Where Was Seinfeld Filmed? Every Real-Life Location Revealed

Over the course of its nine-season span from 1989 to 1998, “Seinfeld” became deeply associated with New York City. The show primarily focused on a quartet of friends: Jerry Seinfeld playing a fictionalized version of himself, his neighbor Cosmo Kramer (portrayed by Michael Richards), longtime friend George Costanza (played by Jason Alexander), and ex-girlfriend Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). New York City itself functioned as an almost fifth main character, influencing both major and minor storylines across the 172 episodes that made up the series.

Most scenes for the series were filmed on California soundstages, with numerous establishing and B-roll shots captured on New York streets serving as a backdrop. The pilot episode was specifically shot at Red Studios, previously known as Desilu Cahuenga Studios and Ren-Mar Studios, located at 846 North Cahuenga Boulevard in Los Angeles. This studio, where “The Andy Griffith Show” and “Hogan’s Heroes” were produced, holds a significant history.

Red Studios played host to the filming of the 1989 romantic comedy “When Harry Met Sally,” which included a scene set at New York’s famous Katz’s Delicatessen. The deli scene was added at the last minute and was filmed on location at Katz’s itself. While many iconic New York locations graced the screens during the nine seasons of “Seinfeld,” Jerry’s apartment, interestingly enough, was located 3,000 miles away from New York City. Here is a list of all the real-life locations featured in “Seinfeld.

The stand-in for Jerry’s building is in Los Angeles

A significant portion of the show unfolds within Jerry’s one-bedroom apartment, which was filmed on specially designed sets. The series also incorporated numerous swift exterior shots of the building, featuring the canopy above the entrance and an ornate stone frieze adorning the ground floor. The building where Jerry lived with Kramer and Newman (played by Wayne Knight) was depicted as 129 West 81st Street on the show, although this was actually Jerry’s address for a long time in reality. However, observant viewers will spot the number 757 on the building’s canopy. This is because the exterior scenes were filmed at an apartment complex located at 757 South New Hampshire Boulevard in Los Angeles’ Koreatown district.

The structure, erected back in 1928, stands at a height of five stories and bears the name “The Shelley.” Inside, it comprises 49 studio and one-bedroom units, making it smoke-free as of now. This means Newman would have had to quit smoking or find another residence if he wished to reside there. At present, no apartments are vacant in this building; however, when they become available, a $35 application fee must be paid prior to initiating the process. For the time being, one can only satisfy themselves by enjoying a marble rye sandwich and snapping photographs under its iconic awning.

George worked at Yankee Stadium for a while

George’s unpredictable work background provided endless entertainment for his friends and the audience of the show. He held various jobs such as being a hand model, overseeing the obscure Penske File, and selling computers with his father Frank (Jerry Stiller) while competing against Lloyd Braun (Matt McCoy). However, it was his role as an assistant to the traveling secretary for the New York Yankees that seemed to carry the most significance, although his time there wasn’t without its share of blunders.

George successfully persuaded his teammates to replace their polyester uniforms with cotton ones, which turned out to be a regrettable decision. He carelessly spilled strawberries on Babe Ruth’s uniform as a desperate attempt to get dismissed from his current position so he could potentially work for the Mets instead. In the end, George was transferred to Tyler Chicken. Scenes filmed outside the old Yankee Stadium were incorporated into multiple episodes. Particularly, in Season 8, Episode 9 titled “The Abstinence,” George offered batting advice to Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter within the stadium’s confines. The stadium was also highlighted in Season 3, Episode 20, “The Letter.” In that episode, Elaine refused to take off her Baltimore Orioles cap while seated in the team owner’s box.

1923 marked the finish of constructing the initial Yankee Stadium, with an expense of approximately $2.4 million (equivalent to around $44 million today). The team played there until the 2008 season, when a different stadium was erected nearby at a cost of $2.3 billion. After demolition, the old stadium is no longer standing, but the original playing field remains open for public use, occupying the exact location where the Yankees once competed.

Exterior shots of Monk’s are of Tom’s Restaurant

One common location frequently featured in the sitcom “Seinfeld” was Monk’s café, a diner often visited by the four friends. Although the interior shots were filmed on studio sets, the iconic exterior of Monk’s and its blue sign are actually part of Tom’s Restaurant, located at the intersection of Broadway and 112th Street in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, near Columbia University. On the TV show, only the section of the sign facing 112th Street, which reads “restaurant,” was displayed.

Meghan McCain, daughter of Senator John McCain, stated that her father was fond of a particular diner, and Barack Obama and his college roommate frequented this eatery frequently during their time at Columbia University in the 1980s. To this day, fans of Seinfeld continue to visit the diner in hopes of enjoying a “big salad.” Additionally, comedian Kenny Kramer, who served as the inspiration for Kramer on the show, included the diner on his walking tours around the city until the COVID-19 pandemic.

Champagne Video embraced its Seinfeld connection

In the second installment of the series titled “The Stake Out,” characters Jerry and Elaine peruse the aisles of a video store, discussing potential rentals and their weekend activities. Later in Season 8, Episode 13, “The Comeback,” Elaine revisits this spot with Kramer. Interestingly, the actual Champagne Video store, used for exterior shots, is located at 213 West 79th Street in Manhattan. This location is just a quick five-minute stroll from Jerry’s real-life apartment. Regrettably, the store, much like many other video rental stores, has closed its doors (likely unable to keep pace with the rise of streaming services).

