The Ultimate Sex and the City / And Just Like that Dining Guide in NYC

It’s been more than 25 years since Sex and the City debuted on television, and even though the series has already come to an end for a long time, Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte are characters who still live in the memory of those who followed their adventures in New York. The series has two movies and a “spin-off” – And Just Like That… which is already in the second season. Besides the plot and the conversations, we all agree that another highlight is… the city, of course. And I would say that New York City is more than a “simple background” for the series; it’s an essential part of the stories. The producers think about every detail – and the friends are constantly meeting for coffee, lunch, brunch or dinner, and, of course, the restaurants are always beautiful and photogenic. A lot of them were stages for important moments for the characters and, on this post, I bring two maps featuring dozens of restaurants, bars, and cafes where Carrie and her friends have been.

Sex and the City dining spots

Balthazar – Season 1 Episode 5, “The Power of Female Sex.” – Carrie and Samantha have a difficult time getting a table at a crowded French restaurant (known as Balzac on the show), but they ultimately succeed after Carrie offers the hostess a tampon in the bathroom.

Brasserie 8 ½ – Season 4 Episode 2, “The Real Me.” – This midtown Manhattan French dining spot is where Carrie and Stanford hang out and happen to see an old friend who recruits Carrie to be in a New York fashion show.

Bubby’s High Line – Season 3 Episode 18, “Cock-A-Doodle-Do.” – This meatpacking district spot is where Samantha make amends with her noisy neighbors and invites them up for a rooftop party.

Buddakan – Sex and the City, the movie– Carrie and Big’s rehearsal dinner in the first SATC movie is held at Buddakan in Chelsea, where Miranda argues with Steve outside and then snaps at Big inside, causing him to get cold feet the night before the wedding.

Cafeteria – multiple episodes – This Chelsea spot was a regular lunch spot for Carrie and friends.

Cipriani Downtown –  Season 3 Episode 3, “Attack of the Five Foot Ten Woman.” – This Soho restaurant is where the SATC girls see Big and Natasha’s wedding announcement in The New York Times’ wedding section. Cipriani was a favorite among the gal pals for Sunday bellinis.

Da Marino – Season 2 Episode 8, “The Man, The Myth, The Viagra.”  – Italian eatery Da Marino is where Big calls Carrie his girlfriend for the first time and serenades her. This Midtown West Italian institution is currently closed for renovations, but as of summer 2016, say they will open soon.

Eleven Madison Park – Season 2 Episode 18, “Ex and the City.” – Big and Carrie meet for dinner as friends, and Carrie learns that Big got engaged to Natasha.

Grand Bar & Lounge at The Soho Grand Hotel – Season 4 Episode 15, “Change of a Dress.” – is where Richard holds his charity fundraiser, and where Samantha learns Richard is sleeping with other women.

IL Cantinori –  Season 4 Episode 1, “The Agony and the ‘Ex’-tacy.” – is where Carrie’s 35th birthday party was—where she’s stood up by the girls and Big, leaving her all alone at a table for ten.

Joe’s Pub – Season 5 Episode 6, “Critical Condition.” –  Stanford and Carrie attend Stanford’s boyfriend’s show, but Carrie can’t stop thinking about her upcoming book review.

The Loeb Boathouse Central Park – Season 3 Episode 18, “Cock-A-Doodle-Do.” – Carrie and Big meet for lunch at the Boathouse in Central Park, where they both fall in the lake as he tries to kiss her.

Magnolia Bakery – Season 3 Episode 5, “No Ifs, Ands, Or Butts.” – Carrie tells Miranda about her crush on Aidan while the two eat cupcakes outside of Magnolia Bakery.

The Modern – Sex and the City, the movie – Carrie shares the news of her engagement to Big with the girls, and Charlotte announces the happy news to the entire restaurant, leading everyone to cheer.

Monkey Bar – Season 4 Episode 3, “Defining Moments.” – Carrie and Big go to a jazz show together as friends and meet jazz musician Ray King. Ray gets a tad flirty with Carrie, and Big’s jealousy shows.

Onieals –  Season 4 Episode 5, “Ghost Town.” – Steve and Aidan’s fictional bar, Scout, is actually Onieals. Carrie drops off a congratulatory Mulberry bush as Scout is located on the fictional Mulberry Street. Later in the episode, Carrie and friends attend the opening for Scout and Carrie and Aidan share a moment outside the bar.

Pete’s Tavern – Season 6 Episode 14, “The Ick Factor.” – iranda proposes to Steve outside of Pete’s.

Russian Samovar – Season 6 Episode 12, “One.” – Carrie and Aleksandr have their first date, quite late at night, at Russian Samavor.

Slate – Season 4 Episode 10, “Belles of the Balls.” –  Carrie and the girls—and Steve and Aidan—play pool here.

Starbucks – Sex and the City, the movie – Carrie holds interviews here for a personal assistant and meets “Louise from Saint Louis” (Jennifer Hudson).

Tao –  Season 4 Episode 3, “Defining Moments.” – Carrie, her jazz musician date, and the girls hang out at Tao and Carrie runs into Big’s date in the bathroom.

And Just Like That… dining spots

Season 1

Whitney Cafe | Episode 1 | Hello It’s Me – Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte are waiting for a table at the Whitney Cafe, part of the Whitney Museum – under a different name on the series.

Smith’s Bar and Grill | Episode 1 | Hello It’s Me – Miranda is going to class at Columbia and she stops for a drink at this bar.

