Home to some of the world’s best entertainment, food, and nightlife – New York City, also affectionately known as the city of dreams, is a melting pot of different sounds, sights, and smells from all around the globe thanks to its rich and diverse blend of other cultures and people. In addition to being a hub for the latest trends in food and fashion, there is no shortage of celebrities in NYC calling it home! Sit back, relax, and enjoy your guide to celebrities that live in NYC.
Let’s take a look at some of the big names living it up in the big apple, their lavished dwellings, and some of the best places to spot them.
Celebrities in NYC
Ever wondered where some of your favorite A-listers live, shop, and party in the big city? Well, wonder no more – Velvet Ropes brand new New York Celebrity Map 2019 (shown above and available for purchase) features all the details you need to get started on your star-searching adventure in the city that never sleeps.
Unlike other star maps that often contain incorrect or outdated information, Velvet Ropes’ NYC celebrity map has up-to-date celebrity homes and hotspots. Developed by the founders of Velvet Ropes, Aleks & Tucker – celeb-lovers just like you! – this mobile map is an absolute must for anyone looking to see a few stars and have a blast during their trip to NYC.
Where do celebrities gang out in NYC?
Though we like to imagine celebrities spending their off-time in 24k gold buildings, drinking from golden goblets, and dining off of gold and diamond encrusted dishes (exaggerated image, but you get the picture), you’d be surprised how common it is to spot your favorite stars spending time in ordinary places, just like us. If you’re looking for where to see celebrities in NYC, here are 5 great places to see celebrities in NYC:
Rockefeller Center / Plaza
Used in numerous films and series, Rockefeller Center is not only a great place to spot a celeb or two, but it’s also a must-see for people visiting the Big Apple. Another thing that makes the location a perfect celebrity hotspot because it’s where shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Saturday Night Live are filmed.
Hangout nearby and you’re sure to eventually see a celebrity arriving or leaving!
The Rainbow Room
The Rainbow Room is a special event space on the 65th level of 30 Rockefeller Plaza and is considered a famous landmark in the big city. Celebs such as Lady Gaga, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jimmy Fallon, and many others famous figures have visited The Rainbow Room to indulge in extravagant dishes and dancing.
Chelsea Market
Much like a farmer’s market, this little market in Chelsea offers a little bit of everything for tourists and celebs alike. Retail shops, a food court, and production facilities for television – Chelsea Market is the ideal place for those who love to shop and star-spot at the same time. Big names such as Julianne Moore, Kelly Ripa, and Ted Danson are just a few famous names who have been seen perusing the enclosed urban market.
However, if you’re visiting NYC on a budget and don’t have the money to throw down on an expensive meal or show, but you still hope to see some celebs, just take a stroll through some of the upscale areas of the city. There are endless posts on Twitter from users who spotted their favorite A-listers randomly on the street – including actors such as Gerard Butler, Liev Schriber, Naomi Watts, and singer Nicki Minaj!
The Mark
Inside The Mark Hotel, a Forbes Travel Guide selection, The Mark Restaurant is helmed by Jean-Georges and is a local favorite. Just a hop, skip, and a jump from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim, everyone from Kendall Jenner and Jennifer Lopez, to Oprah and Anna Wintour have been spotted here sharing lunch.
Make a reservation!
Left Bank
This West Village-based bistro is co-owned by Zach Braff and is a popular spot for a casual meal. They serve a huge variety, from octopus to their signature iron roast chicken.
Where to Find Celebrities in NYC
Whether you’re visiting New York City for the first time, or you’re simply a Big Apple native wondering how close you live to your favorite celebs, Velvet Ropes’ New York celebrity map has everything you need to get started on your star-spotting adventure.
The days of paper maps or insufferable tour bus rides are gone! With the Velvet Ropes map, everything will be conveniently available on an easy-to-use guide on your mobile device! Instead of taking someone else’s star tour of NYC that may take you to places you don’t even care about, why not build your own cel=ebrity tour using one of our 2019 celebrity maps?
Interested in trying it out? Well, you’re in luck! Velvet Ropes’ Map of the Stars NYC will be available to purchase beginning in December 2018!
Where does Friends take place?
