Mrs. Maisel and Russian Doll downtown
STOP 1 OF 10
Village Vanguard
Village & Downtown · Paid entry
A wedge-shaped basement jazz club on Seventh Avenue South, open since 1935.
EThe editors · 3 New York on screen now lists — switch
Mrs. Maisel and Russian Doll downtown
Midge’s Greenwich Village clubs, then Nadia’s East Village loop around Tompkins Square Park.
10 placesHalf a dayRead the guide ↓
- 1. Village VanguardA wedge-shaped basement jazz club on Seventh Avenue South, open since 1935.The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–2023) · S1E3 “Because You Left”Village & DowntownPaid entry10 min, or 2 hours for a setFree to look; tickets for sets
2. Kettle of FishA long-running Village bar on Christopher Street that doubles as a Green Bay Packers bar.The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–2023) · Season 1Village & DowntownFood & drink30 minBar prices
3. The Gaslight Cafe doorway, 116 MacDougal StreetThe basement doorway where the real Gaslight Cafe ran its poetry and folk nights until 1971.The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–2023) · S1E1 “Pilot”Village & DowntownFrom outside5 minFree
4. Washington Square ParkThe Village’s big square, with the marble arch at the foot of Fifth Avenue.The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–2023) · S1E4 “The Disappointment of the Dionne Quintuplets”Village & DowntownFree to visit20 minFree
5. Astor Place subway station (6)The uptown 6 platform under Astor Place, with its beaver tiles.Russian Doll (2019–2022) · S2E1 “Nowhen”Village & DowntownPaid entry10 minSubway fare to go in
6. McSorley’s Old Ale HouseOne of the oldest bars in the city, sawdust on the floor and only two kinds of ale.The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–2023) · Season 2Village & DowntownFood & drink30 minAle by the pair of mugs
7. St. Nicholas church, East 10th StreetA small brick church at Avenue A and East 10th Street, facing the top corner of Tompkins Square Park.Russian Doll (2019–2022) · S1E1 “Nothing in This World Is Easy”Village & DowntownFrom outside5 minFree
8. Tompkins Square ParkThe East Village’s park, with old elms, a dog run and chess tables.Russian Doll (2019–2022) · S1E3 “A Warm Body” +1Village & DowntownFree to visit20–30 minFree
9. 7B (Horseshoe Bar)A dark corner bar at 7th Street and Avenue B, also known as the Horseshoe Bar.Russian Doll (2019–2022) +1Village & DowntownFood & drink20 min, or a drinkBar prices
10. Sunny & Annie’s DeliA corner deli on Avenue B at 6th Street.Russian Doll (2019–2022) · S1E1 “Nothing in This World Is Easy”Village & DowntownFood & drink15 minDeli prices
The guide
How to do it: Mrs. Maisel and Russian Doll downtown
Mrs. Maisel’s 1950s Village and Russian Doll’s 2019 East Village are a 20-minute walk apart. Midge’s stand-up career starts in a MacDougal Street basement and gets its big break in Washington Square; Nadia keeps dying and coming back on the same few blocks of Avenue B.
This walk starts at the Village Vanguard, follows Midge east to Washington Square, then picks up Nadia at Astor Place and ends at the deli where her first loop ends.
- The order to do it in
- Village Vanguard, Kettle of Fish, the Gaslight doorway, Washington Square, Astor Place, McSorley’s, St. Nicholas church, Tompkins Square Park, 7B, Sunny & Annie’s.
- When to go
- Late afternoon into evening, when the bars and the Vanguard open up.
- Getting there
- Start at Christopher St–Stonewall (1). Astor Pl (6) is the halfway point. Finish at 2 Av (F).
- What to bring
- ID for the bars, and a ticket booked ahead if you want a set at the Vanguard.
- What it costs
- Free to walk. Vanguard tickets are sold online; bar drinks and a bodega snack are extra.
Worth knowing
- About 2 miles, 1½–2 hours without stopping for a drink.
- The church on East 10th Street is a working parish; Maxine’s loft was a studio set.
- 7B is on the corner of 7th Street and Avenue B. The red door and the cellar hatch Nadia falls through are on the sidewalk outside.
Researched and written by us from Untapped New York — Only Murders in the Building filming locations, Atlas of Wonders — the Arconia and Only Murders locations, TV Insider — Only Murders NYC locations, TV Fanatic — Only Murders S1E9 “Double Time” recap, /Film — “The Last Day of Bunny Folger” and East Side Feed — Mansion diner recognised as a historic business, among others. Episodes checked against episode guides; places and access checked October 2026. Private homes are view-only from the street.