I love the Netflix series Emily in Paris. The fashion, the frivolity, and the unapologetic fantasy are pure Darren Star. As the creator of Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, Sex and the City, and Younger (among many other televised escapes I happily claim as favorites), Star understands how to set a scene that more than captivates. He sells a mood, a lifestyle, and just enough wish fulfillment to make you want to book a flight immediately.

In the current fifth season of Emily in Paris, Star and his location scouts somehow managed to mirror a few of my own routes through Rome, Paris, and Venice. There’s a particular kind of pleasure in recognizing places on screen that you’ve experienced firsthand. More than once this season, I found myself announcing (often to an empty room) “I’ve been there!” What follows is a selection of locations I immediately recognized, why I was at each in the first place, and why each proved an inspired choice for some of Emily in Paris’ most enjoyable scenes.

Hotel de Russie, Rome

Via del Babuino’s Garden Escape

Full disclosure: I didn’t actually stay overnight at Hotel de Russie. Instead, I checked into its sister property, Hotel de la Ville for a travel assignment. It’s just a skip away. Still, no trip to Rome feels complete without stepping into Hotel de Russie’s celebrated terraced garden. Hidden behind the hotel’s neoclassical façade, the garden unfolds in graceful layers of greenery and stone, offering a serene counterpoint to the energy of nearby Piazza del Popolo.

It’s here that Emily in Paris stages one of its Roman dining scenes, and the choice feels spot-on. The space balances intimacy with grandeur, equally flattering to conversation and camera angles. Even without a room key, spending time in the garden provides a clear sense of why Hotel de Russie remains one of Rome’s most glorious addresses, and why it was selected as a scene location.

Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese

Historic Bones, Skyline Views

During a Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese stay and travel assignment, I was fortunate to dine at Settimo, the hotel’s seventh-floor restaurant where quirky Luc and girlfriend Marianne are seen sharing a meal. The hotel itself is a destination, housed within one of Italy’s 190 officially recognized historic buildings, which lends it a sense of gravitas that pairs well with its contemporary polish.

Settimo is the hotel’s real showstopper. From its outdoor terrace, Rome stretches out in every direction, domes and rooftops catching the light as day gives way to evening. Whether you’ve spent the afternoon navigating cobblestones or the Vatican, the view here is a revelation. It’s a natural location selection for a series that treats dining as both ritual and spectacle.

Fendi Rome Flagship

When in Rome

This is where Emily and Marcello go shopping for a “real” Fendi, and where I treated myself to a Fendi Zucca bag. “When in Rome,” as I captioned a photo on Instagram at the time.

Located along Via dei Condotti, Fendi’s Rome flagship feels less like a store and more like a cultural institution. The architecture, the scale, and the reverence for the house’s Roman roots elevate the experience well beyond retail therapy. Seeing Emily and Marcello’s scene play out on screen felt unexpectedly personal. Some travel purchases/souvenirs are about more than the object; they capture a moment, a place, and a memory. And for me, this one came with impeccable Italian craftsmanship and credentials.

Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris

A Palace with Personality

I stayed at Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris on assignment and was enchanted by its Arc de Triomphe-adjacent location and chic atmosphere. Personally monogrammed pillowcases? Yes, please. This Palace-designate hotel appears in Emily in Paris as the setting for one of Sylvie’s meet-ups, staged in Le Long Bar, where guests are greeted by a rose pomander bouquet and soft illumination that highlights an eclectic curio collection.

The Raffles legacy began in Singapore in 1887, and the name has since become synonymous with glamour, heritage, and legendary service. Le Royal Monceau carries that tradition effortlessly. Since opening in 1928, the hotel has hosted icons including Coco Chanel, Ernest Hemingway, Josephine Baker, and longtime patron Ray Charles, for whom a suite is named. It’s a beautiful place that understands its history and knows exactly how to make it feel relevant and film-worthy.

The St. Regis Venice

Venice, Perfectly Cast

When Emily and her entire team decamp to Venice for its Fashion Week, The St. Regis Venice becomes their Venetian home, as it was mine for several nights recently while on assignment. The arrival by boat, gliding directly up to the hotel, is a moment the series gets exactly right, and even without a camera crew in tow, it is supremely cinematic.

There is no shortage of waterfront addresses in Venice, but The St. Regis Venice stands apart. This collection of historic palazzi stretches along one of the widest sections of the Grand Canal, directly facing the domes of Santa Maria della Salute and the island silhouette of San Giorgio Maggiore. Its canal-adjacent terraces and patios are among the most expansive in the city, creating front-row views and backdrops that are film and picture perfect.

From these terraces, guests sip prosecco or espresso as gondolas and motoscafi pass by, the landmarks of Venice unfolding in real time. I enjoyed dinner at Gio’s, the hotel’s flagship restaurant, at the same table where Emily and Mindy are seen in the series. With its clear views of the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, it’s an inspired and spectacular location choice, proving that the show’s venue scouts well understand that Venice is best showcased by the water.

Final Take

Part of Emily in Paris’ appeal lies in its ability to make fantasy feel attainable. These locations aren’t backdrops conjured on a soundstage; they’re real places you can walk into, dine at, shop in, and experience for yourself. Having visited each of them, watching the series becomes something richer than escapism; it’s a reminder that style, travel, and storytelling often intersect in ways that feel personal. And sometimes, the best part of watching is recognizing a corner of the world you’ve already made your own.