Before you go, download our PDF guide, complete with an illustrated map of the top destinations.
By Fred Plotkin
Photograph by Ana Nance
November 2008
Of all the great chocolate traditions in Europe, Spain's is the least known, yet it's the oldest and arguably the most influential. Chocolate first arrived in Europe when Columbus brought it to Spain from the Americas in 1502. It spread elsewhere in Europe whenever the Spanish monarchy conquered another nation or had a royal wedding, at which chocolate was invariably served. Today Spain's capital city is the best place to visit traditional and modern spots where chocolate is served in nearly infinite ways.
Go
Most major airlines offer nonstop flights to Madrid from the East Coast. Spain's Iberia airline serves food from star chef Sergi Arola in business class.
Picks
• ChocolaterÍa San Ginés
Madrileños have flocked here since 1894 for a bracing cup of hot chocolate that is richer, darker, and less sweet than its American or Swiss counterparts. The classic accompaniment is a plate of churros, long strips of deep-fried batter to which one adds powdered sugar.
Pasadizo de San Ginés 5; 011-34-91-365-6546
• ChocolaterÍa Valor
At this shop, one can consume hot chocolate from a mancerina, a special dish that is shaped like a scallop shell. Hot chocolate is spiked with such flavors as cinnamon, orange, or spicy hot pepper.
Calle Póstigo de San MartÍn 7; 011-34-91-448-4424; valor.es
• La Duquesita
One of Madrid's oldest sweet shops and bakeries, La Duquesita was founded in 1914 and used to sell alabaster gift boxes of chocolate candies. Owner Luis Santamaria observes, without irony, that "Spanish women and children like milk chocolate because it is soft and sweet, while Spanish men prefer dark chocolate because it is bitter and hard." Not to miss: naranjines, sliced orange peel coated in dark chocolate.
Calle de Fernando VI 2; 011-34-91-308-0231
• Cacao Sampaka
Funky flavors of flowers and spice are used in the chocolate here, with mixed results. But the hot chocolate and the ice creams made with chocolate from Grenada, Ecuador, or Venezuela are heavenly.
Calle de Orellana 4; 011-34-91-319-5840
• Paco Torreblanca
While Madrid dotes on its traditional chocolate, it has also made room for chic, modern ways to use it. Torreblanca is a baker and chocolatier favored by the current Spanish monarchy. His most famous creation is the Gianduja Real, a wedding cake containing milk chocolate for the bride and dark chocolate for the groom.
Calle de Juan Bravo 12; 011-34-91-435-8915
• Alma de Cacao
Alma de Cacao uses excellent dark chocolate to make exquisite little bars with special flavors, such as sesame, pine nut, and jasmine. Best of all is the bar made with olive oil and salt. It's both creamy and intense in a way that should please Spanish men and women.
Calle de Velázquez 41; 011-34-91-435-0057; almadecacao.com
• La PlaterÍa Bar Museo
If you take a break from visiting the Prado Museum, this nearby spot has good tapas and often serves its unforgettable tarta de chocolate con avellanas, a homey cake of ground hazelnuts and dark chocolate that is as much a work of art as anything by Velázquez.
Calle de MoratÍn 49; 011-34-91-429-1722
• Casa Mira
Casa Mira is renowned for its turrón, an almond-flavored sweet that is cut from blocks like quarried marble. Among the best is the shop's delicious chocolate-almond turrón.
Carrera de San Jerónimo 30; 011-34-91-429-6796
Stay
Fittingly, each pillow in the rooms at the NH Nacional hotel is topped with a piece of Spanish chocolate. The hotel is comfortable and well located, and offers an excellent breakfast for €19.
Paseo del Prado 48; 011-34-91-429-6629; rooms €101-€141; nh-hotels.com
Before you go, download this story with an illustrated map of the top destinations.
Keywords:
travel,
madrid,
spain,
spanish food,
chocolate
Read More http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/2008/11/madrid#ixzz1ZMZ8C1Z1
viernes, 7 de octubre de 2011
Best Gastrobars and Tapas in Madrid
In Madrid, Spain's culinary revolution is taking hold in tiny, delicious bites. Nibble your way across the capital with our gastrobar tour
By Lisa Abend
Photograph by Gueorgui Pinkhassov / Magnum Photos
October 2011
The scene at Estado Puro.
I remember staring down my first taste of tapas in Madrid 20 years ago—and watching it stare back. One of those tiny fried anchovies the Spanish adore, its head (and eyes) were still intact, and I panicked as I realized I was expected to put the entire thing in my mouth.
A recent dinner at El Plató, one of the great new gastrobars found throughout the city, conjured that pivotal bite. I should have been dis-racted by the decor: The focal point at the sleek spot is a glass wall that overlooks a TV studio. But there in front of me was another anchovy, its tail still attached. In this case, its head and spine had been removed, leaving only a split fillet, smoky from the grill and awash in a low tide of garlic and olive oil. Between this incarnation and my first tapa, clearly something had changed.
That something is the gastrobar. Relatively cheap, informal places where the food is the draw, gastrobars like El Plató have elevated the concept of the humble tapas bar. Spurred partly by recession-era cost-consciousness and partly by the desire to work in a less-constrained environment, many of the country's most accomplished chefs—from Quique Dacosta in Valencia to Francis Paniego in La Rioja to Dani García in Málaga—are trying their hand at one. Barcelona gave rise to the gastrobar, but in terms of quantity, Madrid is its true epicenter. You can spend days here trying some of the best bites the country has to offer.
For the capital's first gastrobar, thank Paco Roncero, the Ferran Adrià-trained chef responsible for the culinary fireworks at the two-starred Terraza del Casino. He opened Estado Puro across from the Prado Museum in 2008, and recently doubled his bet with a second location on the ground floor of the NH Palacio de Tepa hotel in Santa Ana (an elegant base for a Madrid stay). The decor at both pokes gentle fun at Spanish stereotypes, and his reinterpretation of tried-and-true tapas is similarly inspired. Here the patatas bravas, those chunks of fried potato topped with pimentón-spiked aioli, are reimagined as a row of roasted new potatoes, each capped with a ladylike daub of sauce, while his "mini-hamburguesa" is a triumphant bite of seared meat, sweetly caramelized onions, and buttery brioche.
Across the Gran Vía, Juanjo López is renowned for his idiosyncratic restaurant, La Tasquita de Enfrente. He serves small plates at Mui next door, which opened in January. Here the deliciousness of fried baby squid is further magnified by the addition of lime zest. The Gilda, that old-fashioned skewer of tinned anchovy, green olive, and pickled hot pepper, seems newly sexy when accompanied by a pipette of verdant olive oil for the diner to apply to the snack. But what you really want are the chunks of pork belly, called torreznos, fried crisp and served with a gently poached egg.
