Filming Locations Guide: Where was The OA filmed?
Posted by Ra Moon
The series which came out of nowhere. When the trailer was released, only four days before the premiere of The OA in December 2016, almost nothing was known about this intriguing Netflix original production.
The first season of The OA was primarily filmed in and around New York, and also in La Havana (Cuba), Russia, and Iceland.
The second season was also shot in Orange County NY. The new filming locations featured Portland and San Francisco metropolitan areas, while studio work was filmed at Los Angeles Center Studios.
The first season of The OA was primarily filmed in and around New York, and also in La Havana (Cuba), Russia, and Iceland.
The second season was also shot in Orange County NY. The new filming locations featured Portland and San Francisco metropolitan areas, while studio work was filmed at Los Angeles Center Studios.
As it also happened in 2016 with Stranger Things, the show was an unexpected surprise. Sadly, although the series was generally well-received by the public and critics alike, Netflix decided to cancel it after only two seasons.
Thousands of fans started the 'save The OA' campaign to resurrect the story to get a season 3 or at least, a final movie like Sense8.
Welcome to our almost spoiler-free complete guide to the filming locations of The OA. We start with the second season; click here to go directly to the Season 1 locations.
The OA Season 2 Locations
The old neglected house is near Nob Hill, in the heart of the Russian Hill historic district in San Francisco.
Notice that the rose stained-glass window in the top was added digitally.
The exterior of The Analyst house in Matrix Resurrections is also located here, in Vallejo Street. The green manor appears in an establishing shot at the end of the Keanu Reeves movie.
(You can open all the locations on Google Maps by clicking on the links below in the captions ↴)
Image by courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
Image by courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
The house of the Vietnamese family is located in O'Farrell St in the Tenderloin neighborhood.
The scene pictured below with Karim having a conversation in the street was shot in Waverly Place, Chinatown.
Images by courtesy of Netflix - Tenderloin Map / Chinatown Map
The staircase is the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps, a sort of colorful Joker stairs location, is situated at the end of Moraga Street. The mosaic, running up 163 steps and completed in 2005, was inspired by the Santa Teresa Steps of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Nina Azarova's penthouse exterior is the exclusive Pacific Heights building at 2006 Washington Street.
By the way, if you are curious, the location of the house where some kids are playing Q Symphony in episode 1, is not the same as the one zoomed-in in downtown Oakland.
Images by courtesy of Netflix - Tiled Steps Map / Pacific Heights Map
The psychiatric hospital Melanu Clinic was filmed in the Treasure Island Museum.
The CURI company, Pierre Ruskin's dream factory in Oakland, was shot at California and Hawaiian Sugar Company, a pure cane sugar refinery in Crockett, California.
Images by courtesy of Netflix and Treasure Island Map / Refinery Map
The cabin in the woods with the huge trees where Marlow Rhodes (played by Liz Carr) lived is the Island Farm Private Estate, a 586-acre property nestled in the coastal hills of San Gregorio (San Mateo County).
Image courtesy of Netflix - Map
In episode 4, several scenes with Hap and Elodie were filmed in San Francisco City Hall (pictured) and the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center.
The club where Prairie and Karim seem to have been transported into a David Lynch movie is the Whitechapel, located at 600 Polk St.
Images by courtesy of Netflix - War Memorial Map / Whitechapel Map
Most of the scenes with BBA's troupe after episode three were filmed in several locations across Oregon.
The church where the group spends the night is the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Portland on Park Avenue.
In episode 6, they stop in a restaurant on the road called Eagle Crossing in Warm Springs.
Images by courtesy of Netflix and Steve Morgan - Church Map
The scenes on the beach at BBA’s cousin's house were filmed in Tierra Del Mar, also in Oregon (Tillamook County).
Images by courtesy of Netflix and Erin - Map
The OA Season 1 Filming Locations
Crestwood is the small village in the suburban Midwest, where Prairie spent most of her teenage years.
Her home as an adult is located at 189 Pine Tree Lane in Tappan, NY (Rockland County).
Image by courtesy of Netflix - Map
However, the neighborhood where most of the kids are living is Woodbury Junction, in Central Valley (NY).
Also, the real location of the High School is right across the street from Woodbury Junction. Filming in Monroe-Woodbury High School took only four days.
Images by courtesy of Netflix - Map
The High School's cafeteria is actually located at Pace University Briarcliff Campus in Westchester County, NY.
Image by Daniel Case - Map
In the first episode, "Homecoming", Prairie tells the story of her childhood, living with her father in a secret enclave just outside Moscow.
Her words are illustrated with magnificent aerial takes of the Moskva River near Peter the Great Statue (pictured), and the Novodevichy monastery.
