Well, hello Upper East Siders! Missed me? I didn’t think so. As the first sentence would’ve given you a hint, I am obviously going to write about our fav teen TV drama “Gossip Girl”. If you aren’t already aware of the reboot of this OG show, let me be the first one to break it to you! Yes, it’s true. Gossip Girl is getting a reboot!
And if you already knew that then, why don’t you plan a self-guided Gossip Girl tour in New York just to refresh your memory? The original series that starred Kristen Bell, Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley, Chace Crawford, Taylor Momsen, and Kelly Rutherford, lasted for six seasons (from September 2007 to December 2012). Here are the 10 best-known Gossip Girl shooting locations in New York, just for you. But beware: some of these places can be a little exclusive. But then, did we expect anything less from the lives of Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen?
Dylan’s Candy Bar
With more than 5,000 types of candy and 15,000 square feet of retail space, Dylan’s Candy Bar is the largest candy store in the world. Located on Third Avenue, it is also where Dan and Vanessa shop for Nate’s anniversary present, of sour gummy worms.
Museum Of City Of New York
The front of the Museum of the City of New York is used as the entrance to Constance Billard School for girls and St. Jude School for boys in the series. Simply walk by to check it out yourself, or head inside to get a glimpse at history and artwork.
New York Palace Hotel
Home to the Van der Woodson’s or as it is affectionately known as Serena’s lair – the New York Palace Hotel is an icon in the GG series. The Vander Woodsen family, along with Chuck Bass lived here on Madison Avenue. The restaurant ‘GILT’ was also featured in a scene with Serena where she enjoys a grilled cheese sandwich with truffles. The restaurant is now closed.
The Empire Hotel
Located right across the street from Lincoln Center, the Empire Hotel was used in the later seasons after Chuck Bass decided to invest in the Hotel in Season 3. It is also where the memorable scene with Chuck and Blair was filmed: Chuck surprises Blair with all of her favourite things from Paris, to confess his love for her. So, it is only fair to head up to The Empire Rooftop for beautiful views of the city and their Gossip Girl-inspired cocktails such as “Lonely Boy” or “Jenny’s Tartlet”.
Also Read: Essential New York Travel Tips To Know Before You Go
Metropolitan Museum of Art
If you remember, the famous steps of this exemplary museum used to serve as a lunchroom for Queen B and her court. More commonly known as “The Met” steps, they symbolised the superiority of the Queen of high school. A title that Blair Waldorf has for numerous years and then, Jenny Humphrey takes over (remember, “Little J, could you move down a step”?). While the show makes it seem as if the museum steps are just across the street from the school, in real life, the locations used for the school and the MET steps are many blocks apart. It wouldn’t be right if you didn’t sit on the stairs outside and pretend to be Blair, am I right? Or am I RIGHT?
Central Park
A lot of major Gossip Girl scenes happened in Central Park. While Blair loved to go to Central Park to feed the ducks, it is strictly forbidden. Here, you’ll also find the iconic Bethesda fountain where Serena and Blair once made up after a long fight and it is also where Chuck and Blair eventually get married. Take a stroll through the park and go see it yourself – the place where Blair stunned all of us and said, “I do” seconds before the cops showed up.
Veselka
This 60-year-old Ukrainian restaurant in the East Village was one of Dan Humphrey’s favourite spots for pierogis and comfort food. While the place was mentioned in earlier seasons, filming actually occurred in season 4 when Dan followed Blair and Prince Louis there for a date. The restaurant isn’t fancy, but you can go there to enjoy some delicious food and pretend to wait for Dan to come and hang out with you.
Grand Central Station
The pilot episode of the series brings us to the GRAND entrance of Serena Van der Woodson at the beautiful main lobby of Grand Central Station. You can see the exact spot where we see the first glimpse of Serena – at the top of the stairs looking out over the sea of people, during her official return to NYC. Stand where she stood and try to pose for a picture – like a true fan. Built by Cornelius Vanderbilt in 1871, Grand Central is known for its magnificent gold chandeliers, popular restaurants, antique gold-barred ticket windows, and aquamarine ceilings decorated with gold-leafed signs of the zodiac.
Humphrey Loft
Every true GG fan will want to get out of Manhattan for a sneak peek at where the boy-next-door/the lonely boy got his start. Am I right? Affectionately known as the home of the Humphrey family, the loft is located at the base of the Manhattan bridge and has also sheltered a lot of other characters such as Georgina (Michelle Trachtenberg) and her baby, Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford), and Ivy Dickens (Kaylee Defer) to name a few. The Humphrey Fam (Dan, Jenny, and Rufus) was the only family in the series not belonging to New York’s elite.
Campbell Apartment
Remember the infamous Serena van der Woodsen and Nate Archibald affair in Season 1? Well, it was shot here at Campbell Apartment Bar, which is located in Grand Central Terminal. It can be a little pricey, but it’s sure worth it!
If we’ve missed any of your favorite Gossip Girl spots here in New York, do let us know in the comments below. Until next time, XOXO GOSSIP GIRL!
