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Tour of Seinfeld Locations in NYC

Updated: October 13, 2023

If ever there was a TV show that so perfectly captured life in New York City, it was Seinfeld.

We can vouch from our own experiences that things can get a bit weird in New York City. Seinfeld took familiar everyday experiences to their wackiest extreme.

The below self-guided tour lets you follow in the footsteps of Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer.

Here's hoping you don't find yourself in a Seinfeld-esque predicament!


INTRODUCTION

Seinfeld first aired in July of 1989, bringing New York City into the homes of millions of people.

From day one, the show was a hit. Over the years, Seinfeld won numerous Emmy, Golden Globe, and People's Choice Awards.

The hysterical ensemble cast featured Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Michael Richards.

This self-guided tour takes you to locales where some of the best episodes took place, whether in real life or on a studio set recreation.

It may take you up to four hours to see all the sites including travel time. 

While it can be done on your own, you might want to consider taking a guided tour to make sure you'll see all the best Seinfeld locations in NYC.


Jerry Seinfeld's Apartment

Before getting started on the tour, let's answer what may be the most common question about the show: Where does Jerry live in Seinfeld?

The building address was 129 West 81st Street on the Upper West Side. (Stop D on the map below).

While this was the address in the show, the building at that address looks nothing like the one shown in the exterior shots on the show. 

The actual exterior used in Seinfeld isn’t even in New York! It's at 755 S. New Hampshire Avenue in Los Angeles.

And no, Kenny Rogers Roasters is likely to move in anytime soon, but it’s a tranquil area that’s well worth a visit.


Monk’s Café (Tom’s Restaurant NYC)

This is the famous exterior that appears in so many episodes. It's at 2880 Broadway at the corner of West 112th Street. (Stop A on the map below)

Here, the four friends overanalyze each other's behavior while pondering crazy questions about life.

Although the interior scenes were filmed on set in Los Angeles, that set was modeled on the inside of this restaurant.

Step into the world of Seinfeld by grabbing a table with some friends and having a cup of coffee.


SEINFELD LOCATIONS

This self-guided map has all the Seinfeld locations in this post.

Use the map as an itinerary to visit each stop in a logical order.

You'll be using the subway to travel to each stop, at least some of them.

If you are new to the subway system, check out our post on how to use the subway system.


The Subway in "The Subway"

There’s nothing more New York than the subway and it features in countless Seinfeld episodes.

In the oh-so-New York episode "The Subway", Jerry, George, Kramer, and Elaine embark on subway-inspired misadventures.

The crew starts out on the subway together where an encounter with a busker gets out of control.

They go their separate ways, each finding themselves in wacky scenarios, which ring true to us New Yorkers...a tiny bit.

As they spend most of their time on the Upper West Side, they usually ride the 1/2/3 train line (it's red on the subway map).

Start your adventure by catching the No. 1 train local (red line) to the West 110th Street station.


A - Monk's Cafe in Multiple Episodes

See above.


B- Metro Theater in "The Stall"

(2626 Broadway between West 99th and West 100th Street) (now closed)

Remember when Elaine was trapped in a bathroom stall at a movie theater and implored the woman in the next stall to “spare her a square”?

How about when George confronts some movie hecklers which ends, as do most confrontations on Seinfeld, with a series of calamities?

The locale was based on The Metro Theater, which is now closed.

Now it's back onto the subway at West 110th Street. Take the 1 train from 103rd Street Station downtown to West 86th Street and walk east to Columbus Avenue.


C - H&H Bagels in “The Strike”

(526 Columbus Ave between W. 85th and W 86th Street)

In this episode, we learn that Cosmo Kramer did have a job. It’s just that he had been on strike for 12 years!

When the minimum wage is sufficient to meet his pay demands, decides to return to his employer, H & H Bagels, one of NYC’s best bagel shops.

It’s around the holidays and Kramer asks for December 23 off, and when the boss says no, he goes back on strike.

So what holiday is December 23 anyway? It’s Festivus! 

This is the first episode where this anti-Christmas holiday where people air their grievances makes its appearance.

Festivus is one of the most lasting legacies of Seinfeld.

Walk south on Columbus Avenue to W. 81st Street and make a right.


D- Jerry's Apartment in Multiple Episodes

(129 West 81st Street). See above.

Continue along W 81st Street to Amsterdam Avenue. Turn left and walk South to 72nd Street.


E - Gray's Papaya in "The Movie"

(2090 Broadway, on Broadway at the intersection with Amsterdam Avenue and West 72nd Street)

If you think movie food in New York is too expensive, well Kramer agrees. 

It’s a classic comedy of errors, as the four make plans, remake plans, wreck their plans, and then Kramer needs a hot dog.

