Santa Barbara

The 2004 Alexander Payne film “Sideways” is set against the backdrop of California’s wine country, with most of the production likewise taking place in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County, California. The film has had a lasting impact on the region, as more than one location has since altered their namesakes after the film. One such example is the apartment where Miles, played by Paul Giamatti, resides. Supposedly located in San Diego, the real building can actually be found a couple hundred miles north in the town of Goleta.

LOCATION: 120 Magnolia Ave, Goleta, CA 93117

The property has since been renamed the “Sideways House.”

A few scenes were filmed in Southern California. As Miles heads to Los Angeles to meet up with Jack, played by Thomas Haden Church, he passes the famous Hotel Angeleno, which was also seen in the film “Heat.”

LOCATION: 170 N Church Ln, Los Angeles, CA 90049 (as seen from Sunset Blvd)

Miles makes his way to this house, located in the L.A. neighborhood of Brentwood. The route depicted driving down Sunset Blvd to reach the home is geographically accurate.

LOCATION: 355 N Rockingham Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90049

As Jack and Miles begin their trip, Miles insists he stop and visit his mother, who supposedly lives in Oxnard. The property is actually located in Santa Maria.

LOCATION: 1619 Carmel Ln, Santa Maria, CA 93454

Miles and Jack arrive into Solvang driving down Alisal Rd.

LOCATION: 485 Alisal Rd, Solvang, CA 93463

These scenes really were filmed in Solvang, as stated in the film.

LOCATION: 467 Alisal Rd, Solvang, CA 93463

They stay at this hotel, located in Buellton.

LOCATION: 114 E Hwy 246, Buellton, CA 93427

The hotel is another location which has renamed itself in honor of the film.

After walking in on Jack having sex with Stephanie, played by Sandra Oh, Miles heads over to the hotel lounge, which has likewise been renamed the “Sideways Lounge.”

Here is the restaurant where Maya, played by Virginia Madsen, works.

LOCATION: 406 E Hwy 246, Buellton, CA 93427

The next morning, this building is seen as one of the establishing shots before cutting to Jack and Miles having breakfast.

LOCATION: 1576 Mission Dr, Solvang, CA 93463

Miles goes bowling with Jack and Stephanie. The bowling alley was formerly located at 1420 E Ocean Ave, Lompoc, CA 93436, but has since been demolished.

Miles and Jack are briefly seen picking up Maya and Stephanie in front of this building in Los Olivos.

LOCATION: 2900 Grand Ave, Los Olivos, CA 93441

Maya’s place can be found in Santa Barbara. The back entrance is seen in the film, which is easily visible from the sidewalk.

LOCATION: 916 E Carrillo Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93103 (back entrance facing Spring St)

Miles learns a publisher has passed on his novel at this winery in Los Olivos, where he becomes upset and proceeds to make a scene.

LOCATION: 6200 Foxen Canyon Rd, Los Olivos, CA 93441

Miles sulks with Jack at the beach near Goleta Pier.

LOCATION: Near Goleta Pier, Sandspit Rd, Goleta, CA 93117

After Stephanie discovers Jack is getting married to another woman, she assaults him. Jack gets treatment at this hospital in Solvang, which has been remodeled a bit.

LOCATION: 2050 Viborg Rd, Solvang, CA 93463

Miles and Jack visit this restaurant, where Jack gets himself into more trouble after sleeping with the waitress.

LOCATION: 350 E Hwy 246, Buellton, CA 93427

In one of the more memorable scenes in the film, Miles sneaks into this house in Lompoc, to retrieve Jack’s wallet from the waitress and her husband. The completely nude husband, played by M.C. Gainey, chases Miles out onto the street. To achieve this scene, police blocked off the entire street and neighbors were paid to stay inside their homes during the filming.

LOCATION: 400 E Lemon Ave, Lompoc, CA 93436

Jack asks Miles to drive the car, not revealing his intentions. They proceed to this intersection in Buellton.

LOCATION: Jonata Park Rd / Central Ave, Buellton, CA 93427

Jack then swerves the car and drives into this tree, in an attempt to create a cover story to his fiancee for his injuries. In the film, the area is seen as barren and undeveloped. A storage facility has since been built on the land, but somewhat surprisingly, the developers left the tree in tact. It remains standing today.

LOCATION: 711 Jonata Park Rd, Buellton, CA 93427

Near the end of the film, Jack’s wedding takes place at this church, located back south in Montebello. After the ceremony, Miles runs into his ex-wife in the parking lot.

