Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather remains one of the most influential films ever made. It tells the story of the Corleone family’s power and decline, and is celebrated for its outstanding acting, memorable moments, and iconic lines, solidifying its place as a cinematic masterpiece of the mafia genre.
As a huge fan of The Godfather, it’s amazing how much the movie still lives on today! It’s become a real experience for people like me – we’re actually traveling to the places where they filmed it! Most of the indoor scenes were shot at Filmways Studios in New York, but sadly that’s gone now. Still, there are tons of locations all over the US where you can visit and feel like you’re right there in some of the most iconic scenes.
The Corleone Mansion is a Staten Island Must-See
For fans of The Godfather, a visit to 110 Longfellow Avenue in Staten Island’s Emerson Hill is a must. This impressive estate served as the Corleone family mansion and was famously featured in the wedding scene where Connie marries Carlo Rizzi, showcasing the Don’s power and wealth.
The house looks a little different now than it did when the movie was filmed. To show the family’s power and status in the criminal world, the filmmakers added a stone wall and gate with a security guard, making the house seem more grand and intimidating.
The renovations made the house feel more spacious and private. Still, it’s fascinating to visit the location where so many important decisions were made.
Mietz Building and Fruit Stand is Home to the Corleone’s Business
In the movie, the Corleone family uses Genco Pura Olive Oil as a legitimate business to hide their illegal operations. The building where it’s located, at 128 Mott Street – historically in Little Italy but now part of Chinatown – still has a sign identifying it as the “Mietz Building.”
As a movie buff, I always appreciate locations that feel authentic, and this one delivers. The family’s key decision-making happens in a specific building, most notably where they first discuss getting involved with drugs. Interestingly, while that interior scene was filmed on a set, the exterior is easily recognizable. Just across the street, at 137 Mott Street, you’ll find the spot where the Don met his fate, shot by the Tattaglia family. And get this – as of today, it’s still a functioning fruit stand! It’s a neat piece of movie history you can actually visit.
St. George Hotel in Brooklyn is Where Luca Brasi Went to Sleep With the Fishes
The St. George Hotel, located at 111 Hicks Street, was built in 1885 by Captain William Turnbridge, who had served in the Union Army. At the time, it was the biggest hotel in the city, boasting over 2,600 rooms, 17 ballrooms, and even a saltwater pool. A famous bar scene from a movie was also filmed there.
Don Corleone sent him to meet Sollozo, but he was quickly killed – strangled with a piano wire. The bar where this happened is now gone, but the building still stands as a co-op, and the exterior seen before the violent scene remains unchanged.
St. Regis Hotel in Manhattan Appeared Several Times in the Film
I’ve always been fascinated by the St. Regis hotel! It’s right there in Midtown, at 2 East 55th Street, and it has such a rich history. Apparently, John Jacob Astor IV built it way back when, and when it opened in 1904, it was one of the first real skyscrapers in the city. It’s been a super luxurious hotel ever since, and you can really feel that when you walk in.
The hotel is featured prominently throughout the movie. We see Michael and Kay checking in for the night, and several important scenes take place inside. For example, the hitman Willie Cicci gets a shave in the hotel barbershop right before the infamous baptism killings, and the elevator scene during that same violent moment was also filmed there.
The building is beautiful and historically significant, making it a destination on its own. However, for those who love The Godfather, the St. Regis Hotel holds a special appeal, as it was a filming location for some iconic scenes.
St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Manhattan Held the Infamous Baptism
Most visitors head to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown, but a lesser-known historic cathedral is also worth seeing. Located at 264 Mulberry Street in Nolita, the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral was built between 1809 and 1815 and was once the main church for the Archdiocese of New York. This beautiful Gothic-Revival building is a landmark with a rich history.
Fans of The Godfather will recognize this cathedral as the setting for a pivotal scene. Both the interior and exterior were used during the famous massacre scene and Michael’s baptism, making it a popular spot for movie buffs who want to experience a memorable moment from the film.
New York County Courthouse is Where Barzini Met His End
In a pivotal scene, Al Neri, disguised as a police officer, shoots and kills Barzini on the steps of the New York County Courthouse. This courthouse is located in Lower Manhattan, at the intersection of 60 Center Street and Pear Street.
Though brief, the location is worth a visit for fans interested in seeing where a key character from The Godfather met his end. It’s also been featured in other famous films, notably as the setting for the courtroom scenes in Sidney Lumet’s Twelve Angry Men.
This Beverly Hills Estate Was the Home of an Unfortunate Horse Lover
One of the most famous scenes in The Godfather involves a horse’s head. When film director Jack Woltz refuses to cast Don Corleone’s godson in his new movie, he receives an unwelcome visit from a representative of the Don. The next morning, Woltz wakes up to find the severed, bloody head of his favorite horse in his bed, a gruesome message he can’t ignore.
As a film buff, I was fascinated to learn where they shot those incredibly intimate scenes in Don Corleone’s bedroom! It turns out it wasn’t a set at all, but a real room inside Falaise, which is part of the Guggenheim estate on Long Island. It’s located at 127 Middle Neck Road, in Sands Point Preserve, and if you visit during the summer, you can actually go inside and see it for yourself!
The mansion’s exterior is located at 1011 North Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills. Originally built in the 1920s, it once belonged to William Randolph Hearst and was famously featured as Whitney Houston’s home in a film.
Calvary Cemetery in Queens is the Resting Place of Don Corleone
A particularly moving scene in the film occurs during the funeral. As a procession travels through the cemetery, both allies and rivals of the Corleone family come to pay their respects to the deceased Don. Fans interested in visiting the location can find it at Calvary Cemetery in Queens.
Covering 365 acres in Queens, across Maspeth and Woodside, this cemetery is the final resting place of many famous people – actors, politicians, and even mobsters like Vito Bonventre and Stefano Ferrigno. If you’re looking for the mausoleum featured in a particular movie, you can find it at 33-52 Greenpoint Avenue, in section 6, close to the Hildreth and Gary vaults.
Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan is Seen During a Tense Moment Between Michael and Kay
Initially, Michael Corleone lived a quiet life with his wife, Kay, in New York, distancing himself from his father’s, Vito Corleone’s, criminal world. Early in the film, they share a tender moment after attending a showing of The Bells of St. Mary’s at Radio City Music Hall, playfully joking with each other. This peaceful scene is abruptly broken when Michael learns of an attempt on his father’s life, and he rushes to a payphone to get news.
Radio City Music Hall is a must-see, even if you’re not familiar with its history. Its stunning Art Deco architecture, highlighted by vibrant red and blue neon lights, makes it a standout building in the city. And for fans of The Godfather, it’s one of the few film locations that hasn’t changed much since the 1940s, appearing almost exactly as it did in the movie.
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2026-03-04 06:08