The white building where Prairie attends therapy with the FBI agent is an office complex at 800 Westchester Avenue in Rye Brook (NY).
According to a comment from a reader posted below, it's a locally famous office building, originally home to General Foods/Philip Morris - "It's sometimes referred to as the Taj Mahal of Westchester only because it's huge and white."
Image by courtesy of Netflix and Google Maps
The OA House
Some rooms in the mansion of Old Westbury Gardens (Long Island NY), were used to film scenes of the Russian house where Prairie lived as a child in the first episode.
Image by courtesy of Netflix and Simplethrill - Map
The bridge that can be seen in a crash scene is in New Croton Dam, Croton-on-Hudson (NY).
According to a local website, filming also took place in the water tanks at Survival Systems in Groton (CT) for two days.
Image by courtesy of Netflix and Acroterion - Map
The takes from the van before that accident and the place where Hap leaves the OA on the road are filmed at Seven Lakes Drive, in Harriman State Park (more details in the comment of Pure Peace below, thanks!).
We reckon that the location of the lake where little Prairie gets a lesson about bravery may not be located nearby.
Image by courtesy of Netflix - Map
When Prairie travels to New York, she takes the ferry to visit the Statue of Liberty.
Later on, she unfolds her charms playing violin in the Grand Central subway station of New York. The scene pictured below was recorded in the Oyster Bar in the same station.
Image by courtesy of Netflix - Map
The general view of the hospital that appears in episode six is the Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh (PA), although no further filming was scheduled in the facilities.
The hotel from the last episode is the Holiday Inn Orangeburg-Rockland/Bergen (NY).
Images by courtesy of Netflix - Holiday Inn Map
The OA was filmed in the Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York. Probably this is the place where the underground lab and other sets were built.
According to one of our readers, the house where the people that had NDEs are held captive a above glass cage in the basement is located at 14 Dogwood Lane in Pomona, NY.
Images by courtesy of Netflix - Map
Next, we move to the Caribbean. When the embargo was partially lifted, some North American productions like The fate of the furious took the chance to film in the streets of Cuba again.
The restaurant where Renata's guitar concert took place is La Guarida, at 418 Concordia, La Habana.
Image by courtesy of Netflix and Gabriel RodrÃguez - Map
Homer waked up in the iconic Hotel Nacional in La Havana. After the lobby scene, the sequence continues outside in the gardens of this historical building. Image by courtesy of Dan Lundberg - Map
The out-of-this-world wonderland pictured is one of the moss-covered landscapes that you can find in Iceland, as director Zal Batmanglij confirmed in a tweet.
The exact location of this place may be off the side of the road going east after VÃk, in the lava fields of Eldhraun or LakagÃgar near - breathe - Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
Image by courtesy of Netflix - Map
The OA project was created by Brit Marling, who wrote the story and is also performing the starring role, and Zal Batmanglij, who directed all the episodes.
Both were also previously involved in the making of indie films Sound of My Voice and The East. In season 2, Kingsley Ben-Adir plays the central role of Karim, a private eye who lives on a houseboat.
Both were also previously involved in the making of indie films Sound of My Voice and The East. In season 2, Kingsley Ben-Adir plays the central role of Karim, a private eye who lives on a houseboat.
Can you help to find the missing filming locations of The OA? To complete this report, any feedback, suggestions, or images that you may have are more than welcome, thank you!
NOTICE: If you’re using this information on your website, please credit and link to this page as a source.
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NOTICE: If you’re using this information on your website, please credit and link to this page as a source.
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Ra Moon
Atlas of Wonders is looking for wonderful Filming Locations all around the world. We are constantly updating and improving our posts with new details and images. Follow us here:
i think the hospital in episode 6 is in Pittsburgh, PA
ReplyDeleteThe hospital is Allegheny General Hospital on the north side of Pittsburgh. Several films have been made thereasy, as well as other films in Pittsburgh.
DeleteEpisode 6 was filmed in the 01 level of the hospital that was never remodeled. I work at this hospital.
We did not shoot in Pittsburg nor did we shoot on level 1 of the Allegheny General Hospital - anonymous crew member
DeleteTreasure Island episode...grass valley was no way grass valley...it was Point Reyes...you wont find Redwood trees like that in grass valley
DeleteWhere was the house that Dr Rhodes lived in? The Cabin in the big beautiful trees?
Deletehttps://www.venuereport.com/venue/island-farm/
DeleteGreat show. But the mountian ranges are a little off putting for being set in Michigan.
ReplyDeleteRight? Why even bother? Just say you're in NY or anywhere else that topography is more common.
