Landmarked NYC townhouse featured in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ lists for $15M

You can now have breakfast where Holly Golightly did. 

The Upper East Side townhouse made famous in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” as the home of Audrey Hepburn’s beloved socialite character is now on the market for $15 million, The Post has learned. 

Located at 169 East 71st Street, the landmarked, five-story residence has undergone a top-to-bottom, three-year renovation that melds cinematic lore with contemporary luxury.

While the townhouse’s exterior was used for filming, the interiors — like most films — were shot on studio sets in Hollywood. Still, the building’s recognizable façade and Tiffany Blue door have made it one of the most iconic movie homes in New York.

A landmarked Upper East Side townhouse at 169 East 71st Street — famously featured as the home in the 1961 classic Breakfast at Tiffany’s — has hit the market for $15 million. Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

A still from the film showing Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard’s characters standing in front of the townhouse.

“169 East 71st Street is the original ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ home, immortalized by Audrey Hepburn and woven into the fabric of New York’s cultural legacy,” said Caroline Bass of The Corcoran Group, the home’s listing agent. 

“This isn’t just a townhouse — it’s a piece of cinematic history.”

Recognizable by its iconic Tiffany Blue front door, the home boasts five stories.

The home offers 4,465 square feet. Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

The residence underwent a meticulous three-year renovation. Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

The home offers a wine cellar and a new upper-level terrace. Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

Set on one of the Upper East Side’s most postcard-perfect, tree-lined blocks between Lexington and Third Avenues, the property spans approximately 4,465 square feet and features a landscaped 30-foot garden, two setback terraces, and a south-facing Juliet balcony. 

Inside, the layout includes four bedrooms, four full bathrooms and three powder rooms. Architectural flourishes abound: soaring ceilings over 10 feet, white oak herringbone floors with ebony inlay, antique mantels, and two gas fireplaces.

“The owners didn’t just enhance the home; they transformed it — adding a full-size elevator servicing all levels, excavating the basement to create a wine cellar/tasting room and constructing an entirely new floor crowned by a southern terrace,” Bass said. 

Though the interiors were filmed separately at a Hollywood studio, listing agent Caroline Bass of Corcoran calls it “a piece of cinematic history.” Everett Collection / Everett Collection

A full-size elevator. Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

Period details include beamed ceilings, antique chandeliers and custom millwork. Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

“Over the course of three years, this historic townhouse underwent a meticulous, no-expense-spared renovation — honoring its 19th-century architecture while seamlessly integrating modern luxury.”

Now a two-family residence, the home includes a garden-level apartment with its own private entrance, den, bedroom and open kitchen with stainless steel appliances and banquette dining. French doors lead to a 466-square-foot garden with custom Walpole lattice fencing.

The parlor floor showcases dramatic period millwork, beamed ceilings, burnished silver leaf details, and designer lighting from Porta Romana. 

The kitchen. Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

A view of the floor plan. Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

A wet bar. Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

A hallway. Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

A concealed television is tucked behind a hand-pieced antique mirror above the fireplace. The chef’s kitchen — anchored by a Calacatta Gold marble island — features a Wolf range, Sub-Zero refrigerator, Miele dishwasher and Italian-imported Calacatta Oro marble mosaic backsplash.

Upstairs, the third floor hosts two bedrooms with ensuite marble-clad bathrooms and Waterworks and Kallista fixtures. 

The king-sized primary suite occupies the fourth floor and includes a dressing area, a makeup vanity, a fireplace and access to a 247-square-foot private terrace. The ensuite bath features Calacatta Gold Damask-patterned marble, a walk-in shower, and a soaking tub with a polished nickel finish by Crosswater London.

A bedroom with a wood-burning fireplace. Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

One of four bedrooms. Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

A third bedroom. Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

An ensuite bathroom. Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

One of three powder rooms. Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

The fifth floor serves as a flexible den or entertaining space with a wet bar, wine fridge, and access to a 123-square-foot southern terrace.

Below ground, the nearly eight-foot-high basement includes mechanicals, cold storage, a second laundry room and a dedicated wine cellar outfitted with twin Liebherr fridges, built-in benches and a tasting sink.

Retired beverage executive and entrepreneur Joseph Harkins, the home’s current owner and former head of Red Hook Distributing Corp. and Le Tourment Vert absinthe, oversaw the property’s transformation. 

A den. Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

The garden-level apartment. Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

The garden floor apartment. Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

“The house has great karma,” Harkins said, “and our only hope is that the next owner enjoys it as much as my family has.”

Bass purchased the home back in 2015 for $7.4 million, records show. 

“You’ll find townhouses all over the Upper East Side — but none like this,” added Bass.

The outdoor garden level. Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

The rooftop. Russ Ross Photography for The Corcoran Group

“With three outdoor spaces, an elevator, a landscaped garden, and architectural provenance tied to an American film classic, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own an icon.”

Or, as the listing description puts it: “They say you can’t buy history. At 169 East 71st, you sort of can.”

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