If you've ever wanted to have a feel of that millennial New York lifestyle that Ted, Barney, Robin, Lily and Marshall enjoyed for 9 seasons of How I Met Your Mother, this is the guide for you. Grab your friends and have your very own HIMYM experience at these real-life locations in Manhattan—for all you know, you too may end up unearthing your soulmate at one of these stops.
1. Visit the real McLaren’s Pub
Whilst the gang’s hangout spot McLaren’s Pub doesn’t actually exist, it was inspired by a very real Irish pub called McGee’s. Located in Hell’s Kitchen just a stone’s throw away from many iconic Manhattan attractions (Times Square, Central Park and Rockefeller Center), McGee’s was HIMYM creators’ favourite watering hole and, therefore, the muse behind McLaren’s.
In McGee’s you’d see the same comfy red booths and wood furnishings we are accustomed to seeing the gang relax on, as well as plenty of memorabilia from the show. Die-hard fans should visit on HIMYM Mondays, when the entire menu is dedicated to the show. You can order an ‘Accidental Curly’ fry basket and a ‘Suit Up’ Sandwich, together with HIMYM-inspired cocktails like The Naked Man or the Robin Sparkles (which are available everyday!)
Address: 240 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019
2. Try the gang’s favourite breakfast
The one food item that was pivotal to Ted’s journey in finding the love of his life was the bagel. He described how his entire life changed from taking a walk to a bagel shop, and now it’s your turn to try this life-altering food. Be it a sweet treat like Ted’s favourite cinnamon-raisin bagel with cream cheese, or something more savoury like an onion bagel with scallion cream cheese (as Barney’s boss Arthur preferred), you’d find it at Best Bagel and Coffee, a top-rated bagel store in New York City.
Address: 225 W 35th St A, New York, NY 10001
3. Say hello to Ted’s beloved ‘Empy’, the Empire State Building
When Robin’s sister Katie visited New York City the first place she toured was the Empire State Building—and so it should be on your itinerary as well. Ted’s ‘Empy’ is an architectural wonder and also one of the most iconic buildings of Manhattan’s skyline. Once the tallest building in the world, the observation deck sits proudly at the 102nd floor and offers breathtaking views over the island of Manhattan.
After a view like that, you’d understand why Ted needed to say a tender goodbye to Empy before leaving New York City. Stroke its walls as Ted did and try talking to it for inspiration.
Address: 20 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001
4. Have a Gray’s Papaya hotdog
Made famous not only by HIMYM but other iconic TV shows like Sex and the City, Castle and Glee, Gray’s Papaya is an absolute must-try in New York City. There’s a reason the gang made Ranjit do a special detour just for a Gray’s hotdog in their limousine on New Year’s Eve, and you’ve got to bite into one of them juicy dogs to find out why. One of the cheapest things you can eat in Manhattan, a Gray’s hotdog costs only about USD$1.25.
Address: 2090 Broadway, New York, NY 10023
5. Stroll through Ted’s workplace, Columbia University
Professor Ted Mosby got lost on his first day teaching at Columbia University, but that’s probably because the gorgeous campus is that sprawling and big. Considered the oldest institution of higher learning in New York, Columbia University’s glorious history began in the 1700s and today it is still one of the United States’ best colleges. Take a student-led campus tour over the beautiful grounds for a glimpse of what Tracy and Ted Mosby’s lives were like when they crossed paths on campus. Book your tours on the Columbia University website here.
Address: New York, NY 10027
6. See the monkey that mugged Marshall in the Central Park Zoo
Who can forget when Marshall was (or was not) mugged by a monkey in Central Park?
Whilst that particular memorable incident will forever remain in fictional TV history, there are in fact real-life monkeys in Central Park. Housed in the Central Park Zoo, a troop of adorable snow monkeys (also known as Japanese Macaques) are a permanent fixture in this neck of the woods. Watch them play, frolic in the water, and groom each other in their habitat—it is highly unlikely that they will actually be able to steal your wallet.
Address: East 64th Street, New York, NY 10021
7. Check out the whale Barney knocked over at the American Museum of Natural History
Barney Stinson was clearly a handful both as a child and as an adult, and one of his most legendary exploits was knocking over the Blue Whale exhibit in the American Museum of Natural History (using the rib of a triceratops, what’s more). You will no doubt admire this fictional feat of brilliance much more when you see the actual exhibit for yourself—it is suspended about 50 feet in the air by a steel pipe, and weighs a whopping 21,000 pounds.
Address: 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024
