Downtown and the Village on film
STOP 1 OF 12
John’s of Bleecker Street
Village & Downtown
Coal-oven pizza in wooden booths carved with decades of initials.
EThe editors · 3 Classic New York films lists — switch
Downtown and the Village on film
Harry and Sally, the Corleones, Travis Bickle, the Ghostbusters and Gordon Gekko, from Bleecker Street to Wall Street.
12 placesA full dayRead the guide ↓
- 1. John’s of Bleecker StreetCoal-oven pizza in wooden booths carved with decades of initials.Manhattan (1979)Village & DowntownFood & drink1 hour for a pieAbout $25 for a whole pie
2. Washington Square ParkThe Arch at the foot of Fifth Avenue.When Harry Met Sally… (1989)Village & DowntownFree to visit20 minutesFree
3. East 13th Street (Taxi Driver block)An ordinary East Village block that played the worst corner of 1970s New York.Taxi Driver (1976)Village & DowntownFrom outside10 minutesFree
4. Katz’s DelicatessenThe Lower East Side deli, open since 1888.When Harry Met Sally… (1989)DowntownFood & drink45 minutesAbout $30 for a pastrami sandwich
5. Puck BuildingThe red-brick block on Lafayette Street, with the gold Puck figure over the door.When Harry Met Sally… (1989)Village & DowntownFrom outside10 minutesFree to look; the ballrooms are private event space
6. Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old CathedralNew York’s first cathedral, behind a high brick wall on Mulberry Street.The Godfather (1972)Village & DowntownFree to visit20 minutesFree; catacomb tours are ticketed
7. Mott Street, Little ItalyA Little Italy block that still has a fruit stall.The Godfather (1972)ChinatownFree to visit10 minutesFree
8. 85 Grand StreetA cast-iron building at Grand and Greene in SoHo.Big (1988)Village & DowntownFrom outside5 minutesFree
9. Hook & Ladder 8 (the Ghostbusters firehouse)Hook & Ladder 8 on North Moore Street.Ghostbusters (1984) +1DowntownFrom outside10 minutesFree
10. City Hall and City Hall ParkThe 1812 City Hall in its park, with the Municipal Building across Centre Street.Ghostbusters (1984)Lower ManhattanFrom outside20 minutesFree; inside City Hall is by booked tour only
11. New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre StreetThe six-sided courthouse with the wide steps on Foley Square, in hundreds of films and TV shows.Wall Street (1987)Lower ManhattanFrom outside10 minutesFree
12. Wall Street and the Stock ExchangeThe Stock Exchange’s columns at Wall and Broad Streets.Wall Street (1987)Lower ManhattanFrom outside15 minutesFree outside; the Exchange is not open for tours
Watch before you go
Official clips and trailers from the studios’ own channels. They load only when you tap play.
The guide
How to do it: Downtown and the Village on film
Downtown has the most quotable stops: the Washington Square Arch where Harry and Sally part, the table at Katz’s, the church where Michael Corleone becomes a godfather, the Ghostbusters firehouse and the courthouse steps at the end of Wall Street.
It is a long walk, about 6 miles, but every stop is close to the next and there is plenty to eat on the way: pizza at John’s, pastrami at Katz’s, cannoli in Little Italy.
- The order to do it in
- North to south: John’s of Bleecker and Washington Square, east to 13th Street, Katz’s, the Puck Building and Old St. Patrick’s, Mott Street, SoHo, the Tribeca firehouse, City Hall and Foley Square, ending on Wall Street.
- When to go
- Start mid-morning on a weekday, with Katz’s as an early lunch before noon. Old St. Patrick’s and the courthouses keep weekday hours.
- Getting there
- Start at W 4 St–Washington Sq (A B C D E F M). Finish at Wall St (2 3) or Broad St (J Z). The 1 train from Houston St to Franklin St cuts out the SoHo-to-Tribeca stretch.
- What to bring
- Cash for small shops, comfortable shoes, and patience at Katz’s.
- What it costs
- Free to walk. Food is the main cost: a Katz’s pastrami sandwich is about $30.
Worth knowing
- Several stops are homes or working buildings: look from the sidewalk.
- Keep your Katz’s ticket; you need it to get out.
- The firehouse is in service. If the doors open, step well back.
Researched and written by us from Movie-Locations.com — The Godfather, Movie-Locations.com — The French Connection, Movie-Locations.com — Saturday Night Fever, Movie-Locations.com — Taxi Driver, Movie-Locations.com — Manhattan and Movie-Locations.com — Annie Hall, among others. Episodes checked against episode guides; places and access checked October 2026. Private homes are view-only from the street.