Netflix’s dark comedy Sirens invites viewers into the glamorous yet mysterious world of an elite coastal town, where secrets simmer beneath the surface of sprawling mansions and pristine beaches. The five-episode series, which premiered on May 22, follows sisters caught in the tangled lives of the wealthy Kell family. Behind the show’s stunning visuals lies a careful blend of real locations and studio craftsmanship that brings this fictional world to life. From scenic spots on Long Island to the impressive Kells’ estate inspired by historic New York mansions, here’s everything you need to know about where Sirens was filmed—and how you can visit the iconic Cliff House estate in real life.
The setting: A fictional coastal town with real inspirations
Sirens is set on a fictional elite island that echoes the charm and exclusivity of well-known coastal retreats, particularly Nantucket. However, the show’s production team deliberately avoided filming in Nantucket itself to respect the privacy and practical use of homes during the busy summer season.
Production designer John Paino, who spoke with Elle Decor, revealed that the town was crafted using locations on Long Island, with significant inspiration from places like Lloyd Harbor and Southold. “We were shooting in the summer, so right off the bat, we weren’t going to go to Nantucket,” Paino explained. Instead, the team pieced together a convincing coastal backdrop from New York’s North Fork, capturing the essence of wealth and exclusivity that defines the series.
Southold, New York, became one of the key filming locations, with scenes shot on private properties, including one on Oregon Road in Cutchogue. The blend of real homes and natural landscapes lent authenticity to the show’s portrayal of an idyllic but secretive seaside community.
The kells’ estate: the striking cliff house
One of the most visually arresting elements of Sirens is the Kells’ sprawling Cliff House—a mansion that dominates the show’s landscape with its colonial classical architecture and an enormous anchor sunk into the front façade. According to John Paino, the Cliff House set was the largest he had ever worked on. “It’s the biggest thing [physically] set wise, I’ve done,” Paino told Elle Decor. The production team not only utilized a real property but also built extensive additions to achieve the grand scale they envisioned, including a massive 60-foot foyer that adds to the house’s imposing presence.
While the real-life home already featured a stunning sandy walk and cliffside views, the production team enhanced its size and atmosphere to evoke the opulence and underlying strangeness central to the show’s mood. Paino described it as having “all the colonial classical trappings of a house in the Cape,” but with a subtle unease reminiscent of cinematic classics like The Shining.
For the interior shots, however, the team built the home’s inside on a soundstage at Steiner Studios in Brooklyn, New York, allowing for full creative control over the mansion’s unsettling elegance.
Visiting the cliff house: The real-world location you can explore
Fans eager to experience the grandeur of the Kells’ estate can visit Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve, the real-life location used for the Cliff House grounds. Located on Long Island, the park features historic buildings, expansive gardens, and miles of walking and biking trails—offering a perfect blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage.
Caumsett’s “old main office” even served as a jail cell in the series, adding another layer of intrigue to the filming location. The cast spent several days filming at the park during the summer months, making use of its diverse settings to bring the fictional estate to life. Open to the public daily from sunrise to sunset, Caumsett State Historic Park Preserve offers entry for as little as $8 per car. Visitors can enjoy fishing, scuba diving, and exploring historical sites like the Henry Lloyd Manor and Dairy Barn Complex.
Beyond Sirens, Caumsett has appeared on screen in other notable productions, including Angelina Jolie’s 2010 film Salt and the popular FX series American Horror Story. For fans of Sirens, a visit here provides a unique opportunity to walk through a setting that blends real history with modern storytelling.
