• Coney Island is officially the most ‘Instagrammable’ New York City location featured in Taylor Swift’s music, with over 1.7 million posts featuring hashtags with the landmark’s name.

• High Line is the second most photographed location, with over 230,233 posts, and Madison Square ranked third, with 47,589 posts.

• Olive Garden concluded the top ten, with 299 posts.

New data has revealed the most Instagram-worthy New York City landmarks featured in Taylor Swift’s music, with Coney Island topping the list.

New research conducted by Westgate New York Grand Central Hotel analysed the number of posts each of the Taylor Swift-related New York City landmarks has been tagged in to determine the top ten most ‘Instagrammable’ locations.

Coney Island has been crowned the most ‘Instagrammable’ NYC spot featured in a Taylor Swift song, with 1,738,566 posts. According to Taylor, Coney Island is the perfect place to ponder while sitting on a bench and asking, "Where did my baby go?" For the track named after Coney Island on Evermore, Swift collaborated with The National to create a melancholic tribute to lost love. Few scenes are as powerful as sitting on a bench on a gloomy day, watching as the vibrant colours of the carnival nearby fade away.

High Line takes the second spot, with over 230,000 posts. This vibrant, urban space on the west side of Manhattan has transformed an old, disused railway line into an elevated park, greenway and rail trail. It features in Taylor’s song ‘cardigan’ where she recalls hearing “your heartbeat on the High Line”.

Madison Square ranks as the third most scenic spot, boasting 47,589 posts. In Swift's song ‘The Lucky One’ from Red, she sings about a person who "chose the rose garden over Madison Square", depicting a well-known figure opting for a solitary life over one of fame and showbiz. Madison Square Garden, a main focal point of the square, has hosted numerous famous personalities.

Rank, Landmark, Number of posts
1 Coney Island 1,738,566
2 High Line 230,233
3 Madison Square 47,589
4 Cornelia Street 44,876
5 Hotel Chelsea 13,280
6 Central Park Lake 11,696
7 Bus Stop Café 3,639
8 Housing Works Bookstore 2,975
9 Lovers of Today 1,121
10 Olive Garden 299

The fourth most photographed spot is Cornelia Street, with 44,876 posts. This delightful little street is tucked away in the West Village neighborhood of New York City, and was home to Taylor’s old apartment, 23 Cornelia Street, where she is believed to have lived with ex Joe Alwyn. The townhouse inspired the song ‘Cornelia Street’ from the album Lover, and was last sold in early 2019 for a whopping $11.5 million.
The Hotel Chelsea takes fifth place, with 13,280 posts. In the title track from Swift’s lastest album, The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD) she sings "You're not Dylan Thomas, I'm not Patti Smith / This ain't the Chelsea Hotel, we're modern idiots". The Chelsea Hotel holds a special place in New York City's musical and literary history, having housed iconic figures such as Mark Twain, Bob Dylan, Madonna, and of course, Patti Smith and Dylan Thomas.

In sixth place is Central Park Lake, with 11,696 posts. The singer mentions the picturesque lake in her song ‘The Bolter’, the last song from TTPD: "When it's all roses, portrait poses / Central Park Lake in tiny rowboats / What a charming Saturday". Due to its cultural and historical significance, Central Park has been a National Historic Landmark since 1962 and a New York City designated scenic landmark since 1974.
Taking the seventh spot is the Bus Stop Café, with 3,639 posts. Taylor sings in ‘The 1’ about spotting someone at the bus stop, but she forgot to mention a key word: café. While every city has a bus stop, only New York City boasts the Bus Stop Café. This suggests that Taylor was referring to the famous eatery, not just any ordinary bus stop.

The Housing Works Bookstore is the eighth most ‘Instagrammable” landmark, with 2,975 posts. In the music video and short film All Too Well: The Short Film, based on Swift’s song “All Too Well”, a red-headed Taylor is spotted engrossed in her book at this very spot. Every purchase made at the store contributes to Housing Works, a non-profit dedicated to supporting those affected by HIV/AIDS with housing and healthcare.
In ninth place is the Lovers of Today, with 1,121 posts. It is thought that the dive bar mentioned in ‘Delicate’ is actually the East Village bar, Lovers of Today. This cosy and dimly lit speakeasy-style hideaway has irresistible happy hour deals and a selection of unique cocktails. The atmosphere is perfect for a romantic evening from the glowing neon heart beckoning you in, to the intimate seating arrangements.
Rounding out the top ten is Olive Garden, with 299 posts. In Evermore's "No Body, No Crime", Swift weaves a mysterious story of a housewife's murder, which remains hidden until her friend doesn’t turn up to their usual Olive Garden outing: “Este wasn't there / Tuesday night at Olive Garden, at her job, or anywhere”.

A spokesperson for Westgate New York Grand Central Hotel commented on the findings:

“Swift, a true New Yorker, once sang "the city lights are dazzling, but they never overpower me", but the city that never sleeps can often leave many feeling stressed, overpowered and tired. However, Midtown East offers a perfect retreat from the throngs of tourists while being home to iconic Taylor-connected landmarks, as highlighted by the results of this study.

“Taylor-related landmarks such as the Madison Square and Central Park Lake are located within walking distance of Midtown East, and visitors can also indulge in nearby attractions like The Empire State Building, where Taylor dropped her 1989 album name, The Museum of Modern Art or the New York Public Library.

“Midtown East is also home to the architectural icon that is Grand Central Terminal. Being so close to the station means you can easily access the subway and visit many of the city’s other Swiftie landmarks without the need for lots of walking and blisters. The station itself provides a great day of exploration, with lots of nooks and crannies to discover.”

Author: Adam Bailey

Adam is a regular contributor for established press release distribution website Release-News.com. He writes on a wide range of topics including music.