Pluribus creator Vince Gilligan filmed the Apple TV show under Albuquerque’s desert skies—the same place where he made his hits Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Read on for Vince’s favorite spots in the state he calls both his home and office.
Less“[Pluribus star] Rhea Seehorn, my producer Jenn Carroll, and I first visited the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s Very Large Array back in 2016 and returned last year to shoot the opening scenes of Pluribus. This is in a remote area near Socorro, where sunrises and sunsets are out of this world. (See what I did there? Space pun!) The huge radio telescopes are worth a visit if you’re a fan of the movie Contact or just want to learn more about the universe.”
“Now, don’t go sharing the password for this spot all around town. And when you knock on their door, definitely don’t say you’re the cops! This is a fun joint modeled after a 1920s speakeasy. You’ll know it immediately by the mural of Al Capone on its exterior. Great steaks, drinks, and showmanship. To boot, Vernon’s plays a pivotal role in Pluribus. (Added bonus: Ask them about Walter White’s gravestone.)”
“Tasty food and drinks, fabulous views of the city and the Sandia Mountains—what more could you ask for? Not to mention this restaurant pops up in Pluribus. Be on the lookout for a fun scene where Rhea is dressed to the nines and looks like a million bucks.”
“The two superfans who run this, Marq and Ed, have been friends of our show for a long time. Not only do they have officially licensed Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul items for sale here, but they’ve got an impressive collection of memorabilia. They’re a couple of warm and wonderful guys, to boot. If you’re interested in checking out some real props, costumes, and behind-the-scenes material in their museum, this is the place for you. Tell ’em Vince sent you! (That scores me a discount.)”
“Sculpted by the brilliant Trevor Grove, these larger-than-life bronzes occupy a place of honor inside the Albuquerque Convention Center. If you can’t get a selfie with the real Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, the Walt and Jesse statues are the next best thing!”
“This restaurant holds a special place in Breaking Bad history, as we shot a pivotal meal scene between Walt and Gretchen here. A few years later, it was where we gathered the show’s producers and writer-director Peter Gould for the celebratory final tone meeting of the series, during which we went through the script for ‘Granite State’ [the second-to-last episode of the show] scene by scene. I can vouch for the food, which keeps me coming back.”
“I love a good museum, and this one is both science- and history-nerd heaven. We shot a bit of Breaking Bad at its previous location. In Season 2, Walt met with Badger, Skinny Pete, and Combo near the Fat Man and Little Boy exhibits. Plus, there’s a B-29! It’s not FIFI (seen in Better Call Saul), but a different Superfortress—one of only 17 complete airframes left in the world.”
“This under-the-radar Duke City gem served as the Davis & Main law firm in Better Call Saul. Eagle-eyed viewers might also spy it in Pluribus. Please be respectful if you visit—it’s a library, so library rules apply. This one specializes in preserving irreplaceable items of Albuquerque and New Mexico history and culture. If you’re hungry after getting your learn on, there are two excellent restaurants across the street: Artichoke Cafe and Farina. You can’t go wrong with either one.”
“This is about a five-hour drive from Albuquerque, but don’t let that scare you. The huge limestone chambers are beautiful. To me, there’s something peaceful, even mesmerizing, about wandering around in the dark for hours on end. The Caverns haven’t been featured in our shows (yet!), but they’re definitely worth a visit. Most folks descend the 1.25-mile path from the entrance and then take the elevator up 75 stories to the surface, but I personally enjoyed hiking back. Slowly. I’m not a maniac.”
“Many fans are aware that we used local fast-food chain Twisters as Los Pollos Hermanos in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. This specific Twisters was our hero shooting location. They even kept the Los Pollos Hermanos logo we painted on their interior wall. Try to sit in Walter White’s original booth, which is by the front windows to the right. But definitely order something if you plan to hang out there. They make a mean burrito!”