Though much of the interior shots from the sitcom “Friends” were filmed on a set in Los Angeles, the exterior shots of the buildings were all filmed in New York City, where the much beloved fictional characters were supposed to reside.
In fact, the outer shots of the apartment block where the friends called home from 1994-2004 were actually filmed in Greenwich Village, on the corner of Grove and Bedford.
New York Celebrities List
You’d be surprised how many of your favorite celebs traded the Southern California lifestyle for the hustle and bustle of the big city! Some of the biggest names in the business have lived, currently live, or frequently hang out in the Big Apple. Some of these names include:
Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis
This famous, and adorable, duo originally lived in an apartment in New York’s Meatpacking District before finally listing the abode for $3.8 million and upgrading to a gorgeous, 6,300-square-foot home in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of north-central Brooklyn. Their new pad features a library, six fireplaces, and a hidden projector screen in the living room – talk about upsizing!
Lady Gaga
Being a New York native, it’s no surprise that miss Gaga has called the big city her home numerous times throughout the years. During her latest stay in the city, while working on her new album, the songstress rented a recently renovated, 8,260-square-foot townhome featuring 6 floors, 5-bedrooms, 5.5-bathrooms, 2 rooftop terraces, and a private garage – perfect for making a discreet exit without attracting paparazzi. The townhouse is located in the West Village, an area known for its trendy eateries and designer boutiques.
Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake
This talented pair snatched up their New York abode back in 2017 for a whopping $20 million. The 5,000-square-foot penthouse features 4-bedrooms, 4-bathrooms, and a massive private terrace that is nearly as large as the residence itself.
The building is known for its paparazzi-proof setup and its long list of celebrity residents, including Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, and Jennifer Lawrence.
Cameron Diaz
The bubbly star reportedly owns a condo at the famed Walker Tower in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood. The 3,022-square-foot unit, which Diaz purchased for 9.5 million in 2013, features 3-bedrooms, herringbone oak floors, 18-foot ceilings, and a private terrace.
Katie Holmes
Holmes began renting her New York City apartment back in 2015 for $25,000 a month – and you thought your rent was high. The 2,400-square-foot fully-furnished unit features 3-bedrooms, 2-bathrooms, half a dozen storage cabinets and closets, a spacious foyer with stone tile flooring, a fireplace, and a 200-plus-square-foot private terrace complete with a stunning view of the Empire State Building and the World Trade Center.
Hugh Jackman
Purchased for $21 million in October 2008, Jackman’s three-floor (8th, 9th, and 10th) floor triplex sits at a staggering 11,000 square-feet in size and features 3-bedrooms, 3-bathrooms, a music room, and a library – and that’s just the eighth floor! The ninth-floor features double-high ceilings, a gourmet kitchen accompanied by a large dining room, a gallery, and a wine cellar. Finally, the tenth floor contains a massive master bedroom, a workout studio, a bath & sauna, and a dressing room.
Naomi Watts
Located in the TriBeCa neighborhood, Naomi Watt’s and former husband Liev Schriber reportedly paid $3.9 million for their double-unit, semi-combined condo. The duplex underwent a massive renovation by the couple, with the help of designers Ashe + Leandro, following a destructive flood caused by Hurricane Sandy. The 4,315 square-foot abode features 3-bedrooms, 2-bathrooms, and 2 kitchens.
Alicia Keys
Though Keys sold her 25,000 square-foot, 8-bedroom, 10-bathroom, 4.5-bathroom New Jersey mansion back in 2015, a home that she originally purchased from Eddie Murphy, the singer still frequently visits her native New York frequently to perform.
Madonna
Madonna’s impressive 12,000 square-foot Georgian townhouse sits at the upper East Side of New York and features 13-bedrooms, 14-bathrooms, a double-car garage, 9 fireplaces, and a private elevator. The material girl purchased three town homes for $32.5 million and merged them to create this incredible Manhattan compound for herself and family.
Cyndi Lauper
Lauper and husband David Thornton have long rented an apartment in the Upper West Side’s Apthorp building. In 2005, the singer sued her landlord to reduce the rent of her unit and won, bringing her rent of $4000 a month down to under a $1000 – what a bargain!
