Law & Order is the longest running crime drama on television police procedural and films on location in our favorite city, New York. The series follows the lives of several police officers and prosecutors who represent the public interest in the criminal justice system. Its wild success inspired the Law & Order franchise; three other television dramas under the same brand: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Law & Order: Trial by Jury.
Often episodes were inspired by actual cases, especially in the first few seasons. This “ripped from the headlines” style entranced audiences who quickly elevated the show into a ratings bonanza. New York City Mayors Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg, attorney William Kunstler and Bronx Congressman Jose Serrano have all made cameo appearances as themselves throughout the seasons.
Ever wonder the locations where Law & Order is filmed?
Stay up to date with what’s filming in New York on our Blog for a chance see your favorite shows and TV stars in action in New York.
The Law & Order series—with the exception of the reality series, Crime and Punishment—have been filmed almost entirely in the New York City area. This is unusual, as many television dramas are taped in the Los Angeles area, even if the program is “set” in New York City. This means every arrest, each conviction, and all the jaw dropping moments you remember happened right here in the Big Apple. So if you can’t get your Law & Order fix from a TV marathon, its time to visit NYC and see where the live action takes place. Locations featured on the series include:
Foley Square
Think about Law and Order and what comes to mind? Most certainly the infamous Courthouse scenes! See where the Law and order court scenes filmed and Marvel at the New York Supreme Court, also known as the NY Courthouse. The Supreme Court is New York’s trial court, located in lower Manhattan’s beautiful Foley Square. Jack McCoy and the other attorneys trek up and down these stairs in every episode. The square is often featured in Law & Order as well because of its long association with the NY County, NY State, and judicial building. The history and notoriety of this landmark cannot be missed on a trip to New York!
Chelsea
Located on the west side of Manhattan is the neighborhood of Chelsea, a historic and diverse neighborhood that is also home to the General Theological Seminary now The Highline Hotel on West 20th Street. This building has been featured in both Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU.
One Police Plaza
This is epicenter of the real NYPD and countless television versions. Also known as “Puzzle Palace” it is the largest NYPD headquarter in New York City and featured many of the squads in Law & Order including Major Case Squad, Special Victims Unit, Emergency Services Unit, Crime Scene Unit. Within these walls police work tirelessly both on television and in reality to piece together evidence and build cases.
It would be impossible to see all the memorable Law and Order sites in one day, let alone one tour, so check out these other famous hotspots from the show.
Chelsea Piers
Take a walk or bike ride along the Hudson River and see the 200,000 square feet that make up Chelsea Piers, Manhattan’s largest center for film and television production. Inside are the sets of Law & Order and Law & Order:SVU where all the harrowing courtroom drama and police interrogations took place. It’s not a bad time to check the USS Intrepid, but watch your head because helic
Union Square
Attorneys, detectives, and police officers are often seen strolling through Union Square Park. Just to the east visitors can check out Pete’s Tavern. This bar and restaurant often appears on Law & Order has the hotspot to hang after a long day.
If you take the NYC TV & Movie Tour or the When Harry Met Seinfeld bus tours you may recognize some locations from this long running series. The tours don’t feature any specific locations from the series but drive through every neighborhood in New York City where the shows have filmed.
List Of Filming Locations That Have Appeared in Law & Order (but are not necessarily featured on our New York tours):
- Lafayette Grill & Bar, 24 Franklin St
- Foley Square, Centre St @ Reade St
- Centre St @ Pearl
- Booker T. Washington School, 103 W. 107th St
- Cannon’s Pub, 2792 Broadway
- Druids, 736 10th Ave @ 50th
- Stop 1 Deli, 748 10th Ave
- Pier 62, W. 23rd St @ Hudson River
- Marine Transfer Station, W. 59th St @ West Side Highway
- International House, 500 Riverside Drive
- Grant’s Tomb, W. 123rd St and Riverside Drive
- Community Garden, 600 E. 9th St @ Avenue C
- Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Blvd West
- Teacher’s College, 525 W. 120th St
- Carnegie Deli, 854 7th Ave
- Wellington Hotel, 871 7th Ave
- Rhiga Royal Hotel, 151 W. 54th St
- Riverside Park, 96th St Tennis Courts
- Artie’s Delicatessen, 2290 Broadway
- Ouest Restaurant, 2315 Broadway
- Liberty Travel, 2280 Broadway
- Nation’s Rent, 91 N. 12th St
- West Bank Café, 407 W. 42nd St
- Wien Stadium, Columbia University Baker Field, 218th St @ Park Terrace
- Chelsea Piers, W. 23rd St @ 12th Ave
- Hudson’s, 3713 Riverdale Avenue
- McDonald’s, 208 Dyckman St
- Scott J. Salon, 257 Columbus Ave
- Emerald Inn, 205 Columbus Ave
- Quick Park, 38 Bowery
- Tudor City Greens, Tudor City Place @ East 43rd St
- Central Park, @ W. 63rd St, and various other locations
- Weber’s, 2064 Broadway
- General Theological Seminary, 175 9th Ave
- New York Adorned, 47 Second Avenue
- Princeton Review, 2315 Broadway
- Ecco Restaurant, 124 Chambers St
- Molyvos, 871 7th Ave
- Gravity, 119 W. 56th St
- Getty Gas Station, 242 Dyckman St
- Becco, 335 W. 46th St
- May Matthews Playground, W. 46th St, bet. 9th & 10th
- Fischer Locksmith, 646 9th Ave
- J.P. Warde’s Saloon, Avenue A @ 1st St
- Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon St
- Westside Tavern, 360 W. 23rd St
- Leo House, 332 W. 23rd St
- Lansky Lounge, 104 Norfolk St
- Olympic Diner, 115 Delancy St
- Max Mara, 434 W. Broadway
- Brooklyn Correctional Facility, Flushing Ave bet. Clermont & Vanderbilt Aves.
