“Pluribus” is the latest Apple TV original series from visionary television writer Vince Gilligan. Gilligan previously created and ran such massive hit shows as “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul,” making him one of the most exciting filmmakers of his generation. Now, he’s pivoted into a completely different genre, with a semi-surreal sci-fi thriller that sees humanity overtaken by an alien hive mind. For now, “Pluribus” has only aired one nine-episode season, though fans are flocking to it like wildfire, making it one of the streamer’s most recognizable projects. If you’ve been following along with Gilligan’s career the past few years, he’s made no secret of his love for Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the show is set. As such, it should come as no surprise that “Pluribus” was filmed almost entirely on location in ABQ, with quite a few nods to the “Breaking Bad” expanded universe along the way.
Whether you’re a Vince Gilligan super-fan or you’re just captivated by the stunning sunset views showcased throughout “Pluribus,” now is the perfect time to begin planning your trip to The Duke City. We’ll take a moment to outline a few key filming locations used for the show and highlight some of the best restaurants, tourist attractions and photo opportunities you can explore while you’re in town. Before you know it, you might even come face-to-face with the city’s mayor, while cleaning up debris in a misanthropic novelist’s front walkway.
Is The Ice Hotel In ‘Pluribus’ Real?
Of all the off-the-wall adventures that take place in the narrative of “Pluribus,” one calm, quiet moment left fans demanding more. The cold open of the series’ third episode, “Grenade,” sees Carol Sturka settling into a hotel in Norway made entirely from ice. The walls are ice, the floor is ice, and much to Carol’s never-ending dismay, even the bed is made out of a large hunk of ice. Though Carol characteristically treats the experience like a thorn in her side, fans of “Pluribus” were extremely intrigued by this concept, leaving many to wonder if they could book a stay at the ice hotel for themselves.
Unfortunately, as confirmed by Mashable, the specific hotel mentioned in the narrative does not exist. It was actually an elaborate set constructed on a soundstage just for the series. Still, there are hotels across the Arctic Circle that do fulfill a similar promise. Sweden’s ICEHOTEL or Norway’s Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel offer experiences similar to those shown in the series, with others in Canada offering similar stays in more traditional sleeping quarters.
If you’re truly enamored with the idea of spending an evening in an ice hotel, you won’t actually get to walk in the footsteps of Carol and Helen. Still, you can make a similar trip a reality. You just won’t have any “Pluribus” filming locations to explore during that leg of your vacation.
Is The Cul De Sac In ‘Pluribus’ The Same As ‘Breaking Bad’?
Though Decider reports that film crews for “Pluribus” shot coverage in a number of locales, including Las Vegas, Montana, Northern Spain and the Canary Islands, the vast majority of the show was captured on location in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Some fans even speculated ahead of the “Pluribus” premiere that Carol Sturka might live in the very same cul de sac as “Breaking Bad” antagonist Hank Schrader.
While the location does look quite familiar, production designer Denise Pizzini confirmed in a conversation with IndieWire that this cul-de-sac is not the same street where Hank pummeled his brother-in-law for running a methamphetamine empire. Instead, the “Pluribus” cul-de-sac was entirely constructed from the ground up for the purpose of this shoot.
The entire street was nothing more than a dirt lot before filming took place. Production began duplicating sets in the desert piece by piece, with the intention of building environments that could be shot from any angle. Of course, once Gilligan began adding certain moments to the script, it became clear that the team would need an entire neighborhood.
Tips For Planning The Ultimate ‘Pluribus’ Trip To Albuquerque, New Mexico
Key Scenes: The Barnes & Noble where Carol signs books in episode one is actually located in an ABQ shopping mall called the Coronado Center, according to eagle-eyed viewers on Reddit. Other key filming locations include the CNM Rio Rancho Campus of Central New Mexico Community College, the Albuquerque International Sunport, the Sprouts Farmers Market in Four Hills and the Albuquerque Crowne Plaza, another Reddit thread reveals.
Best Time to Visit: Though Albuquerque is a beautiful place to explore year-round, most locals recommend visiting during the fall months of September through October. This period of time should offer mild weather, clear skies and plenty of outdoor activities suitable for visitors of all ages.