Santceloni is one of the most formal restaurants in the city, which makes it all the more remarkable that its chef, sommelier, and manager have succeeded in making La Cesta de Recoletos so lively. Opened in Salamanca in late 2010, La Cesta fills with well-heeled madrileños happily spooning up chef Óscar Velasco's refreshing salmorejo—that bread-thickened gazpacho native to Córdoba, updated here with poached quail egg—or working through a plate of grilled squid jazzed up with a mustard-and-onion jam.
Perhaps no place embodies the gastrobar's playfulness better than La Gabinoteca, in Chamberí. Nino Redruello hails from a Madrid family beloved for its artful way with the classic tortilla española. But this funky spot, where the wine list is a personality quiz, is the antithesis of classic. The only tortilla on the menu, made with a creamy cod brandade, is deconstructed into a glass of deeply roasted potatoes and savory sabayon. One creative dessert even has the waiter bringing a siphon, a paintbrush, and a slew of sweet ingredients to the table.
Sure, there are still plenty of tapas bars that serve their fish fried simply and anatomically correct. But now, in the wake of Spain's culinary revolution, there is that—and so much more.
Fresh Direct: Gastro Markets
Another recent twist on Madrid's tapas scene is the edible market:
MERCADO DE SAN MIGUEL
In 2008, the old Mercado de San Miguel, located just off the Plaza Mayor, was converted into a center for gastronomic recreation. Stalls still sell raw ingredients, but the prepared-food stands run the show. The cheesemonger, for example, doesn't just hawk blocks of Manchego; she'll also slice you a chunk and arrange it with a bit of quince paste for an on-the-spot snack. Same goes for the charcuterie stall, and the oyster vendor, and the lady selling freshly fried potato chips. Throw in a wine bar and some full-fledged tapas bars and you've got one of the city's hottest culinary destinations from morning until late at night. mercado desanmiguel.es
MERCADO DE SAS ANTÓN
The ground floor of the recently opened Mercado de San Antón, in the hip neighborhood of Chueca, is dedicated to the gourmet shopper. The second floor features prepared-food stands and tapas bars, with seating that allows clients to graze on plates of just-made pasta or flash-fried Padrón chiles while they watch the shoppers below. Upstairs is La Cocina de San Antón, a popular restaurant serving (what else?) market-driven cuisine—so market-driven, in fact, that a diner can purchase, say, a whole sea bass or a coil of pork sausages on the ground floor and, for a four-euro charge, bring them up to be cooked and served. Gastronomic recreation indeed. mercadosananton.com
Lisa Abend is the author of The Sorcerer's Apprentices: A Season in the Kitchen at Ferran Adrià's elBulli. She Lives in Madrid.
Keywords:
travel,
Madrid,
Spain,
El Plato,
Estado Puro
Read More http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/2011/10/madrid-travel-guide#ixzz1ZMYxen6p
By Lisa Abend
Photograph by Gueorgui Pinkhassov / Magnum Photos
October 2011
The scene at Estado Puro.
I remember staring down my first taste of tapas in Madrid 20 years ago—and watching it stare back. One of those tiny fried anchovies the Spanish adore, its head (and eyes) were still intact, and I panicked as I realized I was expected to put the entire thing in my mouth.
A recent dinner at El Plató, one of the great new gastrobars found throughout the city, conjured that pivotal bite. I should have been dis-racted by the decor: The focal point at the sleek spot is a glass wall that overlooks a TV studio. But there in front of me was another anchovy, its tail still attached. In this case, its head and spine had been removed, leaving only a split fillet, smoky from the grill and awash in a low tide of garlic and olive oil. Between this incarnation and my first tapa, clearly something had changed.
That something is the gastrobar. Relatively cheap, informal places where the food is the draw, gastrobars like El Plató have elevated the concept of the humble tapas bar. Spurred partly by recession-era cost-consciousness and partly by the desire to work in a less-constrained environment, many of the country's most accomplished chefs—from Quique Dacosta in Valencia to Francis Paniego in La Rioja to Dani García in Málaga—are trying their hand at one. Barcelona gave rise to the gastrobar, but in terms of quantity, Madrid is its true epicenter. You can spend days here trying some of the best bites the country has to offer.
For the capital's first gastrobar, thank Paco Roncero, the Ferran Adrià-trained chef responsible for the culinary fireworks at the two-starred Terraza del Casino. He opened Estado Puro across from the Prado Museum in 2008, and recently doubled his bet with a second location on the ground floor of the NH Palacio de Tepa hotel in Santa Ana (an elegant base for a Madrid stay). The decor at both pokes gentle fun at Spanish stereotypes, and his reinterpretation of tried-and-true tapas is similarly inspired. Here the patatas bravas, those chunks of fried potato topped with pimentón-spiked aioli, are reimagined as a row of roasted new potatoes, each capped with a ladylike daub of sauce, while his "mini-hamburguesa" is a triumphant bite of seared meat, sweetly caramelized onions, and buttery brioche.
Across the Gran Vía, Juanjo López is renowned for his idiosyncratic restaurant, La Tasquita de Enfrente. He serves small plates at Mui next door, which opened in January. Here the deliciousness of fried baby squid is further magnified by the addition of lime zest. The Gilda, that old-fashioned skewer of tinned anchovy, green olive, and pickled hot pepper, seems newly sexy when accompanied by a pipette of verdant olive oil for the diner to apply to the snack. But what you really want are the chunks of pork belly, called torreznos, fried crisp and served with a gently poached egg.
Santceloni is one of the most formal restaurants in the city, which makes it all the more remarkable that its chef, sommelier, and manager have succeeded in making La Cesta de Recoletos so lively. Opened in Salamanca in late 2010, La Cesta fills with well-heeled madrileños happily spooning up chef Óscar Velasco's refreshing salmorejo—that bread-thickened gazpacho native to Córdoba, updated here with poached quail egg—or working through a plate of grilled squid jazzed up with a mustard-and-onion jam.
Perhaps no place embodies the gastrobar's playfulness better than La Gabinoteca, in Chamberí. Nino Redruello hails from a Madrid family beloved for its artful way with the classic tortilla española. But this funky spot, where the wine list is a personality quiz, is the antithesis of classic. The only tortilla on the menu, made with a creamy cod brandade, is deconstructed into a glass of deeply roasted potatoes and savory sabayon. One creative dessert even has the waiter bringing a siphon, a paintbrush, and a slew of sweet ingredients to the table.
