friends and Monk’s Café to Seinfeld, Café Grumpy brought to HBO’s coming-of-age series Girls. Both exterior and interior shots were filmed at this neighborhood coffee shop located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where Hannah lives on the show. It regularly appears throughout the series as the workplace for both Ray and Hannah. Just keep in mind that Café Grumpy has expanded across New York City; however, the original Greenpoint location, not far from where Girls was filmed, is where the TV magic happened. 193 Meserole Ave., Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Rockefeller Center, 30 Rock

You’ll recognize scenes from Tina Fey’s satirical sitcom 30 Rock set at the show’s eponymous 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown, a tall Art Deco skyscraper housing NBC’s real-life NYC studios. Tina’s character Liz Lemon and her team are portrayed working on a Saturday Night Live (SNL)-style sketch comedy show called TGS with Tracy Jordan. Naturally, show creator Fey drew from her SNL experiences for inspiration, aligning both shows since they are partially filmed at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Consequently, much of the surrounding Rockefeller Center is depicted throughout the series, with many establishing shots and outdoor scenes. Do note that most of the indoor footage was filmed at Silvercup Studios in Queens. 30 Rockefeller Center, btwn W. 49th & W. 50th sts., and 5th & 6th aves., Midtown, Manhattan

McGee's Pub, Iconic TV Destinations in NYC
Photo credit: McGee’s Pub

Much of How I Met Your Mother’s storyline unfolds via cast banter at the fictional MacLaren’s Pub, a favorite hangout for the sitcom’s characters. Interestingly, the pub portrayed in the show was merely a soundstage creation, inspired by the real-life McGee’s Pub, an Irish bar and eatery located in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen. It was a one-time haunt for show co-creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas when they worked on The Late Show. The fictional pub was named for Bays’ production assistant, Carl MacLaren. When visiting McGee’s, soak up the lively atmosphere and consider ordering from the specially themed How I Met Your Mother menu, which includes options like the TedMosbyIsAJerk.com wrap and “woo” wings. 240 W. 55th St., btwn Broadway & 8th Ave., Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan

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