50 Cent
Curtis Jackson, AKA rapper 50 Cent, purchased an enormous Connecticut mansion back in 2003. The 19-bedroom, 25-bathroom, 51,657 square-foot estate sits on 17-acres of land and features a basketball court, an indoor pool, a full gym, recording studio, guest house, and an actual private nightclub. Wish you could party like it’s ya birthday in 50’s mega-mansion? Well, if you have a spare $4.995 million lying around, you can! The rapper has been trying to sell the property for some time, even slashing the price from 18.5 million to the previously mentioned $4.995 million.
Leonardo DiCaprio
When Leo isn’t starring in his next Oscar-worthy leading role or looking for his next hot model girlfriend, the actor can be found at his New York apartment on Madison Avenue. The apartment, which DiCaprio began renting earlier this year, has 3-bedrooms, 3-full bathrooms, 1-half bathroom, and features two terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows. The building amenities include a fitness club, steam rooms, a saltwater pool, a lounge, and a spa – everything an A-lister needs!
Joan Rivers
A Brooklyn native, the late Joan Rivers resided in a lavished penthouse on the Upper East Side for over a quarter of a century before her passing in 2014. The 5,100 square-foot, 4-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom triplex features 2 terraces with views of Central Park, a ballroom, a library, and 5 wood-burning fireplaces. River’s daughter Melissa sold the luxurious unit for $28 million in 2015.
Anne Hathaway
Downsizing from their 3-bedroom 2,592 square-foot loft in Brooklyn, actress Anne Hathaway and husband Adam Shulman now reside in a cozy 1,200 square-foot co-op penthouse in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The couple reportedly paid $2.55 million for the 2-bedroom, 2-bath unit, which features a sky-lit kitchen, a wine storage, skylights in both bedrooms, and a large private terrace.
Howard Stern
When Stern is not lending his voice to his popular radio show, the famed shock jock spends his spare time at his apartments, yes…we said apartments, at Manhattan’s Millennium Tower. Stern started by purchasing a huge 4,149 square-foot condo on the 53rd floor, then went on to purchase the 2,546 square-foot unit in the same building only one level below his swanky penthouse pad for a whopping $15.1 million.
Beyonce
Beyonce’s New York mansion, known as Pond House, is as gorgeous and luxurious as you might imagine it would be for the Queen B herself. The former member of Destiny’s Child and her rapper hubby Jay Z purchased their 12,000 square-foot cottage-style mega-mansion for $25.93 million back in 2017. The home sits on 2.1 acres of land in East Hampton and features a picturesque view of the popular Georgica Pond as well as 7-bedrooms, 9-bathrooms, a 1,800 square-foot guest cottage, a spacious infinity pool and spa, and a wrap-around terrace.
Popular NYC Attractions
Madison Square Garden
This famous indoor arena has been host to numerous basketball, boxing, and hockey games as well as concerts, circuses, and other big entertainment events. It’s also a great place to catch a glimpse of your favorite stars enjoying a day off or cheering on their favorite team at a big game.
Broadway
Broadway is yet another must for those looking for both top-notch entertainment and Hollywood A-listers. Celebs are constantly flocking to the famous theatre to enjoy the latest blockbuster musical to hit the scene. No matter what night you go, you can almost always guarantee there’s a celeb hiding somewhere amongst the audience or showing off their acting skills on the stage.
Sources
https://observer.com/2018/03/olivia-wilde-jason-sudeikis-new-york-chelsea-apartment-for-rent/
https://guestofaguest.com/new-york/real-estate/inside-lady-gagas-dollar23m-west-village-hideout
https://ny.curbed.com/2017/5/31/15721092/justin-timberlake-tribeca-443-greenwich-penthouse
https://variety.com/2015/dirt/real-estalker/katie-holmes-rents-new-york-city-penthouse-1201534554/
http://nydesignagenda.com/hugh-jackmans-new-york-appartment/
http://nydesignagenda.com/madonnas-house-in-new-york/
https://observer.com/2018/01/leonardo-dicaprio-living-in-nomad-apartment-new-york/
https://www.instyle.com/celebrity/anne-hathaways-new-home-new-york-city-apartment