Chuck Bass's hotel is real, it takes reservations, and its red neon sign is one of the most recognisable images in the whole series. Here is why the Empire Hotel — at 44 West 63rd Street, beside Lincoln Center — is the address Gossip Girl fans should book in New York.
1. It is Chuck Bass's hotel on screen
The Empire is the property Chuck buys and runs in the later seasons. Standing under the sign is the closest a fan can get to stepping inside a storyline — our Empire Hotel location guide has the photos and the scene list, and the rest of Chuck Bass's New York is a short ride away.
2. The rooftop sign is the shot everyone wants
The neon lettering above the entrance appears in establishing shots throughout the show and photographs beautifully after dark.
3. The lobby has real screen history
The ground floor and bar area appear repeatedly across the series, and the hotel has never hidden its Gossip Girl connection.
4. The location is unusually convenient
You are steps from Lincoln Center, one block from Columbus Circle and at the south-west corner of Central Park — a rare combination in Manhattan.
5. Central Park is on the doorstep
Bethesda Terrace, the Bow Bridge and the Mall are all a short walk into the park from the hotel's block.
6. It is a straight run to the Upper East Side
The Met Steps, Fifth Avenue and the Museum of the City of New York are a short ride across or around the park.
7. Lincoln Center is next door
The plaza and its fountain are one of the most cinematic public spaces in the city, and they cost nothing to visit.
8. Transport is simple
Columbus Circle puts several subway lines within a few minutes' walk, which matters more in New York than any other amenity.
9. It suits both first-timers and rewatchers
Even guests who have never seen the show get a well-placed Midtown-adjacent hotel; fans get the address as a bonus.
10. It is the natural base for a tour day
Because the Empire sits between Central Park and the Upper East Side, it is an easy starting point for a guided Gossip Girl tour of the filming locations — and one of the pickup options our guests choose most.
