These Sex and the City filming locations in NYC helped make New York City feel like the show’s unforgettable fifth character. Instead of relying only on studio sets, the series and films used real streets, restaurants, shops, parks, and landmarks across Manhattan and Brooklyn. That choice gave the story its energy and turned many everyday New York places into must-see stops for fans. If you are planning a Sex and the City-inspired trip to New York City, this guide highlights the most memorable filming locations to add to your itinerary.
Sex and the City Filming Locations in NYC
This guide is organized by category to make planning easier: NYC landmarks, bars and restaurants, shopping destinations, and a few additional Sex and the City filming locations. It includes places featured in the original television series as well as both films.
NYC Landmarks
The Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge plays an emotional role in the first Sex and the City movie. It is where Steve and Miranda meet after agreeing to see each other halfway and decide to reconcile. The bridge connects Manhattan and Brooklyn, making it a meaningful setting for one of the film’s most memorable moments.
Central Park
Central Park appears throughout the series and remains one of the most recognizable Sex and the City filming locations in New York City. Charlotte faces her fear of horseback riding here, and Carrie and Big take a carriage ride through the park before he moves to Napa. The park is also used for many classic walking-and-talking scenes between the characters.
Carrie’s Apartment, 66 Perry Street
Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment exterior is one of the most famous Sex and the City locations in NYC. In the series, Carrie’s address is said to be 245 East 73rd Street on the Upper East Side, but the exterior shots were filmed at 66 Perry Street in Greenwich Village. The building is a private residence, so visitors should be respectful and avoid climbing the steps for photos.
Meatpacking District
Samantha moves to 300 Gansevoort Street midway through the series, placing her in the heart of the Meatpacking District. At the time, the neighborhood was becoming one of Manhattan’s trendiest areas. Today, it is known for stylish restaurants, upscale shopping, and the nearby High Line. In the series, Samantha occasionally comments on how much the neighborhood has changed.
The Plaza, 768 5th Avenue
The Plaza is where Big and Natasha hold their engagement party. It is also the setting for one of Carrie’s many complicated goodbyes with Big. Its elegant Fifth Avenue location makes it a fitting backdrop for the show’s dramatic romantic moments.
Jefferson Market Garden, Greenwich Avenue and 6th Avenue
Jefferson Market Garden is the charming garden where Miranda and Steve get married. The intimate setting makes it one of the prettiest Sex and the City filming locations in Greenwich Village.
New York Public Library, 476 Fifth Avenue
The main branch of the New York Public Library is featured prominently in the first Sex and the City movie. It is where Carrie and Big are supposed to get married before the ceremony falls apart. The building is worth visiting for its grand architecture, especially the Rose Reading Room.
Columbus Circle Fountain, 59th Street and Central Park West
Carrie and Aidan break up at the Columbus Circle Fountain. The scene is remembered not only for the heartbreak but also for Carrie’s striking dress and Aidan’s suggestion that they fly to Las Vegas and get married.
St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery, 131 East 10th Street
St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery appears after party girl Lexi Featherston says, “I’m so bored I could die,” and then tragically falls from a window. Her funeral service is held at this historic East Village church.
Lincoln Center, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza
Lincoln Center is the setting for Carrie’s ultra-romantic date with Aleksandr Petrovsky. He gives her a beautiful pink Oscar de la Renta dress and takes her to the opera, but the evening becomes so overwhelming that Carrie faints before they make it inside. Instead of the opera, they end up going to McDonald’s.
Bars and Restaurants Featured on Sex and the City
Magnolia Bakery, 401 Bleecker Street
Magnolia Bakery became forever linked with Sex and the City after Carrie and Miranda sat outside eating cupcakes while discussing Aidan and Steve. The scene helped make cupcakes a major New York food trend, and Magnolia Bakery remains a popular stop for fans.
The Modern, 9 W 53rd Street
The Modern, located at the Museum of Modern Art, appears in the first Sex and the City movie. Carrie is having lunch with Charlotte and Miranda when she announces that she and Big are getting married. Charlotte is so excited that she shares the news with the entire restaurant.
Da Marino, 220 West 49th Street
Da Marino is the Italian restaurant where Carrie and Big go on a date, and Big calls Carrie his girlfriend for the first time. The scene becomes even more memorable when Big sings to her.
Eleven Madison Park, 11 Madison Avenue
Eleven Madison Park is where Carrie and Big have lunch after deciding to remain friends. The meal takes a dramatic turn when Big tells Carrie that he is engaged to Natasha.
Balthazar, 80 Spring Street
Balthazar, a glamorous French restaurant in Soho, is where Carrie and Samantha share dinner. Its lively atmosphere makes it a natural fit for the show’s stylish New York dining scenes.
