Hotels in Alfred Hitchcock movies

Canada

Quebec – Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac – I Confess

^{1 Rue des Carrières, Quebec}

The movie “I Confess” was filmed in Quebec City in 1952, including scenes at the hotel.

This beautiful historic Fairmont Hotel features a “Hitchcock Suite” at the top of one of the hotel’s largest turrets! You get to the suite via a winding staircase. It is decorated with Hitchcock film posters and photos of the man himself. It also features a vintage TV from the 1950, and a clawfoot bathtub.

Denmark

Copenhagen – Hotel d’Angleterre – Torn Curtain

_{d’Angleterre Kongens Nytorv 34, 1050 Copenhagen}

One of the world’s first deluxe hotels, Hotel d’Angleterre was established way back in 1755. Hitchcock chose this hotel as Paul Newman’s character’s lodging in the political spy thriller Torn Curtain (1966). Hitchcock makes his customary cameo appearance early in the film, holding a baby in the lobby of the Hotel d’Angleterre.

Copenhagen – Nimb Hotel – Torn Curtain

_{Bernstorffsgade 5, Copenhagen}

Another hotel shown in Torn Curtain is the Nimb Hotel, or at least the restaurant inside of it, the Nimb Brasserie. Paul Newman and Julie Andrews eat dinner (and argue) here.

The Nimb is located within Copenhagen’s famous amusement/pleasure park Tivoli Gardens.

England

Leytonstone – Sir Alfred Hitchcock Hotel

^{147 Whipps Cross Road, Leytonstone, London}

This hotel is located in Hitchcock’s East London birthplace Leytonstone, England. (He was born at home at 517 High Road.) It features a traditional pub and a restaurant. The hotel’s wall art and a few restaurant menu item names (The Psycho Rump Roast!) subtlety nod to Hitchcock, but otherwise, it is not particularly Hitchcock-themed.

You can see Hitchcock tributes nearby with the tube station entrance painted with mosaics from his films. Also, there is a pub called The Birds that you can check out.

London – Hilton London Hyde Park – Frenzy

_{129 Bayswater Road, London}

In the movie Frenzy (1972), the fired barman Blaney takes his coworker Babs to the Colburg Hotel, where they check in with the names “Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Wilde”, near Hyde Park and the Queensway tube station. It is now called the Hilton London Hyde Park.

London – London Hilton on Park Lane – Frenzy

22 Park Lane, London

This hotel is also featured in the 1972 movie Frenzy. It was where the Porter’s stayed, and there was a scene shot in Suite 508.

France

Cannes – Carlton Cannes – To Catch a Thief

_{58 Boulevard de la Croisette, Cannes}

The Carlton Cannes opened in 1911. This is the dreamy and stunning beach hotel where Cary Grant and Grace Kelly met and romanced each other in To Catch a Thief (1955). The cast also stayed here. Grace’s character stayed in room 541. Apparently Grace Kelly first met with Prince Rainier of Monaco for a photo shoot here at the hotel.

Elton John’s 1983 “I’m Still Standing” music video was shot here at the Carlton.

Morocco

Marrakesh – La Mamounia – The Man Who Knew Too Much

_{Avenue Bad Jdid 40040, Marrakesh}

This classic luxury hotel, which has been named “the best hotel in the world,” was featured in 1956’s The Man Who Knew Too Much. This is the place from which Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day’s “son” was kidnapped. Several scenes were shot here, including a scene in the garden, the interiors of a suite, and the restaurant.

United States – California

Bodega Bay – The Inn at the Tides – The Birds

_{800 Highway One, Bodega Bay, California}

A must-see destination for Hitchcock fans is Bodega Bay, the area where much of The Birds was shot. The Tides Restaurant, where the boat dock scenes were shot, is part of the Inn at the Tides complex. The Tides building has a dine-in restaurant, a snack bar, and a seafood counter, which also sells wine by the bottle. It also has a gift shop featuring Birds paraphernalia.

The Inn at the Tides is across 2-lane Highway 1. It features bay-view rooms, some with patios, a spa, and an outdoor pool.

Bodega – Sonoma Coast Villa – The Birds

_{16702 Coast Highway, Bodega}

It’s about a 5-minute drive inland from Bodega Bay to the village of Bodega. Bodega itself is a tiny community of just over 200 people. The only lodging I could find there is the Sonoma Coast Villa. It’s a lovely boutique hotel with a pool spa, firepits, a putting green, and included breakfast.

It’s about 2 miles from the Sonoma Coast Villa to the center of Bodega. There, you can see The Potter Schoolhouse, where Annie (Suzanne Pleshette) taught. It’s now privately owned, but it still looks much the same, so it’s fun to see. Check out this article on Houzz to see recent photos of the interior and the owner’s story.

Next to the Potter Schoolhouse, you can see St. Theresa of Avila’s Church, which was also seen in the film. This church is probably more famous for being photographed by Ansel Adams! Hitchcock attended services here during the filming.

Speaking of “The Birds,” it was partly inspired by an actual occasion in 1961 when the charming seaside village of Capitola experienced thousands of birds crashing into their houses and cars! It was later discovered that they ate some bad algae.

