You’ve probably seen the neon-soaked chaos of the 2025 Best Picture winner and wondered if that's what Brooklyn really looks like in the dead of winter. Honestly, most movies treat New York like a postcard. They stick to the Empire State Building or the same three streets in the West Village. Sean Baker doesn't do that. For his frantic, heartbreaking masterpiece Anora, he went to the edge of the map.
Basically, the film lives and breathes in South Brooklyn. If you’re asking where was Anora filmed, the short answer is Brighton Beach and Coney Island. But the long answer is way more interesting because the production actually took over real-life neighborhood staples—some of which have been there since the 1940s. It wasn't just a set. It was a community lending its actual living rooms and candy shops to a film crew that was often one step ahead of a permit violation.
The Brooklyn Soul of the Story
Brighton Beach isn't just a backdrop here. It's the whole point. Director Sean Baker spent years—decades, really—wanting to capture the specific energy of the Russian-speaking enclave in South Brooklyn. When you see Ani (played by the incredible Mikey Madison) walking under the elevated subway tracks, that's the real deal.
Most of the residential scenes were shot at 156 Brighton 11th Street. That’s Ani’s house. It sits right in the shadow of the B and Q train lines. If you watch closely, you’ll see the trains rattling past her porch constantly. It’s loud. It’s gritty. It’s exactly how the neighborhood feels in January when the wind is whipping off the Atlantic.
Iconic Landmarks and Real Businesses
Baker is known for using real locations rather than soundstages. He wants that authentic "lived-in" grime.
- Williams Candy Shop: This is a huge one. It's an 84-year-old landmark at 1318 Surf Avenue in Coney Island. In a pivotal, high-stress scene, the shop actually gets "destroyed" as the characters hunt for Vanya. Don't worry, the real owner, Peter Agrapides, was in on it, though he admitted it was "terrible" to watch his glass counters get smashed, even if the glass was fake.
- Tatiana Restaurant & Nightclub: Located at 3145 Brighton Fourth St, this is where the Russian posse goes looking for Vanya. It’s a legendary boardwalk spot known for dinner theater. Interestingly, some of the scenes in the kitchen were filmed "Candid Camera-style." The management knew what was happening, but many of the workers and diners were just going about their night, accidentally becoming extras in an Oscar-winning movie.
- Parkview Diner: Found at 2939 Cropsey Ave. This is where Ani and her friend have that heavy conversation toward the end of the film. It's a classic, no-frills American diner that has seen a massive spike in foot traffic since the movie hit theaters.
That Massive Oligarch Mansion
Then there's the house. You know the one—the sprawling, high-security mansion where Vanya lives and where the movie's most chaotic confrontation takes place. People keep asking where that was filmed because it looks like it belongs in the Hamptons, not Brooklyn.
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It’s actually in Mill Basin. Specifically, the address is 2458 National Drive.
Mill Basin is this tucked-away, wealthy peninsula in Brooklyn that most New Yorkers haven't even visited. It’s full of these massive, custom-built homes right on the water. The views of the Belt Parkway bridge from the master bedroom in the movie? Entirely real. Cinematographer Drew Daniels mentioned in interviews that they actually filmed inside a former oligarch’s mansion to get that specific, slightly gaudy luxury.
Why Las Vegas Looked Different
While the bulk of the movie is a Brooklyn "odyssey," the middle section takes a sharp turn into the desert. When Ani and Vanya elope, the production moved to Las Vegas.
They didn't just film on the Strip, though. They spent a lot of time at the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Vegas. That’s the area with the massive LED canopy. It gives the wedding scenes this surreal, artificial glow that matches the "fleeting happiness" Baker was trying to capture.
They also used The Palms Resort for several hotel and casino scenes. It provides a stark contrast to the cramped, snowy streets of Brighton Beach. One minute they're in a gold-plated suite in Nevada, and the next they're back in a freezing Brooklyn car, which really highlights how fast Ani's "Cinderella" moment evaporates.
The Hidden Manhattan Spots
Even though it’s a "Brooklyn movie," the beginning takes place in Manhattan. The gentleman’s club where Ani works, referred to as "HQ" or "HQ Kony," is actually located at 552 West 38th Street in Hell's Kitchen.
If you're a local, you might also recognize the New York County Courthouse at 60 Centre Street in Lower Manhattan. That’s where the legal climax of the film happens. It’s a stern, grey contrast to the colorful chaos of Coney Island.
Getting the Look Right
Filming took place mostly in 2023. It was shot on 35mm film using vintage 1970s Lomo lenses. This is why the movie has that warm, grainy texture that feels like a classic 70s New York film rather than a digital modern blockbuster.
They weren't always working with a massive footprint, either. Like his previous films Tangerine and The Florida Project, Baker used "guerrilla" techniques. They were often racing around Brooklyn in fear of getting shut down by the cops. That frantic energy you feel on screen? A lot of it was real tension from the crew trying to get the shot before the sun went down or the authorities showed up.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're planning a DIY Anora filming location tour, here's how to do it efficiently:
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- Start at Brighton Beach: Take the B or Q train to the Brighton Beach station. You’ll be right next to Ani's apartment and the main strip where they filmed the street scenes.
- Walk the Boardwalk: Head to Tatiana Restaurant for a meal (or just a look at the exterior). From there, it's a short walk down the boards to Coney Island.
- Visit Williams Candy: Grab some fudge or a candy apple at the real shop on Surf Avenue. It’s right next to Nathan's Famous.
- End at the Parkview Diner: It’s about a 10-minute drive or a slightly longer bus ride from Coney Island. It’s the perfect spot for a post-tour milkshake.
- Skip the Church: The Armenian church seen in the film is actually St. Sarkis in Douglaston, Queens. It's beautiful, but it's quite a trek from the other locations if you're relying on public transit.
Seeing these places in person makes you realize how much the film respected the geography of the city. Usually, movies "cheat" and jump from one neighborhood to another in a way that makes no sense. In Anora, the path the characters take through Brooklyn actually follows a logical, real-world route. It’s a love letter to a part of New York that usually gets ignored by Hollywood.