Where was Mad Men filmed? Explore the real Los Angeles, New York, Hawaii, and Big Sur locations behind the iconic 1960s drama.
Grab a three-martini lunch and step into the world of Mad Men. Created by Matthew Weiner, AMC’s acclaimed drama follows Don Draper (Jon Hamm), a brilliant but secretive Madison Avenue advertising executive whose carefully constructed life slowly begins to unravel.
Set amid the social upheaval of the 1960s, the series follows Don, Peggy, Betty, Joan, Roger, Pete, and their colleagues through advertising, ambition, relationships, changing gender roles, and questionable decisions.
Mad Men ran for seven seasons and 92 episodes from 2007 to 2015, winning 16 Primetime Emmys, including four consecutive Outstanding Drama Series awards.
It used real-world settings, period details, and plenty of carefully chosen props to recreate its 1960s world, proving that with the right lighting and enough cigars and cocktails, almost anything can look glamorous.
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🍸 Mad Men Filming Locations
Mad Men brought its 1960s world to life with real locations and meticulous period details, creating a backdrop where everyone looked polished, the offices looked expensive, and absolutely nobody had their life together.
🗽 New York City
New York was especially important to the Mad Men pilot, which was filmed on location before production moved west. It helped establish the world of Manhattan advertising before Los Angeles took over production.
What was filmed here:
- 130 West 57th Street: Pilot art studio scenes.
- The Slipper Room: Pete’s pilot bachelor party.
- Silvercup Studios: Pilot studio production scenes.
What to see & do:
- Central Park: Explore Manhattan’s iconic urban park.
- Carnegie Hall: Visit the legendary concert hall.
- MoMA: Explore world-famous modern art.
- Lower East Side: Discover historic neighborhood streets.
Book a tour:
- NYC: Film and TV Show Walking Tour
- NYC TV & Movie Locations Bus Tour
- NYC: The Most Famous Movie Locations Tour
🌴 Los Angeles, California
Despite being one of television’s great New York stories, Los Angeles was the real star behind the scenes of Mad Men, doing the heavy lifting whenever 1960s Manhattan needed a stand-in.
Don and Betty’s Rome trip on Season 3, Episode 8, “Souvenir,” was filmed at the Mark Taper Forum of the Los Angeles Music Center, which stood in for Rome, while the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion lobby doubled as their fictional Hilton Rome hotel.
You can stay at the Los Angeles Athletic Club where Don’s swimming and smoking scenes were filmed. Sterling Cooper’s fictional Madison Avenue office was recreated at Los Angeles Center Studios.
What was filmed here:
- Los Angeles Center Studios, Downtown LA: Sterling Cooper office interiors.
- Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Downtown LA: Fictional Hilton Rome exterior.
- Mark Taper Forum, Downtown LA: Don and Betty’s Rome trip.
- Los Angeles Athletic Club, Downtown LA: Don’s swimming and smoking scenes.
- HMS Bounty, Koreatown: Peggy’s disastrous blind date.
- The Three Clubs, Hollywood: Betty’s Season Two hookup bar.
- The Prince Restaurant, Koreatown: Vintage New York restaurant scenes.
- Cole’s Pacific Electric Buffet, Downtown LA: Roger recalls Don’s beginnings.
- Canter’s Deli, Fairfax District: Don and Pete grab lunch.
- Los Angeles International Airport, Westchester: Period airport interiors.
- Quality Cafe (demolished): Don meets his half-brother Adam.
What to see & do:
- Downtown LA: Explore historic streets and landmarks.
- Angelino Heights: Admire beautiful Victorian-era homes.
- Koreatown: Explore restaurants, bars, and nightlife.
Book a tour:
- Los Angeles: Guided City Tour of Hollywood & Beverly Hills
- LA: Small Group City Tour: Hollywood Sign & Beverly Hills
🌹 Pasadena, California
Pasadena gave Mad Men some of its most convincing suburban New York scenery, with its historic homes and architecture standing in for the Drapers’ world of polished appearances and carefully hidden problems.
What was filmed here:
- Arden Road, Pasadena: Draper’s Ossining family home exterior scenes.
- Pasadena mansions: Roger’s extravagant Kentucky Derby party at a country club.
- Pasadena architecture: Period homes helped recreate suburban New York.
What to see & do:
- Old Pasadena: Browse shops and historic buildings.
- Rose Bowl Stadium: Visit Pasadena’s famous sports ground.
- Huntington Library: Explore gardens, art, and history.
