Patrick Jane solves crimes for the California Bureau of Investigation in Sacramento – but like most “Sacramento” on television, the series was really made in Los Angeles, where a historic downtown plaza became the CBI headquarters and the beaches of Malibu filled in for the wider Golden State.
Where was The Mentalist filmed?
The Mentalist was filmed mainly in Los Angeles – a Burbank studio, downtown’s historic El Pueblo plaza, and Malibu’s beaches – with establishing shots of Sacramento.
Every Mentalist location, explained
CBI headquarters – El Pueblo, downtown LA
The California Bureau of Investigation offices used the historic El Pueblo de Los Angeles plaza (Olvera Street) in downtown Los Angeles.
The studio – Burbank
Interiors were shot at studios in Burbank, in the heart of LA’s production district.
Los Angeles landmarks and beaches
The series used Los Angeles City Hall, Leo Carrillo State Park’s beaches and Sherwood Country Club for its varied California scenes.
Sacramento – from a distance
Though set at the CBI in Sacramento, the city mostly appears in establishing shots.
Planning a visit
Downtown Los Angeles‘s El Pueblo / Olvera Street is a lively historic quarter open to all, and Leo Carrillo State Park north of Malibu offers the show’s classic California coastline.
