Now that the dust has settled on the final gripping episode of the BBC’s ‘The Night Manager’ and arms dealer Richard Roper, played by English actor Hugh Laurie (House, Blackadder, Jeeves and Wooster) has got his just desserts, perhaps it’s time to look back and appreciate some of the glamorous and iconic locations used in what has been described in some areas of the media as, ‘possibly the best BBC series ever’.
Mallorca is home to 7 Michelin star restaurants and numerous fine dining venues in addition to welcoming and informal local cafes and bars, some of which were featured in episodes of ‘The Night Manager’.
Ca’s Patró March, a terraced restaurant perched on rocks above the bay of Cala de Deià on the North West coast of the Island was the setting for the attempted kidnapping of Roper’s son. Expect to pay between 20 to 30 Euros per head at this charming, family run fish restaurant. This location is a 30 minute walk from the beautiful village of Deià, bordered on one side by magnificent sea views and on the other by the inspiring Tramuntana mountain range.
There is a tenuous link between The Night Manager, Deià and another highly acclaimed and popular 1976 television series also made by the BBC, which starred Derek Jacobi and was based on the book, I Claudius, by Robert Graves. Graves had been an accomplished war poet in the First World War and following his divorce in London in 1929, he moved to Mallorca where he took up residence in Deià, writing I Claudius in 1934. He died in 1985 and is buried in the local churchyard. Deià has, for a long time, been a magnet for those with an artistic bent, be it painting, literature or music. Both Bono and Mick Jagger are visitors to this charming village.
With a population of only 700, Deià boasts a number of excellent hotels and restaurants including the Michelin starred Es Racó des Teix which is run by Master Chef Josef Sauerschell and his wife Nori. The restaurant opened 15 years ago and was awarded a Michelin star in 2002. With superb cuisine and stunning vistas expect to pay an average cost of between 50 to 100 Euros per head excluding wines.
On the edge of the village is the luxury boutique hotel, Belmond La Residencia which incorporates two restaurants, Café Miró and the award winning, fine dining restaurant El Olivo. El Olivo’s tasting, a la carte and vegetarian menus are prepared under the guidance of its Executive Chef, Guillermo Méndez. An average price per head excluding wine is between 45 to 60 Euros or 115 Euros for the 7 course tasting menu, booking is advisable.
From Deià, travel north towards the Fortaleza Estate, portrayed as Roper’s magnificent residence on Mallorca, which is close to the town of Port de Pollença. This route passes through beautiful scenery and is popular with many expatriates who own property in the region. From Pollença bear south to the resort of Port d’Alcudia in the adjacent bay. Here you will find the sophisticated Michelin starred Restaurante Jardin, run by Chef Macarena de Castro, renowned for its wonderful Mallorcan and Mediterranean cuisine using high quality locally sourced produce.
Macarena is the only female Michelin starred Chef in Mallorca and her brother Daniel, a director of the Jardin Group, runs the front of house whilst ‘Maca’ is very much in control of the restaurant’s kitchen and that of the nearby Bistro del Jardin. There is a wide ranging tasting menu on offer for 110 Euros and an average a la carte price per head is around 70 Euros excluding wines.