Sure, there are still plenty of tapas bars that serve their fish fried simply and anatomically correct. But now, in the wake of Spain's culinary revolution, there is that—and so much more.
Fresh Direct: Gastro Markets
Another recent twist on Madrid's tapas scene is the edible market:
MERCADO DE SAN MIGUEL
In 2008, the old Mercado de San Miguel, located just off the Plaza Mayor, was converted into a center for gastronomic recreation. Stalls still sell raw ingredients, but the prepared-food stands run the show. The cheesemonger, for example, doesn't just hawk blocks of Manchego; she'll also slice you a chunk and arrange it with a bit of quince paste for an on-the-spot snack. Same goes for the charcuterie stall, and the oyster vendor, and the lady selling freshly fried potato chips. Throw in a wine bar and some full-fledged tapas bars and you've got one of the city's hottest culinary destinations from morning until late at night. mercado desanmiguel.es
MERCADO DE SAS ANTÓN
The ground floor of the recently opened Mercado de San Antón, in the hip neighborhood of Chueca, is dedicated to the gourmet shopper. The second floor features prepared-food stands and tapas bars, with seating that allows clients to graze on plates of just-made pasta or flash-fried Padrón chiles while they watch the shoppers below. Upstairs is La Cocina de San Antón, a popular restaurant serving (what else?) market-driven cuisine—so market-driven, in fact, that a diner can purchase, say, a whole sea bass or a coil of pork sausages on the ground floor and, for a four-euro charge, bring them up to be cooked and served. Gastronomic recreation indeed. mercadosananton.com
Lisa Abend is the author of The Sorcerer's Apprentices: A Season in the Kitchen at Ferran Adrià's elBulli. She Lives in Madrid.
Keywords:
travel,
Madrid,
Spain,
El Plato,
Estado Puro
Read More http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/2011/10/madrid-travel-guide#ixzz1ZMYxen6p
The Real Locations Of Sex And The City
Some of the locations seen on Sex and the City are so iconic they're not even worth describing. We'd all seen the Plaza Hotel before Carrie confronted Big there right after his wedding, and everyone knew what a big deal it was when Trey proposed to Charlotte outside of the classy jewelry store Tiffany's.
But there are other locations in New York that weren't landmarks until Sex and the City made them famous-- and some that won't be well-known until the movie comes out on May 30. After spending last fall running into the Sex and the City movie production from time to time, and following as much gossip as I could online, I've assembled a list of shooting locations from both the show and the movie. Some are already stalwarts for any Sex and the City tour, but others are New York favorites that may also, God forbid, become tourist favorites once it becomes known that Carrie & co. ate there.
Throughout this week, leading up to the release of Sex and the City, we'll take you on a tour of the rea-life places of Carrie Bradshaw's world. Check in tomorrow for more locations, photos, and some real-life recommendations from when your dreams are Sex and the City glamorous, but your wallet is as thin as a pair of stiletto heels. For now, here's part one of Cinema Blend's Sex and the City guided tour:
The SATC Angle: Let's start with a location that looks entirely mundane, unless you were there the day that flocks of trailers and production assistants turned this pretty corner into complete chaos. Yes, this is the Starbucks nearest to my office, and yeah, I kind of did want a latte the day they shut the whole thing down to shoot Sex and the City: The Movie. According to rumor, at this Starbucks Carrie interviews a series of women to be her assistant, before settling on Jennifer Hudson. If the trailer is to be believed, J-Huds gets the job by telling Carrie she has moved to the city to find love, which is an idiotic reason to move anywhere, but hey, this is Sex and the City after all.
The Better, Real-Life Option: Why drink Starbucks when, just across the street by the entrance to the 6 train, there's the bright orange Mud Truck? Cheaper, better coffee, cuter baristas, and there's usually a jazz band playing right next to it, competing with the music from the truck-- but that's the fun! Also stop by the big, black cube in the middle of Astor Place, and try to give it a spin. I promise that's not just a myth New Yorkers tell tourists to make them look dumb.
View Larger Map
The SATC Angle: The show's production actually used about five different stoops over its lifetime, but this was the one used most frequently, and the one that's a stop on the infamous Sex and the City bus tour. You've seen Carrie trip up it, flounce down it, chat with Big and other boyfriends on it. You can't actually sit on it-- the residents have put up a chain discouraging rubberneckers just like yourself-- but photos are possible. Be discreet about it though-- the West Village is still just about the nicest neighborhood in New York, and you don't want to go about ruining it, now do you? I have no idea if this spot will actually be used in the movie, but I'd say odds are good. What would a Carrie outfit be if you couldn't see her emerge from her front door wearing it?
The Better, Real-Life Option: Like I said, you can't sit on this stoop any more, and seriously, don't even try. Perry Street, and most of the other streets in the neighborhood, feature rows and rows of buildings with stoops where you can probably rest for a minute or two without getting into too much trouble. One spot you probably can't sit, though: Sarah Jessica Parker's house, just around the corner on Charles Street. Something tells me she's got a security detail that would make fast work of you, tired feet or not.
View Larger Map
The SATC Angle: The garden behind this unmissable building is the spot where Miranda and Steve got married in season 6, after Miranda's shopping bag fell apart right in front of the garden. “We're not boat people, we're bag people!” Miranda said once they made their decision. Really, it's hard to imagine not wanting to get married there-- the big oval of grass is surrounded by narrow pathways, snug benches and all kinds of gorgeous flowers, especially this time of year. You're not allowed to stand on the grass the way Miranda and Steve did, but you're also not allowed to rock short hair as well as Cynthia Nixon does; them's the breaks, kid. There's no telling if this garden will be featured in the movie-- my guess is not-- but the Jefferson Market Library is a visual touchstone in the West Village, which is home to so many Sex and the City moments.
The Better, Real-Life Option: It's hard to beat the garden for inner-city peace and quiet, and it's worth a stop in the library as well-- but only if you know your history. The building was originally built as a courthouse, on the site that had once been the town market. And where the garden now stands, there was once a women's prison, apparently the world's only art deco prison at the time. Legend has it that the women would taunt passersby from their windows-- something to keep in mind as you stroll the peaceful paths, but probably not something you want to imitate. Greenwich Village is quieter than it used to be, and despite the remaining hardcore sex shops, the neighborhood definitely has its limits.
View Larger Map
Read The Real Locations Of Sex And The City PART 2 here.
