Awesome NYC Film Locations No. 13: Landmark Coffee Shop And Pancake House SoHo In Desperately Seeking Susan

Visit the New York City diner where Rosanna Arquette’s shy housewife is mistaken for Madonna’s boho drifter in Desperately Seeking Susan.

Founded in 1962, the Landmark Coffee Shop and Pancake House remains a SoHo staple. Moviegoers know it from the scene in Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) that shows Roberta (Rosanna Arquette) embracing the free-spiritedness amnesia has bequeathed her and enjoying the company of easy-going projectionist Dez (Aidan Quinn).

Rosanna Arquette and Aidan Quinn in ‘Desperately Seeking Susan’

These days, blue Formica tables sit in place of the red and white furniture from the film. The red window blinds have also gone. The service is brisk and friendly, and the burgers, omelettes and pancakes satisfying. It’s a place for everyone, except those who dine exclusively at restaurants with two-hour waits serving tiny portions.

Director Susan Seidelman’s infectious comedy involves an exchange of values. Having lost her memory after taking a bump on the head, shy housewife Roberta takes on the identity of carefree boho drifter Susan (Madonna) and liberates herself from her stifling marriage to unfaithful bathroom salesman Gary (Mark Blum). Hanging out at Roberta’s New Jersey home with Gary, Susan gets a taste for middle-class comforts.

Madonna at Port Authority Bus Terminal in ‘Desperately Seeking Susan’

Roberta’s transition drives the movie. Key scenes unfold at Battery Park and in the East Village, but the moment when Roberta first embraces her burgeoning rebelliousness occurs at the Landmark.

Having spent a chaste night with Dez, Roberta invites him for breakfast. She dresses in a dark gold jacket (sporting a design of the dollar bill’s pyramid and Eye of Providence symbol), formerly owned by Susan, and a green sparkly mini-dress, net gloves, beads and a stolen ancient Egyptian earring found in Susan’s hatbox.

Landmark Coffee Shop and Pancake House today

Whereas Roberta was self-conscious at Dez’s place, wearing Susan’s stuff empowers her to be laid-back in his presence as they continue falling in love at the diner. Roberta doesn’t imitate Susan’s cool insolence – because that would have meant Arquette out-Madonna-ing Madonna.

The diner is also where a waitress mistakes Roberta for Susan, presumably a dine-and-dash expert, causing Roberta and Dez to be evicted. Though the mistaken-identity problem is resolved, it’s doubtful if the Landmark’s fictional manager would have let Roberta take her place by the counter again. Visitors to SoHo can, however, seat themselves there without a problem and recall Rosanna Arquette and Aidan Quinn ordering blueberry blintzes.

Landmark Coffee Shop and Pancake House, 158 Grand Street, New York, NY 10013. +12123340040

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.