In the show, it’s Papaya King, but this particular Gray’s Papaya is the closest hot dog stand to the Paragon Theatre. Just make sure you’re back in time for the show….

TIP: Gray's Papaya is one of the best places in NYC to get a cheap and delicious meal.

Cross Broadway and walk down 72nd Street one block.


F - Royale Pastry Shop in "The Dinner Party"

(237 West 72nd Street, between Broadway and West End Avenue) (now closed)

Unfortunately, the shop itself is no more, but its customer base grew after it appeared on Seinfeld.

This shop, called Schnitzer's in the show, produced a marble rye worth mugging an old lady for, and a black and white cookie that could bridge racial divides.

While you can't get a Black and White Cookie at this shop, never fear.

Across the street from Stop V is Russ and Daughters who make a mean version of this classic New York food.

Walk back to Broadway, walk south 68th Street and make a left turn.


G - La Boîte en Bois in "The Sponge"

(75 West 68th Street, just off Columbus Avenue)

Date nights were nearly always a disaster on Seinfeld.

At this French restaurant, George’s date Karen had a very animated reaction to a particular risotto dish while eating there.

Luckily it’s no longer on the menu, but everything else that’s available is both far safer and tastier.

Continue one block along W. 68th Street until Central Park West. Turn right and walk south 5 blocks.


H - West Side YMCA in "The Boyfriend"

(5 West 63rd Street, between 8th Ave and Central Park West)

Former Mets baseball player Keith Hernandez meets Jerry at the West Side YMCA.

Hernandez is then accused and acquitted of spitting on Newman and Kramer and ends up dating Elaine.

In real life, he still makes around $3,000 a year in royalties from reruns, so just imagine what the main characters are raking in.

TIP: This YMCA is one of the best and most affordable hostels to stay at in NYC. Read more about it from our post, Best Hostels in New York City.

Walk away from the park on West 63rd until you reach Columbus Avenue.


I - Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in "The Beard"

(10 Lincoln Center Plaza, W. 64th Street at Columbus Ave)

In this Seinfeld episode, Elaine attends the ballet at the Lincoln Center, enacting the role of “beard” in front of her gay friend’s employer.

She subsequently develops a crush on said gay friend and tries to turn him straight.

Perhaps the most memorable part of this episode is Elaine's night at the ballet and her visit to the bathroom.

And as George says, the bathrooms at Alice Tully Hall are excellent!

TIP: Lincoln Center offers behind-the-scenes tours, though they probably don't visit the bathrooms. Find out more about Lincoln Center Tours.

Walk south on Columbus Avenue which becomes 9th Avenue and make a right on W 59th Street and walk down one block.


J - Mount Sinai Roosevelt Hospital in "The Bris"

(1000 10th Avenue, between W. 58th and W. 59th Streets)

In this episode, the not-so-fab-four head to the Mount Sinai Roosevelt Hospital to meet friends who’ve just had a baby.

Kramer wanders into the wrong hospital room and claims to have seen a "pigman" (half pig, half man).

Meanwhile, a mentally ill patient commits suicide and lands on George's car, and he attempts to get the hospital to reimburse him for the damage.

Walk south on 10th Avenue to W. 55th Street and make a left. Walk two blocks to 8th Avenue.


K - The Original Soup Kitchen in "The Soup Nazi"

(259A W. 55th Street at 8th Avenue)

“No soup for you!” is exactly what you shouldn’t say when visiting The Original Soupman.

The shop is based on Al's Soup Kitchen owned by Al Yeganeh, who still controls the soup recipes and is sometimes seen in the store.

Jerry and the crew visited this store in the real world for years, and lines outside the shop often stretched around the block.

This led to Yeganeh developing the strict rules:

“Pick the soup you want! Have your money ready! Move to the extreme left after ordering! And if you don’t stick to the rules? No soup for you!”

Walk south on 8th Avenue to W. 47th Street.


L -Edison Hotel in "The Subway"

(228 W 47th St between 7th and 8th Avenue)

In the very same subway episode mentioned at the start of this tour, George is led to the Edison Hotel, where he’s expecting to spend some sexy time with a beautiful stranger.

Instead, the woman handcuffs him to a bed and makes off with his only good suit, as well as everything else including his dignity.

By the way, the Edison Hotel is one of our favorite hotels in New York City. Read about it in our post, Where to Stay in NYC.

Backtrack on W. 47th Street to 9th Avenue and make a left. Walk to W 44th Street and make a left.

TIP: This area is known as Hell's Kitchen. It's got a fascinating past. Read about it here.


M- The Improv in Multiple Episodes

(358 West 44th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenue) (now closed)

Whenever Jerry was performing stand-up during an episode, he was often on his way to, from, or was at “The Improv”.

Unfortunately, it’s now closed, but you can still visit the site where this actual comedy club once stood, now The Producers Club.

