Was 'Sleepless in Seattle' Filmed at the Empire State Building?

Sleepless in Seattle: Filming Locations

No. The 1993 romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle was not filmed at the Empire State Building in New York City.

Primary Filming Locations

• Seattle, Washington: The vast majority of the film.
  • Houseboat (2460 Westlake Ave N, Lake Union)
  • Pike Place Market
  • Alki Beach (West Seattle)
  • Columbia Center (tallest building – observation deck scene)
  • Various neighborhoods: Queen Anne, Magnolia, Downtown.
• Baltimore, Maryland: Used for some "New York" street scenes (cheaper, similar architecture).
• New York City (limited): Only brief establishing shots (Empire State Building exterior appears in a montage, but no scenes were filmed inside or on it).

The Empire State Building Connection

The film's climax references An Affair to Remember (1957), where the lovers agree to meet at the Empire State Building. In Sleepless, Annie (Meg Ryan) goes to the Empire State Building observation deck, but those scenes were shot on a soundstage in Los Angeles (or possibly Baltimore), not the actual building.

The movie is a love letter to Seattle; its rainy, cozy atmosphere is the real co-star.