20 Iconic Gossip Girl Filming Locations In NYC That You Have To Visit

The beautiful main lobby of Grand Central Station is where we first get a glimpse of Serena — and that backdrop couldn't be more beautiful. Known as an architectural landmark as well as a bustling transportation hub, Grand Central Station is worth exploring. You can head to any of the restaurants on the upstairs balconies to people watch or go downstairs to do a little shopping.

Another memorable early Gossip Girl scene is that infamous Serena and Nate Archibald affair, which happened right before Serena left town and blew up her relationship with Blair. The hookup — and Serena and Nate’s subsequent reenactment in Dan Humphrey’s overthinking head — took place on the literal Campbell Apartment bar, located in Grand Central Terminal. Stop in for a drink at the must-visit spot.

Serena and her family — along with Chuck Bass — lived in the Palace Hotel on Madison Avenue for a long time. The Lotte New York Palace is not exactly the most inexpensive place to stay in the city (far from it), but it is a beautiful spot to visit if you want a taste of luxury. If you can't get a room, snap a pic in the courtyard as the restaurant GILT is no longer open.

After Eleanor Waldorf and her fashion team tried to trick Serena into replacing Blair as the face of the brand, the two frenemies stole a couple of backless dresses from the rooftop photoshoot and had one of their own. If you love visiting scenic fountains, you’ll definitely want to check out the Plaza Hotel’s Pulitzer Fountain, which is where Blair and Serena had an impromptu photoshoot with the help of a random passerby.

Veselka is one of Dan's favorite spots for pierogis and comfort food, and it's also where Blair and Prince Louis went on a date once. Veselka is a real restaurant you can go to while you pretend to wait for Dan to come hang with you. It's an old Ukrainian restaurant located in the East Village, dating back over 60 years, and it's known for delicious food, even if it's not super fancy.

The steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art are where Blair, Serena, and their friends hung out before and after school (remember, "Little J, could you move down a step?"). In real life, the Met is an incredibly popular art museum in New York that is always worth a visit. The architecture is gorgeous, and the artwork is extensive. Try to find a spot on the steps if you want to sit outside and pretend to be Blair.

To witness the fine, expensive neighborhood Blair dragged for filth and turned her nose up at any chance she got, cross the river and see the Humphreys’ side of town for yourself. For views of the external shots of Dan, Jenny, Rufus, and sometimes Alison’s loft, you’ll need to head to 455 Water Street in DUMBO, right near the Manhattan Bridge.

The outside of the Museum of the City of New York is used as the entrance to Constance Billard School for girls and St. Jude School for boys. You can simply walk by to check it out yourself, or you can head inside to get a glimpse at history and artwork. Notable past exhibits include Worth & Mainbocher Demystifying the Haute Couture and The City Within, which highlights the beauty of Brooklyn and might’ve been an educational experience for Blair.

In Season 3 of Gossip Girl, Chuck invests in The Empire Hotel, which is indeed a very real hotel in New York. It's located practically right across the street from Lincoln Center. If you can't spring for a room, head up to The Empire Rooftop for beautiful views of the city and a drink. They even have a cocktail inspired by Gossip Girl!

Who could forget that scene where Blair rushes to meet Chuck on the observation deck at the Empire State Building, minutes after he's already left? Chuck was being dramatic and the worst during that scene (like he was much of the show), but the Empire State Building is part of Gossip Girl history. If you're looking for a stunning view of Manhattan, head up there to get it.

The glamorous Russian Tea Room makes a few appearances in Gossip Girl — most notably in the Season 2 episode where Georgina Sparks is scamming Poppy — and is a very cool place to visit. Go for tea or some food, but be prepared to make your reservations far in advance as this “enchanting, magical place” has a 94-year reputation as one of the best spots in town.

A lot of major Gossip Girl scenes happened in Central Park — especially near the iconic Bethesda Fountain. Serena and Blair once made up by the fountain after that fight in which Blair tried to embarrass Serena in front of the Ivy Leave school reps, and it's also where Chuck and Blair eventually get married. Take a stroll through the area to see it yourself.

According to Serena, the best “Red Snapper,” aka a Bloody Mary, in New York can be found at the King Cole Bar. And it must be true because the restaurant, which is is located in the swanky St. Regis New York hotel, boasts just as much on its website. While it temporarily closed during the pandemic — like Blair’s favorite The Modern — King Cole Bar typically serves a range of light bites. That is, unless you scored the coveted Table 55, which enjoys “exclusive chef’s custom-designed menu and a bespoke wine list from the hotel’s coveted cellar.”

Barrio Chino is a real Mexican restaurant on Broome Street in New York, and also the place that Serena spent a Thanksgiving afternoon in 2006 after drinking her family woes away. Right outside Barrio Chino is where Dan saved Serena from being hit by a taxi and sacrificed his family’s pie in the process. Serena didn’t remember the moment, but it certainly left a lasting impression on Dan, who hinted at it during the first Thanksgiving together.

You already know the exterior of St. Jude's is filmed at the Museum of the City of New York, but the interior was filmed a few blocks south in the Synod of Bishops Russian Orthodox Church, which features an administrative building and two connected churches. You can head over there to see it yourself and get a feel for Dan, Nate, and Chuck’s old stomping grounds.

Remember the first time Blair married? Her scandalous wedding to Prince Louis happened at the beautiful St. James Church on the Upper East Side. Though Blair’s marriage was short-lived, thanks to her undying feelings for Chuck, this church has been standing since 1810. You can take in the beautiful architecture and design for free, and a visit will also double as an opportunity to see where famed author John Steinbeck requested his funeral to be held.

Another marriage that didn’t last: Lily van der Woodsen and Bart Bass’s. Though the two’s on-again, off-again relationship was ultimately cut short due to a tragic car accident, there were some sorta bright times in their marriage. Lily’s clear feelings for Rufus be damned, two tied the knot in Season 1 at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, and it's one sight you won't want to miss.

Butter is the spot among the NYC prep school elite on TV. Err, except for when it was declared in Season 1 that “not going to Butter is so much better than going to Butter” and Jenny and her group of fair-weather sidekicks trick Blair into going alone. Located in Midtown, the softly lit restaurant and bar will serve as a worthy dining experience for any superfan looking for a taste of the sweet life.

Cue up a “Moon River” instrumental track, hop out a yellow cab, and slowly approach what used to be Henri Bendel’s flagship on Fifth Ave. to recreate the ultimate Blair main character moment complete with an existential crisis. Unfortunately, Bendel’s brick-and-mortar shops went bust in 2019, but you can obviously still visit the area and mourn the loss of the iconic NYC institution.

Can you even say you went on a Gossip Girl NYC tour if you don’t stop over at NYU’s campus? Since it’s extremely ill-advised and creepy to try to sneak into a college dorm that is not your own, if you don’t have a key card, don’t even attempt to access the roof of “Ehrlich Residence Hall,” which many believe to be Rubin Hall on Fifth Ave. Instead, just soak up the Dan and Blair collegiate vibes by hanging around Washington Square Park, which is basically the university’s quad.