Where was Seinfeld filmed? Revisiting the filming locations of the NBC sitcom

Seinfeld! The moment you mention the title, it’s like a magic spell, and immediately, Jerry’s place, Monk’s café, and the infinite fun of Manhattan life all come to mind. But truth be told, it’s really surprising: Seinfeld is about NYC, but almost every scene was filmed in LA, California.

Indeed, all the daily madness surrounding Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer was meticulously planned thousands of miles away from Manhattan. Nevertheless, with the help of smart studio sets, backlots, and stock footage, the show still feels like it’s set in the very center of New York City.

Seinfeld’s brilliance lies not only in its plot and characters but also in the perfect deception of its location. The production recreated New York streets, buildings, and cafes in Los Angeles from the pilot episode to the series finale. It’s unlikely that fans watching the show would ever suspect that Jerry’s apartment, Monk’s Café, and most street scenes were built on CBS Studio Center backlots or Hollywood soundstages.

The very first episode of Seinfeld, which introduced the series to the audience, was filmed at Red Studios Hollywood and has undergone several name changes since then.

Pilot episode: Where it all began

Seinfeld's pilot was shot at Red Studios Hollywood Stage 8, previously known as Desilu Cahuenga Studios and later Ren-Mar Studios. This stage featured Jerry’s apartment and interior scenes from the earliest version, thus giving the producers a controlled space to develop the show’s look and atmosphere.

The pilot's success paved the way for a show that would become one of the most famous sitcoms in television history.

Main production: CBS Studio Center

Starting with Season 2, the Seinfeld series was filmed at the CBS Studio Center in Studio City, California. The existing Stage 19 first served as the show's base, and later, as the series progressed, Stage 9 became the production’s permanent base.

The sets of Jerry’s apartment, Monk’s Café, and the “New York Street” backlot were all located in these stages. The CBS Studio Center backlot was not only intended to look like Manhattan city streets. It was also carefully designed with sidewalks, storefronts, fire escapes, and street corners to create the atmosphere of New York that was never lost.

California's recreation of New York Streets

A lion's share of the exterior shots of New York streets were taken at the CBS Studio Center's “New York Street” backlot. These included the exteriors of apartments, the interiors of coffee shops, the sidewalks of corner stores, etc. The backlot was built with precision and detail akin to New York streets, so viewers could not easily tell that the supposed Manhattan was actually a studio replica.

Outdoor Los Angeles neighborhood locations were used for a few scenes, but they were infrequent and done in a way that didn't break the illusion.

Real New York for establishing shots

To reinforce the New York setting, the show used establishing shots and stock footage of Manhattan. The exterior of Tom's Restaurant on Broadway was specifically shot to depict Monk's Café, where the gang spent their time.

These New York exteriors were very limited in number, mainly used for establishing shots, while all interiors were built on CBS Studio Center stages. The show occasionally used other landmarks and street shots of Manhattan to add authenticity.

Jerry's apartment and Monk's Café, both built in Stage 9, turned out to be among the most recognizable sets worldwide. Every inch, from the kitchen counter where Jerry would perform his stand-up to the living room couch, which was the scene of many fights and hilarious discussions, was carefully conceived to show a 1990s Manhattan apartment.

The café, though clearly a copy of Tom's Restaurant, was built entirely on the set's site, so the directors had complete control over lighting, camera spots, and microphones.

Real-life inspirations

Real places inspired certain Seinfeld stories in New York City. An example is the "Soup Nazi" character, inspired by The Original Soupman in Manhattan. But the inspiration came from New York; all interior scenes were shot in California studios.

This tactic allowed the writers and directors to take the city's genuine atmosphere while keeping the production logistically manageable.

A big compromise came with the decision to shoot in LA. For instance, at CBS Studio Center, where the original setting was, the control of lighting and camera angles made it easier for the production to achieve the quality of a week's worth of episodes in a day.

Besides that, shooting in New York would have been hideously expensive and logistically complicated. Giving New York a Hollywood flavor in disguise, Seinfeld maintained a high-quality standard of episodes.

The long-term legacy of Seinfeld's sets

Although filming was largely done in Los Angeles, to say the show's sets were not iconic would be an understatement. It was like walking with Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer on the streets of Manhattan without realizing the scenes were shot outside the city, and that too at a great distance.

Set design, backlot creativity, and the tactical use of authentic New York exteriors together made Seinfeld win over the audience with its depiction of Manhattan life on a California soundstage.

The transformation into Manhattan was achieved through detailed backlot work, stock footage, and interior set design. The skillful work that went into Seinfeld is a testament to the power of television production. Although the audience may picture the group walking around in New York, the truth is that a complex mix of LA studios and New York-inspired design lies behind it.

From beginning to end, Seinfeld proves that great attention to detail can make an entire city come alive, even when it is thousands of miles away. It remains a popular technique that a plethora of shows use today to create the feel of other cities in a studio. Cost effective and offering better logistical options, a win win for production.