The Real Locations Of Sex And The City - Pt 2
3 Comments published: 2008-05-29 03:32:27 Author: Katey Rich
When you think about the four women of Sex and the City all together, what are they usually doing? If you don’t watch the show, you’ll probably answer “Strutting down the street and objectifying men!” But if you’re an actual fan, you’ll remember the silly brunches, three-cocktail lunches, and glitzy dinners that made up most of Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte’s social calendar.
For today’s tour of real-life Sex and the City locations, we’ll take a look at some of the restaurants made famous by the show—and a few more rumored to be making appearances in the movie. From cupcakes that became an international sensation to a few spots where real, poor New Yorkers like me eat, these restaurants are all part of the real fabric of New York life—even if their roles on the show were entirely fictional.
The SATC connection: Rumor has it this brunch spot has made two appearances on Sex and the City, but from what I remember it was just the spot where Aleksandr Petrovsky and Carrie had brunch with his snooty, uptown New York type friends. “I write a column,” Carrie tells the smug lady. “Oh, for the Times?” the smug lady asks, clearly unaware that Maureen Dowd was the only female columnist for The New York Times at the time. How am I smarter than smug lady? Answer me that, Michael Patrick King! No telling if Pastis will make another appearance in the movie, but it is right down the street from another bona fide movie location, which we’ll get to later.
The better, real-life option: Pastis is one of those “fabulous” SATC restaurants where people I know have actually eaten—my roommate even saw Monica Lewinsky there!—but you have a few more options if you want to get the same glitz without quite the crowd. Well, the crowds are kind of required. See, the people behind Pastis also own Soho brunch spot Balthazar, and Lower East Side locale Schiller’s Liquor Bar. Both pack in the crowds, but, depending on who you ask, they can be a little less scene-y than their more famous sibling. If you’re really in a pinch, you can buy Balthazar bread at grocery store locations in town—delicious, and you don’t have to fight the crowds to get it.
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The SATC connection: Both Pastis and Spice Market share an odd bit of land in Manhattan called the Meatpacking District, which is actually still a location for cutting and shipping meat as well as an epicenter of hot clubs and restaurants. Spice Market is one of the hottest, an enormous Asian fusion restaurant that specializes in attractive waitstaff as well as classy meals. (Yes, a friend of mine used to work there. Why do you ask?) The restaurant wasn’t open during the lifespan of the show, but my super-secret spy (a.k.a. my former employee friend) confirmed that the women of Sex and the City share a meal in the restaurant’s sidewalk seating area.
The better, real-life option: Well, you can always have a drink at the bar, which is what I did the one time I visited my pal while she was on the job. They serve better-than-average variations on cocktail snacks, and the drinks are weird—in a good, but expensive way. But if you’re looking for Asian fusion on a discount, there are approximately a zillion places to choose from in Manhattan, many of them within walking distance of the Meatpacking District. If all else fails there’s always the Dumpling Man on St. Mark’s Place in the East Village. Not exactly fancy fusion, but damn tasty for about the price of one Spice Market cocktail.
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The SATC connection: If you were really Carrie Bradshaw, and you really lived where the show claims she does (66 Perry Street, if you remember from yesterday), you would walk right past this Mexican dive on your way to glamorous Pastis or Spice Market. And Carrie did, dragging Miranda and Steve along with her for a double date that turned out to be a disastrous attempt to get back together with Aidan. Maybe she thought all the shiny tinsel hanging from the ceiling would distract him from the knowledge that their relationship was a terrible idea to begin with?
The better, real-life option: There is no substitute, at least if you’re looking for cheap margaritas, huge crowds, a frat party atmosphere, and occasionally, bingo! Not to make this all about myself (though if I were Carrie Bradshaw, isn’t that exactly what I would do?), but Tortilla Flats and their margaritas by the pitcher helped my boyfriend and my mom bond so much that we all still talk about our night there. Plus, unlike the inherent girliness of Sex and the City, plenty of (straight!) dudes frequent his place, so you can talk your guy friends into a visit without embarrassing them to death.
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The SATC connection: The eagle-eyed pedestrians who constantly reported Sex and the City movie shoots to the website Gawker claim that the movie filmed outside this restaurant last fall. Maybe Pastis is soooo over, and they had to pick a new French restaurant for the movie?
The better, real-life option: French Roast really does have a lot of charms to it—it’s been the host to many first dates and birthday gatherings among people I know. But if the Sex and the City effect spreads to this spot, you may want to stick with the uptown version, located at 85th and Broadway. Same menu, same ambience, but maybe a lot fewer Carrie-bots. But if you want to stick around the neighborhood and aren’t married to the idea of French onion soup, there’s a little bit of movie trivia just across the street. Remember in Elf, when Buddy is about to head off to life in the big city, and Santa warns him that there are like 30 pizza places in New York claiming to be “Original Ray’s Pizza,” but the real one is on 11th? Yup, it’s right across the street from French Roast. Get yourself a slice and thank Bob Newhart while you’re at it.
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The SATC connection: Surely you must know by now. After being featured on one early episode of Sex and the City, what was once a neighborhood bakery became an international craze. The bus tour stops here. Lines are out the door even in freezing cold weather. The place has a bouncer, for Christ’s sake. Carrie and Miranda nabbed cupcakes from this place and ate them at the park across the street—it’s so small there’s not even indoor seating. And thus, a pastry craze was born, and it hasn’t even stopped. I swear, the number of Sex and the City fans lining out the door of this place has caused a cupcake boom in this city. But hey, no complaints here.
The better, real-life option: The Magnolia cupcakes are delicious, and the prices can’t be beaten, but for kid-in-a-candy-store decadence, you’ve got to try Crumbs. There are locations all over the city (find them here), their cupcakes are ginormous, and there’s no line out the door. You can get them encrusted in M&Ms, stuffed with Oreos, covered in candy bars, in tiny or extra-large version… just imagine the sugar coma! If you’re dead set on Magnolia, though, you can at least avoid the line at hit up the brand-new Upper West Side version, at Columbus Avenue and 69th Street. Plus, that’s the neighborhood where Miranda supposedly lives on the show, so you can live vicariously through someone other than Carrie for once.
But there are other locations in New York that weren't landmarks until Sex and the City made them famous-- and some that won't be well-known until the movie comes out on May 30. After spending last fall running into the Sex and the City movie production from time to time, and following as much gossip as I could online, I've assembled a list of shooting locations from both the show and the movie. Some are already stalwarts for any Sex and the City tour, but others are New York favorites that may also, God forbid, become tourist favorites once it becomes known that Carrie & co. ate there.