LOCATION: 900 W Lincoln Ave, Montebello, CA 90640

The 1983 Brian De Palma film “Scarface,” starring Al Pacino, is set in the underworld of Miami, telling the story of the rise and fall of Tony Montana. While Miami was used for several locations, Los Angeles also stood in for the city for quite a bit of the film, due to the fact that the Miami Tourist Board declined the producers several filming requests, fearing the subject matter would deter tourism. Some later scenes in the film were also shot in New York.

When they first arrive in Miami by way of Cuba, Tony Montana, played by Pacino, stays in a detention center with his friend Manny Ribera, played by Steven Bauer. The detention center scenes were filmed under the I-10 Freeway, near the I-110 interchange in Los Angeles. In the film, Tony and Manny are mostly seen beneath the Eastbound lanes, near W 17th St and Georgia St. However, that area is within a fenced off, gated parking lot. The Westbound lanes on the opposite side, while not seen from that angle in the film, run over Venice Blvd and offer a bit easier photography and general view of the area. This area is located very close to the opening robbery scene from “Heat.”

LOCATION: Beneath I-10, near W 17th St & Georgia St, Los Angeles, CA 90015 (GPS coordinates: 34.037791, -118.273057)

As Tony and Manny arrive in Miami Beach for a drug deal, the pull up next to “The Carlyle.” The same hotel was famously featured in the film “The Birdcage,” as well as the TV shows “The Golden Palace” and “Miami Vice.”

LOCATION: 1250 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139

On the same street is the location of the infamous hotel where Tony’s drug deal goes bad and one of his crew is killed with a chainsaw. The building has since been remodeled and is now a drug store. However, the facade out front, as well as the staircase, remain in tact.

LOCATION: 728 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139

The drug deal takes place on the top floor.

This sign is posted at the front of the building to the right of the stairs, noting it as the filming location. There are also a few photos from the film inside, behind the cash registers.

Here is the area across the street where Manny waits.

The violence spills out onto the streets as Tony executes the man with the chainsaw in front of the hotel next door.

LOCATION: 720 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Tony meets with drug kingpin Alejandro Sosa at his home in Bolivia. The real location is actually in Montecito, California. The house sits far back from the road and is not visible from the street. This estate is located just minutes away from Tony’s mansion in the film.

LOCATION: 656 Park Ln, Montecito, CA 93108

Frank Lopez, played by Robert Loggia, owns this auto dealership, where he yells at Tony for making a deal without consulting him beforehand.

LOCATION: 8825 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

As he rises in power, a montage is shown of Tony expanding his empire. He and his crew deposit large amounts of money at this bank, located in Encino.

LOCATION: 16000 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91436

Tony is shown emerging from this building, which has the name “Montana Management Co.” in the film. The building can be found in West Hollywood, California.

LOCATION: 8623 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

This building has the name “Montana Travel Co.” in the film. It is located directly across the street from the above location. Despite the addresses on Sunset Blvd, both buildings actually face Sunset Plaza Dr. This same area has also been featured in the films “Armed and Dangerous” and “Model Shop.”

LOCATION: 8619 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

In the same montage, Tony is seen opening a beauty salon for his sister Gina, played by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. This is again located next to the above two locations in West Hollywood, on the opposite side of the street on Sunset Blvd. All three locations are in very close proximity to one another.

LOCATION: 8648 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

The exterior used as Tony Montana’s house can be found in Montecito, California, near Santa Barbara. Tony marries Elvira, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, at the home, which added a second story facade for the production. Known as El Fureidis, the property sits far back from the road and is not visible from the street. Many Miami-based tour guides tell tourists the home is located in Miami, which is incorrect. El Fureidis hosts over 100 species of palm trees and is famous for being the source of the rare species of palm trees found in Disneyland’s Adventureland and Jungle Cruise ride. Walt Disney, Charlie Chaplin, Albert Einstein, John F. Kennedy and Winston Churchill are among the many famous guests said to have visited the estate.

LOCATION: 631 Parra Grande Ln, Montecito, CA 93108

Manny’s home can be found in the Mt Olympus neighborhood of Los Angeles.

LOCATION: 2271 Hercules Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Thanks to Phil Savenick for contributing a note on El Fureidis.

Related articles: Carrie (1976), Body Double (1984)

Film Oblivion

Movie and TV locations, points of interest.

Sideways (2004)

Scarface (1983)