Seinfeld is an American television sitcom created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, which ran from 1989 to 1998 and became one of the defining comedy series of its era. Set around comedian Jerry Seinfeld’s everyday life in Manhattan, the show follows Jerry, George Costanza, Elaine Benes and Cosmo Kramer through trivial arguments, social embarrassments and increasingly absurd situations. Its reputation rests on how sharply it turned ordinary annoyances into comedy, helping define the so-called “show about nothing” idea while also becoming one of the most influential sitcoms in television history.
Although Seinfeld is inseparable from New York in tone, most of the series was actually filmed in Los Angeles. After the pilot was shot at what is now Red Studios Hollywood, production moved to CBS Studio Center in Studio City, where the main sets were built and, in the mid-1990s, even a dedicated New York Street backlot was created to handle the show’s many exterior street scenes. At the same time, the series used real New York locations for key establishing shots, most famously Tom’s Restaurant at Broadway and West 112th Street, which served as the exterior for Monk’s Café. Another well-known exterior is Jerry’s apartment building, filmed not in Manhattan but at 757 South New Hampshire Avenue in Los Angeles, showing how the series constantly blended authentic New York references with carefully constructed California production spaces.
Hook & Ladder 8
Hook & Ladder Company 8 appears in the Ghostbusters franchise, Hitch (2005), Seinfeld, and How I Met Your Mother.
Hotel Edison
Hotel Edison appears in The Godfather (1972), Seinfeld (1989–1998), Bullets over Broadway (1994), and Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014).
Joe’s Pizza
Joe’s Pizza appears in Spider-Man 2 (2004), Seinfeld (1989–1998), Along Came Polly (2004), and Sex and the City. It is most famous on screen from Spider-Man 2, but in Seinfeld it is also used as Paisano’s Pizza.
La Boite en Bois
La Boite en Bois appears in Seinfeld (1989–1998). Rather than being limited to a single episode, the restaurant was used multiple times in the series.
Luke’s Bar & Grill
Luke’s Bar & Grill appears in Seinfeld (1989–1998). The exterior was reworked as Poppie’s, the restaurant connected to one of the show’s supporting characters.
Pete’s Tavern
Pete’s Tavern appears in Two for the Seesaw (1962), Seinfeld (1989–1998), Rounders (1998), Sex and the City (1998–2004), and several other productions.
Peter McManus Cafe
Peter McManus Cafe appears in Highlander, Radio Days, Keeping the Faith, The Other Guys, Seinfeld, Law & Order, Saturday Night Live, and Broad City.
Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Pier appears in numerous productions, including The Sting, Forrest Gump, Ruthless People, Cellular, Iron Man, Her, Modern Family, and Seinfeld.
The Shelley
The Shelley appears in Seinfeld (1989–1998). In the series, it serves as the exterior of Jerry’s apartment, even though the character’s address is in Manhattan.
Three Twenty One
Three Twenty One appears in Seinfeld (1989–1998). It is used as the exterior of George’s apartment building during the earlier part of the series.
Tom’s Restaurant
Tom’s Restaurant appears in Seinfeld, where it serves as the exterior of Monk’s Café, the regular meeting place for Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer.
Transfiguration of Our Lord Russian Orthodox Cathedral
Transfiguration of Our Lord Russian Orthodox Cathedral appears in Seinfeld (1989–1998), House on Carroll Street (1988), and Elementary (2012–2019).
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