Throughout this week, leading up to the release of Sex and the City, we'll take you on a tour of the rea-life places of Carrie Bradshaw's world. Check in tomorrow for more locations, photos, and some real-life recommendations from when your dreams are Sex and the City glamorous, but your wallet is as thin as a pair of stiletto heels. For now, here's part one of Cinema Blend's Sex and the City guided tour:
The SATC Angle: Let's start with a location that looks entirely mundane, unless you were there the day that flocks of trailers and production assistants turned this pretty corner into complete chaos. Yes, this is the Starbucks nearest to my office, and yeah, I kind of did want a latte the day they shut the whole thing down to shoot Sex and the City: The Movie. According to rumor, at this Starbucks Carrie interviews a series of women to be her assistant, before settling on Jennifer Hudson. If the trailer is to be believed, J-Huds gets the job by telling Carrie she has moved to the city to find love, which is an idiotic reason to move anywhere, but hey, this is Sex and the City after all.
The Better, Real-Life Option: Why drink Starbucks when, just across the street by the entrance to the 6 train, there's the bright orange Mud Truck? Cheaper, better coffee, cuter baristas, and there's usually a jazz band playing right next to it, competing with the music from the truck-- but that's the fun! Also stop by the big, black cube in the middle of Astor Place, and try to give it a spin. I promise that's not just a myth New Yorkers tell tourists to make them look dumb.
View Larger Map
The SATC Angle: The show's production actually used about five different stoops over its lifetime, but this was the one used most frequently, and the one that's a stop on the infamous Sex and the City bus tour. You've seen Carrie trip up it, flounce down it, chat with Big and other boyfriends on it. You can't actually sit on it-- the residents have put up a chain discouraging rubberneckers just like yourself-- but photos are possible. Be discreet about it though-- the West Village is still just about the nicest neighborhood in New York, and you don't want to go about ruining it, now do you? I have no idea if this spot will actually be used in the movie, but I'd say odds are good. What would a Carrie outfit be if you couldn't see her emerge from her front door wearing it?
The Better, Real-Life Option: Like I said, you can't sit on this stoop any more, and seriously, don't even try. Perry Street, and most of the other streets in the neighborhood, feature rows and rows of buildings with stoops where you can probably rest for a minute or two without getting into too much trouble. One spot you probably can't sit, though: Sarah Jessica Parker's house, just around the corner on Charles Street. Something tells me she's got a security detail that would make fast work of you, tired feet or not.
View Larger Map
The SATC Angle: The garden behind this unmissable building is the spot where Miranda and Steve got married in season 6, after Miranda's shopping bag fell apart right in front of the garden. “We're not boat people, we're bag people!” Miranda said once they made their decision. Really, it's hard to imagine not wanting to get married there-- the big oval of grass is surrounded by narrow pathways, snug benches and all kinds of gorgeous flowers, especially this time of year. You're not allowed to stand on the grass the way Miranda and Steve did, but you're also not allowed to rock short hair as well as Cynthia Nixon does; them's the breaks, kid. There's no telling if this garden will be featured in the movie-- my guess is not-- but the Jefferson Market Library is a visual touchstone in the West Village, which is home to so many Sex and the City moments.
The Better, Real-Life Option: It's hard to beat the garden for inner-city peace and quiet, and it's worth a stop in the library as well-- but only if you know your history. The building was originally built as a courthouse, on the site that had once been the town market. And where the garden now stands, there was once a women's prison, apparently the world's only art deco prison at the time. Legend has it that the women would taunt passersby from their windows-- something to keep in mind as you stroll the peaceful paths, but probably not something you want to imitate. Greenwich Village is quieter than it used to be, and despite the remaining hardcore sex shops, the neighborhood definitely has its limits.
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Read The Real Locations Of Sex And The City PART 2 here.
The Real Locations Of Sex And The City - Pt 2
3 Comments published: 2008-05-29 03:32:27 Author: Katey Rich
When you think about the four women of Sex and the City all together, what are they usually doing? If you don’t watch the show, you’ll probably answer “Strutting down the street and objectifying men!” But if you’re an actual fan, you’ll remember the silly brunches, three-cocktail lunches, and glitzy dinners that made up most of Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte’s social calendar.
For today’s tour of real-life Sex and the City locations, we’ll take a look at some of the restaurants made famous by the show—and a few more rumored to be making appearances in the movie. From cupcakes that became an international sensation to a few spots where real, poor New Yorkers like me eat, these restaurants are all part of the real fabric of New York life—even if their roles on the show were entirely fictional.
The SATC connection: Rumor has it this brunch spot has made two appearances on Sex and the City, but from what I remember it was just the spot where Aleksandr Petrovsky and Carrie had brunch with his snooty, uptown New York type friends. “I write a column,” Carrie tells the smug lady. “Oh, for the Times?” the smug lady asks, clearly unaware that Maureen Dowd was the only female columnist for The New York Times at the time. How am I smarter than smug lady? Answer me that, Michael Patrick King! No telling if Pastis will make another appearance in the movie, but it is right down the street from another bona fide movie location, which we’ll get to later.
The better, real-life option: Pastis is one of those “fabulous” SATC restaurants where people I know have actually eaten—my roommate even saw Monica Lewinsky there!—but you have a few more options if you want to get the same glitz without quite the crowd. Well, the crowds are kind of required. See, the people behind Pastis also own Soho brunch spot Balthazar, and Lower East Side locale Schiller’s Liquor Bar. Both pack in the crowds, but, depending on who you ask, they can be a little less scene-y than their more famous sibling. If you’re really in a pinch, you can buy Balthazar bread at grocery store locations in town—delicious, and you don’t have to fight the crowds to get it.
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The SATC connection: Both Pastis and Spice Market share an odd bit of land in Manhattan called the Meatpacking District, which is actually still a location for cutting and shipping meat as well as an epicenter of hot clubs and restaurants. Spice Market is one of the hottest, an enormous Asian fusion restaurant that specializes in attractive waitstaff as well as classy meals. (Yes, a friend of mine used to work there. Why do you ask?) The restaurant wasn’t open during the lifespan of the show, but my super-secret spy (a.k.a. my former employee friend) confirmed that the women of Sex and the City share a meal in the restaurant’s sidewalk seating area.
The better, real-life option: Well, you can always have a drink at the bar, which is what I did the one time I visited my pal while she was on the job. They serve better-than-average variations on cocktail snacks, and the drinks are weird—in a good, but expensive way. But if you’re looking for Asian fusion on a discount, there are approximately a zillion places to choose from in Manhattan, many of them within walking distance of the Meatpacking District. If all else fails there’s always the Dumpling Man on St. Mark’s Place in the East Village. Not exactly fancy fusion, but damn tasty for about the price of one Spice Market cocktail.
