Formerly the city’s most glamorous shopping district, the Flatiron District is named after its signature building, New York’s oddly-shaped first skyscraper. The Flatiron Building sits on a triangular island block at 23rd Street, Fifth Avenue, and Broadway, anchoring the south end of Madison Square. The Flatiron District is generally considered the area bounded by 14th Street to the south, Sixth Avenue to the west, 28th Street to the north, and Lexington Avenue to the east. Be sure to check out this unique corner of Manhattan!
The Flatiron Building’s 22 stories, constructed in 1902, made it New York’s first skyscraper. Squeezed into a triangular space at the intersection of 23rd Street, Broadway, and Fifth Avenue, this striking building is a popular tourist destination and symbol of New York. You’ll recognize the building from its cameos in a variety of films and television shows. It even had a “starring role” in the Spider-Man trilogy, in which the building was made into the offices of The Daily Bugle! Check out our NYC TV & Movie Sites Tour to see the Flatiron Building for yourself and learn about all the films in which it can be seen!
Shows and Movies Featuring the Flatiron Building
- Armageddon
- The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- Godzilla
- As Good as It Gets
- Hitch
- New York Minute
- Spider-Man
- Spider-Man II
- Spider-Man III
- Veronica’s Closet
- The Late Show with David Letterman
Madison Square Park
Need a break from Manhattan’s fast pace? Madison Square Park is another landmark in the Flatiron District, just north of the Flatiron Building. This pretty little green area boasts a famous old-fashioned shake & burger stand called the Shake Shack known for delicious burgers and, of course, milkshakes. Be prepared to wait in the long lines to get your hands on this tasty grub! The park hosted the world’s second baseball game in 1845! More recently, it has been used as a setting for a variety of TV shows and movies, including Sex and the City, Damages, Something Borrowed, The Adjustment Bureau, Cradle Will Rock, and I Am Legend.
Relax in the little square and enjoy the view of iconic New York buildings!
Met Life Tower
The Met Life Tower is just one block east of the Flatiron Building and Madison Square Park. At 700 feet, the stately building reigned as the tallest in the world from 1909 to 1913. Check out the four 26.5-foot clocks that make this National Historic Landmark an icon! The building is featured in a number of well-known shows and movies as a symbol of New York.
Shows and Movies Featuring the MetLife Building
- Eyewitness with Sigourney Weaver and William Hurt
- Martin Scorsese’s After Hours
- Woody Allen’s Radio Days
- Weekend at Bernie’s, starring Andrew McCarthy and Jonathan Silverman
- The Fisher King with Amanda Plummer
More Highlights from the Flatiron District
Spice things up with a detour to the north end of the Flatiron District, a neighborhood with much more to offer than just history! Nearby, the Toy District produces thousands of toys and hosts the annual American International Toy Fair. Adding a bit of variety to the neighborhood, 27th Street is home to both the Museum of Sex and the Gershwin Hotel. The Gershwin Hotel is a tribute to the late pop artist Andy Warhol, and features some of his art and memorabilia throughout the hotel.
Shows and Movies Featuring the Toy District:
- MacMillan Toys in Big
- The offices in Sweet Smell of Success
- The private detective’s office in Unfaithfully Yours
* In an effort to stay current, we are constantly updating our tours with new locations and cannot guarantee the presence of locations mentioned on our site. If you have a particular interest in locations from a specific TV show or movie, please let your tour guide know and we will do our best to accommodate your request.