This Central Park staple was the site of Carrie and Big's infamous fall into the lake, the start of the would-be lunch where they tried to prove they could just hang out again. The Loeb Boathouse, Central Park, East 72nd Street (at Fifth Avenue); 212-517-2233.
2. The Metropolitan Opera
Carrie and Alexander Petrovsky's overly-romantic (semi-disastrous) trip to the Metropolitan Opera — complete with that Oscar de la Renta dress — was saved by an immediate trip to the nearest McDonald's (at Broadway and 72nd Street). What better cure for fainting than french fries? The Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, 30 Lincoln Center Plaza (between Broadway and Amsterdam avenues); 212-362-6000.
3. Columbus Circle Fountains
Carrie's second (and final) breakup with Aidan happens right in front of these dramatic Upper West Side fountains, dressed in their wedding best. Columbus Circle Fountains, 59th Street (at Eighth Avenue).
4. The Plaza
Big's engagement party to frustratingly perfect, shiny-haired Natasha couldn't have happened anywhere but The Plaza Hotel, right? The Plaza, 768 Fifth Avenue (between 58th and 59th streets); 212-759-3000.
5. Tao Uptown
Jazz musician and ADD-addled club owner Ray King took Carrie to this booming resto near the park, where you can still find the expensive fusion food and huge, club-like settings that used to define Sex and the City-style eateries.
Tao Uptown, 42 East 58th Street (between Park and Madison avenues); 212-888-2288.
6. Russian Samovar
Where else would The Russian take Carrie for a first date? Clearly a place where she could try tea sweetened with cherries, cold soup, and have conversations about capital-A Art. The real-life Russian, Mikhail
Baryshnikov, actually owns part of this midtown spot.
7. Monkey Bar
Remember that time in season 4 when Carrie and Big try on being "friends" while wearing their best evening wear? You can still go to Monkey Bar for some excellent music, throwback drinks, and
natty clothes (though maybe not Carrie's puffy ball gown).
This Midtown Italian joint — still standing, and with pretty good Yelp reviews for an otherwise-dry neighborhood — was featured twice on Sex and the City. The most memorable, though, was in season 2 where Big and Carrie had the most "real" outing of their early relationship and she started to believe it could actually work out. Da Marino, Encore 49 Residence, 220 West 49th Street (between Seventh and Eighth avenues); 212-541-6601.
9. Church of the Transfiguration
Samantha's wild fantasies with "Friar Fuck" began — and
ended — at this Flatiron place of worship. You can still visit the church today, though no
hot priest sightings are guaranteed.
Where else but one of New York's most-famed restaurants would Big break the news to Carrie that he's engaged to Natasha? No tasting menu in the world can mend that heartbreak. Eleven Madison Park, 11 Madison Avenue (between East 24th and 25th streets); 212-889-0905. 11. ABC Carpet & Home
This Manhattan home-decor staple is where Charlotte took her final stand against dust ruffles, decorative mallards, and Bunny's oppressive involvement in her married life. ABC Carpet & Home, 888 Broadway (at 19th Street); 212-473-3000.
12. The City Bakery
Carrie runs into the "Face Girl" — a.k.a. the judgmental SNL booker who dated Aidan right after Carrie was done with
him — while having lunch with Samantha at this still-cool Flatiron lunch
spot. Even the best brownies in New York couldn't make that incredibly awkward encounter any sweeter.
13. Pastis
Carrie once claimed that Pastis was the "only
restaurant that existed" in New York, and it was here she dined with Petrovsky and his snooty friends. While the Meatpacking bistro is temporarily closed for renovations, owner Keith McNally says the iconic eatery — and its reliable French fare, served well
into the night — will be back in 2016.
Nearly 15 years after its appearance in season 3 — when Carrie cautiously tells Miranda about her crush on Aidan — this West Village cupcake shop still sees long lines and tourist photo shoots on a near-daily basis. Many New Yorkers will tell you, though, that the baked goods simply aren't worth it — or that you'd be a lot better off ordering the banana pudding over a cupcake. Magnolia Bakery, 401 Bleecker Street (at West 11th Street); 212-462-2572.
After cheating on Samantha (by eating another woman's "sushi"), hotel magnate Richard Wright attempts to rekindle the flame in season 5 by meeting up with her at this Asian-fusion hotspot. The original Park Avenue location where the duo dined is now closed, but you can still eat at its West Village location. Sushi Samba, 87 Seventh Avenue South (at Barrow Street); 212-691-7885.
16. New York Public Library: Jefferson Market Library
When Miranda finally got married in season 6, if there was one
thing she didn't want, it was the over-the-top, princess-style wedding that
Charlotte had. And, what better place to tie the knot than this little, unassuming square just off the
sidewalk in the West Village?
Jefferson Market Library, 425 Avenue of the Americas (between West 9th and 10th streets); 212-243-4334.
17. Il Cantinori
The site of the world's most depressing birthday (where Carrie admits she can't believe she's 35 and still without a man), this Italian spot just south of Union Square is still around, and could easily be the site of your next celebration (as long as your friends all show up on time).
Il Cantinori, 32 East 10th Street (between University Place and Broadway); 212-673-6044. 18. St. Mark's Comics
Carrie's season 3 stint with the comic book guy may not have lasted that long (or worked out very well), but it did introduce us to this East Village bookstore, a mom & pop spot which has been around since the '80s. St. Mark's Comics, 11 St. Mark's Place (between Second and Third avenues); 212-598-9439.
19. Balthazar
Okay, so it's not exactly a love moment, but there's something very special about Carrie getting she and Samantha a table at this Soho staple by bribing the hostess with an emergency tampon. Visit for a delectable breakfast: just make sure all of the nearby mirrors are properly-affixed
to the wall.
Balthazar, 80 Spring Street (at Crosby Street); 212-965-1785.