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25 Real-life Places That Belong in a Wes Anderson Film
Attention fellow travelers and cinephiles! If you’ve ever found yourself lost in the mesmerizing, offbeat worlds of Wes Anderson’s films, you’re not alone.
His distinct style, a blend of whimsy and precision, has a way of capturing our hearts and imaginations. But what if I told you that there are actual places out there, beyond the silver screen, that could be straight out of a Wes Anderson movie?
Grab your pastel-colored turtle neck and a bottle of bubbly and let’s dive into these 25 Real-life places that totally belong in a Wes Anderson movie.
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Wes Anderson Essentials
Here are 25 Real-life Places That Belong in a Wes Anderson Film
1. Edificio España | Madrid, Spain
The Edificio Espana opened in 1953 and is the 8th tallest skyscraper in Madrid. The historic building has 25 floors and incorporates 20th-century Spanish architecture in the neo-baroque style.
While the building is a hotel, the complex has a mix of offices, shops, and apartments. Designed by architect Julian Otamendi, it was “the symbol of prosperity” during Francisco Franco Bahamonde’s rule.
Address: Plaza de España 1, Madrid, Spain
2. Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine | Kyiv, Ukraine
The Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine is one of the largest libraries in the world. It serves as the main library and science information center for all of Ukraine. The building has 27 floors and contains about 15 million items.
Address: Holosiivskyi prospekt, 3, Kyiv, Ukraine, 03039
3. Wheelers Oyster Bar | Whistable, England
Wheelers Oyster Bar prides itself on being “the oldest restaurant in town!”
This quaint, family-owned Oyster Bar has been passed through the owner’s family for generations. While the building is gorgeous, their delicious seafood is rumored to be worth the hype!
Address: 8 High St, Whitstable CT5 1BQ, United Kingdom
4. Royal Oxford Hotel | Oxford, United Kingdom
Built in the 1930s, the Royal Oxford Hotel screams Wes Anderson with its bright mustard yellow paint and symmetrical details. When I studied in Oxford, I adored walking past this hotel frequently.
Address: Park End St, Oxford OX1 1HR, United Kingdom
5. Pfunds Molkerei | Dresden, Germany
“The World’s Most Beautiful Milk Shop.” In the 19th century, a farmer traveled from Reinholdshain with his wife and six cows to Dresden in order to supply the city with healthy milk. Through this journey, Pfund dairy was established and is still serving fresh milk to this day.
The interior of this humble beginnings milk shop is elaborately decorated with hand-painted Villeroy & Boch ceramic tiles, all accented in blue and gold.
Pfunds Molkerei is actually a real filming location that was used in Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel for the interior of Mendl’s Confectionery.
Photos are not allowed in Pfunds, unless you are press and have been granted special permission.
Address: Bautzner Str. 79, 01099 Dresden, Germany
6. Húsavík Lighthouse | Husavik, Iceland
Húsavík Lighthouse was built in 1956. It is located on the Húsavík cape and stands at 49 meters, or 160 feet, above sea level.
With its bright yellow structure and desolate background, this lighthouse definitely belongs in a Wes Anderson film.
Address: Vitaslóð 1, 640, Húsavík, Iceland
7. American Radiator Building | Manhattan, New York City
Built in 1924 by architects Raymond Hood and Andre Foulihoux, the American Radiator Building is a 23-story landmark building located in Midtown, Manhattan.
The structure is actually based on the famous Tribune Tower in Chicago but with a Gothic Art Deco twist. With its unique color, it’s rumored to symbolize coal. When it lights up at night it is said to look like a giant ball of glowing coal.
Although black isn’t technically a color Wes Anderson would embrace, I think the style of the building is undeniably something that would pop-up in one of his films.
Address: 40 West 40th Street Manhattan, New York City
8. Stylenanda Pink Hotel | Seoul, South Korea
Despite the misleading title, the Stylenanda Pink Hotel is actually a 6-level store, designed as a hotel.
This popular pink store is located in Seoul and is filled with wondrous rooms of makeup, clothing, accessories, and “Instagrammable” set-ups such as fake pools or an art-deco hotel lobby.
Address: 37-8 Myeongdong 8-gil, Chungmuro 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
9. Bloom & Bean | Liverpool, United Kingdom
Bloom and Bean is a quaint coffee shop in Liverpool decorated from the inside out with chic pale pink and forest green. This little shop looks like the ultimate Wes Anderson cafe experience!
Address: 6a Victoria St, Liverpool L2 6QE, United Kingdom
10. Miami Beach | Florida, USA
Iconic South Beach lifeguard towers have become staple landmarks of Miami Beach.
The classic art deco towers started popping up in the 1990s shortly after hurricane Andrew hit. The towers were part of the effort to revive the area from the devastation. Many more have been constructed since the first few by Architect William Lane.
These towers symbolize the rebirth of the city.
Address: Various towers along the coastline of Miami Beach from the tip at South Pointe Park up to 87th Street.
11. TWA at JFK Airport | New York, USA
The Trans World Flight Center was constructed for Trans World Airlines by Finnish-American architect, Eero Saarinen.
The design of the terminal represents a flight wing and incorporates a Neo-futuristic style. Googie, and Fantastic. While the terminal was originally built in 1962 it has since been renovated and is now owned by the TWA Hotel.
Address: Terminal 5, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Queens, New York 11430; United States
12. Muzeum Narodowe | Warsaw, Poland
Muzeum Narodowe, or the National Museum of Warsaw was constructed in 1862, and was unfornately damaged and raided by Nazis in WWII. It has since recovered and is one of the largest museums in Poland.
