Food and television often go hand in hand. Whether we’re talking about test kitchens from gruelling cooking shows, or that one cosy cafe where your favourite characters always meet, TV is full of memorable venues that spark the imagination – and make the tummy grumble. You may be surprised, however, to hear that many restaurants from television’s top hits are places you can actually visit IRL. From small-screen cafe cameos to iconic locations recreated just for fans, take a seat at these real-life TV restaurants to immerse yourself in your favourite shows.
The Double R Diner from Twin Peaks
From Mulholland Drive to Wild at Heart, much of the work of the late visionary director David Lynch features food and dining as a focal point – and none more so than cult mystery show Twin Peaks, in which characters celebrated a “damn fine cup of coffee” on regular visits to The Double R Diner. The real eatery – Twede’s Cafe in North Bend, Washington – proudly exhibits its links to the world of Lynch, offering the ideal place to pay tribute to a legend.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Holsten’s from The Sopranos
It’s one of TV’s great unanswered questions: What happened at the end of The Sopranos? In the final scene in 2007, Tony Soprano and his family sit down to dinner, seemingly content with life, when a door opens, the screen cuts to black, and audiences are left in the dark. The restaurant in the scene is Bloomfield, New Jersey institution Holsten’s, an ice cream parlour and diner that has seen a surge in attention since its starring role. Be sure to reserve your spot, however, as the booth where Tony sat has become particularly popular.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
The Leaky Cauldron from the Harry Potter series
This entry might be slightly premature, but one of the most anticipated shows of the year is the forthcoming Harry Potter TV adaptation, due on HBO on 25 December 2026. To get a taste of what to expect, head to Universal Studios in Florida and visit the muggle outpost of the Leaky Cauldron, a beloved watering hole of wizards and witches across all Potter media; the real-world pub serves traditional British food.
The Bluebird Cafe from Nashville
This isn’t just TV history – it’s music history. The Bluebird Cafe has featured in nearly every episode of the long-running drama Nashville, which was named for the Tennessee city where this venue’s status as an iconic country music landmark reflects its real-world reputation. Speaking of ‘reputations’, any Swifties in your travelling party may be delighted to visit, as this is where Taylor Swift was reportedly offered a recording contract.
Paternoster Chop House from First Dates
Many a budding romance has blossomed or wilted at Paternoster Chop House, the London restaurant that provides the setting for the charming British reality show First Dates. Whether you want to find true love or simply find out if their steaks are as good as they look on television, the restaurant is open to the public year-round. Classics to try include their signature Chophouse Cheeseburger, or perhaps their Old Bailey cocktail if things go really well on your date.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe from Riverdale
Riverdale is a dark take on the beloved Archie comics, which became a landmark of Americana in the mid-20th century. A key location from the show, however, is located a little further north in Canada: Rocko’s 24-Hour Diner was the filming location for Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe, a key meeting place for Archie and his friends. Any lover of the series would be crazy not to head to Mission, BC, to step back in time and immerse themselves in Riverdale nostalgia.
Les Deux Compères from Emily in Paris
The show may be named after its lead character, but the French capital is very much the star of this dreamlike romantic comedy. Many Parisian eateries have become much busier due to their cameos on the show, but none more so than Les Deux Compères. Those who head to the actual location at 18 Rue des Fossés Saint-Jacques will find a different name (Terra Nera) and an Italian menu, but other than that, they can slip right into the fantasy of becoming Emily in the City of Lights.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Hell’s Kitchen from Hell’s Kitchen
Gordon Ramsay lit a fire under the art of cuisine in his famous reality show Hell’s Kitchen, where teams of chef-contestants would compete to cook the perfect restaurant service under Ramsay’s watchful eye (and sharp tongue). The UK and US versions of the show were filmed on sound stages, but the celebrity chef has launched a chain of US restaurants modelled after the experience of the programme. As one would expect, the food is held to the highest standard, with the menu featuring a number of dishes from the show – making it the perfect place to feel the heat of your favourite cooking competition.
Central Perk from Friends
In the seminal ‘90s sitcom Friends, six twenty-something Manhattanites all laughed, cried and loved in their local coffee shop, Central Perk, which became a fixture of the entire series. The world’s most famous cafe is, of course, best known for being in New York, and fans who travel to the Big Apple in search of it won’t be disappointed: a fully functioning replica of the cafe can be found at the immersive exhibition The Friends Experience in Manhattan. For viewers slightly further up the coast, a Friend’s-inspired cafe has also been installed in Boston’s Back Bay neighbourhood. The only trouble at either venue will be fighting for that famous sofa…
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Magnolia Bakery from Sex and the City
Let’s face it, this quintessential comedy-drama about the love lives of a group of NYC friends has turned many Big Apple locations into must-visit hot spots. However, if we’re talking food, then Magnolia Bakery is the place to tell your cab driver to go. First featured in season three, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) sit outside Magnolia Bakery on Bleecker Street, indulging in pink cupcakes while discussing their crushes. This one scene immediately turned the bakery into a magnet for fans, who can visit one of the bakery’s ten New York branches and order the specially created ‘Carrie’ cupcake.
The Crown and Anchor from Ted Lasso
Richmond in West London may not have been as famous as some of its neighbours in the past, but that all changed when it became the setting for this uplifting comedy about an American football coach (Jason Sudeikis) who takes over a British football team (or ‘soccer’, as he would call it). Many of the show’s key moments happen in The Crown and Anchor pub, which, in real life, is a locale called The Prince’s Head, appropriately adorned with memorabilia from the actual Richmond Football Club.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Krusty Burger from The Simpsons
You might not think it’s possible to dine at a cartoon restaurant, but there is, indeed, a real-life version of The Simpsons’ Krusty Burger. A replica of the animated eatery can be found at Universal Studios Florida – not far from the Leaky Cauldron – as well as Universal Studios Hollywood in California. Although it’s a pastiche of the chain restaurants from the show, super-fans here can get their hands on a real Krusty Burger, Ribwich, Heat Lamp Dog and more, all washed down with in-universe beverages like Buzz Cola and Duff Beer. It’s truly the world of Springfield come to life, and a chance to relive some of the most hilarious Simpsons moments.
Mystic Grill from The Vampire Diaries
If you’ve watched this hit supernatural series, you’ll recognise Mystic Grill as a place where almost all the main characters converge. In 2014, the show-staple restaurant was recreated on Clark Street in Covington, Georgia, replicating the fictional location’s look and feel. Expect a less volatile atmosphere than the TV version, serving up signature twists on classic Southern cuisine in a friendly atmosphere.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Netflix Bites from various shows
This is something of a curveball, as Netflix Bites doesn’t hail from any one particular show. Rather, it’s the restaurant within Netflix House, a chain of entertainment venues that invite visitors to step into the world of their favourite shows. With branches in Philadelphia and Dallas – and a Las Vegas outpost coming in 2027 – the eatery’s menu features food inspired by shows like Queer Eye, Stranger Things and Bridgerton, with theming to match. If you can’t literally live inside your favourite shows, surely the next best thing is to eat like you’re there.
Share with your friends