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The SATC connection: If you were really Carrie Bradshaw, and you really lived where the show claims she does (66 Perry Street, if you remember from yesterday), you would walk right past this Mexican dive on your way to glamorous Pastis or Spice Market. And Carrie did, dragging Miranda and Steve along with her for a double date that turned out to be a disastrous attempt to get back together with Aidan. Maybe she thought all the shiny tinsel hanging from the ceiling would distract him from the knowledge that their relationship was a terrible idea to begin with?
The better, real-life option: There is no substitute, at least if you’re looking for cheap margaritas, huge crowds, a frat party atmosphere, and occasionally, bingo! Not to make this all about myself (though if I were Carrie Bradshaw, isn’t that exactly what I would do?), but Tortilla Flats and their margaritas by the pitcher helped my boyfriend and my mom bond so much that we all still talk about our night there. Plus, unlike the inherent girliness of Sex and the City, plenty of (straight!) dudes frequent his place, so you can talk your guy friends into a visit without embarrassing them to death.
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The SATC connection: The eagle-eyed pedestrians who constantly reported Sex and the City movie shoots to the website Gawker claim that the movie filmed outside this restaurant last fall. Maybe Pastis is soooo over, and they had to pick a new French restaurant for the movie?
The better, real-life option: French Roast really does have a lot of charms to it—it’s been the host to many first dates and birthday gatherings among people I know. But if the Sex and the City effect spreads to this spot, you may want to stick with the uptown version, located at 85th and Broadway. Same menu, same ambience, but maybe a lot fewer Carrie-bots. But if you want to stick around the neighborhood and aren’t married to the idea of French onion soup, there’s a little bit of movie trivia just across the street. Remember in Elf, when Buddy is about to head off to life in the big city, and Santa warns him that there are like 30 pizza places in New York claiming to be “Original Ray’s Pizza,” but the real one is on 11th? Yup, it’s right across the street from French Roast. Get yourself a slice and thank Bob Newhart while you’re at it.
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The SATC connection: Surely you must know by now. After being featured on one early episode of Sex and the City, what was once a neighborhood bakery became an international craze. The bus tour stops here. Lines are out the door even in freezing cold weather. The place has a bouncer, for Christ’s sake. Carrie and Miranda nabbed cupcakes from this place and ate them at the park across the street—it’s so small there’s not even indoor seating. And thus, a pastry craze was born, and it hasn’t even stopped. I swear, the number of Sex and the City fans lining out the door of this place has caused a cupcake boom in this city. But hey, no complaints here.
The better, real-life option: The Magnolia cupcakes are delicious, and the prices can’t be beaten, but for kid-in-a-candy-store decadence, you’ve got to try Crumbs. There are locations all over the city (find them here), their cupcakes are ginormous, and there’s no line out the door. You can get them encrusted in M&Ms, stuffed with Oreos, covered in candy bars, in tiny or extra-large version… just imagine the sugar coma! If you’re dead set on Magnolia, though, you can at least avoid the line at hit up the brand-new Upper West Side version, at Columbus Avenue and 69th Street. Plus, that’s the neighborhood where Miranda supposedly lives on the show, so you can live vicariously through someone other than Carrie for once.
The Top 25 Sex and the City locations
May 27, 2008 | Posted in Trip Ideas & Itineraries
By Molly Moker
Fodor's Editor
With the Sex and the City movie opening on May 30, the spotlight is swinging back to New York. The city itself has been called the fifth major SATC character, alongside the fabulous foursome of Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha, and Miranda. Tour Manhattan with this guide to the television series' most memorable real-life locations. As for Brooklyn---well, we may have some tips for you once the movie is out! Updated: Movie locations and map link
We've organized these sights geographically, from the southern tip of Manhattan all the way up to Central Park. To take your own SATC walk, choose either the downtown or uptown half of our list—or be ready to hop in several taxis along the way, as there's a lot of ground to cover!
Downtown
Staten Island Ferry. On the girls' way home from a firefighter-calendar contest in Staten Island, Charlotte announces to the world, "I'm getting married this year!" The 25-minute boat ride gives great views of lower Manhattan, and best of all, it's free! Departs from the Whitehall Street Ferry Terminal
Century 21. Carrie hits this legendary discount department store while serving jury duty. Braving the bare-bones dressing rooms and scoring a terrific deal is practically a New Yorker's rite of passage. 22 Cortland Street
Onieal's. Scenes at Steve's pub, Scout, were filmed at this Little Italy bar-restaurant. Once a speakeasy, the building had a tunnel connecting it to the police headquarters across the street. 174 Grand Street
Patricia Field. Crimson-haired Field has been New York's iconic vendor of club-kid clothes for decades. Then she became the stylist for SATC and her name ricocheted around the world. Her current downtown store is packed with outrageous clothes and accessories; some, like the nameplate necklaces, hark back to the show. 302 Bowery
Trapeze School New York. Carrie takes a flying leap for an assignment and realizes the value of a safety net. At this branch of TSNY, students swing over the Hudson River– and locals love watching them from a waterfront promenade. Pier 40, on West Street
Pastis. Carrie and "the Russian" have brunch at this popular French bistro. If you plan to visit, make your reservations at least a week in advance; the buzz is still going strong. 9 Ninth Avenue
St. Mark's Comics. Here's where Carrie meets mama's boy Wade. The East Village shop has all the comics, graphic novels, and action figures a teen collector could handle. 11 St. Marks Place
Gray's Papaya. Carrie stops at this takeout spot for a hot dog after her swanky book party. The signature partner to the frank is a cup of luscious papaya juice. How they came up with that combination is beyond us… but it works. 402 Sixth Avenue
Jefferson Market Garden. Miranda and Steve get married in this unassuming community park. The Greenwich Village green space is also popular with kids, especially during the park's spring and fall childrens' festivals. Greenwich Avenue between Sixth Avenue and W. 10th Street
