Q. What is it supposed to be on the show? A. A bar. 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 5, of Season 5, "First Blood". Quinn remains suspicious of Dexter, and recruits someone to help investigate him. After Quinn made a failed attempt to talk to Trinity's son, Jonah, at a liquor store (and was busted by the FBI), LaGuerta suspended him. Meanwhile a corrupt cop named Stan Liddy has been busted at a motel in a police internal affairs sting, arranged by LaGuerta. In this scene, the two of them (Quinn & Liddy) meet in dark bar. While Liddy shoots tequila, and complains about being put in handcuffs, Quinn offers to hire him to investigate Dexter. Q. What is it actually in real life? A. A bar & cafe. Q. Where can I find it in real life? A. This scene was shot in the Mission Cantina, at 5946 Sunset Boulevard, in Hollywood. The bar resembles a Spanish chapel, complete with stained glass windows (featuring roses). It boasts an impressive collection of tequilas, and some good Mexican food.

You'll find the Cantina just west of Delancy, the pizza cafe where Dexter & Rita had their first date (seen in flashback in episode one of this season).

And it literally borders on the parking lot where Dexter abducted the guy during that first date.

( In fact, the Mission Cantina and Delancy have the same owner. )

It's located is between Tamarind & Gordon, just a block east of the Sunset-Gower Studio where they film Dexter.

It's also close to several other Dexter locations, including Boyd's house, Teegan's house, Wendell Owens' house, the hooker motel, the street where Trinity walked the dog, and the strip mall where Debra picks up the photos for the funeral.


The bar has its own website at www.themissioncantina.com.





Here is a Google StreetView panorama of the Mission Cantina:
(zoom out to see both Delancy and the parking lot).


And here is a photo of the Cantina's interior:





Here is an aerial photo of the cantina. 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 various clues from the scenes.  By the 5th 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, and my own personal reconnaissance around town, 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, Joel, Geoff, Ellen, Julie, Susan, Jeff, and others. My thanks to all of them.

This particular tip came from Rick, who let me know that they wee filming there. And when the episode aired, I spotted the chapel-like stained glass window with a rose, seen behind Quinn & Liddy (which you can also see in the photo above), and knew it was the Mission Cantina . (Thanks, Rick!)