- Norton Simon Museum: Discover acclaimed art collections.
Book a tour:
- LA: Old Pasadena Food Tasting & Walking Tour
- Los Angeles: All-Inclusive Pass Plus with Universal Studios
🌿 Descanso Gardens, La Cañada Flintridge
Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge provided the lush backdrop for the roadside pit stop at the fictional Boddy Lodge and diner scenes in Mad Men Season 6, where the Draper family stops on their way to Bobby‘s summer camp
What was filmed here:
- Descanso Gardens, La Cañada Flintridge: Fictional Boddy Lodge diner.
What to see & do:
- Rose Garden: Wander colorful formal flowerbeds.
- Oak Woodland: Explore shaded native landscapes.
🌵 La Crescenta Motel, La Crescenta-Montrose
La Crescenta Motel in La Crescenta-Montrose is a roadside motel that appears in Mad Men Season 7 after Don’s car breaks down, giving him another temporary stop during his increasingly aimless journey.
The location stands in for a fictional Oklahoma motel, perfectly matching the stripped-down, lonely atmosphere surrounding Don at this point in the story. Nothing says existential crisis quite like roadside accommodation.
What was filmed here:
- La Crescenta Motel, La Crescenta-Montrose: Fictional Oklahoma motel.
What to see & do:
- Verdugo Mountains: Hike scenic mountain trails.
- Deukmejian Wilderness Park: Explore rugged foothill landscapes.
🍊 Rod’s Grill, Arcadia
Rod’s Grill (permanently closed) in Arcadia was a historic Route 66 diner that appears in Mad Men Season 5’s “Far Away Places,” when Don and Megan stop during their increasingly troubled road trip.
The classic roadside setting captures the era’s fascination with automobile culture and family-friendly dining, while their strained conversation proves that even a milkshake stop can become emotionally complicated in Mad Men.
What was filmed here:
- Rod’s Grill, Arcadia: Don and Megan‘s road trip pit stop.
What to see & do:
- LA County Arboretum: Explore expansive botanical gardens.
- Santa Anita Park: Watch thoroughbred racing events.
- Route 66: Drive historic roadside landmarks.
🍔 Bob’s Big Boy Broiler, Downey
Bob’s Big Boy Broiler in Downey is a historic former Harvey’s/Johnie’s Broiler that appears in Mad Men Season 4’s “Tomorrowland,” when Don, Megan, Sally, and Bobby stop for a family meal.
The restaurant’s distinctive Googie architecture provides a wonderfully authentic mid-century backdrop, while Sally’s spilled milkshake adds another memorable crack to the Draper family’s increasingly complicated picture of domestic bliss.
What was filmed here:
- Bob’s Big Boy Broiler, Downey: Don, Megan, Sally, & Bobby‘s family meal.
What to see & do:
- Bob’s Big Boy Broiler: See restored Googie architecture.
- Historic Downey: Explore classic Route 66 landmarks.
🍔 Chris’s Burgers, Rialto
Chris’s Burgers in Rialto was transformed into a vintage 1969 Burger Chef location for Mad Men Season 7’s “The Strategy,” where Don, Peggy, and Pete work on the campaign that becomes one of the season’s key creative assignments.
The humble burger restaurant becomes an advertising battleground, because apparently even deciding how to sell fast food requires three Mad Men egos in one room.
What was filmed here:
- Chris’s Burgers, Rialto: Burger Chef location for creative brainstorming.
What to see & do:
- Fun City Scavenger Hunt: Survive a zombie apocalypse.
- Rialto Historical Society Museum: Explore the historic building.
- Route 66: Discover classic roadside attractions.
🌊 Anderson Canyon, Big Sur, California
Anderson Canyon in Big Sur, California hosted the series finale, “Person to Person,” that sends Don as far from Madison Avenue as the story can possibly take him – to his California retreat, which represents the fictional Esalen Institute.
Surrounded by Big Sur’s dramatic landscape, Don is finally removed from the offices, cocktails, clients, and carefully constructed identity that defined much of his life, meeting fellow retreat participants, including Clementine (Anna Osceola) as he confronts who he is beyond advertising.
What was filmed here:
- Anderson Canyon, Big Sur: Don‘s California retreat in the finale.
What to see & do:
- Bixby Creek Bridge: Photograph Big Sur’s iconic bridge.
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park: Hike among redwoods and mountains.
- McWay Falls: See spectacular coastal waterfall scenery.
- Big Sur Coast: Drive the dramatic coastline.
