There’s no better backdrop for a movie than New York City, which has appeared in thousands of films and television shows showing us all the moods of the Big Apple – gritty, romantic, elegant, historic, and edgy. Some of the places where films are shot are already well-known locales, while others become landmarks once they hit the big screen.
Times Square is one of the most famous silver-screen-worthy spots in Manhattan. (Photo Credit: Tom Wheatley)
On your next visit to New York, put these five iconic filming locations on your itinerary. Luckily, Kimpton has two hotels in Manhattan: One near Times Square and the other in Chelsea, both of which will put you close to these iconic silver-screen-worthy gems.
Times Square
Where Broadway, Seventh Avenue, and 42nd Street meet, Times Square draws more than 50 million visitors annually and is one of the most popular filming locations in the city.
Want to stay right in the action of Times Square? You can rest easy at Kimpton Hotel Theta. (Photo Credit: @andreas-m)
Times Square is especially beautiful at night. (Photo Credit: Lerone Pieters)
Covered in brightly lit billboards and neon signs while set in the heart of New York’s Broadway Theater District, it is a popular destination for street performers and is also the site of the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop. Naturally, it’s been featured in dozens of films, including Midnight Cowboy, Taxi Driver, Letters to Juliet, Spiderman, and Vanilla Sky.
Katz’s Delicatessen
A popular New York deli since it opened in 1903, Katz’s Delicatessen is often rated among the best ever for their pastrami on rye.
Visit an iconic spot and grab yourself a tasty lunch too. (Photo Credit: Reno Laithienne)
Though it’s been the setting of numerous films and shows like Law & Order, Enchanted, We Own the Night, and Donnie Brasco, it’s a scene in When Harry Met Sally that solidified it as instantly recognizable. Meg Ryan famously and loudly “fakes it,” drawing the attention of nearby tables, one of whom says, “I’ll have what she’s having!”
While we can’t promise that you’ll be in ecstasy, their sandwiches are pretty good.
The Plaza Hotel
The Plaza Hotel has been the place in New York City where Hollywood royalty (and actual royalty) have stayed for more than a century. This luxe icon has not only been the backdrop for countless upscale events, but it has also been the backdrop of many productions onscreen.
The famous Plaza Hotel sits right on Central Park South. (Photo Credit: Ella de Kross)
The hotel has appeared in the 1959 Hitchcock classic, North by Northwest, the 1973 rom com The Way We Were, Home Alone 2, Sleepless in Seattle, Bride Wars, and the 2013 remake of The Great Gatsby.
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is an emblematic part of the New York skyline (the view from the top is one in a million) and is the spot where King Kong famously meets his demise in all three versions of the classic film. But who can forget Will Farrell as Buddy in Elf, when he goes to surprise his dad (who works in the building) and presses all the buttons on the elevator before declaring in satisfaction, “Looks like a Christmas tree!”
Visit the Empire State Building and experience some of the best views of the city. (Photo Credit: Ben Dumond)
The Empire State Building can also be seen in Love Affair, Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, The Muppets Take Manhattan, Independence Day, The Smurfs, Spiderman, Avengers: Infinity War and countless others.
Grand Central Station
So much more than a hub for commuters, Grand Central Station is a noted architectural landmark. Home to the Grand Central Oyster Bar and the Whispering Gallery — just to name a few attractions other than trains — the terminal is full of interesting spots one wouldn’t necessarily think to look for.
Grand Central Station is so much more than a train station. (Photo Credit: Mateus Maia)
But it will also get you where you need to go — like your Kimpton hotel. (Photo Credit: Allie Derbyshire)
In film, the station has often been used as a meeting point, and has appeared in The Avengers, Girl on a Train, Carlito’s Way, Armageddon, and John Wick: Chapter 3.
Where to Stay: Kimpton Hotel Eventi and Kimpton Hotel Theta