Walk back to 9th Avenue.


N - Westway Diner

(614 9th Avenue between W. 43rd and 44th Street)

Although not a location in one of the episodes of Seinfeld, this is the diner where Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David dined when they came up with the idea for the show.

Walk back along W. 44th to 8th Avenue.


O - Sardi's

(234 West 44th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenue)

After Kramer receives a Tony while serving as a seat filler during the awards ceremony, he accompanies the award to Sardi’s, where he’s forced to fire an extremely fired-up Raquel Welch.

Sardi’s has been in the same location in Manhattan’s theater district since 1927 and is renowned for the celebrity caricatures that adorn the walls, as well as mixing a quality cocktail.

Our pay-what-you-wish Midtown Tours visit parts of the Theater District.

You can also try our Audio Tour of Midtown Manhattan or check out our self-guided Theater District Tour.

Continue east on W. 44th Street to 5th Avenue and make a left turn. Walk up to W. 49th Street.


P - 30 Rockefeller Center

(30 Rockefeller Plaza, West 50th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue)

Remember when the characters in Seinfeld, a show about nothing, visited NBC to pitch their idea for a show about nothing?

That all went down at the real-life NBC studios at “30 Rock” located inside Rockefeller Center.

Our post on Rockefeller Center can help you find your way around and find out what else there is to see there.

Rockefeller Center is home to Top of the Rock, one of the three skyscraper observation decks in NYC.

Walk north on 5th Avenue to W. 59th Street.


Q - The Plaza Hotel

(768 5th Ave. at 59th Street and across from Central Park) 

When Elaine interviews for a job at Viking Press, she pretends to have flown in from Florida so receives a suite at The Plaza.

She begrudgingly bequeaths it to Jerry’s parents, who pass it along to Uncle Leo and Nana, and they trash the place.

The Plaza has also been featured in The Great Gatsby, among countless other books and films.

If you were planning on visiting Central Park, our Lower Central Park tour starts from nearby The Plaza.

We also offer a self-guided GPS audio version of this tour that you could take any time you like.

Walk to 57th Street, make a right turn and walk down two blocks.


S - Pendant Publishing in Multiple Episodes

(600 Madison Avenue at 57th Street)

Pendant Publishing, Elaine and George’s employer at different times, might be a fictitious business but the building where it was housed is as real as bricks and mortar.

A stunning office building, it is currently home to hedge funds, UGG Boots, and the finest Mont Blanc pens.

TIP: While you are uptown at 61st Street, why not take a ride on the Roosevelt Island Tram? You will get one of the most spectacular 360-degree views of NYC, all for the price of a subway ride.

Walk north on Madison Avenue to 61st Street.


T - Barneys New York

(660 Madison Ave at East 61st Street) (now closed)

Elaine buys a dress on sale that looks great at the store, but once home it looks awful.

She returns it to Barneys and accuses them of using “skinny mirrors” that make people appear thinner than they are.

The store has since closed so you can't try the mirrors for yourself, but you will just have to trust Elaine!"

From Barneys, walk to Lexington Avenue then south two streets in the direction of the cars to East 59th, and catch the 6 local train downtown (green line) to the 33rd Street Station.


Mendy’s Kosher Delicatessen

(441 Park Ave S. New York between E. 30th and E. 29th Street)

“Is soup a meal?” Thanks to Seinfeld this is now an immortal question and the beginning of many all-night debates.

It all began at Mendy’s when Kenny Bania, whom Jerry owed a free meal, opted for soup. “Soup and sandwich, that is a meal!” Jerry would later proclaim.

TIP: Mendy's has fantastic deli sandwiches, so if you are hungry, take a seat and order something.

If you'd rather wait a little while, we have you covered. In two stops you'll be near Katz's, the deli that featured in the infamous scene in Where Harry Met Sally.

Feel like taking the bus a few blocks? Grab a southbound bus on Park Avenue and get off at E. 18th Street.

TIP: If you have an unlimited card, your bus fare is included. If you have a pay-per-ride card, your bus transfer is included for up to 90 minutes after you get off the subway.

See what Metrocard is right for you.


U - Pete’s Tavern in The Sniffing Accountant

(129 East 18th Street, between Irving Place and 3rd Avenue)

Kramer follows Barry the sniffing accountant to Pete’s Tavern, where he attempts to blend in by chugging a beer with a cigarette in his mouth.

Kramer attempts to catch Barry in a nefarious act, which he doesn’t manage, however, he does snap a photo of Barry in a different act - on the toilet.

Learn more about the surrounding historic neighborhood on our self-guided tour of Gramercy Park and Union Square.

One final subway ride! Take a jaunt down to East 14th Street and hop on the 6 local train downtown two stops to Bleecker Street.

