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Where's The Mallorca Files filmed? - A guide to the show's locations

The island is the main star of the BBC1's daytime drama

featured in News & reviews Author Ana Hernández, Mallorca Editor Updated

The Mallorca Files, a British cop daytime drama, premiered on BBC One in November 2019. Almost entirely filmed on the island of Mallorca, the show was a great success drawing two million people in front of their TVs and having been sold to 60 countries.

The series tells the story of a mismatched team of police detectives working in Mallorca: British Miranda Blake (Elen Rhys) and German Max Winter (Julian Looman). As season two resumes shooting on the island, we take a look at some of the main locations of the show's first series.

Where's The Mallorca Files filmed? - A guide to the show's locations

Palma, the star of the island

Palma's old town has been the setting of many of The Mallorca Files' ten episodes, featuring several easily recognisable places. These include Moltabarra Bar which doubles up as Joan's Bar in the show. This popular tapas place is located in the Sa Gerrería area of Palma, the city's 'tapas & cañas' hub in the heart of the historic quarter. Episode three was partly shot at the beautiful cloister of the Colegio Nuestra Señora de Montesión, where an exhibition on Russian icons, one of which is stolen, takes place in the show. Palma de Mallorca airport was the setting of the thrilling chasing scene that opened the show's first episode while the city's most famous nightclub, Tito's, was the main location of episode seven, in which a DJ is found dead after playing at the superclub. Max and Miranda also visit the Teatre Principal while investigating a murder.

Family fun in Palma summer 2019

A trip on the Sóller vintage train

Episode number four was based around one of the island's most popular tourist attractions, the vintage train that runs between Palma and the town of Sóller, through the spectacular Serra de Tramuntana mountains. Entitled 'Number One Fan', it saw Max and Miranda investigate the disappearance of a supermodel inside this narrow-gauge train, which was built in 1912. A must-visit when in Mallorca, you can read Jose's experience for more information.

Felanitx, Mallorca

Visiting rural Mallorca

The Mallorca Files has also explored the island's least-known rural corners. The crew took over the streets of Felanitx in November 2018 for episode eight, 'Death in the Morning', as this southeastern town became the fictional village of Cazador, where our protagonist couple ends up while trying to find out who murdered a British anti-bullfighting activist. Felanitx is a charming inland village surrounded by vineyards belonging to the island's second wine-producing area, Pla i Llevant, and hills dominated by ancient castles and towers. Not far from the southern coastline and the resorts of Porto Colom and Cala d'Or, it's a great place to visit to experience the real Mallorca.

Where's The Mallorca Files filmed? - A guide to the show's locations

Deep in the Tramuntana mountains

The island is well-known among cycling enthusiasts who flock to Mallorca to train in the spring. Especially illustrious among the pros (and those who want to follow on their footsteps) are the hairpin bends of Sa Calobra, where the second episode was filmed. This gruelling climb has a height gain of 668m metres in under 10km, with an average gradient of 7% which tops at 12%. The road takes you through some of the best scenery in Mallorca, going deep into the Tramuntana mountains to the little beach of Sa Calobra, a unique cove with spectacular views.

Santa Maria del Cami, Mallorca

Tasting Mallorcan wines

Wine is an integral part of Mallorca. Many of its central plains are covered in ancient vineyards where local grape varieties grow, boasting exotic names like 'Manto Negro', 'Callet' or 'Prensal'. Oliver Moragues Vineyard, an eco-friendly winery in Algaida, turned into 'Bodegas Negra' for The Mallorca Files as our police duo looked into the killing of a dog. Oliver Moragues offer tours of the estate and wine tastings, as do most of the wineries in Mallorca, so make sure you visit one the next time you're on the island.

Where's The Mallorca Files filmed? - A guide to the show's locations

Luxury villas & hotels

Glitz and glamour are also a big part of Mallorca, an island that draws hosts of VIPs every summer, keen to sunbathe on its beaches and explore its mountains where they can find the privacy they crave. Luxury villas and hotels are their accommodation of choice, and there's no shortage of them in Mallorca. Just like The Night Manager showcased some of the most opulent establishments in Mallorca including La Fortaleza and Son Julia Hotel, The Mallorca Files was shot in some magnificent private villas in Palma Bay, Magaluf, Muro and Calvià. The team behind the BBC show also set some of the scenes in the five-star Hospes Maricel Hotel and the quaint Ses Cases del Virrey boutique hotel in Inca.

Porto Cristo, Mallorca

Where is season 2 of The Mallorca Files being filmed?

Season two began filming in November 2019 and, so far, six episodes have reportedly been shot. The crew has been spotted all around the island and taking advantage, once more, of all that Mallorca has to offer. From luxury hotels like Grand Hotel Son Net and St Regis Mardavall to the picturesque towns of Sineu, Artá, Orient (in particular, Finca Comassema, an old country manor) and Santa Maria del Cami. They have also travelled to Mallorca's coastline, more specifically to the seaside villages of Port de Pollença, Bendinat, Cala Pi and the beach of Cala Anguila, near Porto Cristo. Prominent island sites like the stunning Coves del Drach and Coves del Hams, as well as the Formentor peninsula will also feature on this second season. We even think there may be a western-themed episode in the making as we've spotted the crew at the Rancho Grande horse riding centre.

La Seu Cathedral, Palma de Mallorca

Palma is, of course, once again the main setting of the show. Filming has taking place all around the city, including the trendy Sadrassana Restaurant, the neighbourhood of Son Cotoner – northwest of the city – and the local football stadium of Son Moix. We also know that Moltabarra will turn, once more, into Joan's Bar.

More inspiration...

Gorgeous beaches, world-renowned cycling routes, internationally recognised wines, top-class luxury hotels and villas, historical sights, picturesque rural towns and a bustling, cosmopolitan capital city – The Mallorca Files reflects the wide variety of things on offer on the island. The perfect destination whether you're a beach bum, a culture vulture, a wine aficionado, a sports buff, a city dweller or a countryside explorer.