Transportation Options: Like most American cities, Albuquerque is best traversed via car. This means that you’ll likely want to rent a vehicle or rely on rideshare services like Uber and Lyft while you’re in town. Still, the bustling downtown portion of ABQ has plenty of public transportation options available, including buses and commuter rails. If you’re staying right in the heart of the city and don’t plan to venture too far from the action, you can comfortably rely on these public works to get you to sites like your hotel, airport and plenty of local shops.
If you do take it upon yourself to visit Albuquerque, you won’t have much luck checking out the Carol Sturka house. As stated, the entire street is composed of set-built houses crafted just for the show. This set is located on private property, so you would need to traverse multiple blocked-off dirt roads to get there.
The first season of “Pluribus” sees a full-size backhoe airlifted into Carol’s backyard, multiple helicopter takeoffs and even scenes where fireworks and grenades go off, damaging the homes along the road. Most of these sequences were completed using practical effects, and the “Pluribus” team simply didn’t feel right about endangering the homes and safety of random Albuquerque residents.
As Pizzini recalls, “Once we decided we’re going to do this, you can’t just stop in the middle. We were essentially building real houses without electrical and plumbing, you know, laying slabs, doing full roofs, the whole bit.”
Things to Do: If you’re a golf fan, you can follow in Carol’s footsteps by hitting a bucket of balls at the Albuquerque Country Club, or relax at the Jemez Hot Springs, where she goes to relax in the final episode. Depending on when you book your trip, you could catch a live show at the Rio Rancho Events Center, or visit the stunning Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, which is prominently highlighted in both “Pluribus” and “Breaking Bad” (as Reddit users point out). Even if you have little interest in reenacting your favorite TV moments, you’ll find that ABQ is teeming with exciting adventures, including The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, the BioPark Botanic Garden and the Petroglyph National Monument.
Where to Eat: Though most of humanity no longer consumes traditional food in “Pluribus,” the series highlights a few eye-catching restaurants and dishes. Los Ranchos de Albuquerque makes a notable appearance in the first episode, as an inviting pub where visitors can stop in for a meal, a drink and a little bit of billiards before suffering through an unprecedented alien invasion. Later in the show, Carol treats herself to an exceptional meal at the ultra-prestigious Level 5 rooftop restaurant, which is located at the Hotel Chaco in Albuquerque. Other hot restaurants in town include the High Noon Restaurant & Saloon, Seared and the Indian Pueblo Kitchen.
Where to Stay: When passing through Albuquerque, you’ll find any number of excellent hotels to rest your head, provided you haven’t been assimilated by the hive-mind. (In which case, you’ll simply be sleeping inside the convention center, to conserve on resources.) Hotels such as the Hotel Parq Central, Sandia Resort & Casino and Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town are among the most highly recommended, though you’ll have to stop in at the Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm if you’re interested in getting the same massage that Carol and Zosia got in the final episode of “Pluribus” season one, according to Atlas of Wonders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “Pluribus” mean?
Pluribus is a Latin term that roughly translates to “from many.” When used in a sentence, such as “E pluribus unum,” it represents a grouping of individual elements into a single, united entity. This is why the United States government prints the phrase on its currency. In the series, the word pluribus takes on a darker meaning, as the human mind itself becomes “plurbed” into a united hive.
Is “Pluribus” filmed in Montana?
Though most of “Pluribus” takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, some scenes were captured in Montana. These scenes include sequences shot in the One & Only resort in Big Sky and the Capitol Building in Helena, Montana, as reported by Travel and Leisure Asia.
Is “Pluribus” a “Breaking Bad” spin-off?
Eagle-eyed fans of Vince Gilligan’s previous works have found a number of easter eggs and references to “Breaking Bad” throughout the first season of “Pluribus.” While these easter eggs are intentionally placed to reward attentive viewers and long-time fans, Gilligan confirmed in an NME interview that “Pluribus” is not directly tied to the “Breaking Bad” universe in any way. Perhaps we’ll see some crossover among certain performers in future seasons, but the concept of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman merging into the “Pluribus” hive is effectively out of the question.
