On-screen, New York is more often a character than a backdrop—directors and set designers know they’re best served with letting the city play itself. From classics like Sex and the City to the recent, rare water-cooler moment that was Love Story, real restaurants, diners, and bars appear on-screen exactly as they are on the street. Below, we’ve compiled 12 places that have appeared in cult shows over the last two decades—allowing you to dine where CBK, Carrie Bradshaw, and Marnie Michaels ate, argued, and fell in love.
Panna II Garden Indian Restaurant (East Village) in Love Story
Before JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy couldn’t step outside without being swarmed by paparazzi, they had the luxury of sharing a meal at a deserted Indian restaurant in the East Village—at least, according to Ryan Murphy’s new show. Their first date spot, Panna II, has become every New York romantic’s current obsession—the owners are reporting a record number of reservations. The restaurant hasn’t changed much since the ’90s: The ceiling is still buried under a constellation of blinking, multicolored lights, the chicken tikka masala and lamb saag still hit the way they’re supposed to, and the whole thing costs about $30 a person.
Must-Order: Tikka Masala ($16.95) and Dal ($14.95)
Veselka (East Village) in Gossip Girl
When Dan’s ex mentions pierogies at Veselka, she’s referring to this East Village Ukrainian diner’s signature Eastern European dumplings—a staple of Dan and Vanessa’s relationship throughout the show, something they’d order in and eat while watching movies or meeting over at the kitchen counter. Their pierogies remain arguably the best in the city, served almost around the clock (Veselka is open until midnight or 1 a.m. most nights, and used to be open 24 hours—RIP) for everyone from NYU students to hungover partiers. In addition to its beloved varenyky, you’ll find borscht, kielbasa, and blintzes that taste like they’ve been perfected across decades (because they have).
Must-Order: Potato Pierogies ($20 for 8) and Borscht ($13 for a bowl)
Roberta’s Pizza (Bushwick) in Girls
Marnie rattling off a list of why she loves Charlie right outside Roberta’s is one of those Girls moments that perfectly captures why the show worked: equal parts cringey and relatable, set against an unassuming but wildly popular Bushwick pizza joint. Roberta’s opened in 2008 and has since become a culinary destination, famous for its wood-fired pies and rooftop garden. If you need any more convincing, order the Bee Sting.
Must-Order: The Bee Sting w/ tomato, mozzarella, soppressata, basil, chili, honey ($26)
The Grill (Midtown) in Succession
Connor Roy insisting on hosting his wedding rehearsal dinner at the Grill is very on-brand for a man who desperately wants to be taken seriously by people who will never take him seriously. The Midtown mecca in the landmarked Seagram Building—all bronze, leather, and mid-century gravitas—serves Dover sole and prime rib to Manhattan’s modern-day power brokers in a room that feels frozen in time.
Must-Order: Pasta a la presse ($41), Avocado Crab Louis ($46), and Prime Rib trolley service ($105)
Kenka (East Village) in Broad City
Abbi’s birthday dinner in season two takes place at Kenka, the infamous Japanese izakaya on St. Mark’s Place where Ilana spirits her away for a night out. A towering tanuki statue and a cotton candy machine greet you before you even walk in. Inside, the menu runs to over 150 small plates, the sake and brews are cheap, and the whole experience is slightly chaotic in the cozy way only St. Mark’s can deliver.
Must-Order: Takoyaki ($8.50), Okonomiyaki ($12), Yakitori ($7.50), and Sapporo draft ($1.50)
Sant Ambroeus (SoHo) in And Just Like That…
Episode four, season one of And Just Like That… reminded us that Sant Ambroeus is one of the chicest dining rooms in New York on- and off-screen. Carrie and Seema catch up over pasta, then the friends brunch there in the same episode. The wall of decorative plates has become its own kind of landmark, the crowd on any given afternoon could pass for a casting call, and the pasta al pomodoro is exactly as good as it looks on-screen. The real Sarah Jessica Parker is a regular—you probably won’t run into her, but you’ll understand why she keeps going back.
Must-Order: House omelette ($22) and Sant Ambroeus French toast ($19) for brunch; Cutelèta alla Milanese ($71), Fettuccine alla Bolognese ($39), and Principessa cake ($17) for dinner
7B aka Horseshoe Bar (East Village) in Russian Doll
After Nadia lands in 1982 and realizes she’s somehow living inside someone else’s life, she finds herself at 7B—the Horseshoe Bar on the corner of 7th Street and Avenue B, a fixture of the East Village since the 1930s. The divey, red-doored bar appears across both seasons of the series. With a row of taps, a jukebox, arcade games, and dim lighting, the bar makes perfect sense for a show about looping endlessly through the same night.
Must-Order: A PBR
Joe’s Restaurant (Ridgewood) in How To With John Wilson
The pilot episode of How To With John Wilson transports viewers to Joe’s Restaurant on Forest Avenue in Ridgewood, an Italian-American institution that has been beloved by locals since 1982. White tablecloths may appear formal, but the dining room is an endearingly lived-in space that decades of neighborhood regulars can attest to.
Must-Order: Spaghetti alla siciliana ($17.95) and a side of meatballs ($6.95)
Russian Tea Room (Midtown) in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
In season four, Susie accompanies Rose to one of her matchmaking sessions at the Russian Tea Room and promptly loses her mind over being ordered a cup of whipped cream. The West 57th Street institution, with its red banquettes, gilded samovars, and caviar service, feels almost perfectly invented for a show about Midge Maisel and the allure of New York in the ’60s. The menu hasn’t strayed far from its roots—beef stroganoff, blinis, vodka flights—and the room looks essentially the same as it did decades ago, making it perfect for any fans of the show to visit.
Must-Order: Afternoon tea ($145 per person)
Union Pool (Williamsburg) in Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens
The pilot of Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens opens at Union Pool, where Nora meets up with her friend Chenise at the sprawling indoor-outdoor Williamsburg bar that’s been a neighborhood staple since 2002. With a taco truck out back, pool tables inside, a patio that fills up the second the weather cooperates, and a crowd that could genuinely be anyone—Union Pool is easygoing, a little chaotic, and a perfect place to catch up with friends.
Must-Order: $5 cocktails during happy hour (4-7 p.m. on weekdays) and tacos from El Diablo Tacos truck in the back
Kings County Imperial (Williamsburg) in Billions
Kings County Imperial brews its own soy sauce in-house, sun-fermented for months before being served at the bar alongside Tsingtaos and Shanghai mules. Signature dishes include kung pao chicken, dry-fried long beans, and xiao long bao, all made with a devotional level of care. It’s no surprise that Taylor and Mafee chose to meet here for dinner.
Must-Order: Mock eel ($16), Mapo Tofu ($24), and soup dumplings ($18)
The Pickle Diner aka the Mansion Diner (Upper East Side) in Only Murders in the Building
The Pickle Diner is where viewers follow Bunny Folger through her last day alive in season two—including lunch at her usual table. In real life, it’s the Mansion Diner, a family-owned Upper East Side institution that has been serving the neighborhood since 1945. Eggs Benedict, smoked salmon bagels, fluffy pancakes, and hand-cut steaks are staples. There’s always a line out the door on weekends.
Must-Order: The East End—Virginia ham steak served with two eggs and three silver dollar pancakes ($27.51)
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