Explore the real-world places that appear in The Girls Before by Rona Jaffe. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Fabian Publications Building, The Barbizon Hotel for Women, El Morocco, Grand Central Terminal, Saks Fifth Avenue and 6 more.
Madison Avenue — The fictional publishing house
Caroline Bender, Gregg Adams, April Morrison, and Barbara Lemont work at this Madison Avenue publishing company. Caroline starts as a secretary and dreams of becoming an editor, while navigating office politics and romantic entanglements with executives like Mike Rice. The office becomes the stage for their professional ambitions and personal dramas as they pursue 'the best of everything.'
Madison Avenue in the 1950s was the heart of America's advertising and publishing industries. Major publishers like Harper & Brothers, Scribner's, and various magazine companies occupied prestigious office buildings along this corridor, creating the template for Jaffe's fictional Fabian Publications.
Madison Avenue remains a prestigious business address, though many publishers have moved elsewhere in Manhattan. The area is now dominated by advertising agencies, luxury retail, and corporate headquarters.
140 East 63rd Street — Young women's residence
April Morrison lives at this exclusive women's residential hotel when she first arrives in New York from Colorado. The Barbizon represents safety and respectability for young career women, but April eventually moves out to pursue a more independent lifestyle, symbolizing her break from conventional expectations.
The Barbizon Hotel for Women opened in 1927 as a safe haven for young women pursuing careers in New York. It housed aspiring actresses, models, and career women, including future celebrities like Grace Kelly and Liza Minnelli. The hotel had strict rules and curfews to maintain its reputation.
The building was converted to luxury condominiums in 2005 and is now known as The Barbizon 63. The elegant brick facade remains largely unchanged, and a small plaque commemorates its history as a residence for ambitious young women.
154 East 54th Street — Glamorous nightclub
Caroline and her friends frequent this legendary nightclub, where they encounter wealthy men and experience the glamorous nightlife they dreamed of. The zebra-striped banquettes and celebrity clientele represent the sophisticated Manhattan lifestyle they aspire to, though the relationships formed here often prove superficial and disappointing.
El Morocco was New York's most exclusive nightclub from 1931 to 1960, known for its distinctive zebra-striped banquettes and celebrity clientele. It was a favorite of café society, movie stars, and socialites, and became synonymous with Manhattan glamour and sophistication.
The original El Morocco closed in 1960, shortly after the novel's publication. The location has housed various restaurants and businesses over the decades. The building at 154 East 54th Street still stands as part of the city's Midtown East commercial district.
89 East 42nd Street — Gateway to suburban dreams
Caroline and other characters use Grand Central to travel to and from the suburbs, representing the tension between urban career ambitions and traditional suburban family life. The terminal serves as a threshold between the exciting Manhattan lifestyle and the conventional domesticity that some characters ultimately choose.
Grand Central Terminal opened in 1913 as the world's largest train station, serving as the primary gateway between Manhattan and the suburban communities of Westchester County and Connecticut. It became a symbol of both urban sophistication and suburban accessibility.
Grand Central remains one of New York's most beautiful and busiest transportation hubs, serving over 750,000 daily commuters. The main concourse with its celestial ceiling and the elegant shops and restaurants make it a popular tourist destination and architectural landmark.
Visit: Grand Central Terminal (landmark)
611 5th Avenue — Fashion and status
The characters shop at Saks to acquire the sophisticated wardrobe necessary for their professional and social aspirations. Caroline and her friends spend their hard-earned salaries on clothing that will help them fit into the Manhattan elite, viewing fashion as an investment in their future success and romantic prospects.
Saks Fifth Avenue opened its flagship store on Fifth Avenue in 1924, quickly establishing itself as one of New York's premier luxury department stores. It became a destination for fashionable women seeking the latest styles and represented the pinnacle of retail sophistication.
Saks Fifth Avenue continues to operate its flagship store at the same location, remaining one of New York's most prestigious shopping destinations. The store maintains its reputation for luxury fashion and continues to attract both New Yorkers and international visitors.
Visit: Saks Fifth Avenue (landmark)
768 5th Avenue — Elite social scene
Characters attend cocktail parties and social events at the Plaza, where they encounter wealthy older men who represent both opportunity and potential exploitation. The hotel's Palm Court and Oak Room serve as backdrops for the romantic and professional networking that drives much of the plot.
