The best New York City spots you can actually visit from Marvel movies and TV shows

Harlem (Luke Cage)

Luke Cage loves Harlem and we can’t really blame him. It’s awesome, and Harlem loves him back. A born and raised New Yorker, Luke stays true to his roots in a way that no other Marvel hero really does.

It’s a wonderful area of the city rich in culture and history, and one of the most family-driven ones, too. Of course, Luke would want to protect those around him in Harlem to the best of his abilities. And lucky for Harlem, Luke is staying.

The neighborhood had a rich history filled with people from many different backgrounds. First, mainly Jewish, Italian, and Irish people settled in the area; the neighborhood’s growing African American population later sparked the Harlem Renaissance in the mid-20th century. Poets, musicians, and all types became the life and blood of the neighborhood. It’s the place that figures like Malcolm X, Langston Hughes, and Zora Neale Hurston once called home.

Seeing Luke’s Harlem in Luke Cage is great because it shows the heart of the neighborhood that was formed so long ago. Even with changes in the neighborhood and the growing concerns of gentrification, Luke Cage shows the soul of Harlem is still thriving in New York City.

Location: Upper Manhattan

What you can do:

• Visit the historic Apollo Theater, and don’t forget to take a picture of yourself in front of the marquee.
• Grab a bite to eat a Sylvia’s, a Harlem landmark restaurant that serves some of the best Southern soul food in the city.
• Buy goods from the Malcolm Shabazz market, which is “full of fabulous traditional African crafts and textiles.”

How to get there: A subway ride will take you to 125th Street (also known as Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard) and Malcolm X Boulevard. Both the 1 and 2 trains make a stop at this busy train station.

Cost: Free!