There are plenty of movies that actually set up shop (briefly) in real-life restaurants. Fun fact: though there really is a Mystic Pizza in Mystic, Connecticut, the movie about waitresses serving pies didn’t actually film there — it was too small to film inside plus it couldn’t afford to shut down during filming, so the production had to make do with a set.
Here’s a list of real restaurants used in the movies — and they aren’t all in Los Angeles (though many of them are).
The Dresden Room: ‘Swingers’
Los Angeles
The Dresden Room has been open since 1954 and had the longest-standing live music act with Marty and Elaine playing every Tuesday through Saturday for almost 38 years. Although Marty died in 2022, Marty and Elaine live on in a scene from “Swingers.”
Katz’s Deli: ‘When Harry Met Sally’
New York
Remember when Sally (Meg Ryan) faked a big O and another diner quipped, “I’ll have what she’s having”? That was at this iconic New York diner, and the other diner was director Rob Reiner’s real-life mom.
Kansas City Barbecue: ‘Top Gun’
San Diego
Established in 1983, Kansas City Barbecue loves its reputation as “Top Gun”‘s “sleazy bar” (it says so on its website). That hasn’t hurt business, either — the eatery has been around for more than four decades. The bar suffered a devastating fire in 2008 and was soon rebuilt. Thankfully the piano that Goose plays in the film reportedly survived the blaze.
Cicada Restaurant and Lounge: ‘Pretty Woman’
Los Angeles
Remember the scene in “Pretty Woman” when Julia Roberts had to figure out how to deal with escargot? While the setting may have been lost in the chaos of watching her try to figure out her meal, the food is pretty spectacular — Zagat’s put Cicada on the list of 1,000 best Italian restaurants in the country. The Art Deco building is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places, so it’s a pretty elegant trip back to the 1920s.
Antoine’s Restaurant: ‘The Pelican Brief’
New Orleans
The French-Creole restaurant Antoine’s was the location for a scene in “The Pelican Brief” in which young law student Darby Shaw (Julia Roberts), whose legal brief about the murder of two Supreme Court Justices turns her into a target for killers, has an important conversation with journalist Grey Grantham (Denzel Washington).
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Randy’s Donuts: ‘Iron Man’
Los Angeles
No, you can’t sit inside the giant donut on the top of Randy’s Donuts like Iron Man, but that’s okay. As the Randy’s website says, “Our fans come for the photo ops but stay for the best donuts they’ve ever tasted. It’s no wonder that Randy’s is consistently named one of the top donut shops in the country and the most reviewed and highest rated donut shop on Yelp for 70 years!”
Carver Cafe: ‘Twilight’
Damascus, Oregon
In the sparkly vampire movie “Twilight” starring Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, Stewart’s character, Bella, and her police-chief dad Edward (Billy Burke) ate at this Damascus, Oregon, cafe twice in the film.
Musso & Frank Grill: ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’
Los Angeles
You can see the restaurant where Leonardo DiCaprio loudly sucks down his drink in the film, but stick around. Musso & Frank has been open for 100 years (and that marker was met in 2019) and it first appeared in Buster Keaton’s “Cops” in 1922.
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Nobu: ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’
Los Angeles
Chez Quis looked like Chicago (and the exterior was shot at a private home there), but the interior of the restaurant where Ferris and his friends eat while playing hooky was actually in Los Angeles. Though the restaurant changed from L’Orangerie to Nobu in the late ’80s and got a full remodel, it’s still possible to see elements, like the retractable roof, that have stayed the same.
Joe Jost’s: ‘Gone in 60 Seconds’
Long Beach, California
Not only is Joe Jost’s a Long Beach institution, it was founded in 1924 and is one of the oldest continually operated taverns west of the Mississippi River. Their pickled eggs are so iconic you can get the mix for them online. No word on whether Nicolas Cage or Angelina Jolie were fans.
Lighthouse Cafe: ‘La La Land’
Hermosa Beach, California
The Lighthouse Cafe was so excited about playing host to “La La Land,” it dedicated a page on its website to the experience. The club first began showcasing jazz music in 1949, when owner John Levine permitted bassist/band leader Howard Rumsey to start a recurring Sunday jam session. Needless to say, the experiment took off.
South End Buttery: ‘Spotlight’
Boston
This Boston eatery was featured in “Spotlight,” an Oscar-winning drama about the true story of Boston Globe reporters who exposed the Catholic Church’s sex abuse scandals. A scene featuring a survivor talking to reporter Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams) was filmed inside the café.
Formosa Cafe: ‘L.A. Confidential’
Los Angeles
While this scene was a terrible fail for the “L.A. Confidential” detectives, the Formosa has withstood worse, from changing tastes and a threatened demolition in 2017. The building still stands and has since 1910, though it didn’t become the Formosa Cafe until 1939.
Shalom Grill: ‘The Avengers’
Los Angeles
While you can get shawarma at the California Adventures Park Avengers campus, you can get the real thing from Shalom Grill. (Costumes optional).
Pat & Lorraine’s: ‘Reservoir Dogs’
Los Angeles
Watch a very young Steve Buscemi rant about tipping in “Reservoir Dogs,” but don’t overlook the seedy diner the crew is parked inside. Apparently tourists come from Europe for the chance to sit at the same table as Mister Pink and the rest.
Redwood Bar and Grill: ‘(500) Days of Summer’
Los Angeles
This moody bar was the ideal karaoke spot for both Josh Gordon Levitt and Zooey Deschanel in “(500) Days of Summer,” but that isn’t the only movie (or TV show) to film here. This location also showed up in “Bridesmaids” and “Veronica Mars.” If you’re really a fan of “(500) Days of Summer,” consider taking the walking tour.
Foo-Chow: ‘Rush Hour’
Los Angeles
This scene from “Rush Hour” is memorable for Chris Tucker’s fast talking, but Foo-Chow stands on its own. Open since 1977, the restaurant added a courtyard patio in 2020 so you can dine under festive paper lanterns.
Miceli’s: ‘Knocked Up’
Los Angeles
This old-school Italian joint has been open since 1949, and it’s most famous for its singing waiters. But if it also looks familiar, beyond Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl discussing her unplanned pregnancy, it might be from “Mob City” and “Dexter.”
Paco’s Tacos Cantina: ‘Jerry Maguire’
Los Angeles
If you visit this Mexican eatery, check the walls — there’s a reminder there (well, a poster) that this was the location of the first date between Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) and Dorothy Boyd (Renee Zellwegger).
Gallery Bar & Cognac Room: ‘National Treasure: Book of Secrets’
Los Angeles
Say what you will about Nicholas Cage’s “National Treasure” films, but they don’t skimp on gorgeous locations. The Gallery Bar & Cognac Room is located in the Millenium Biltmore Hotel, which opened in 1927, and all of that pre-Depression glam is still in full effect.
Cafe Figaro: “S.W.A.T’
Los Angeles
While this wasn’t the happiest scene in the Colin Farrell and Samuel L. Jackson vehicle, it was memorable. After greeting his uncle, bad guy Alex Montel (Olivier Martinez) slits the unlucky man’s throat. But he did do it at the very cute Cafe Figaro, so that’s something.
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