New York Film Locations



Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

Last Updated: Sept 2023

Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) lives in a brownstone on Manhattan's swank East Side. Totally madcap, she has a partially furnished apartment, owns a cat with no name, gets rid of the "mean reds" by visiting Tiffany's, and is forever misplacing her door key, much to the dismay of her upstairs neighbour. One day Paul Varjak (George Peppard), a young writer who is supported by an older woman nicknamed "2E," comes into Holly's life. After a day on the town together, Paul realizes that he is in love with Holly and proposes to her; but she is determined to marry José, a South American millionaire.


otsoNY Comments: Although not visible on camera, hundreds of onlookers watched Audrey Hepburn's window-shopping scene at the start of the film. This made her nervous and she kept making mistakes. It wasn't until a crew member nearly got electrocuted behind the camera that she pulled herself together and finished the scene. The song "Moon River" was written especially for Audrey Hepburn, since she had no training as a singer. The vocals were written to be sung in only one octave. The famous black dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the opening scenes of this movie was sold for $807,000 on December 4, 2006 at Christie's Auction House in London, making it the second most expensive piece of movie memorabilia ever sold.

Tiffany & Co Store, 727 5th Avenue and East 57th Street, Manhattan.
 

 

otsoNY Comments: Holly Golightly wears the same dresses all the way through the movie, simply changing the accessories to give each outfit a different look. Her black shift dress features through the movie at least four times.

East 57th Street and 5th Avenue, Manhattan.
 

 

otsoNY Comments: John Frankenheimer was hired to shoot the film with Marilyn Monroe. When the producers suddenly moved to Switzerland and Audrey Hepburn replaced Monroe, she said she had never heard of Frankenheimer and insisted that he be paid off and another director be hired. Most of the exteriors were filmed in New York City, except the fire escape scenes and the alley scene at the end in the rain where Holly puts Cat out of the cab and then Paul and Holly look for Cat. All of the interiors, except for portions of the scene inside Tiffany & Company, were filmed on the Paramount Studios lot in Hollywood.

otsoNY Comments: Holly's whistle when she hails a cab for Paul was actually dubbed in. Audrey Hepburn attempted to learn how to whistle with two fingers, but could never produce the desired sound.

otsoNY Comments: The iconic sunglasses worn by Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly were originally designed by Oliver Goldsmith. The frame has gone onto inspire countless interpretations.

otsoNY Comments: There are several sources that report the location for Holly Golightly apartment incorrectly. Some say it is number 171, whereas others say it is 169. In fact, the number showing in the film is 167 even though the correct number is 169.

Holly Golightly Apartment, 169 East 71st Street and Lexington Avenue, Manhattan.
 

 

otsoNY Comments: Henry Mancini wrote "Moon River" specifically for Audrey Hepburn. He later said that while many versions of the song have been done, he feels that Audrey's was the best.

otsoNY Comments: The interior shots as well as the fire escape were all filmed on a sound stage at Paramount Studios lot in Hollywood.and not at the property on East 71st Street.

Conservatory Water, Central Park (from 72nd to 75th Street) Manhattan.
 

 

Bandshell, Central Park (from 66th to 72nd Street) Manhattan.
 

 

West 57th Street (btw 5th and 6th Avenues) Manhattan.
 

 

Tiffany & Co Store, 727 5th Avenue and East 57th Street, Manhattan.
 

 

otsoNY Comments: Although Holly Golightly and Paul Varjak are heading towards the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue, the actual interior shots were done on a sound stage and not inside the libary, so the closest they got was at the corner of 41st Street and 5th.

5th Avenue and East 41st Street, Manhattan.
 

 

East 71st Street and Lexington Avenue, Manhattan.
 

 

otsoNY Comments: The array of phone booths are no longer outside the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue.

5th Avenue (btw East 40th and 42nd Streets) Manhattan.
 

 

(Near) New York Public Library, 5th Avenue (btw 40th and 42nd Streets) Manhattan.
 

 

Park Avenue and East 52nd Street, Manhattan.
 

 

East 52nd Street and Park Avenue, Manhattan.
 

 

otsoNY Comments: The final scene was entirely shot on a sound stage made to look like an alleyway in New York.



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