The Plaza Hotel opened in 1907 as one of New York's most luxurious hotels, quickly becoming a gathering place for high society. Its elegant public spaces, including the famous Palm Court and Oak Room, hosted countless social events for Manhattan's elite throughout the mid-20th century.
The Plaza remains an iconic luxury hotel and has been designated a National Historic Landmark. While parts of the building have been converted to condominiums, the hotel continues to operate and the Palm Court remains a popular destination for afternoon tea.
Visit: The Plaza Hotel (landmark)
Manhattan — Romantic walks and reflection
Caroline and other characters take romantic walks through Central Park with various suitors, using the park's pastoral setting as an escape from the pressures of city life. The park serves as a place for intimate conversations and personal reflection as the women navigate their complex relationships and career decisions.
Central Park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux and opened in 1857 as America's first landscaped public park. By the 1950s, it had become an essential part of Manhattan social life, providing a natural retreat within the urban environment.
Central Park remains one of New York City's most beloved public spaces, attracting millions of visitors annually. The 843-acre park continues to serve as a refuge from city life and hosts numerous recreational activities, cultural events, and romantic encounters.
Visit: Central Park (park)
21 West 52nd Street — Power lunches and networking
Publishing executives and their secretaries dine at this exclusive restaurant, where business deals are made and office romances develop. Caroline learns to navigate the sophisticated dining culture as she advances in her career, understanding that professional success requires mastery of social situations as much as editorial skills.
The 21 Club opened in 1930 as a speakeasy and became one of New York's most exclusive restaurants, famous for its collection of corporate logos hanging from the ceiling and its powerful clientele from politics, business, and entertainment industries.
The 21 Club closed permanently in 2020 after 90 years of operation, a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic. The building still stands with its distinctive iron gate and jockey statues, serving as a reminder of mid-century Manhattan's exclusive dining culture.
Bohemian neighborhood — Alternative lifestyle
Some characters are drawn to the Village's bohemian atmosphere as an alternative to the conventional corporate world. The neighborhood represents artistic freedom and unconventional relationships, contrasting with the structured environment of Madison Avenue publishing and the social expectations of upper-class Manhattan.
Greenwich Village became New York's bohemian quarter in the early 20th century, attracting artists, writers, and intellectuals who sought an alternative to mainstream American culture. By the 1950s, it was known for its jazz clubs, coffeehouses, and unconventional lifestyle.
Greenwich Village remains one of Manhattan's most desirable neighborhoods, though gentrification has transformed much of its bohemian character. The area still attracts artists and writers, and Washington Square Park continues to serve as a gathering place for creative communities.
Visit: Greenwich Village Historic District (historic site)
3 East 53rd Street — Celebrity nightspot
The characters attend parties and late-night gatherings at this famous nightclub, where they mingle with celebrities and wealthy socialites. The Stork Club represents the pinnacle of Manhattan nightlife sophistication, though the relationships formed in this glittering environment often prove ephemeral and ultimately disappointing.
The Stork Club was one of New York's most famous nightclubs from 1929 to 1965, known for its celebrity clientele and exclusive atmosphere. Sherman Billingsley's club was a favorite of gossip columnists and served as a symbol of café society glamour.
The original Stork Club closed in 1965. The location at 3 East 53rd Street is now occupied by other businesses. The club's legacy lives on in photographs and stories of Manhattan's golden age of nightlife.
Multiple locations — Respectable dining
The young women frequently meet at Schrafft's locations throughout the city for lunch dates and girlfriend conversations about their romantic troubles and career challenges. These restaurants represent respectable, affordable dining where working women can gather without the pressure of more exclusive establishments.
Schrafft's was a chain of upscale restaurants and ice cream parlors that operated from 1898 to 1981, known for serving quality American cuisine in elegant surroundings. The restaurants were particularly popular with women shoppers and office workers in midtown Manhattan.
All Schrafft's restaurants have closed, though the brand name occasionally appears on licensed products. The locations throughout Manhattan have been replaced by various other businesses, but the chain remains a nostalgic symbol of mid-century dining culture.
More by Rona Jaffe: All Rona Jaffe books
More novels set in New York City: Browse all New York City books on Map A Story
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