The Empire Hotel: All You Need to Know

The Empire Hotel is Chuck Bass's hotel, and unlike most television addresses, it is exactly where the show says it is: 44 West 63rd Street, beside Lincoln Center on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

Its role in the show

The Empire becomes Chuck's property in the later seasons, which turns it into the base for the business storylines, the Chuck-and-Blair arc and a long run of establishing shots. It appears more often than almost any other building in the series — see the Empire Hotel filming-location page for the full scene list and who Chuck Bass is if you are new to the show.

The sign everyone photographs

The red neon lettering above the entrance is the image fans recognise instantly. It photographs best after dark, when the whole facade reads exactly as it does on screen.

Where it is

44 West 63rd Street, a block from Columbus Circle and directly beside Lincoln Center. That puts Central Park's south-west corner within a few minutes' walk.

Can you go inside?

Yes — it is a working hotel with a public lobby and bar area, and it has never been shy about its Gossip Girl history. Ordinary hotel etiquette applies: guests first, photographs discreet.

What to pair it with

Lincoln Center's plaza and fountain are next door, Columbus Circle is one block away and Bethesda Terrace is a short walk into the park. Fans usually see all four together.

Empire or Palace?

The Empire is Chuck's hotel; the Lotte New York Palace on Madison Avenue at 50th Street is the van der Woodsen residence and the earlier Bass family property. They are different buildings, they are both real, and a good route includes both.

Seeing it on a tour

The Empire is on our guided Gossip Girl tour route and is also one of the pickup options our guests choose, which makes it an easy place to begin or end a filming-locations day.