Brasserie 8 ½, 9 West 57th Street
At Brasserie 8 ½, Carrie has dinner with Stanford and is approached by a woman who recruits her for a fashion show. That storyline leads to one of the series’ most famous fashion moments: Carrie wearing Dolce and Gabbana and falling on the runway.
Il Cantinori, 32 East 10th Street
Carrie plans to celebrate her 35th birthday at Il Cantinori, but the evening does not go as expected when none of her friends arrive on time.
Pastis, 52 Gansevoort Street
Pastis appears twice in the series. The women brunch here, and Carrie later has dinner with Petrovsky. During the brunch scene, Samantha complains that the Meatpacking District has become too polished, while Miranda comments on the price of the burger. The restaurant closed in 2014 and later reopened at 52 Gansevoort Street.
Loeb Boathouse, East 72nd Street and Park Drive North
The Loeb Boathouse in Central Park is the setting for a funny and unforgettable lunch between Carrie and Big. Their meeting ends with both of them falling into the water.
Tasti D-Lite
Tasti D-Lite was Charlotte’s frozen yogurt favorite, and she visits the chain with Harry. Although there are fewer locations today, fans still remember it as part of the show’s food culture.
Pete’s Tavern, 129 East 18th Street
Pete’s Tavern is where Miranda casually proposes to Steve. The historic bar is one of the city’s classic taverns and makes a memorable appearance in their love story.
Onieals, 174 Grand Street
Onieals on the Lower East Side was used as the filming location for Scout, the bar Steve opens with Aidan and names after his dog.
Russian Samovar, 256 West 52nd Street
Russian Samovar is the restaurant where Carrie and Petrovsky dine late at night. Mikhail Baryshnikov, who played Petrovsky, is part owner of the restaurant.
SEA, 114 6th Street in Brooklyn
SEA is where Samantha meets Smith, who is working as a waiter before she helps transform him into a Hollywood star.
Shopping
Bloomingdale’s
According to the second film, Carrie was working in the dress department at Bloomingdale’s in 1989 when she first met Miranda.
Manolo Blahnik, 31 West 54th Street
Manolo Blahnik is mentioned throughout the series and plays a major role in Carrie’s fashion identity. In the first movie, the designer’s shoes are especially important. The series also jokes about Carrie’s spending when Miranda calculates that Carrie has spent around $40,000 on shoes.
Chanel, 737 Madison Avenue
Charlotte and Anthony shop together at Chanel, where Anthony enters with the memorable greeting, “Chanel-lo!” It remains one of the show’s lighthearted fashion moments.
Barneys, 660 Madison Avenue
Carrie and Charlotte visit Barneys when Charlotte tries wearing a blindfold to better understand blindness. Carrie gets distracted and buys shoes from a salesman played by Andy Cohen. In 2003, one of Barneys’ Christmas windows was dedicated to the series.
Bergdorf Goodman, 754 5th Avenue
The second movie opens with Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha shopping at Bergdorf Goodman for a wedding gift for Stanford and Anthony. Patricia Field, the show’s costume designer, also created windows for the store to coincide with the release of Sex and the City 2.
Dolce and Gabbana
Carrie wears Dolce and Gabbana during the fashion show scene where she famously falls on the runway and then gets back up.
ABC Home, 888 Broadway
ABC Home appears when Charlotte shops for a new bed with Trey’s mother, Bunny. The large home store is a fun place to browse and fits perfectly into Charlotte’s polished Upper East Side world.
Hermès, 690 Madison Avenue
Samantha desperately wants a Birkin bag and lies by saying it is for her client, Lucy Liu. The Hermès storyline is one of the show’s best-known luxury shopping moments.
St. Mark’s Comics, 11 St. Mark’s Place
St. Mark’s Comics is where Carrie meets Wade, the comic shop employee she dates after Big. The storyline takes Carrie into a very different dating world from the one she usually inhabits.
More Sex and the City Filming Locations in NYC
The Museum of Modern Art, 9 W 53rd Street
Charlotte leads tours at the Museum of Modern Art in later seasons, connecting her character to New York’s art world.
Trapeze School New York
In season six, Carrie takes a trapeze class at Trapeze School New York’s Pier 40 location. The scene reflects the show’s recurring theme of taking emotional risks.
Yankee Stadium
After Carrie and Big split, Carrie goes on a date with the new Yankee. The stadium has since been rebuilt, but the baseball setting remains part of the show’s New York identity.
Louis K. Meisel Gallery, 141 Prince Street
Louis K. Meisel Gallery in Soho is where Charlotte works before she marries Trey. It is one of the key locations connected to her professional life.
Staten Island Ferry
The Staten Island Ferry appears when the women attend the FDNY firefighter competition. The ferry is also known for its scenic views of New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty.
These Sex and the City filming locations offer a fun way to explore New York City through the world of Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, Samantha, and their unforgettable stories.