Check out these Capitola posts and add Capitola to your California visit! If you drive from Bodega Bay over Highway 17, you will pass through Scotts Valley on your way to Capitola. Hitchcock had a home in Scotts Valley Mountains from 1940-1974.

San Juan Bautista – Posada De San Juan – Vertigo

_{310 4th Street, San Juan Bautista, CA}

This charming family-owned hotel was built in 1992. It features a lovely lobby and a plant- and fountain-filled courtyard. A free continental breakfast is included with your stay.

In just a 3-minute walk from the Posada De San Juan, you’ll be at the Mission San Juan Bautista, where Vertigo’s famous midpoint and finale were filmed on October 9, 1957. Apparently, Hitchcock had seen the Mission before its bell tower was demolished because of dry rot and structural damage and was dismayed to find it missing when they arrived. They still filmed what they could there, then added the tower to the movie with special effects and built the interiors on a Hollywood sound stage.

You can still see the front of the Mission, the “courtroom” /Plaza Hotel building, and you can go inside the stable across from the Mission.

San Francisco – Hotel Julian – Vertigo

_{940 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA}

This hotel was featured in the 1958 film Vertigo. At that time, it was called The Empire Hotel and was where “Judy Barton” lived. It was just renovated in 2024.

Hotel Julian’s lobby features a large mosaic of the Vertigo character Carlotta Valdes, and its bar is named “Carlotta’s Cocktail and Wine Bar.”

San Francisco – Fairmont San Francisco – Family Plot

_{950 Mason Street, San Francisco}

The beautiful Fairmont is featured in Hitchcock’s last film Family Plot, made in 1976. In the film Blanche leaves an important message with the Fairmont’s doorman. Also in Family Plot the nearby Grace Cathedral makes a guest appearance as “St. Anselm’s Cathedral,” where a bishop is kidnapped mid-mass!

During the filming of Vertigo Hitchcock, the cast and crew stayed at the Fairmont.

Santa Rosa – Hotel E – Shadow of a Doubt

_{37 Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa}

Hitchcock’s favorite of his own films, Shadow of a Doubt (1943) was filmed mostly on location in Santa Rosa, California. The government had placed a wartime cost limit on sets built for movies which prompted Hitch to find a small town for his latest project. The film crew took over Santa Rosa for about a month.

Sadly, many of the sites shown in the film are gone nowadays, but a few remain. The train station where Uncle Charlie arrives and departs can still be visited. The train depot next to it is now a Visitor Information Center.

On the drive to pick up Uncle Charlie from the train station, the Hotel La Rose can be seen in the background. I had actually booked a night to stay here while I researched this blog post, but then I saw online that it is considered a haunted hotel! That isn’t my cup of tea, but if you’re up for that sort of thing, give it a go! 😀

The Santa Rosa Town Square, or Old Courthouse Square, was shown in many scenes. The only building I could still recognize was this one below, which is now the Hotel E. It’s a very cool building and they have maintained its historic look and feel. This is a great location for a Santa Rosa visit since it’s right on the Square, which is surrounded by fun restaurants, bars and coffee shops.

Probably the most interesting site still standing from Shadow of a Doubt is the home of the Newton family at 904 Macdonald Avenue. The house was scouted out by Hitchcock’s crew, and both interior and exterior filming was done there. It still looks very much the same. It was fun to see the lovely neighborhood it is part of, with wide tree lined streets and large, charming single family homes.

Universal City – Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City – Psycho

_{555 Universal Hollywood Drive, Universal City, CA}

You will really feel like you’re in Hollywood (though you’ll be in Universal City!) at this hotel! Lounge under palm trees by the pool, then take a 7 minute walk to Universal Studios Hollywood. Consider staying in of this Hilton’s rooms which overlook Universal Studios for a surreal view of Hogwarts from your window!

But of course, we are all here because of Alfred H., and Universal Studios is where you will be able to see the Psycho Bates Motel and Norman and Mother’s house up the hill!

United States – Illinois

Chicago – Ambassador Gold Coast – North by Northwest

_{1301 N. State Parkway, Chicago, Illinois}

The Ambassador Gold Coast (previously known as Ambassador East) is located near the Magnificent Mile district and features views of Lake Michigan. It was featured in North by Northwest, where Cary Grant tracked down Eva Marie Saint. The cast and crew stayed here while filming, with Hitchcock staying in the “Mediterranean Suite.”

While you’re staying at the Ambassador Gold Coast, you can take a 2.3-mile walk to the LaSalle Street Train station, where Grant, dressed as a porter, escorts Eva Marie Saint out of the station. BTW, part of The Sting was also filmed at this station.

Though the train route Cary and Eva took was from New York to Chicago, you can check out my post here about the California Zephyr route which goes from Chicago to San Francisco to see if that’s something you might want to check out! You can dine in the dining room and sleep in a sleeper car still today!

United States – New York

New York City – Plaza Hotel – North by Northwest

In North by Northwest (1959) we see the exterior of the Plaza Hotel, and Cary Grant in the lobby. Cary goes into the Plaza’s Oak Bar, and “Kaplan’s” hotel room but both of those were sets.

The Plaza is a site where lots of amazing things have happened over the years! The Beatles stayed there on their first visit to the US in 1964! Other movies shot here include The Great Gatsby, Annie Hall, The Way We Were, and Barefoot in the Park.