The East Pole | Episode 3 | When in Rome… – Charlotte, Miranda, Carrie, and Stanford are having lunch.

Starbucks | Episode 3 | When in Rome… – Charlotte and Miranda are waiting for Carrie – this Starbucks is located in Soho.

Chalait UWS | Episode 3 | When in Rome… this is a spot to buy matcha drinks – where Carrie encounters Big’s ex-wife Natasha.

The bar at Webster Hall | Episode 3 | When in Rome… Where Che Diaz is performing her standup special.

Cafe Kitsuné & Parliament Espresso and Coffee Bar | Episode 4 | Some of My Best Friends – Charlotte is getting lattes at Cafe Kitsuné to share with Lisa and Lisa is getting Charlotte a coffee at Parliament Espresso and Coffee Bar.

Sant Ambroeus | Episode 4 | Some of My Best Friends  -Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte are having brunch.

Sant Ambroeus | Episode 4 | Some of My Best Friends – Carrie and Seema are having pasta here.

Boutros | Episode 4 | Some of My Best Friends – Miranda meets up with Professor Dr. Nya.

Freehold | Episode 5 | Tragically Hip – cafe, bar and restaurant where Charlotte, Miranda, Carrie, and Anthony have brunch.

Bistrot Leo | Episode 6 |Diwali – Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte have brunch.

Le Crocodile | Episode 6 |Diwali – Miranda and Nya are having dinner here; this restaurant is inside the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg.

Quality Bistro | Episode 7 | Sex and the Widow – Charlotte, Carrie, Miranda and Seema have dinner here.

Au Cheval | Episode 7 | Sex and the Widow – Carrie is on a date here.

Lobster Place | Episode 7 | Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered – Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda meet at Lobster Place – inside the Chelsea Market.

Fat Witch Bakery | Episode 7 | Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered – Carrie and Miranda buy brownies here – another spot inside the Chelsea Market.

La Grande Boucherie | Episode 7 | Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered – Charlotte has lunch with her daughter Lily at this French restaurant.

Lafayette Grande Cafe and Bakery | Episode 9 | No Strings Attached – Charlotte, Carrie and Miranda are having breakfast here.

Empire Diner | Episode 9 | No Strings Attached – Miranda and Che meet here for dinner.

Dante West Village | Episode 9 | No Strings Attached – Carrie is on a date here.

Her Name Was Carmen | Episode 10 | Seeing the Light – Miranda meet Che and their family at this Latin American restaurant.

Perry Street | Episode 10 | Seeing the Light – Carrie meets Richard, Big’s brother.

Season 2

Zooba | Episode 1 | Met Cute – Carrie has lunch with her former podcasting co-host, Jackie.

Daniel | Episode 1 | Met Cute – Carrie, Seema, Anthony, and Charlotte have lunch here.

GGT Tokyo | Episode 1 | Met Cute – Nya has dinner here by herself.

KYU | Episode 2 | The Real Deal – Carrie and Seema have drinks.

Le Coucou | Episode 2 | The Real Deal – Charlotte had lunch here with Lisa and Anthony.

Nello | Episode 2 | The Real Dea – Seema is on a date here.

The Evelyn Hotel | Episode 3 | Chapter Three – Lisa, Charlotte, Carrie and Nya meet for lunch.

Avena Ristorante | Episode 3 | Chapter Three – Seema and Anthony meet here for lunch.

Flex Mussels | Episode 3 | Chapter Three – Seema and Carrie sit at a communal table having drinks.

L’Adresse NoMad | Episode 4 | ALIVE! – Carrie and Jackie have breakfast here.

Poppi | Episode 4 | ALIVE!- Carrie and Seema meet for coffee.

Rosemary’s | Episode 4 | ALIVE! – Charlotte, Miranda and Carrie have brunch here.

The Mark Bar | Episode 4 | ALIVE! – Lisa and her husband have drinks here.

The Bar at the Baccarat Hotel and Residences | Episode 5 | Trick or Treat – Carrie, Nya, and Seema have drinks here.

Up Thai |  Episode 5 | Trick or Treat –Che and Miranda have dinner here.

Verōnika | Episode 7 | February 14th – Charlotte, Carrie and Miranda have lunch here – this restaurant is inside the Fotografiska museum.

Gotham Bar and Grill | Episode 7 | February 14th- Charlotte and Harry are supposed to have dinner here.

Il Corso |  Episode 7 | February 14th – Carrie waits for Aidan here.

Benoit |  Episode 7 | February 14th-the right spot for the date, Carrie and Aidan meet here.

Reyna | Episode 8 | A Hundred Years Ago – Carrie, Seema, Charlotte and Miranda meet for lunch here.

Zaytinya | Episode 8 | A Hundred Years Ago – Carrie and Aidan meet Miranda, Charlotte, and Seema for dinner.

House of the Red Pearl | Episode 9 | There Goes the Neighborhood – Double date – Carrie & Aidan, Seema and the film director. This restaurant is inside Tin building.

La Mercerie | Episode 9 | There Goes the Neighborhood – Carrie meets Aidan’s ex.

Laura Peruchi

Content creator and journalist in New York City. Here, I share lifestyle, beauty, NYC tips, thoughts, and the struggles about living in the most amazing city in the world! I’m not gonna pretend to be another person: I’m a Brazilian immigrant and I think this is my soul, it is part of who I am. I hope you enjoy my content! Follow me on Instagram!