Serendipity 3

The restaurant's name is a reference to The Three Princes of Serendip, a Persian fairy tale. The restaurant has hosted many celebrities since its establishment in 1954. Regulars included Marilyn Monroe, Andy Warhol, and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.{{cite web|title=Ice Cream Sundaes The World's Most Expensive Ice Cream Sundae|url=http://www.ice-cream-recipes.com/ice_cream_sundae_best.htm |publisher=|access-date=March 10, 2009}}

In 2004, Serendipity celebrated its fiftieth anniversary by introducing the record-breaking Golden Opulence Sundae, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most expensive dessert, at $1000. It is made with three scoops of the Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream infused with Madagascar vanilla; covered in 23K edible gold leaf; drizzled with the world's most expensive chocolate, Amedei Porcelana; and covered with chunks of Chuao chocolate, which is from cocoa beans harvested by the Caribbean Sea on Venezuela's coast. It is suffused with exotic candied fruits from Paris, gold dragées, truffles, and Marzipan Cherries. Finally, it is topped with a tiny glass bowl of Grand Passion Caviar, an exclusive dessert caviar made of salt-free American Golden caviar, known for its sparkling golden color. It is sweetened and infused with passion fruit, orange, and Armagnac. The sundae is served in a Baccarat Harcourt crystal goblet (which the buyer gets to keep) with an 18K gold spoon, a petite mother of pearl spoon, and topped with a gilded sugar flower by Ron Ben-Israel.

Serendipity 3 opened a location in Westport CT in 1984 but closed it a year later. The restaurant for a number of years had a location in Boston at Faneuil Hall, but it closed in 1996, and later opened two new locations with one in Boca Raton in South Florida{{cite web|url=http://www.bocaresort.com/dining/serendipity.cfm|title=Boca Raton Restaurants|access-date=April 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125040640/http://www.bocaresort.com/dining/serendipity.cfm|archive-date=January 25, 2009|url-status=dead}} and another at Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip.{{cite web|url=http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/photos/galleries/2009/apr/10/serendipity/26523/ |title=Las Vegas Weekly: Serendipity 3 |publisher=Las Vegas Weekly |access-date=April 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422052025/http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/photos/galleries/2009/apr/10/serendipity/26523/ |archive-date=April 22, 2009 }} The Las Vegas location closed in January 2017, leaving the Boca Raton restaurant as the only location outside of New York open.{{cite news | last = Martin | first = Bradley | title = Serendipity 3 Replaced by Stripside Cafe & Bar | work = Eater Las Vegas | publisher = eater.com | date = January 6, 2017 | url = http://vegas.eater.com/2017/1/6/14186368/serendipity-3-replaced-by-stripside-cafe-bar | access-date = February 11, 2017}}

In 2007, Serendipity 3 was forced to temporarily close after failing two consecutive health inspections in a single month. Health inspectors found a live mouse, mouse droppings, flies and live cockroaches.{{cite web |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-cockroaches/mice-roaches-close-home-of-25000-dessert-idUSN1632315920071116 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107231450/https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-cockroaches/mice-roaches-close-home-of-25000-dessert-idUSN1632315920071116 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 7, 2021 |title=Mice, roaches close home of $25,000 dessert |date=November 16, 2007 |publisher=Reuters |access-date=January 7, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/16/nyregion/16mbrfs-RESTAURANT.html |title=Manhattan: Serendipity 3 Is Closed |date=November 16, 2007 |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |access-date=January 7, 2021}}

On Memorial Day, May 30, 2011, Serendipity 3 opened a new restaurant on the historic corner of M Street and Wisconsin Avenue in the heart of Washington, D.C.'s popular Georgetown shopping district. However, it closed on June 3, 2014. Like the New York location, the D.C. locale hosted many opulent and playful oddities, including an eight-foot fiberglass smirking Abraham Lincoln statue, designed by high-profile D.C. artist and prop designer A. J. Strasser. The Georgetown restaurant also featured a historical clock from landmark D.C. jeweler Galt & Bros, established in 1802 and one of the longest running businesses in D.C.,{{Cite web|last=Grass|first=Michael E.|date=March 8, 2011|url=https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/city-desk/blog/13063149/today-in-d-c-history-d-c-s-oldest-business-closes-up-shop|title=Today in D.C. History: D.C.'s Oldest Business Closes Up Shop|website=Washington City Paper|language=en|access-date=2019-03-21}} as well as a 1960s photograph of Andy Warhol and Serendipity 3 co-founder Stephen Bruce.