Walk one block south on Lafayette Avenue and left onto Houston Street. Walk down to 1st Avenue.


V - The Nexus of the Universe

(intersection of East 1st Street and 1st Avenue)

It is here that a very lost and confused Kramer calls Jerry from this location, which he describes as “The Nexus of the Universe”. 

On our pay-what-you-wish Lower East Side Food Tour, we walk through the center of the universe (in addition to having food that is out of this world!)


SEINFELD BEYOND MANHATTAN

While most of Seinfeld takes place in Manhattan, they do have adventures off of the island.

These are some locations that you may visit on your trip, so why not bring the gang along with you?

W - Yankee Stadium in Multiple Episodes

(1 E 161st St., in the Bronx) (directions)

If you plan to see a baseball game or take a Yankee Stadium tour, you will find yourself at George Costanza’s most famous place of employment - where he mostly naps!

This long-running sub-plot featured the show’s writer, Larry David, performing as a crazed version of now-deceased Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. 

Yankee Stadium also features in several other episodes, including when Elaine refuses to remove her Orioles hat at a game.


X - LaGuardia Airport in Multiple Episodes

If you are flying in and out of LaGuardia airport, you’ll be happy to hear that some great comedic moments went down here

While on a flight, Elaine is stuck in coach class, but Jerry flies first class. In the seat next to him is a model, who bonds with Jerry over gigantic ice cream sundaes the plane.

George and Kramer go to LaGuardia to pick up Elaine and Jerry, only to find out that it has been rerouted to JFK Airport. Traffic, of course, is a nightmare.

In typical Seinfeld fashion, George causes unnecessary trouble and ends up being assaulted by a criminal in the plane bathroom.

Don’t worry. LaGuardia is a pretty nice airport, despite what happens in Seinfeld!


Y- Arthur Ashe Tennis Stadium in “The Lip Reader”

In town in late August or early September? Make the trek to see world-class tennis at this site of the famous U.S. Open tennis tournament.

George and Jerry are at a match when George gets ice cream all over his face, the sports channel camera zooms in and the commentators mock him for all the world to see on TV.

Kramer is watching the match at home and decides to become a "ball man".

Needless to say, he is not a very good one.


Z- Massapequa, Long Island

This isn't a locale from the show, but you can go on a pilgrimage here if you want to see where the real-life Jerry grew up.

Born Jerome Allen Seinfeld in 1954 in Brooklyn, his family moved to Massapequa, Long Island where his father Kal Seinfeld was a successful sign painter.

Kal missed a great marketing  -- and comedic -- opportunity by not naming his business Seinfeld Signs.

Cleverly though changed the spelling of his last name to incorporate the nature of his business and called the company Kal Seinfeld Signs.


Guided Seinfeld Tours

There are a lot of tour services that include coverage of various Seinfeld locations in New York, as well as one unofficial Seinfeld tour you might want to consider.

Our pay-what-you-wish Midtown Manhattan tour includes some of the Seinfeld locations.

You can visit the Nexus of the Universe on our pay-what-you-wish Lower East Side food tour!

The When Harry Met Seinfeld Tour bus tour by On Location Tours, combines sites from Seinfeld and When Harry Met Sally.

It's included for free with several tourist attraction discount passes

Another option is to take Kenny Kramer’s Reality Tour. Kenny lived across the hall from Larry David, and was the inspiration for Kramer!

Though it has been pushed back, "The Seinfeld Experience" is a pop-up exhibition planned by the same company that created a 2017 version of this event.

See below for more information.


SEINFELD EXPERIENCE - 30th ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION

An immersive pop-up exhibition called “The Seinfeld Experience” was originally planned to be held in 2019, but it was either pushed back or has ended.

Interactive exhibits bring the comedy series back to life.

The event was originally scheduled to take place in Gramercy, the neighborhood where Pete’s Tavern from “The Sniffing Accountant” episode takes place (see above).

If it is anything like the 2017  “Seinfeld Experience” created by the same production company, Superfly, it will be amazing. 

There will likely be re-creations of the set of Seinfeld, memorabilia, costumes, and props from classic Seinfeld scenes. You may even have a chance to sit down at Monk’s and enjoy some food! 

Tickets are not currently available, and there is no indication of when or if the Seinfeld Experience NYC will return in the near future.


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About The Author

Stephen Pickhardt

Stephen is the CEO of Free Tours by Foot and has overseen the transformation of a local walking tour company into a global tour community and traveler’s advice platform. He has personally led thousands of group tours in the US and Europe, and is an expert in trip planning and sightseeing, with a focus on budget travelers. Stephen has been published and featured in dozens of publications including The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Yahoo, Washington.org, and more.
Updated: October 13th, 2023
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