- Bishop Ford High School, 500 19th St
- Amoco Service Station, 3010 Riverdale Ave
- Port Authority Ship Terminal, 711 Twelfth Ave
- Ari, 47 W. Broadway
- Furla, 430 W. Broadway
- Nancy Hoffman Gallery, 429 W. Broadway
- Saatchi & Saatchi, 375 Hudson St
- Code Fab, 33 Little W. 12th St
- Jean Luc, 507 Columbus Ave
- St. Agnes High School, 555 West End Ave
- Church of St. Peter & St. Andrew, 263 W. 86th St
- Municipal Building, 1 Centre St
- Market Diner, W 43rd St @ 11th Ave
- Barnes & Noble, 675 6th Ave
- Cedar Tavern, 82 University Place
- Reservoir, 70 University Place
- City Island Avenue @ Sutherland St
- Morell’s Wine Bar & Café, 1 Rockefeller Plaza
- Waldorf Astoria, 100 E. 50th St
- Metropolitan Bar, Madison Street @ Pearl St
- Gov. Alfred E. Smith Housing, 15 St. James Place
- Mama Mexico, 2672 Broadway
- P.S. 173, 306 Fort Washington Avenue
- Church of the Most Holy Redeemer, 173 E. 3rd St
- Askura Park, W. 122nd St @ Riverside Drive
- Payson Playground, Park House, Payson Ave & Seaman Ave
- Dyckman Job Center, 4660 Broadway
- Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive
- Tompkins Square Park, E. 7th St & Ave A
- Ace Hardware, 817 Amsterdam Ave
- Loews 84th St Theater, Broadway @ 84th St
- St. Agnes School for Boys, 55 West End Ave
- Circle Line Boat Terminal, W. 43rd St @ 12th Ave
- India House, 1 Hanover Square
- GM Building, 767 5th Ave
- Frederick Douglass Playground, W. 101st St & Amsterdam Ave
- P.S. 173, 306 Fort Washington Ave
- J. Hood Wright Park, 174th St & Ft. Washington Ave
- Privilege, 565 W. 23rd St
- Pocket Park, 24th St bet. 8th & 9th Aves
- Peppers, 95 Leonard St
- Goodrich Pharmacy, 104 W. 70th St
- Chelsea Car Wash, 10th Ave bet. W. 14th & W. 15th Sts
- Isham Park, Park Terrace East @ 215th St
- Columbia Univeristy, Baker Field, 218th St & Park Terrace West
- Fulton Houses Playground, 9th Ave bet. 16th and 17th Sts
- SoHo Square Park, 6th Ave @ Spring Street
- Dyckman Marina, 348 Dyckman Street
- Metropolitan Museum, South Plaza Park, 5th Ave at 80th St
- Stuyvesant Square Park, E. 16th St @ Rutherford Ave.
- Queensborough Community College, 222-05 56th Ave
- St. Andrews Plaza, behind 1 Centre St @ Chambers St
- Tremont-Crotona Day Care Ctr, 1600 Crotona Park East
- Brooklyn Navy Yard, Buildings 30, 27, 58, & 3
- Steinway & Sons, Steinway Place & 19th Avenue
- HSBC Bank, 739 Amsterdam Avenue
- Stanhope Park Hyatt, 995 Fifth Avenue
- Broadway National Bank, W. 28th St @ 5th Ave
- Rikers Island Penitentiary, Building J.A.T.C., 1414 Hazen St
- Coler Memorial Hospital, Main St, Roosevelt Island
- Dewitt Clinton Park, W. 52nd St, bet. 11th & 12th Aves
* 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.