Known for its bohemian and artistic flavor, Greenwich Village is a popular hot spot for filming New York movies and television shows. Combined with its beauty, Greenwich Village has a proud history of going against social conformity, making it a must see on any trip to NYC.
On the NYC TV & Movie Sites Tour you’ll see the locations this neighborhood has to offer, like the Friends apartment building and Washington Square Arch.
Located on the west side of downtown Manhattan, the neighborhood is surrounded by Broadway on the east, the beautiful Hudson River on the west, Houston Street on the south, and 14th street on the north. This makes “The Village” an ideal location for many celebrity residents to call home, including Daniel Radcliffe, Julianne Moore, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sarah Jessica Parker, Calvin Klein and many more!
Washington Square Park
Several movies and television shows feature this famous public park and the famous white archway that stands located at the bottom of Fifth Avenue. In the hit movie I am Legend, the main character played by Will Smith has his home and lab overlooking the park, with the famous arch right outside his front windows. In Blue Bloods Danny apprehends a suspected terrorist right underneath the arch. This is also where Harry and Sally temporarily part ways in When Harry Met Sally.
Your Favorite TV Shows
Winding through Greenwich Village’s narrow streets there are tons of photo-ops! The NYC TV & Movie Tour will stop at the Friends apartment building, bringing guests up close to the neighborhoods most famous building. The building is instantly recognizable, but you may notice something missing…no Central Perk! The café was created on set in Hollywood, but the famous couch made an appearance in NYC at a Central Perk pop-up shop in SOHO fall of 2014.
Down the block are Ben’s Pizza and the Comedy Cellar featured in Louie. Louie is seen grabbing a slice and heading into the Cellar for his late night stand-up routine. Waverly Place is where the Wizards of Waverly Place practice magic and call home sweet home. Even Don Draper from Mad Men takes to the village scene, renting his bachelor pad at 104 Waverly Place.
The girls of Sex and the City spent a significant amount of time relaxing, shopping and drinking in the Village’s hotspots too. The show and movies featured lots of beautiful and accessible locations throughout the neighborhood. Carrie’s stoop on Perry Street is easily spotted, so is The Pleasure Chest on Seventh Avenue South where Charlotte buys her “Rabbit.” Around the corner is Bleecker Playground where Miranda’s granny panties are on full display after a nasty fall.
More Highlights from Greenwich Village
This welcoming neighborhood is full of things to do, including popular restaurants, shops, and plenty of bars. It is also a scene for the performing arts and hosts many off-Broadway shows and local venues such as the Blue Man Group, Forbes Magazine Gallery, and the Lucille Lortel Theater (also recognizable from Friends). If you’re grabbing a bite to eat, make sure to stop by the famous spooky-themed restaurant Jekyll and Hyde for a unique dining experience. Also, if you just can’t get away from the movie tour locations, make sure to check out Knickerbocker Bar & Grill and Minetta Tavern where Hugh Grant sat in the film Mickey Blue Eyes.
Other popular movies and shows shot in Greenwich Village Include:
- The Blacklist
- Ghostbusters
- Glee
- The Mindy Project
- 13 Going on 30
- Six Degrees of Separation
- Inside Llewyn Davis
- Billy On The Street
- The Paper
- Mad About You
- As Good as it Gets
- Sleepers
- Night and the City
- Bright Lights, Big City
- Small Time Crooks
- Mickey Blue Eyes
- Damages
- You Don’t Mess With the Zohan
- Made of Honor
- PS I Love You
* 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.