11 Best Places to Spot Celebrities in New York City

Where to Spot Celebrities in NYC

Admit it: You’re not here for the Empire State Building. You came to casually bump into Rihanna while pretending to be deeply invested in your oat milk latte.

Here’s where to hover strategically for the best odds. And please, for everyone’s sake, keep that phone in your pocket and pretend you didn’t see them (while you’re screaming inside).

Carbone (Greenwich Village)

This is THE spot where the cool kids eat their fancy pasta. Taylor Swift’s a regular, the Kardashians can’t get enough, and Justin Bieber and NBA stars are always popping in.

But good luck getting in – you’ll need to book months ahead or have a bank account that doesn’t flinch at last-minute table prices.

SoHo House (Meatpacking District)

Got a spare $2,500 for the annual membership fee? Congratulations, you can now pretend not to notice Emily Ratajkowski and Leonardo DiCaprio by the rooftop pool.

For the rest of us mere mortals, there’s still hope – the sixth-floor restaurant accepts non-member reservations.

The Shops at Hudson Yards (Midtown West)

Where Anne Hathaway and Zendaya go to ‘casually browse’ Dior, Fendi, and Cartier (you know, just like us). The security is tighter than a sample size dress, and the whole place was literally designed to protect VIPs.

During Fashion Week in February and September, it turns into celebrity central, especially when Brandon Maxwell and Tory Burch host their fancy private shows.

ABC Carpet & Home (Flatiron District)

Six floors of ‘oh, that’s just Sarah Jessica Parker shopping for vintage rugs again.’ Ellen DeGeneres might be casually browsing artisanal lighting fixtures on the third floor, NBD.

The 140,000-square-foot layout means plenty of space for celebrities to hide from… er, shop in peace.

Equinox (Various Locations)

The SoHo (568 Broadway) and Greenwich Avenue locations are where the likes of Jake Gyllenhaal and Jennifer Aniston come to pretend working out is fun.

Gigi Hadid’s probably there too, since the universe loves making the rest of us feel bad about our gym selfies.

They’ve got fancy private entrances (the SoHo spot has a special VIP door on Crosby Street), and the elite trainers like David Kirsch and Gunnar Peterson do their magic during off-peak hours.

Try not to fall off your bike when you see who’s next to you.

The Boom Boom Room at The Standard (Meatpacking District)

On the 18th floor, this is where Anna Wintour and Jay-Z go to look down on the city (literally and figuratively).

Tables start at $1,500, but you might catch the Met Gala after-party crowd (first Monday in May) or Fashion Awards (second Monday in December).

The sunset lighting is perfect for the celebrity Instagram shots you’ll never be in.

Washington Square Park (Greenwich Village)

Where stars pretend they’re regular people! Spot Julianne Moore walking her terrier on the eastern pathway or Mark Ruffalo channeling his inner chess master by the southwest corner tables.

Fun fact: Ethan Hawke and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman were fans of blending in with the street performers and skateboarders here (they said so themselves in The New Yorker and New York Magazine).

Sant Ambroeus (West Village)

At 259 West 4th Street, this is where Hollywood darlings pretend to be casual about their fancy Italian coffee. They avoid the window seats (obviously) and stick to the back tables near the kitchen.

Weekend brunch (11 AM – 1 PM) is prime time for celebs dropping by for their cappuccino freddo and avocado toast fix.

Tribeca Film Center (Tribeca)

Robert De Niro’s baby at 375 Greenwich Street is basically celebrity central, especially during the Tribeca Film Festival in April.

Celebs often spill over into nearby Locanda Verde and The Greenwich Hotel Courtyard after their very important meetings.

Warning, though: The plainclothes security guards are better at spotting paparazzi than you are at spotting celebrities. So, be respectful if you don’t want to be on the receiving end of a surprise tackle.