Tasti D-Lite. Charlotte and Harry walked here together, with romance in the "whipped air." The frozen desserts at this New York-born chain are billed as a low-guilt alternative to soft-serve ice cream. These days, though, they're facing tough competition from the new wave of frozen yogurt. 436 Sixth Avenue
Il Cantinori. Carrie celebrates her 35th birthday here– alone. This was one of the first New York restaurants to do Tuscan food in a sophisticated setting, and celebs rely on it for its discretion. 32 E. 10th Street
Magnolia Bakery. Carrie tells Miranda about a major crush while scarfing down one of this bakery's signature cupcakes. Magnolia's buttercream-topped treats ignited a sweeping cupcake craze. Here's a local tip: for a faster fix, skip the long line at the original Bleecker Street location and head uptown to the second branch on Columbus Avenue. 401 Bleecker Street, 200 Columbus Avenue
City Bakery. Carrie and Samantha discuss "the face girl" over lunch at this polished take on a cafeteria. New Yorkers love City Bakery for its pretzel croissants and, as Carrie proclaims, the best brownies in New York. 3 W. 18th Street
Pete's Tavern. While sitting on the patio, Miranda asks Steve to marry her. Pete's is the longest continuously operating bar and restaurant in the city. 129 E. 18th Street
Uptown
Eleven Madison Park. Big breaks the news to Carrie: he's engaged to the "stick figure with no soul." Although the location evokes heartache for loyal SATC fans, the restaurant is one of the most innovative in the city. 11 Madison Avenue
Church of the Transfiguration. Samantha tries to get to know a priest in the Biblical sense at this house of worship. Called the "Little Church Around the Corner," this church has longstanding ties to New York's theater community. It got its nickname in 1870 when the rector of a nearby church turned down a request to bury an actor, referring to a "little church around the corner" that would do "that sort of thing." At the time, acting was considered a scandalous profession. SATC probably wouldn't change that rector's mind… 1 E. 29th Street
New York Public Library Humanities and Social Sciences. While lunching on the library's steps, Miranda tells two strangers "he's just not that into you." Behind the library is Bryant Park, where Carrie became "fashion road kill" on the runway at a charity show. Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street
Russian Samovar. Bring on the blini and caviar! Carrie has a memorable first date with the mysterious artist Aleksandr Petrovsky at this classic Russian restaurant. The renowned dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, who played Petrovsky, is one of the restaurant's investors. 256 W. 52nd Street
Manolo Blahnik. Sarah Jessica Parker claimed to be able to run a marathon in Carrie's favorite shoes: Manolo Blahniks, famed for sky-high stilettos (and prices). 31 W. 54th Street
Takashimaya. The four friends hit a different kind of bar (perfume, not cocktails) and Carrie announces her intention to take a "lovah." For more divine scents, visit the florist section of this serene Japanese department store. 693 Fifth Avenue
Tiffany & Co. Charlotte and Trey do some serious ring-shopping at this classic jeweler. New Yorkers love Tiffany for its silver as well as for its sparklers. 727 Fifth Avenue
The Paris Theatre. Carrie muses, "the most amazing thing about living in a city like New York is that any night of the week you can go to Paris." She goes to see a movie on her own on "date night" at this glamorous, old-school, single-screen theater. The most romantic seats in the house are up in the balcony. 4 W. 58 Street
The Plaza. Carrie sees Big in front of the Plaza after his engagement party, and the iconic "Ex and the City" monologue begins. Reopened in 2008 after a massive renovation, the historic Plaza is now part-hotel, part-condo, and all luxury. 768 Fifth Avenue
Columbus Circle Fountains. Carrie and Aidan realize it's not going to work once and for all at this picturesque fountain. The fountain steps and benches are a great place for an alfresco snack, after picking up a treat from the adjacent Time Warner Center's Bouchon Bakery. Central Park West and Broadway
The Boathouse Restaurant. Carrie and Big meet here for lunch… and an unintentional swim. Set right on Central Park Lake, the Boathouse is a romantic place for brunch or dinner; an authentic Venetian gondola sometimes glides by. Park Drive North, near E. 72nd Street
Bonus: Five More SATC Locations
June 01, 2008 | Posted in Trip Ideas & Itineraries
By Molly Moker
Fodor's Editor
Now that the Sex and the City movie has opened, here's a peek at five special NYC sights that appear in the flick. But we promise, no spoilers! As with our tour based on the original show, we've given these sights in geographic order, starting downtown and heading up Manhattan. Visit our map to plan your route.
Brooklyn Bridge. Miranda has a life-changing moment on this stunning span. Now's a perfect time to stroll across this landmark, as it celebrates its 125th birthday this year. Walkway accessed at Park Row, near City Hall on the Manhattan side
Buddakan. Carrie and Mr. Big hold their rehearsal dinner at this enormous modern-Asian restaurant on the edge of the Meatpacking District. It's very much a scene, whether you're at the long communal table (à la Carrie and Company) or in the more intimate library room. 75 Ninth Avenue
New York Public Library: Humanities and Social Sciences. Carrie and her friends get a nasty shock on the grand marble staircase here. The drama continues in the street just outside, literally stopping traffic. Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street
Lumi. Charlotte has a meltdown at this Upper East Side Italian restaurant. Ladies-who-lunch snag seats on the patio in good weather, or by the fireplace in the romantic upstairs dining room. 963 Lexington Avenue
1010 Fifth Avenue. Is there an apartment big enough for both labels and love? Carrie and Big are smitten with a penthouse across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Although the building's exterior is real, the interior (and jaw-dropping closet) was a set. Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street
By Molly Moker
Fodor's Editor
With the Sex and the City movie opening on May 30, the spotlight is swinging back to New York. The city itself has been called the fifth major SATC character, alongside the fabulous foursome of Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha, and Miranda. Tour Manhattan with this guide to the television series' most memorable real-life locations. As for Brooklyn---well, we may have some tips for you once the movie is out! Updated: Movie locations and map link
We've organized these sights geographically, from the southern tip of Manhattan all the way up to Central Park. To take your own SATC walk, choose either the downtown or uptown half of our list—or be ready to hop in several taxis along the way, as there's a lot of ground to cover!
