The highly anticipated second series of the BBC's espionage thriller, The Night Manager, has finally landed, transporting viewers from the familiar to the exotic. After a decade-long wait, Tom Hiddleston returns as Jonathan Pine, the ex-soldier turned intelligence operative, now embroiled in a deadly arms plot in Colombia.
The Starring Role of Casa Pestagua
While filming took place across Medellín, London, and Spanish coastlines, one location stands out for its pivotal on-screen presence. The spotlight falls on Casa Pestagua, a Relais & Châteaux boutique hotel housed within an 18th-century colonial palace in Cartagena's historic centre. The production was so taken with the location that they bought out the entire hotel for two and a half days of filming.
Show producer Matthew Patnick told Time Out that the drama's influence is expected to be profound, drawing a parallel to the first season's Es Saadi Palace in Marrakech, which remains synonymous with the show years later. He predicted: "The show is going to change it forever."
A Peek Inside the Palace Walls
Within its grand walls, Casa Pestagua offers ten suites and six rooms, each featuring dramatic double-height ceilings and Moorish-inspired arches. Audiences get a particularly intimate look in episode three, where a raunchy dance scene unfolds around the hotel's terracotta-tiled courtyard pool, decorated with paper lanterns and dining tables.
In the series, Jonathan Pine appears to be staying in the opulent Grand Suite, complete with a private patio, living room, and king-sized bed under vaulted ceilings. However, the most expansive accommodation is the 140 square metre "Count of Pestagua Suite", which boasts three rooms, a private lift, and a terrace with a jacuzzi overlooking the port.
The hotel's aesthetic is one of light, airy simplicity, featuring four-poster beds, rattan furniture, and freestanding baths. For dining, the AniMare restaurant, nestled under colonial arches, serves a celebration of Colombian coastal cuisine, with dishes like Pacific red tuna, truffled oxtail cannelloni, and ceviche.
Beyond the Hotel: Cartagena and Barú Island
The drama later expands into the colourful streets of Cartagena itself, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its preserved Spanish colonial architecture, military fortifications, and vibrant Caribbean culture. For guests seeking sun and sand, Casa Pestagua also facilitates trips to Barú Island, a 45-minute boat ride away, known for its stunning white and pink sand beaches and pastel-blue waters.
The Night Manager series two began on BBC One and iPlayer at 9pm on 1 January 2026, with new episodes released weekly. It is also available for global audiences on Amazon Prime Video.
