Hey Upper East Siders, Triplemint here, your one and only source into the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite.
Any true Gossip Girl lover knows that New York City is the place to be. While most of us can’t realistically live the lavish, Upper East lifestyle that Blair and Serena do, why not throw on a pair of stilettos and pearls, and pretend for a day? Whether you’re a diehard Blair Waldorf wannabe or you’ve only seen a few episodes, check out some of the must-see Gossip Girl sights in and around NYC.
Grand Central Terminal
PC: Huffington Post
The Gossip Girl pilot begins in the middle of the most famous terminal in the city, Grand Central Station. Serena van der Woodsen entered the terminal as she officially returned to NYC, after her sudden and mysterious disappearance the year before. Stand at the top of the stairs in the main concourse to start your day in the life of your favorite NYC socialite.
Location: 89 East 42nd Street
Metropolitan Museum of Art
PC: New York Portraits
“Spotted on the steps of the Met, an S and B power struggle.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s steps are more commonly known in the show as the place where Blair routinely enjoys her lunch with her minions. Take a seat, of course one step above everyone else, to truly feel like Queen B. If you want to wander around the museum itself, admission is pay what you wish!
Location: 1000 5th Avenue
Lotte New York Palace Hotel
PC: Biji.us
This hotel serves as the iconic home to the Van der Woodsen and Bass clan during the majority of the first two seasons of Gossip Girl. While the hotel’s restaurant GILT, where Serena enjoyed a truffle grilled cheese sandwich, is now closed, you can still enjoy fine dining at VILLARD restaurant or speciality cocktails at Trouble’s Trust.
Location: 455 Madison Avenue
Museum of the City of New York
PC: Abigail Kirsch
While in real life this isn’t a school, it’s used as the picturesque entrance to Constance Billard School for Girls and St. Jude School for boys in the TV series. Visit this location to feel like a real life Constance student, getting the daily gossip before the bell rings.
Location: 1220 5th Avenue
Henri Bendel
PC: Beyer Blinder Belle
Remember the scene where Blair was dreaming of her Breakfast at Tiffany’s worst nightmare? Well, it all went down at the famous Henri Bendel store on Fifth Avenue. While it didn’t make the cut in Blair Waldorf’s three B’s, “Barneys, Bergdorf’s, and the lesser but still relevant Bloomingdale’s,” many of the headbands that completed her famous look were from this store.
Location: 712 5th Avenue
The Plaza
PC: Curbed NY
If you want to have a Blair and Serena inspired photoshoot, head to the water fountain on the edge of Central Park, right outside the Plaza Hotel. Here, the best friends decided to ditch Blair’s mom’s shoot to have a fun, carefree one of their own.
Location: 5th Avenue and 59th Street
The Empire Hotel
PC: TripAdvisor
You might remember how Chuck decided to invest in the Empire Hotel during the later seasons of Gossip Girl, and it’s actually a real hotel in NYC! Lucky for you, the hotel features a Gossip Girl inspired cocktail list for fans at their lounge.
Location: 44 West 63rd Street
Central Park
PC: On the Set of New York
What better way to finish up your Gossip Girl day than in beautiful Central Park, where so many scenes were shot. Here, Nate joined his father for daily runs, Blair fed the ducks with Dorota, and Serena and Blair waved their white flags and became friends again.
Most famously though, Bethesda Terrace and Fountain located in Central Park is where Chuck and Blair finally said their “I do’s.” *cue heart eyes*
There you have it Upper East Siders, a real-life look inside the lives of Manhattan’s elite. Enjoy your Gossip Girl inspired tour, and make sure to get enough macaroons for you and your fellow Gossip Girl loving friends.
