As a New Yorker, a fun part of watching New York-based shows such as Seinfeld and Friends is to see shots of the actual city in between scenes shot on an L.A. soundstage. With Louie, whose third season debuts on June 28th on FX, being almost entirely shot in New York, we get that experience in almost every scene. Below are some locations around the city that were used in the show’s first two seasons.
One of the cool things about the Louie opening is that while it may not be the most exciting, it is extremely accurate. As we see Louis CK walk over to do a spot at the Comedy Cellar, he is taking the actual if not most adventurous route. It all starts with the West 4th street subway.
Ben’s Pizzeria
123 Macdougal St (on corner of W. 3rd)
Seen in: Opening Credits,Season 1’s Pilot
The opening is accurate not just because of Louie’s path to the Cellar, but also because he fuels up at Ben’s Pizzeria. Long a stopover for Village bar patrons after a long night of drinking, Ben’s is a great place to grab a slice.
Comedy Cellar
117 Macdougal St
Seen in: Opening Credits, Several Episodes
Opened in 1982, the Comedy Cellar follows a showcase as opposed to headlining format. Instead of having an opener, middle act, and headliner like most clubs, the Cellar will have about five or six acts per show, each doing around 20 minutes. The club’s lineup changes daily and everyone from Jerry Seinfeld to Chris Rock are known to pop in while trying out new material. In fact, much of Seinfeld’s 2002 documentary Comedian is set here.
Caroline’s on Broadway
1626 Broadway
Seen In: Several Episodes
Starting out as a cabaret club in Chelsea in 1981, Caroline’s has grown into one of the most well known comedy clubs in the country. Highlights for the venue include having its own TV series and hosting the last shows of both Bill Hicks and Mitch Hedberg.
Olive Tree Cafe
117 Macdougal St
Seen In: Several Episodes
Most prominently featured in the episode where Louie sends Nick DiPaolo to the emergency room, the Olive Tree not only shares the same address as the Comedy Cellar (its upstairs), it also shares the same staff, kitchen, and menu. As seen in Louie and Comedian and heard about on The Opie and Anthony Show, comics from Jim Norton to Todd Barry can be seen telling stories and busting balls at a nearby table.
Staten Island Ferry
4 South St and Whitehall St
Seen In: Season 1’s Bully
After being humiliated in front of a date by a teenage bully, Louie wisely follows him home to confront his parents… in Staten Island. To do so, Louie must take the Staten Island Ferry, which has been featured in several movies, including Wall Street, The Groomsmen, and Basketball Diaries. But what makes the ferry arguably the best mode of public transportation in NYC are the exquisite views, you can drink on it, and oh yeah, the ride is free.
James J. Walker Park
Hudson St Between Clarkson and Leroy
Seen In: Season 1’s Dogpound and Gym.
James J. Walker Park is just one of the many locations where co-star Pamela Adlon (also the show’s consulting producer) has turned down Louie’s advances. It is also home to a playground, athletic field, and handball courts. All of that however pales in comparison to the park’s best feature: it is located directly across the street from the address used for the exterior of The Cosby Show house (10 St. Luke’s Place).
Washington Square Park
Fifth Ave
Seen In: Season 1’s Night Out
In the Season 1 finale, Louie has a date that implodes in the famously bohemian Washington Square Park. Whether your thing is folk music, protesting, magic, chess, or illegal substances (not recommended) you can find it here.
Don Hill’s
511 Greenwich St
Seen In: Season 1’s Night Out
Though used as a swanky, bottle service-type of club where Louie is a fish out of water, in its hey-day Don Hill’s was known to be a place for hip dance parties and cutting edge live music. The club’s namesake was a big part of the NYC music scene for years, especially in the 80s with his East Village haunt, The Cat Club. When Hill died in 2011, the club wasn’t far behind, closing just a month later.
Eastville Comedy Club
85 East 4th St
Seen In: Season 1’s Night Out
After a less-than-successful night of clubbing, Louie finds he is most comfortable when he’s being a dad and when he’s being a comedian. For the comedian part, Louie does an impromptu set at the Eastville Comedy Club, located in the East Village. This 125-plus seat club hosts performances from top comics including Amy Schumer and Judah Friedlander, as well as many other up-and-coming acts from all over the city. It also has open mics every weekday at 6pm (but make sure you get there early to sign up).
Veselka
144 2nd Ave (corner of 9th st)
Seen In: Season 1’s Night Out
For the dad part, Louie takes his daughters out for a nice breakfast… at 4 AM. The venue? The East Village’s Veselka, a legendary 24/7 Ukrainian joint in operation since 1959. Frequented by everyone from Jon Stewart to Ryan Adams, the restaurant has long been considered an artists haven (it even has the distinction of being the inspiration of not one but two songs). Menu must-haves: pierogies and borscht.
High Line
Gansevoort St to 30th st.
Seen In: Season 2’s Bummer/Blueberries
After witnessing and being kinda/sorta involved in the beheading of a deranged homeless person, Louis has an epiphany while out on a pseudo-date at the High Line. Built from the old West Side Line elevated railroad tracks, this one-mile park features 210 species of plants and never-before-seen views of the city and Hudson River.
Hudson Diner
468 Hudson St
Seen In: Season 2’s Moving
Being the location where Todd Barry pitched a television show featuring Louie’s mom in a tub of diarrhea and homeless people, the Hudson Diner had to make this list. It’s also a great breakfast dive that has a decent brunch.
Fontana’s
105 Eldridge St
Seen In: Season 2’s Niece
In town on a visit, Louie’s quiet niece Amy wants him to take her to an indie rock club. They settle on Fontana’s, a wise choice. This Lower East Side dive bar is known for its live music, DJ sets, “Punk Rock Heavy Metal Karaoke,” and as a side-effect, hipsters.
Greg DeLucia is a Hoboken-based writer and comedian who spends much of his day defending New Jersey. He enjoys tweeting and writing about his unhealthy obsession with “90210.”
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