Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed
Scarface is set in 1980s Miami, Florida, and Bolivia, but the filming tells a different story. The production spent only about 12 days shooting exteriors in Miami before relocating. The bulk of the movie was shot in Los Angeles, where the Freedomtown refugee camp was built under a freeway interchange and key interiors were staged at Universal Studios. The Bolivian estate scenes used mansions in Montecito, California.
The Studio Side
Universal Studios in Universal City hosted significant portions of the shoot, and it is visitable today. The chainsaw scene was filmed on a Universal soundstage rather than the real Miami hotel, because ceiling height and camera angle requirements could not be met on location. Visitors can take the Studio Tour there, though no dedicated Scarface experience is offered.
Tours That Visit These Locations
Guided options for Scarface locations specifically are limited, since the most famous sites are private or scattered across two states. General film-location tours fill the gap, particularly in Miami, where one private walking tour includes Ocean Drive, near 728 Ocean Drive, among its stops.
Private Miami Film Walk
Movies and TV Filming Locations Walking Tour (Private)
This private walking tour of Miami movie and TV locations includes Ocean Drive, putting visitors steps from the Sun Ray Apartments building where the chainsaw sequence was set, for $350 per booking.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Was Scarface actually filmed in Miami?
Only partially. Around 12 days of exterior filming took place in Miami and South Florida, including Ocean Drive, the Fontainebleau, and a Key Biscayne residence. Most of the film was shot in Los Angeles and Montecito, California.
Can you visit Tony Montana's house?
No. The exteriors of Tony and Elvira's mansion belong to El Fureidis, a private estate in Montecito, California. It is not visible from the street and has no public access.
Where was the chainsaw scene filmed?
Contrary to what the film suggests, the chainsaw scene was shot on a soundstage at Universal Studios, not at the Sun Ray Apartments in Miami. The Ocean Drive building appears in exterior shots and now carries a commemorative plaque.
Why did production leave Miami?
Protests from the Cuban exile community over the script's portrayal of Cuban characters led the filmmakers to shift production to Los Angeles, where most of the movie was completed.
Which Scarface location is easiest to visit?
The Fontainebleau Miami Beach is the most accessible true filming location. The hotel welcomes day visitors, and the pool area used in the film can be accessed with a reservation or fee. The Sun Ray Apartments on Ocean Drive are also freely viewable from the public street.
Where was Sosa's Bolivian estate filmed?
The estate exteriors belong to Casa Bienvenida, a private mansion in Montecito, California. The property sits far back from the road and offers no public access, so there is nothing meaningful to see as a visitor.
Scarface rewards location hunters who enjoy the detective work as much as the destination. Miami Beach offers the most photogenic stops, from the plaque at 728 Ocean Drive to the Fontainebleau pool, while Los Angeles and Montecito hold the quieter truth of where the film was actually made. Just plan around the private estates: several of the most famous addresses will only ever be seen on screen.