Address: al. Jerozolimskie 3, 00-495 Warszawa, Poland
13. Moritzburg Castle | Saxony, Germany
Moritzburg Castle is a Baroque-style palace built in 1546 in the state of Saxony, near Dresden.
The castle features 4 round towers and was built on a symmetrical artificial island. Originally, the palace was a hunting lodge for Moritz of Saxony, the then Duke of Saxony.
Address: Schloßallee, 01468 Moritzburg, Germany
14. Eastern Columbia Building|Los Angeles, California
The Eastern Columbia Building was built in 1930 by Claud Beelman. It is known as the “benchmark of deco buildings in Los Angeles.” and the “Art Deco Jewel of the West.”
It was originally built as the flagship building for the Eastern-Columbia Department Store until they went out of business in 1957. It is now more commonly known as “Eastern Columbia Lofts.”
You may recognize it as one of Johnny Depp’s penthouses or from the TV show, iCarly.
With prominent glossy turquoise, gold trim, and symmetrical features this statement building is perfect for a Wes Anderson film.
Address: 849 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014
15. Hawa Mahal | Jaipur, India
The Hawa Mahal is a pink and red sandstone palace in Jaipur, India. This five-story pyramidal-shaped palace was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh.
Its famous honeycomb latticework was originally built to allow royal ladies to observe the daily life of the city from above without being seen since they could not go out in public without face coverings.
Address: Hawa Mahal Rd, Badi Choupad, J.D.A. Market, Pink City, Jaipur, Rajasthan 302002, India
16. The Ultimate Picture Palace | Oxford, United Kingdom
The Ultimate Picture Palace opened in 1911 and is the only surviving independent cinema in Oxford. The historic theater has gone through a series of owners and renovations over the years.
In 1996 it’s neoclassical facade was restored and it officially opened under the name as The Ultimate Picture Palace.
The theater is known historically in England for being “a rare surviving example of a simple early cinema.”
Address: Jeune Street, Oxford OX4 1BN
17. Sands Club | Treasure Cay Abaco Island | Bahamas
The Sands Club is a chic farm-to-table beachfront dining experience in Treasure Cay. It’s iconic long dock with pale pink accents make it a Wes Anderson wannabe classic.
18. The Bathrooms in the British Library | London, United Kingdom
The British Library is the national library of the UK, and has the largest number of cataloged items in the world. These mustard colored walls and sink symmetry are the perfect stylized film aesthetic!
Address: 96 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DB, United Kingdom
19. Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is decorated throughout with Baroque and Art Nouveau style buildings. While these are the most obvious architectural styles, you can also see eclectic, gothic, and soviet influences throughout the city.
Several monuments in Budapest are famous for their unique architectural styles such as the Parliament Building, St. Stephen’s Basilica, and The Fisherman’s Bastion.
20. The National Gallery of Ireland | Dublin, Ireland
The National Gallery of Ireland was established in 1864 and opened when it had just twelve paintings. A must-see in Dublin, this gallery is nearly as beautiful as the artwork it contains with its stunning symmetrical layout, pastel colors, and minimalist design.
21. Grand Hotel Europa | Innsbruck, Austria
The King of Bavaria called it “the finest hotel in Innsbruck.” The Grand Hotel Europa was established in 1869, making it the most historic hotel in Innsbruck. Golden colored walls and ornate chandeliers decorate the interior of this glamorous hotel.
Address: Südtiroler Pl. 2, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
22. Havana, Cuba
Havana is a melting pot of several different architectural styles. When you walk around the city, you will see just how different all of the buildings are – but I that’s what makes Havana so unique!
Havana’s bright-colored buildings largely come from Spanish Colonial influences. Other known styles in Havana are Baroque, Neoclassical, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco.
23. Gellért Thermal Baths | Budapest, Hungary
Gellért Hotel was one of the main inspirations behind the design of Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel.
When the hotel opened it’s doors in 1918, it’s iconic Art-nouveau architecture and panoramic mirror entrance quickly made it known as one of the most luxurious hotels in Hungary. The hotel’s ancient thermal baths have been used since the middle ages.
Address: Budapest, Kelenhegyi út 4, 1118 Hungary
24. Estádio do Pacaembu | São Paulo, Brazil
The Estádio do Pacaembu is an Art Deco stadium located in the Pacaembu neighborhood of São Paulo. The stadium was established in 1940 and named after the national celebrity Paulo Machado de Carvalho.
Address: Praça Charles Miller – Pacaembu, São Paulo – SP, 01234-010, Brazil
25. James Smith & Sons | London, United Kingdom
James Smith & Sons is a historic umbrella store founded in 1930. It’s classic Victorian style storefront makes it a classic dreamy Wes Anderson feel.
Anderson undoubtedly is inspired by European Baroque, Art Deco, and Art Nouveau architectural styles. Although he and his designers do incorporate a lot of these styles, I don’t think they restrict themselves. Neo Classicalism, Gothic, and other influences can also be seen in his work.
For something to belong in a Wes Anderson it can’t just be a cool looking building. It has to have a story. The beauty of architecture is that it oftentimes reflects the struggle and/or prosperity of a city.
And there you have it! 25 Real-life Places That Belong In a Wes Anderson Film.
The style that Wes Anderson carries into his films is unlike no other. It’s worldly, historic, and it’s all in the details.
I would love to know, have you been to any of these places? And are you as obsessed with Wes Anderson films as much as I am!?
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