Downtown
Staten Island Ferry. On the girls' way home from a firefighter-calendar contest in Staten Island, Charlotte announces to the world, "I'm getting married this year!" The 25-minute boat ride gives great views of lower Manhattan, and best of all, it's free! Departs from the Whitehall Street Ferry Terminal
Century 21. Carrie hits this legendary discount department store while serving jury duty. Braving the bare-bones dressing rooms and scoring a terrific deal is practically a New Yorker's rite of passage. 22 Cortland Street
Onieal's. Scenes at Steve's pub, Scout, were filmed at this Little Italy bar-restaurant. Once a speakeasy, the building had a tunnel connecting it to the police headquarters across the street. 174 Grand Street
Patricia Field. Crimson-haired Field has been New York's iconic vendor of club-kid clothes for decades. Then she became the stylist for SATC and her name ricocheted around the world. Her current downtown store is packed with outrageous clothes and accessories; some, like the nameplate necklaces, hark back to the show. 302 Bowery
Trapeze School New York. Carrie takes a flying leap for an assignment and realizes the value of a safety net. At this branch of TSNY, students swing over the Hudson River– and locals love watching them from a waterfront promenade. Pier 40, on West Street
Pastis. Carrie and "the Russian" have brunch at this popular French bistro. If you plan to visit, make your reservations at least a week in advance; the buzz is still going strong. 9 Ninth Avenue
St. Mark's Comics. Here's where Carrie meets mama's boy Wade. The East Village shop has all the comics, graphic novels, and action figures a teen collector could handle. 11 St. Marks Place
Gray's Papaya. Carrie stops at this takeout spot for a hot dog after her swanky book party. The signature partner to the frank is a cup of luscious papaya juice. How they came up with that combination is beyond us… but it works. 402 Sixth Avenue
Jefferson Market Garden. Miranda and Steve get married in this unassuming community park. The Greenwich Village green space is also popular with kids, especially during the park's spring and fall childrens' festivals. Greenwich Avenue between Sixth Avenue and W. 10th Street
Tasti D-Lite. Charlotte and Harry walked here together, with romance in the "whipped air." The frozen desserts at this New York-born chain are billed as a low-guilt alternative to soft-serve ice cream. These days, though, they're facing tough competition from the new wave of frozen yogurt. 436 Sixth Avenue
Il Cantinori. Carrie celebrates her 35th birthday here– alone. This was one of the first New York restaurants to do Tuscan food in a sophisticated setting, and celebs rely on it for its discretion. 32 E. 10th Street
Magnolia Bakery. Carrie tells Miranda about a major crush while scarfing down one of this bakery's signature cupcakes. Magnolia's buttercream-topped treats ignited a sweeping cupcake craze. Here's a local tip: for a faster fix, skip the long line at the original Bleecker Street location and head uptown to the second branch on Columbus Avenue. 401 Bleecker Street, 200 Columbus Avenue
City Bakery. Carrie and Samantha discuss "the face girl" over lunch at this polished take on a cafeteria. New Yorkers love City Bakery for its pretzel croissants and, as Carrie proclaims, the best brownies in New York. 3 W. 18th Street
Pete's Tavern. While sitting on the patio, Miranda asks Steve to marry her. Pete's is the longest continuously operating bar and restaurant in the city. 129 E. 18th Street
Uptown
Eleven Madison Park. Big breaks the news to Carrie: he's engaged to the "stick figure with no soul." Although the location evokes heartache for loyal SATC fans, the restaurant is one of the most innovative in the city. 11 Madison Avenue
Church of the Transfiguration. Samantha tries to get to know a priest in the Biblical sense at this house of worship. Called the "Little Church Around the Corner," this church has longstanding ties to New York's theater community. It got its nickname in 1870 when the rector of a nearby church turned down a request to bury an actor, referring to a "little church around the corner" that would do "that sort of thing." At the time, acting was considered a scandalous profession. SATC probably wouldn't change that rector's mind… 1 E. 29th Street
New York Public Library Humanities and Social Sciences. While lunching on the library's steps, Miranda tells two strangers "he's just not that into you." Behind the library is Bryant Park, where Carrie became "fashion road kill" on the runway at a charity show. Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street
Russian Samovar. Bring on the blini and caviar! Carrie has a memorable first date with the mysterious artist Aleksandr Petrovsky at this classic Russian restaurant. The renowned dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, who played Petrovsky, is one of the restaurant's investors. 256 W. 52nd Street
Manolo Blahnik. Sarah Jessica Parker claimed to be able to run a marathon in Carrie's favorite shoes: Manolo Blahniks, famed for sky-high stilettos (and prices). 31 W. 54th Street
Takashimaya. The four friends hit a different kind of bar (perfume, not cocktails) and Carrie announces her intention to take a "lovah." For more divine scents, visit the florist section of this serene Japanese department store. 693 Fifth Avenue
Tiffany & Co. Charlotte and Trey do some serious ring-shopping at this classic jeweler. New Yorkers love Tiffany for its silver as well as for its sparklers. 727 Fifth Avenue
The Paris Theatre. Carrie muses, "the most amazing thing about living in a city like New York is that any night of the week you can go to Paris." She goes to see a movie on her own on "date night" at this glamorous, old-school, single-screen theater. The most romantic seats in the house are up in the balcony. 4 W. 58 Street
The Plaza. Carrie sees Big in front of the Plaza after his engagement party, and the iconic "Ex and the City" monologue begins. Reopened in 2008 after a massive renovation, the historic Plaza is now part-hotel, part-condo, and all luxury. 768 Fifth Avenue
Columbus Circle Fountains. Carrie and Aidan realize it's not going to work once and for all at this picturesque fountain. The fountain steps and benches are a great place for an alfresco snack, after picking up a treat from the adjacent Time Warner Center's Bouchon Bakery. Central Park West and Broadway
The Boathouse Restaurant. Carrie and Big meet here for lunch… and an unintentional swim. Set right on Central Park Lake, the Boathouse is a romantic place for brunch or dinner; an authentic Venetian gondola sometimes glides by. Park Drive North, near E. 72nd Street
Bonus: Five More SATC Locations
June 01, 2008 | Posted in Trip Ideas & Itineraries
By Molly Moker
Fodor's Editor
Now that the Sex and the City movie has opened, here's a peek at five special NYC sights that appear in the flick. But we promise, no spoilers! As with our tour based on the original show, we've given these sights in geographic order, starting downtown and heading up Manhattan. Visit our map to plan your route.
Brooklyn Bridge. Miranda has a life-changing moment on this stunning span. Now's a perfect time to stroll across this landmark, as it celebrates its 125th birthday this year. Walkway accessed at Park Row, near City Hall on the Manhattan side
Buddakan. Carrie and Mr. Big hold their rehearsal dinner at this enormous modern-Asian restaurant on the edge of the Meatpacking District. It's very much a scene, whether you're at the long communal table (à la Carrie and Company) or in the more intimate library room. 75 Ninth Avenue
New York Public Library: Humanities and Social Sciences. Carrie and her friends get a nasty shock on the grand marble staircase here. The drama continues in the street just outside, literally stopping traffic. Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street
Lumi. Charlotte has a meltdown at this Upper East Side Italian restaurant. Ladies-who-lunch snag seats on the patio in good weather, or by the fireplace in the romantic upstairs dining room. 963 Lexington Avenue
1010 Fifth Avenue. Is there an apartment big enough for both labels and love? Carrie and Big are smitten with a penthouse across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Although the building's exterior is real, the interior (and jaw-dropping closet) was a set. Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street
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