Where Was ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Filmed? All About the Real Arconia and Gooseberry Theater

A key part of Hulu‘s new show Only Murders in the Building is the fact that fledging sleuths Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez) will only solve murders that happen “in the building.” Which building? The one all three call home, the Arconia. (Although for a hot minute, it seems that the main murder mystery in Only Murders in the Building Season 3 actually occurs in the Gooseberry Theater — a fictional Broadway theater that you ironically can visit IRL.)

Only Murders in the Building‘s charm comes from how head over heels in love the show is with New York City’s Upper West Side. From the Arconia’s stately architecture to its quirky and opinionated residents, everything about the series screams “shot on the UWS.” There’s a strange and romantic authenticity to the show’s approach to the Big Apple. And so you might be wondering if the Arconia is a real building in New York City or one just created for Only Murders in the Building. Furthermore…how much would it cost to live in the Arconia???

Here’s everything you need to know about the real life Arconia, as seen in Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, from its street address to real estate listings… And as a bonus, we’ve also got a run down about the new big, beautiful, very old New York building introduced in Season 3: The Gooseberry.

Today is the first day of filming our new TV show, “Only Murders in the Building,” in Manhattan. Starring the incredible Selena Gomez and the just okay Martin Short. pic.twitter.com/oLKhfDWUYj

— Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo) December 3, 2020

Where Was Only Murders in the Building Filmed?

Only Murders in the Building was shot in New York City, specifically in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Exteriors for the titular building, called the Arconia in the show, were filmed outside and around the Belnord, located at 225 West 86th Street.

Is the Arconia a Real New York City Building?

Uh, as we said, nope. The Arconia is a fictional apartment building invented for Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building.   

That said, the exterior of the building, the courtyard, and opening gate are all part of a very real building: the Belnord. (A building that I only finally recognized thanks to a shot later in the series were you can see the 86th street businesses across the street.)

If you look at the Belnord’s official site, you’ll note that the interior of that building looks a bit different from the Arconia. That’s because the apartments and interiors were shot on sets. The magic of TV!

How Much Would it Cost to Live in the Arconia in Only Murders in the Building?

The cost of living in the Arconia is a key plot point in Only Murders in the Building. We learn that Tim Kono has money troubles, that Oliver’s plummeting finances are putting his place in the building in jeopardy, and that Mabel is only able to live there because she is, uh, squatting in her aunt’s old unit.

So how much would it cost to live in the Arconia in Only Murders in the Building? Well, lets look at how much units in the real building — the Belnord — are going for. On StreetEasy, current listings for the Belnord range from a 4-bedroom-condo going for close to $14 million or a modest 2-bedroom going for just $3,600,000.

If that seems too steep, but you’d still like a view of the building, as of 2022, you could still live across the street for a mere $675,000. You know, the building where Charles’s dad was having that — spoiler — affair with Rose Cooper?

So, yeah, it’s easy to see how Oliver could have fallen behind on payments.

Where is the Gooseberry Theater? Is The Broadway Theater Featured in Only Murders in the Building Season 3 Real?

In Only Murders in the Building Season 3, we learn that Oliver’s new show, Death Rattle, is being staged at the iconic Gooseberry Theater. And indeed, much of Only Murders Season 3 takes place in a palatial, gilded theater that looks as though it was built about a hundred years ago. The catch is, much like the Arconia, the Gooseberry Theater doesn’t exist, although you can visit it.

The Gooseberry Theater’s gorgeous interior shots were filmed at the United Palace Theater in Washington Heights. While technically not considered a “Broadway” theater, the theater is ironically located at 4140 Broadway, New York, NY 10033. Not only that, but the Tonys have recently begun to call the renovated uptown theater home.

Unlike the Belnord, you don’t need a ton of money to visit the United Palace Theater. Happy Hour Historic Tours come with a complimentary beverage and go for $30 a ticket. Want to soak up some culture while you’re uptown? The United Palace frequently holds concerts — Becky G and Morrissey are tapped to perform there this fall — and none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda hosts movie nights.

If you do make the trek up to Washington Heights, this former resident recommends taking in the Cloisters (obviously), the Little Red Lighthouse, and sampling the margaritas at Refried Beans, enjoying the live jazz and garlic naan at Kismat, or grabbing takeout at Burger Heights (which gives Shake Shack a serious run for its money).

Where to stream Only Murders in the Building