DeleteI thought the same thing!
DeleteThe upper penisula of Michigan in fact has low mountain ranges that look just like the ones in the series. As well as northwest Michigan around Petoskey.
DeleteThanks a lot, I just added the hospital :)
ReplyDeleteThe neighborhood is across the street from Monroe Woodbury high school. It's called Woodbury junction.
DeleteThe house where they're held captive, above the basement 'lab', is located in Pomona NY at 14 Dogwood Lane in Skyview Acres...where I grew up. I played in that house, ate Butoni Toaster Pizzas in that kitchen after school, and played outside in the backyard on those boulders.
DeleteDo you have any pictures of the house?
DeleteNo, but the next time I go down to Rockland County, I can swing through and take a few. I'm up in Sullivan County. Where would iI send them to?
DeleteThis show was shot at my school. The neighborhood where most of the kids lived was right across the street from the school. It's called Woodbury junction.
ReplyDeleteAh, it was so close, thanks for your help!
ReplyDeleteThe credits say "Filmed at Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York."
ReplyDeleteGreat, thanks a lot Bob!
ReplyDeleteOld Westbury Gardens (Long Island NY) appears to be the house she lived in as a child in the first episode.
ReplyDeleteThe seen where the van full of Russian kids drives off the bridge was filmed at Croton Dam. Croton on Hudson, NY.
ReplyDeleteAll the scenes with OA and Elias Rahim (the office, the cafeteria, when they are outside walking alongside a white office building, etc.) were all shot at 800 Westchester Avenue in Rye Brook, NY (Westchester County). It's a locally famous office building originally home to General Foods/Philip Morris. It's sometimes refer to as the "Taj Mahal of Westchester" only because it's huge and white.
ReplyDeleteThe cafeteria is located in the center with the glass dome roof.
For all the Mr. Robot fans, you'll also recognize this location as "Steel Mountain"
http://www.800westchester.com/bldgimg.htm
I was watching an episode last night and thought that the one restaurant scene with mother and father sitting in a booth was filmed in Langley British Columbia...is this possible? It looks so familiar!!
ReplyDeleteThe restaurant was Cosimo’s in Central Valley NY
DeleteI think the FBI interview/therapy sessions was filmed at the old Kraft building in Rye Brook. https://goo.gl/images/PYvjW7
ReplyDeleteAmazing, Thank you everyone. Update coming very soon!
ReplyDeleteRight before the van of children falls off the (new croton) bridge, the van is driving along 7 lakes drive in Harriman State Park, southbound from tiorati circle. I instantly recognized the 2 bldgs along the left side of the road.
ReplyDeleteThe scene where Kap leaves OA on the side of the road is also on 7 lakes drive in harriman. In btw the Silvermine Lake parking lot and lake nawahunta .25 mile down the road. I drive through that park all the time and i instantly recognized.
Ill post a pic i took with a comparison to a still from the scene.
Great info, thanks a lot!
DeleteYou can edit this into my prev posts (and edit out my duplicate posts)
ReplyDeletehttp://imgur.com/a/seAY2
Right before the van falls off the bridge you can see these unmistakeable 2 bldgs
Out of this world: director confirmed it is Iceland https://twitter.com/z_al/status/814675646161022976
ReplyDeleteHotel scene S1E8 with OA's parents talking over breakfast looks like Holiday Inn, Orangeburg, NY. Please confirm.
ReplyDeleteYes it is!
DeleteThe scene from Iceland is in southern Iceland, past Vik (less than a half hour) towards Hofn. It's a scenic rest stop.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I was there this year and the area is huge. It would be great if anyone knows a landmark or something where to stop nearby.
DeleteAnyone know if the restaurant in the episode "Cuba, Libre" where Hap tries to obtain Renata? I am visiting Cuba in the near future and was wondering if that Rooftop restaurant exists.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Yes, the Havana, Cuba restaurant and patio exist. I have been there and recognized it immediately when watching episode 5. It does look different in reality and not exactly as shown because of set design. It is called La Guarida
ReplyDeleteConcordia. No. 418 | Gervasio y Escobar, Havana 10700, Cuba
Eat there for lunch and go in the evening for cocktails on the rooftop patio. The problem is that Rihanna went there and now it is becoming a tourist attraction.
Thanks a lot Zbig, I just updated the post!
DeleteAtlas of Wonders:
ReplyDeletePrairie's home as an adult in The OA is located on Pine Tree Lane, Tappan, NY (Rockland County).
Scenes were shot back and forth from the Tappan Home and my hotel (Holiday Inn Orangeburg).
Cool, I included a new image from this location, thanks a lot Regina!
