So, today I want to talk about my little adventure tracking down the filming locations for the movie “Just Like Heaven.” You know, that sweet rom-com with Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo? Yeah, that one. It’s set in San Francisco, a city I absolutely adore, so I thought, why not combine a movie I like with a city I love and see what happens?
First things first, I had to do some digging. I mean, I’m not exactly a location scout, so I needed some help. I scoured the internet, read some articles, and found a few blog posts that mentioned some of the spots. It was like a little treasure hunt online, piecing together clues.
Turns out, a lot of the movie was filmed right in the heart of San Francisco. I found out that David’s apartment, you know, the one Elizabeth keeps appearing in, is at the corner of Mason and Green Street. The actual address is 1688 Mason Street. I was so excited when I found this out! I made a note to swing by and snap a picture for my own little collection.
Here’s a list of places I jotted down from my online sleuthing:
- 1652 Stockton St
- 1660 Mason St
- 18th St
- 518 Valencia St
- Arkansas St
- Caffe Trieste
- Fresno St
- Golden Gate Bridge – Obviously!
- Mission Dolores Park
- The Saloon
- Washington Square
I decided to start my adventure at Caffe Trieste, a classic San Francisco spot. It’s a super cozy cafe, and I could totally imagine it being in a movie. I grabbed a coffee, soaked in the atmosphere, and pretended I was in a scene myself.
Next, I headed to Washington Square, which is right nearby. It’s this lovely park where you can just chill and people-watch. I sat on a bench for a while, enjoying the sun and thinking about how many movies have probably been filmed there.
Of course, I couldn’t miss the Golden Gate Bridge. I mean, it’s iconic! I walked a bit along the waterfront, taking in the views and snapping some photos. It’s just one of those things you have to do when you’re in San Francisco, movie location or not.
After that, I ventured out to Mission Dolores Park. It’s this big, beautiful park with amazing views of the city. I can see why they used it in the movie. It’s just so picturesque. I spent some time just wandering around, taking it all in.
I also swung by The Saloon, which is apparently one of the oldest bars in San Francisco. I didn’t go inside, but I took a picture of the outside. It definitely has that old-timey charm.
I tried to find some of the other addresses on my list, like 1652 Stockton and 518 Valencia, but I have to admit, I got a little lost. San Francisco’s streets can be a bit of a maze! I’ll have to try again another time, maybe with a better map.
There’s also this tidbit I found online about some scenes being shot on a studio backlot called “Colonial Street” at Universal Studios. They made it look like a New England town. Pretty cool, right? It’s amazing how they can transform a place to make it look like somewhere completely different.
In the end, I didn’t find every single location from the movie, but I had a blast exploring San Francisco and seeing some of the spots where they filmed. It’s like stepping into the movie, even if just for a little bit. If you’re a fan of “Just Like Heaven” or just love exploring cities, I definitely recommend doing a little location hunt of your own. It’s a fun way to see a city from a different perspective.