Despite being inactive as a physical store, the Champagne Video website remains operational, providing replica tape boxes from fictional movies like “Rochelle, Rochelle” and “Sack Lunch,” even those mentioned on “Seinfeld.” The site also showcases Festivus wrapping paper, though it’s currently out of stock. Stay updated with the latest news from Champagne Video, including Victor’s latest recommendations, by checking their Instagram or Facebook pages.

There is soup for you at Soup Kitchen International

In Season 7, Episode 6 titled “The Soup Nazi,” we encounter a tiny eatery run by Yev Kassem, played by Larry Thomas. His ordering procedure is quite rigid, and if rules are broken, like George did, you’ll be met with a brusque “no soup for you” and leave the place hungry. This character was inspired by Albert Yeganeh, who ran Soup Kitchen International at 259 West 55th Street. Yeganeh shut down the original store in 2004 to focus on his Original Soupman franchise but reopened six years later. He wasn’t a fan of how he was portrayed on the show and barred Seinfeld from the shop following its broadcast.

Regardless of his complaints, the character appears to be a fairly accurate depiction of Yeganeh, who holds soup in high regard. As he told The New Yorker in 1989, “My regular customers don’t voice any objections. I’ll tell you, I dislike dealing with the public. They treat me like a servant. My belief is: The customer is always mistaken and I’m always right. I increased my prices to try to get rid of some of these people, but it didn’t help.” Nowadays, you can revisit the original establishment, but be prepared to pay and don’t expect bread unless it’s offered.

Jerry had a debt to the New York Public Library

In Season 3, Episode 5 titled “The Library,” Jerry receives a call from the New York Public Library about a book that’s been missing for 20 years. He claims he returned it ages ago, but a library detective named Lt. Joe Bookman (Philip Baker Hall) eventually tracks him down at his apartment. Upon discovering that the book was indeed misplaced and George was to blame, Jerry admits his mistake and writes a check for a new copy of “Tropic of Cancer.” Although the scenes were filmed at an actual NYPL facility, it wasn’t one where books could be borrowed; instead, it was the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on 5th Avenue and 42nd Street, which functions as a research center and administrative office.

Kramer tried to make it big in Hollywood

In Season 4, due to a disagreement over an extra set of apartment keys, Kramer decides to relocate to Los Angeles. When Jerry goes to LA for a guest spot on “The Tonight Show,” he takes George with him to locate their friend. Upon arrival, they discover that Kramer is under suspicion for the murder of a young actress; they work together to prove his innocence. After being freed from jail, the trio shares a meal in a park, enjoying the scenic view of the famous “Hollywood” sign in the distance.

The bench on which they often sit is located in Griffith Park, a hotspot for tourists eager to snap pictures of the iconic landmark. The producers of the show found numerous chances to showcase various Los Angeles locations thanks to Kramer’s escapades in Tinseltown. During his stint in Hollywood, Kramer can also be seen cruising a motorcycle on Mulholland Boulevard and rollerblading at Venice Beach in the show.

Susan’s memorial was filmed in Altadena, California

The TV show “Seinfeld” reached a turning point towards the end of Season 7 when George’s fiancée Susan Ross (played by Heidi Swedberg) tragically passed away. It turns out she was poisoned by toxic glue on their wedding invitations, which conveniently resolved George’s cold feet issue. Suspicions of foul play fell upon George, yet his in-laws (portrayed by Warren Frost and Grace Zabriskie) still invited him and Jerry to Susan’s memorial service. The event took place in a serene and scenic location, although it was actually filmed at the Mountain View Mortuary and Cemetery in Altadena, California, an operational cemetery since 1882.

The stunning landscapes have frequently been featured in numerous TV shows and movies, even being showcased in a scene from “The Office” where Michael (Steve Carell) and Dwight (Rainn Wilson) paid tribute to a deceased chair model by performing “American Pie.” Additionally, Mountain View is the burial site for Eldridge Cleaver, George Reeves (the original Superman on TV), as well as other notable actors, writers, and filmmakers.

Some of the finale was shot in a town called Beacon

In the final episode of “Seinfeld,” many viewers felt disappointed due to Jerry Seinfeld’s belief that too much was packed into the two-part storyline. The main characters find themselves stranded in Latham, Massachusetts when NBC’s plane encounters engine problems en route to Paris. During their stay, they fail to help during a carjacking and are charged under a newly implemented Good Samaritan law. Their trial includes testimonies from numerous individuals whom the characters have wronged over the course of the series. The fictional Judge Art Vandelay may seem familiar to fans of TV and film, while Latham itself is purely a product of the show’s script. Some exterior shots of the town were filmed in Beacon, New York, with the local police station among them.

Initially, the Beacon Police Department was stationed at 463 Main Street, sharing a wall with Brother’s Trattoria. Today, the restaurant continues its operations at 465 Main Street, while the old police station building has been transformed into a cannabis outlet called “The Station.” Originally built as Matteawan Town Hall, it functioned as such until 1913 when Mattawean and Fishkill Landing merged to form Beacon. The police occupied the building from then until 1996. Notably, Beacon has also been a filming location for scenes in the 2018 movie “A Quiet Place” and some shots in Season 1 of “Severance,” a popular series on Apple TV+.

2025-03-06 15:40