If you’ve ever watched Noah Solloway and Alison Lockhart lock eyes across a diner counter, you’ve probably felt that specific, salt-aired tension. It's thick. It’s heavy. Most of that vibe comes from the writing, sure, but a huge chunk of it is the dirt, the sand, and the grey Atlantic water. People always ask where is The Affair filmed because the setting feels like its own character, breathing down the necks of the protagonists.
It isn't just a studio backlot in California. Not even close.
To get that haunting, desolate, yet wealthy-summer-playground feeling, the production team had to actually plant their feet in the mud of Long Island. Most of the series was shot on location in Montauk, New York. But as the seasons progressed and the story spiraled out of control—moving from the East Coast to the hills of Los Angeles and even across the ocean to France—the filming locations became as fragmented as the characters' memories.
The Montauk Soul: Finding The Lobster Roll
You can't talk about this show without talking about The Lobster Roll. It’s the epicenter of the initial disaster. Known locally as "Lunch," this iconic seafood spot on Montauk Highway is a real place. It wasn't a set built by a carpenter; it’s a high-volume restaurant where tourists actually cram in for expensive sandwiches.
When you see Alison (Ruth Wilson) waitressing there in Season 1, she’s walking the same floors that real-life servers do. The production didn't just use the exterior. They went inside. They used the cramped, bustling energy of the kitchen and the bright blue-and-white benches that scream "New England Summer."
But here is the thing: Montauk has changed.
The locals will tell you that the show captured a version of Montauk that is rapidly disappearing. While the series portrays it as a rugged fishing village being invaded by the "city people" (like the Solloways), the reality is that the "End of the World"—as Montauk is nicknamed—is already quite gentrified. Filming at places like the Deep Hollow Ranch, the oldest cattle ranch in the US, helped ground the show in that old-world, rustic grit that Noah finds so intoxicating.
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Deep Dive into the Solloway and Butler Estates
The contrast in wealth is the engine of the first two seasons. You have the Butler estate, where Noah’s father-in-law Bruce reigns supreme. That house is massive. It’s imposing. It’s located on Old Montauk Highway, perched on the bluffs overlooking the ocean. The production used a real private residence there to capture that "old money" feeling—huge glass windows, weathered wood, and a constant view of the crashing waves that makes everyone feel small.
Then you have the Solloway’s Brooklyn life.
When the show isn't on the island, it’s in Park Slope and Clinton Hill. They filmed extensively around the brownstones of Brooklyn to contrast the cramped, intellectual, "struggling writer" vibe of Noah’s life with the vast, breezy openness of his summer escapes. If you walk down Washington Park or near Fort Greene Park, you’ll recognize the stoops where Noah and Helen had some of their most vicious arguments.
The Shift to Los Angeles
By the time Season 4 rolled around, the show underwent a massive geographic shift. Noah moves to LA to be closer to his kids. Suddenly, the grey-blue palette of the Atlantic is replaced by the scorched yellow and neon of Southern California.
They filmed in:
- Santa Monica: Specifically around the pier and the beach.
- Venice Canals: To give Noah’s new life a sort of "drifting" quality.
- Topanga Canyon: Where the winding roads and secluded homes reflected the isolation of his new start.
It felt like a different show. Honestly, some fans hated it. But the location shift was a deliberate choice by creator Sarah Treem to show how the characters were trying to outrun their pasts. You can’t outrun a ghost, though. Not even in the California sun.
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Truth vs. Perspective: The Filming Mindset
One of the coolest things about how they filmed The Affair was the "Part 1 / Part 2" structure. Because the show is about subjective memory, the locations often look different depending on whose "POV" you are watching.
A room might look bright, clean, and welcoming in Noah’s memory. In Alison’s memory, that same room—the same filming location—would be dressed with darker curtains, dimmer lights, and more clutter. The production designers had to essentially "double-dress" locations. They would shoot a scene, move the furniture, change the lighting, and shoot it again to reflect the distorted reality of the person remembering it.
This meant the filming locations had to be versatile. They couldn't just be pretty; they had to be able to look miserable.
The International Turn: France and Beyond
Season 5 took a weird, ambitious turn. It jumped forward in time and also jumped across the Atlantic. Joanie (Anna Paquin) spends time in a future, climate-ravaged Montauk, while Noah finds himself in France.
The French sequences weren't faked on a soundstage in Queens. The crew actually went to Cassis, a Mediterranean fishing port in southern France. The limestone cliffs (the Calanques) and the turquoise water provided a stark, beautiful contrast to the dark, churning waters of the Long Island Sound where the story began. It felt full circle. A story that started at a fishing port in New York ended, in many ways, at a fishing port in Europe.
Mapping the Specifics: A Quick Look
If you’re planning a "The Affair" road trip, you need to know the specific spots. Forget the fancy hotels; go to the places that feel like the show’s soul.
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- The Lighthouse: The Montauk Point Lighthouse is a recurring image. It symbolizes the "end" and a guiding light that no one seems to follow.
- The Train Station: The LIRR (Long Island Rail Road) station in Montauk is where so many departures and arrivals happened. It’s small, functional, and feels very lonely at night.
- Liars’ Saloon: A real dive bar in Montauk. This is where the locals drink. If you want the real Alison Lockhart experience, this is the vibe.
- Main Beach in East Hampton: Often used for those sweeping shots of the coastline that look like a million bucks because, well, the real estate there is worth many millions.
Why the Location Actually Matters
Most TV shows use locations as a backdrop. The Affair uses it as a weapon. The isolation of Montauk in the off-season is a major plot point. If you’ve ever been to the East End of Long Island in October or November, you know it’s haunting. The wind whistles through the beach grass. The crowds are gone. You’re left with your own thoughts.
That’s why the affair happens.
Noah and Alison are trapped by the geography. The Atlantic Ocean is a wall behind them. The long stretch of the "Napeague Stretch" (the road leading into Montauk) is the only way out. When the show was filmed there, the actors spoke about how the weather affected their performances. The cold, damp air made the sadness feel more "real."
What to Do Next if You're a Fan
If you’re obsessed with the atmosphere of the show, your next step is a trip to the tip of Long Island. But don't go in July. July is for the tourists. Go in the late spring or early autumn.
- Visit The Lobster Roll: Order the cold lobster roll. It’s the classic. Sit outside if the wind isn't too crazy.
- Drive the Napeague Stretch: Listen to the opening theme ("Container" by Fiona Apple) while you do it. It’s eerie how well the music matches the landscape.
- Walk the Bluffs: Go to Camp Hero State Park. It’s right near the lighthouse. The cliffs there are dramatic and dangerous—just like the show’s central relationship.
- Check out the Brooklyn Sites: If you’re in NYC, walk through Park Slope near 6th Avenue. You’ll see the exact types of brownstones that Noah felt so suffocated by.
The show might be over, but the locations remain. They still hold that weird, electric, melancholy energy. Seeing where The Affair was filmed in person makes you realize that the environment didn't just host the story—it caused it.
Once you’ve explored the physical locations, it’s worth revisiting the early seasons with a fresh eye. Pay attention to how the sea changes color based on whether Noah or Alison is telling the story. It’s a masterclass in using location to tell a lie.