There was also a Serendipity 3 in Harajuku, in Tokyo, Japan. (Permanently closed.)

In February 2019 they released a line of 8 flavors of ice cream pints at 7-Eleven locations around the country.{{Cite web|last=Chubb|first=Hannah|date=February 12, 2019|url=https://people.com/food/serendipity-ice-cream-line-frrrozen-hot-chocolate/|title=Serendipity Launches a Line of Ice Cream Pints Inspired by the Celebrity Hot Spot's Iconic Desserts|website=PEOPLE.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-17}}

A new location was opened in Times Square at 157 W 47th St, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues in September 2024.

File:Serendipichocolate.png

Serendipity 3 has appeared prominently in at least two major movies. The movie most associated with the restaurant is its namesake Serendipity. Released in 2001, it centers on a couple that meet by chance while shopping at Bloomingdale's, and share dessert at the restaurant later that same night.

One Fine Day, released in 1996, also has a scene in the restaurant, featuring the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate.

Trust the Man, released in 2006, includes a scene of David Duchovny's character being invited to Serendipity 3 by a potential love interest, and then at the restaurant on the first floor eating.

The second novel in the Gossip Girl series, You Know You Love Me, includes a scene in which Serena and Dan visit Serendipity 3 and, respectively, order a peppermint sundae and a coffee banana split.

The third episode of the second season of Girls mentioned the Serendipity Frrrozen Hot chocolate.

E!'s Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best? features Joan and Melissa Rivers eating ice cream at Serendipity 3.

In the Elsbeth (TV series) episode "Hot Tub Crime Machine" Elsbeth suggests frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity 3 as a good start to a date when giving advice to a colleague.

In November 2007, Serendipity unveiled a $1,000 dessert called the "Golden Opulence Sundae", which Guinness World Records declared the world's most expensive dessert.{{cite news|title=Health Dept. Closes Shop Selling $1,000 Sundae |work=CBS News |date=November 15, 2007 |url=http://wcbstv.com/local/serendipity.health.inspection.2.568515.html |access-date=February 2, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611070949/http://wcbstv.com/local/serendipity.health.inspection.2.568515.html |archive-date=June 11, 2008 }}{{cite news

| last = John

| first = Sullivan

| title = $25,000 for a Hot Chocolate?

| work = The New York Times

| date = November 7, 2007

| url = http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/25000-for-a-hot-chocolate/

| access-date = October 9, 2008}} The restaurant also serves the Frozen Chocolate Haute dessert, priced at $25,000.{{Cite web|url=https://thehumblerich.com/10-most-expensive-ice-creams-in-the-world/|title=10 Most Expensive Ice Creams In The World|last=admin|date=2019-07-08|website=TheHumbleRich|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-29}}

In May 2012, Serendipity 3 was recognized as the Guinness World Record holder for serving the world's most expensive hamburger, the $295 Le Burger Extravagant.

{{cite news

| title = Serendipity 3 - Burger Weekly

| work = Burger Weekly

| date = June 12, 2013

| url = http://www.burgerweekly.com/serendipity-3

| access-date = October 8, 2013}}

In October 2014, Serendipity 3 was recognized as the Guinness World Record holder for serving the world's most expensive, commercially available sandwich, the $214, "Quintessential Grilled Cheese"{{cite web |title=Most expensive sandwich | website=Guinness World Records |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-expensive-sandwich | access-date=December 31, 2020}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.serendipity3.com/ Serendipity 3] official website
• [http://www.bocaresort.com/Dining/Serendipity Serendipity] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222045436/http://www.bocaresort.com/Dining/Serendipity |date=February 22, 2012 }} Boca Raton, Florida location

{{Restaurants in Manhattan}}

{{Upper East Side|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|40|45|42.49|N|73|57|53.67|W|region:US-NY|display=title}}

Category:Ice cream parlors in New York City

Category:Restaurants established in 1954

Category:Restaurants in Manhattan

Category:Upper East Side