In How I Met Your Mother, MacLaren’s Pub is the gang’s second home. It’s where Ted tells most of his long story, where Barney unveils his craziest plays, and where countless “legen—wait for it—dary” nights begin and end. Because the bar is so central to the series, fans naturally ask: where is MacLaren’s Pub in real life, and can you actually visit it?

The short answer: MacLaren’s itself is fictional, but it is based on a real Irish pub in New York City called McGee’s Pub, located at 240 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019, in Midtown Manhattan near Central Park and the Theater District.

Most of the scenes set in MacLaren’s were filmed on a studio set in Los Angeles, but McGee’s Pub is the real-world bar that inspired its look, feel, and atmosphere.

Is MacLaren’s Pub a Real Bar?

Technically, no – there is no actual bar in New York called “MacLaren’s Pub” that looks exactly like the one in the show.

On-screen, MacLaren’s is:

• A cozy, basement-style pub below Ted, Marshall, and Lily’s apartment.
• Located in Manhattan, just a short walk from where the gang lives.
• Decorated with dark wood, red booths, and walls packed with photos and posters.

In reality:

• The bar you see in the series is a set built on a soundstage in Los Angeles, not a real New York bar.
• The producers designed that set using McGee’s Pub as a major visual and emotional reference.

So while MacLaren’s is fictional, it has a very real twin you can visit – McGee’s Pub – which fully embraces its connection to the show with themed menus, signature drinks, and décor aimed at HIMYM fans.

Where Is the “Real” MacLaren’s Pub in New York City?

The real-life bar that inspired MacLaren’s is McGee’s Pub, an Irish pub in Midtown Manhattan:

• Name: McGee’s Pub
• Address: 240 W 55th Street, New York, NY 10019
• Neighborhood: Midtown West / Hell’s Kitchen, a short walk from Central Park, Times Square, and many Broadway theaters.

Show creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas used to drink at McGee’s when they worked as writers on The Late Show with David Letterman. They loved its red booths, dark wood bar, and photo-covered walls, and later used that vibe as the template for MacLaren’s.

Today, McGee’s leans into the connection by offering:

• HIMYM-themed cocktails and dishes (often named after episodes or running jokes).
• Posters, photos, and memorabilia referencing the show.
• Occasional events and trivia nights for fans of the series.

For many visitors, sitting in a booth at McGee’s is the closest possible experience to hanging out at MacLaren’s with Ted, Marshall, Lily, Robin, and Barney.

Where Were MacLaren’s Pub Scenes Actually Filmed?

Although the story takes place in New York, How I Met Your Mother was produced primarily in Los Angeles.

• The interior of MacLaren’s was built as a permanent set on a soundstage on the Fox lot in LA.
• The characters’ apartment and most other recurring locations were also studio sets.
• Exterior shots of New York streets and landmarks were used as establishing shots to give the series an authentic NYC feel, but day-to-day filming happened in California.

This is a common approach for American sitcoms: a real city is the story’s setting, while carefully designed studio sets provide a consistent, controllable environment for filming.

Why Is It Called MacLaren’s Pub?

The name “MacLaren’s” is an inside joke and tribute by the creators.

• The bar was named after Carl MacLaren, a production assistant (and later associate producer) on the show.
• The bartender in the series is also named Carl, which ties the fictional bar even closer to the real crew member.

So the bar’s name honors someone who helped make the show behind the scenes, just as its design honors the real bar where the writers spent time.

How Similar Is McGee’s Pub to MacLaren’s?

If you walk into McGee’s Pub after years of watching HIMYM, you’ll immediately notice some familiar details:

• Red cushioned booths and dark wood running along the walls.
• A long wooden bar lined with stools.
• Walls filled with posters, photos, and framed memorabilia.

The TV set is not a perfect replica, but rather a stylized version. Think of McGee’s as the real-world template and MacLaren’s as the polished sitcom adaptation. The overall mood – cozy, slightly dim, comfortable, and full of stories – is nearly identical.

Can You Visit MacLaren’s Pub?

You can’t visit the actual TV set (that was dismantled after production), but you can visit McGee’s Pub in New York City, which is as close as it gets.

If you’re a fan planning a HIMYM pilgrimage:

• Go to 240 W 55th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue.
• Expect a classic Irish pub spread across multiple levels, with sports on TV, a relaxed atmosphere, and plenty of HIMYM references in both the décor and the menu.
• Some New York TV and movie location tours finish or stop at McGee’s, promoting it as “the real MacLaren’s” for fans.

It’s the perfect place to grab a drink, order a themed dish, and imagine the group in the booth next to you.

Final Thoughts: Where Is MacLaren’s Pub, Really?

To sum it up clearly:

• MacLaren’s Pub in How I Met Your Mother is a fictional bar in Manhattan where the main characters spend much of their time.
• The real bar that inspired it is McGee’s Pub, an Irish pub at 240 W 55th Street, New York City, in Midtown Manhattan.
• The scenes inside MacLaren’s were filmed on a studio set in Los Angeles, carefully designed to capture the cozy, lived-in atmosphere of McGee’s.
• The name “MacLaren’s” is a tribute to Carl MacLaren, a member of the production team.

So when you ask, “Where is MacLaren’s pub from How I Met Your Mother?”, the real-world answer is simple: look for McGee’s Pub on West 55th Street in New York City – that’s where the spirit of MacLaren’s lives off-screen.