DeleteI think the "mine" might be the canyon in Letchworth State Park, near Castile, NY.
ReplyDeleteHey there! I really loved your article! Would you let me translate it to Portuguese and post it to my website, Café Radioativo (caferadioativo . com)? Of course I would include the link to your page. Thank you anyway!
ReplyDeleteDone! :]
DeleteThis really is such a minor location but my husband have a debate going where the membership grocery store is-- sam's club, bj's or Costco lol anyone know? Thanks
ReplyDeleteWatching this was crazy I knew it was my old high school/neighborhood and I knew they used a different lunch room cause ours looks wayy different. Nice to see Monroe get some shine!
ReplyDeleteDying to know the location for Hap's house when he and the Sheriff are outside in episode 5.
ReplyDeleteAnd all the interiors of Hap's portion of the house- kitchen, etc.
Pomona NY It's located in the community where I grew up. I've been in that kitchen...used to go there after school. I posted this in more depth above somewhere, and I forgot to mention that a few years ago, I passed by the house and it was roped off and partially draped in plastic sheeting. I asked my brother, who still lives in the community, what was going on at the Bellin's old house, and he said they were filming something. I've watched this show numerous times while playing Words With Friends, so I'm often just listening. Tonight I looked up at the scene when Hap returns home to get Homer to go back to Cuba...there it was.... the house from the driveway, and then the backyard with the boulders, where I used to play as an elementary school kid. I'm in my 60s
DeleteJust a heads up- they are currently filming in Troutdale, Oregon for Season 2 of The O.A. That is about 30 minutes from Portland.
ReplyDeleteWhere is the beach house scene shot?
ReplyDeleteTierra Del Mar, Oregon
DeleteThat's great, thanks a lot!
DeleteThe bar in season two, that OA and Karim go to, where Russians seem to be hosting some kind of nightly circus, is filmed in White Chapel, on Polk St. Also the pink penthouse that Nina lives in, is a block away from my home, bordering Lafayette Park. I have fantasized about living in that pink building for 15 years!
ReplyDeleteAwesome, thanks Lindsey!
DeleteAt the end of Part II, there's a scene with an Ambulance in the UK. The license plate is YX59 EXW, which means that's a real life ambulance from the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham, UK, & part of the East Midlands Ambulance Service.
ReplyDeleteHowever, inside the ambulance, the medic has "London Ambulance Service" on his sleeve, so this might be set in London.
Whoever you are, you are my hero right now. I have been trying to suss out where that ambulance was supposed to be for hours now. I scanned wide shots trying to read street signs (they were too blurry), contemplated trying to track the license plate, and all the while the answer was written on the paramedic's uniform. YOU'RE THE BEST!
DeleteWhere are the cliffs Prairie almost goes over in season 1 episode 3 when she's running from Haps house to attempt escape?
ReplyDeleteAny ideas where Dr Rhodes' redwood forest cabin is in episode 2 (S2)?
ReplyDeleteI want to know that as well
DeleteI don't know, but I sure thought it looked like La Honda, CA, in the redwoods.
DeletePR Reyes....grass valley??!!@ please...
DeleteThe building that is lit up in red and gold stripes that Hap is filmed in front of at night while he is on the phone is San Francisco City Hall. The reason it is lit that way is because the 49ers were playing a game. Red and Gold are their colors. https://farm8.static.flickr.com/7002/6728996961_f12d3ebd47_b.jpg SF City Hall lights their building different colors to coordinate with special events or holidays - ie. On Christmas it's green and red, Valentine's day it's red, St. Patrick's day it's green, Pride week it's rainbow, etc. When Prince passed away it was purple :(
ReplyDeleteThe outside view of OA's Russian home is filmed in Estonia and the house is Palmse Manor. http://www.palmse.ee/en/facility/manor-park
ReplyDeleteThe interior filming location in season 2 episode 1 of CURI is an electrical substation south of downtown los angeles called the SCE Laguna Bell Substation. Here's the location: https://goo.gl/maps/vYGXhtMqTxFFxn8T6
ReplyDeletehere are some photos of the interior: https://www1.sce.com/nrc/photogallery/lagunabell/index.html
and here's my reddit post about it where I have a comparison image from when I was there for an art installation: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheOA/comments/cjzh94/i_knew_i_recognized_the_interior_filming_location/
the bookstore in season 2 (interior and exterior) is point reyes books https://www.ptreyesbooks.com/
ReplyDeletePretty late to the game but I know where the School for the Blind in S1/E2 was filmed. I actually lived in that building for four years and recognized it right away. Webb Institute in Glen Cove, NY.
ReplyDeleteAll comments are reviewed prior to publication