Maps of Movies
As Good as It Gets (1997)
Where As Good as It Gets says it takes place, and where it was really shot.
New York was only two weeks of filming: the café is a Los Angeles hotel lobby, the Baltimore dinner is in Long Beach and the apartments are a studio set.
View on the map
Scenes and places
The West Village apartment building (1997)
Inside the building, Simon's little dog Verdell has gone missing, and Simon asks his neighbour Melvin whether he has seen him. Melvin is a rude, rule-bound man who wants nobody in his routine.
Set in Melvin and Simon's apartment building, West Village — The building where cranky novelist Melvin lives across the hall from his neighbour Simon.
A pre-war apartment building on a West Village block, split into co-ops today.
The walk to the café (1997)
Melvin sets off for breakfast, stepping around every crack in the pavement and flinching away from passers-by. His rituals are shown before he says a word.
Set in Sixth Avenue at W 9th Street — Melvin walks north on Sixth Avenue, careful not to touch anyone or step on a crack.
A block of Sixth Avenue in Greenwich Village, with St. Joseph's Church at the corner of Washington Place.
Melvin's regular table (1997)
Melvin finds a couple at his table and drives them out with insults, then takes out his own plastic cutlery. Carol warns him that the manager will ban him for life.
Set in Melvin's regular café (implied E 17th Street, New York) — The café where Melvin eats at the same table every day and Carol is the only waitress who tolerates him.
A six-story Beaux-Arts hotel downtown, opened in 1897 as the Van Nuys Hotel.
Filmed at Barclay Hotel lobby, 103 W 4th Street, Los Angeles — The lobby of the Barclay Hotel stands in for the café. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
The street where Simon finds a model (1997)
Simon begins working with a new model, Vincent. Vincent uses the chance to case Simon's apartment.
Set in A triangular plaza in the West Village — Simon looks for a new model among the young men on the street.
One of the small triangular plazas where the West Village street grid breaks.
Walking Verdell (1997)
While Simon recovers in hospital after the robbery, Melvin is left to walk Verdell. He picks the dog up when it avoids the sidewalk cracks, just as he does.
Set in W 10th Street at Patchin Place — Melvin walks his hurt neighbour's dog and finds he likes him. Google Maps · Apple Maps
A short gated lane of 19th-century houses off W 10th Street.
Filmed at W 10th Street beside Patchin Place, Manhattan — Patchin Place coordinate from Wikidata; the blog places the scene on the street beside it, with Jefferson Market Library in the wide shot. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
The therapist's office (1997)
Melvin, shaken by feelings he has not had in years, runs to see his therapist. The visit shows how far his routine has already cracked.
Set in A therapist's office on E 10th Street — Melvin runs down the street and goes down the steps to his therapist's office.
A row-house block of E 10th Street between Fifth Avenue and University Place.
Carol's house in Brooklyn (1997)
Carol has moved her work closer to home for her sick son, and Melvin cannot cope with a different waitress. He gets her address from a busboy and goes to find her.
Set in Carol's home in Brooklyn — Melvin takes a cab to Brooklyn to see why Carol did not come to work.
A row-house block near Prospect Park in Park Slope.
The run to the hospital (1997)
Carol runs after Melvin carrying her sick son and asks to share his cab. Melvin, confused, lets her.
Set in Brooklyn Presbyterian Hospital (fictional sign) — Carol takes her sick son Spencer to the hospital in Melvin's cab.
A senior-housing building about a block and a half from Carol's film home.
Carol marches up Fifth Avenue (1997)
Carol finds out that Melvin has hired a doctor for her son, and goes to see him. Touched but wary, she makes clear his gift does not mean she will sleep with him.
Set in Fifth Avenue and W 12th Street — Carol takes a bus to Manhattan to see Melvin about his gift. Google Maps · Apple Maps
First Presbyterian Church, a Gothic Revival church on Fifth Avenue.
Filmed at Fifth Avenue between W 9th and W 12th Street, Manhattan — Church coordinate from Wikipedia. Carol gets off at W 9th Street, passes the old Rose Cafe at 24 Fifth Avenue and the First Presbyterian Church at 12 W 12th Street. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
Carol and her mother go for a drink (1997)
Carol walks with her mother up Prospect Park West, torn about Melvin's offer, and hugs her in thanks for her support before going in.
Set in A neighbourhood bar in Brooklyn — Carol and her mother stop at a bar while she decides whether to accept Melvin's gift. Google Maps · Apple Maps
A pub that served working-class drinkers since the 1930s, cash only.
Filmed at Farrell's Bar & Grill, 215 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn — The bar seen in the scene; coordinate from Wikipedia. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there:
The bus to Manhattan (1997)
With her son feeling better, Carol takes the weekend trip. Spencer keeps up with the bus and waves her off.
Set in A corner on Prospect Park West — Carol boards a city bus for the weekend trip with Melvin and Simon.
A corner of Prospect Park West opposite the park.
Pulling over on the way to Baltimore (1997)
Relationships between the three develop on the trip: Simon explains why he is estranged from his parents and Carol sympathises. Melvin's remarks slowly turn gentler.
Set in A country road on the way to Baltimore — The trio stops the car on a rural road during the trip south.
A stone-walled road through the Pocantico Hills estates in Westchester County.
The Baltimore seafood dinner (1997)
Melvin is turned away for lacking a jacket, buys one from the shop doorway and returns. At dinner his compliments fall apart when Carol presses him.
Set in A seafood restaurant, Baltimore, Maryland — Carol persuades Melvin to take her to dinner on their first night in Baltimore.
A waterfront plaza on Alamitos Bay in Long Beach.
The gas station by the Holland Tunnel (1997)
Melvin learns Simon's apartment has been sublet and tells him a temporary place has been arranged. Carol is still upset from the dinner.
Set in A gas station outside the Holland Tunnel — On the way back to the city, Melvin phones Frank from a gas station.
The main road feeding the Jersey City end of the Holland Tunnel.
Characters
- Melvin Udall — A best-selling romance novelist with OCD whose rudeness keeps everyone away.
- Carol Connelly — The one waitress who puts up with Melvin, raising an asthmatic son in Brooklyn.
- Simon Bishop — A gay painter and Melvin's neighbour, left broke after a robbery.