Q. What is it supposed to be on the show? A. A diner. Q. Where is it supposed to be on the show? A. Somewhere in Miami. Q. When did we see it on the show? A. In Episode 8, of Season 6, "Sin of Omission". Dexter follows up his visit to Travis's art museum, by dropping in on him at a diner, while Travis is having lunch at the counter. The diner has a distinctive automotive theme, including car seats for booths, pictures of cars on the walls, and table lamps resembling chrome fender rockets. Dexter sits down at the counter next to Travis, who, once again, is not pleased to see him. Once again, Dexter tries to persuade him to lead him to Gellar, but Travis tells him that he can't, because Gellar has threatened his sister, Lisa. When Dexter says that Travis might not be able to protect her from Gellar, Travis says that he'll try to get Lisa to leave town, for her safety, and then he will help Dexter find Gellar. (Unfortunately, Gellar later murders Lisa at her school.) Q. What is it actually in real life? A. A diner - but nowhere near Miami. Q. Where can I find it in real life?

A. This is actually Fred 62, a 24/7 diner located at 1850 N. Vermont Ave, in the Los Feliz district of Los Angeles.


It's between Franklin Ave and Hollywood Blvd, at the northeast corner of Vermont and Russell Avenues.


It's just a few steps south of the Indian restaurant where they filmed the scene of Angel with Jamie & Louis, and a few blocks north of the strip club (where Quinn went with Masuka).


In case you're wondering about the name, the place was named after the two Freds who founded it, both of whom were born in 1962.

Their website accurately notes that: "The restaurant has all the elements of a traditional American coffee shop, with its old-fashioned counter and ice cream fountain. However, it takes a turn from the traditional with a bright green exterior, waitresses in racing-striped aprons, booths that resemble funky car seats and a menu that updates classic diner fare for the modern world."

They boast of celeb customers such as Ben Stiller, Drew Barrymore, Mike D., Naomi Watts, Britney Spears, Cameron Diaz, Mandy Moore and Heather Graham.

And I happen to know that Katy Perry, Russell Brand, Jake Gyllenhaal, Kate Bosworth, Cam Gigandet, and Olivia Wilde have been spotted here.

Speaking of stars, this same diner  appeared in the 2009 Ashton Kutcher movie, "Spread", as the restaurant where Ashton's character picks up a waitress.

This is the Google StreetView of Fred 62, shot from the corner of Vermont & Russell.






And here's a shot of the interior of Fred 62, courtesy of Lindsay of iamnotastalker.com






Here is an aerial photo of the restaurant.  Here is a Google StreetView.  And here is a map link.

Q. How the heck did you figure out where it was?

A.  In previous seasons, I've usually had to hunt down the locations after viewing the episodes, using clues from the various scenes.  By the 6th season, though, I'd developed a small group of fans, spies & tipsters who kept an eye out for Dexter filming in their neighborhoods, and would let me know in advance when something was about to film there.

Between those reports, my own personal reconnaissance around town, and a few new resources I discovered, by the time the first episode aired, I already knew most (but not all) of the filming locations, and only needed to watch the episodes and match up the scenes with the correct locations.

This group of helpful fans includes Kerry, Rick, Ellen, Susan, Jason, Elaine, Joel, Julie, Geoff, Jeff, Jen, and others. My thanks to all of them.

This tip came from Rick, who let me know they were filming there back in August.  I had previously ID'd the restaurant when I did the locations for the 2009 movie "Spread", though, so I probably would have recognized it when the episode aired.  (Thanks, Rick!)