Book a tour:
- Monterey: 1965 Ford Mustang Convertible Rental
- Monterey, Carmel, 17 Mile Dr, Big Sur & McWay Falls Pvt Tour
🌺 Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii
The iconic Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii, was the tropical resort for Don and Megan‘s honeymoon in Mad Men Season 6’s “The Doorway, Part 1.” It’s a glamorous escape from New York and the pressures of Don’s increasingly complicated life.
Known as the “Pink Palace of the Pacific,” the historic Waikiki property provides exactly the kind of luxurious tropical backdrop expected from a 1960s Hawaiian getaway with an unmistakable sense of glamour, escapism, and impending marital tension.
What was filmed here:
- Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii: Don and Megan‘s honeymoon.
What to see & do:
- Waikiki Beach: Relax beside Honolulu’s famous shoreline.
- Diamond Head: Hike toward spectacular island views.
- Kapiʻolani Park: Enjoy the gardens beneath Diamond Head.
- Royal Hawaiian Center: Shop and experience Hawaiian culture.
Book a tour:
- Filming Locations & Best of Oahu in One Day
- Honolulu: Pearl Harbour USS Arizona Memorial Tour
- Humpback Whale Watching Cruise in Waikiki Oahu
✈️ Ontario International Airport, Ontario, California
Ontario International Airport in Ontario, California supplied exterior airport scenes in Season 7, when Megan arrives to pick up Don. The production used it alongside Los Angeles International Airport, allowing the show to recreate the look and atmosphere of a 1960s airport.
What was filmed here:
- Ontario International Airport: Megan arrives to pick up Don.
What to see & do:
- Ontario Mills: Shop one of California’s largest malls.
- Ontario Convention Center: Attend events and exhibitions.
- Cucamonga-Guasti Park: Enjoy lakeside outdoor recreation.
📺 Mad Men FAQs
From filming locations to Sterling Cooper, here are the answers to the most searched Mad Men questions.
Where is Mad Men set?
Mad Men is primarily set in 1960s New York City, particularly the Madison Avenue advertising world.
Was Mad Men actually filmed in New York?
Yes, but mainly for the pilot before production moved to Los Angeles.
How many seasons of Mad Men are there?
Mad Men has seven seasons and 92 episodes, released from 2007 to 2015.
Where was the Mad Men office?
The fictional Sterling Cooper office was located on Madison Avenue in New York, but its interiors were filmed at Los Angeles Center Studios after the pilot.
Was Sterling Cooper a real agency?
No, Sterling Cooper is fictional but inspired by 1960s Madison Avenue advertising culture.
Where was the Mad Men finale filmed?
The finale of Mad Men was filmed at Anderson Canyon in Big Sur, California, which stood in for the fictional Esalen Institute.
Who’s in the Mad Men cast?
- Jon Hamm: Don Draper
- Elisabeth Moss: Peggy Olson
- Vincent Kartheiser: Pete Campbell
- January Jones: Betty Draper
- Christina Hendricks: Joan Holloway
- John Slattery: Roger Sterling
- Robert Morse: Bertram Cooper
- Aaron Staton: Ken Cosgrove
- Rich Sommer: Harry Crane
- Kiernan Shipka: Sally Draper
- Jessica Paré: Megan Draper
- Jared Harris: Lane Pryce
- Bryan Batt: Salvatore Romano
- Michael Gladis: Paul Kinsey
- Kevin Rahm: Ted Chaough
- Jay R. Ferguson: Stan Rizzo
- Ben Feldman: Michael Ginsberg
- James Wolk: Bob Benson
What are some other movies & shows like Mad Men?
- The Social Network (2010): Ambition, betrayal, power, and success.
- The Wolf of Wall Street (2013): Excess, ambition, money, and corruption.
- Revolutionary Road (2008): Marriage, conformity, dissatisfaction, and escape.
- A Single Man (2009): Grief, loneliness, beauty, and restraint.
- The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999): Identity, privilege, deception, and obsession.
📺 Where to Watch Mad Men
Where can I watch Mad Men? Here’s where to find this award-winning 1960s advertising drama.
Mad Men may have been set on Madison Avenue, but its real cinematic home was Los Angeles, proving that in advertising, even the location is selling you a carefully constructed story.
Disclaimer: This fan-created article is provided for entertainment purposes only. We don’t guarantee the accuracy of any of these facts and don’t recommend making important life decisions based on them. All referenced titles, names, and related intellectual property are the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.
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