Netflix’s hit miniseries Griselda—starring Sofía Vergara as the notorious Colombian cartel leader Griselda Blanco—captures the sun-drenched, perilous underworld of late 1970s and 1980s Miami. However, rather than filming primarily in Florida, director Andrés Baiz and production designer Knud Kristensen recreated vintage Miami across Southern California, leveraging locations in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Redondo Beach.
Griselda Filming Locations Quick Reference
| Scene / Film Setting | Real-World Location | City / Area | Production Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Mutiny Club (Miami’s Hotspot) | The Mayan Theater | Downtown Los Angeles, CA | Historic 1927 venue transformed into vintage Miami nightclub |
| Griselda’s First Miami Hotel (The Mutiny Hotel) | Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Exterior | Los Angeles, CA | Recreated 1970s hotel entrance and poolside scenes |
| Griselda’s Luxury Palm Beach Mansion | Private Estate | Long Beach, CA | Stately Spanish revival architecture standing in for South Florida |
| Miami Coastal & Beachfront Scenes | Redondo Beach & Cabrillo Beach | San Pedro & Redondo Beach, CA | Replaced Biscayne Bay and Miami waterfronts |
| Cartel Hideouts & Residential Streets | Mid-City & Koreatown neighborhoods | Los Angeles, CA | Preserved mid-century architectural bungalows |
| Exterior B-Roll & Establishing Shots | Ocean Drive & Biscayne Boulevard | Miami Beach, Florida | Authentic South Beach skyline and coastal vistas |
Why California Stood in for 1970s Miami
Modern Miami Beach has changed drastically with contemporary skyscrapers, modern glass high-rises, and gentrified districts. To recreate the grittier, sun-faded aesthetic of 1978–1983 Miami, the production team turned to classic architectural pockets throughout Los Angeles County.
1. The Mutiny Club: The Mayan Theater (Downtown LA)
The iconic Mutiny Hotel and Club was the epicenter of Miami’s cocaine boom, where smugglers, celebrities, and law enforcement mingled. In the series, these lavish nightlife sequences were shot inside the historic Mayan Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, customized with period-accurate velvet banquettes, neon lighting, and tropical palm foliage.
2. Luxury Estates in Long Beach and Pasadena
As Griselda amasses immense wealth, her residences transition from modest motels to sprawling estates. The production team utilized historic Mediterranean revival estates in Long Beach and Pasadena, California, to depict the Palm Beach and Coral Gables compounds of the drug syndicate elites.
3. Redondo Beach and Long Beach Coastline
Waterfront boat chases and beach exchanges were captured around the harbors of Redondo Beach, San Pedro, and Long Beach. By carefully framing shots away from the Pacific cliffs, cinematographers mimicked the flat, humid Florida shoreline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Griselda filmed in Miami?
While second-unit cameras captured establishing landscape shots in Miami, Florida, nearly all principal photography and actor scenes were filmed across Los Angeles County, California.
Where was the Mutiny Club filmed in Griselda?
The interior of the legendary Mutiny Club was filmed at the historic Mayan Theater in Downtown Los Angeles.
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