Where is McMafia filmed? Guide to All the Filming Locations of the BBC series
Posted by Ra Moon
The new BBC eight-part drama is based on the book by The Guardian journalist Misha Glenny. McMafia is a thriller about how corporations are becoming international criminal organisations.
You can expect a cocktail of money laundering, drugs, violence, and -of course- Russian mafias.
This expensive production has travelled all over the world. McMafia was filmed primarily in England and Croatia, but the filming location list also includes Russia, India, Turkey, Israel, Qatar, Czech Republic, Serbia, Slovenia, Belize, and Egypt.
You can expect a cocktail of money laundering, drugs, violence, and -of course- Russian mafias.
This expensive production has travelled all over the world. McMafia was filmed primarily in England and Croatia, but the filming location list also includes Russia, India, Turkey, Israel, Qatar, Czech Republic, Serbia, Slovenia, Belize, and Egypt.
Iranian-British screenwriter Hossein Amini directs the series, starring James Norton as Alex Godman (Grantchester, War and Peace).
Most actors have a background that matches the country of their character. This way, the cast is composed of a multicultural troupe with Aleksey Serebryakov, Maria Shukshina, David Dencik, Merab Ninidze, Juliet Rylance, Oshri Cohen, Karel Roden, and Caio Blat.
Welcome to our guide to the filming locations of McMafia, coming back soon for season two.
Only in London, 75 different locations were used to film the series.
Lancaster House in the West End is a 19th-century mansion that doubled as the Palace of Versailles in France.
Image courtesy of BBC and Andrew - Map
The exterior shots were filmed at the Waddesdon Manor country house in Buckinghamshire.
Image courtesy of BBC and National Trust - Map
The top-floor restaurant Sky Garden served as the venue for the Sydney Bloom Foundation event.
Image courtesy of BBC and Martin Pettitt - Map
In the first episode, a charity gala is held at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
In the upper picture, director Hossein Amini and James Norton at the John Madejski Garden.
Image courtesy of BBC and Giles Moss - Map
The scene pictured was filmed at Hyde Park, with the Royal Albert Hall providing the backdrop.
Image courtesy of BBC
The Victorian pub Crocker's Folly at 24 Aberdeen Place was used in the 7th and 8th episodes.
Image courtesy of BBC and Edward X - Map
Some scenes were filmed in the luxurious hotels The Langham (pictured) and The Dorchester (that shares name with The Sinner Dorchester) town, both located in central London.
Image courtesy of BBC and Andrew - Map 1 - Map 2
McMafia was also filmed at the British Museum, Heathrow Airport, and Ravenscourt Park tube station.
According to The Guardian, Alex and Rebecca's place was located in a real Victorian house in Wandsworth, south London.
Image courtesy of BBC and Mike Peel - Map
McMafia Filming Locations in Croatia
The next locations are located in Croatia, although none of the action takes place in this country, home of the fictional Zbrka Castle.
Depending on the context, Zagreb is doubling for Moscow, Prague, or Tel Aviv.
Many landmarks of the city served as a filming location: St. Mark's Church (pictured), Kamenita Vrata, Dverce Palace, the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Strossmayer Square, and several streets in the center.
The party in Moscow from the seventh episode takes place at the Mestrovic Pavilion, also known as the Home of Croatian Artists.
Image courtesy of BBC and Diego Delso
The crew was also shooting in one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world, Mirogoj.
Image courtesy of BBC and Atlas of Wonders
Some other locations across the country include the Hotel Milenij in Opatija.
The boat scenes were filmed around the Rovinj Riviera.
Also, according to a local newspaper, the series was recording scenes for a couple of days in the Port of Koper in Slovenia.
Image by Google Maps
The house of Israeli businessman Semiyon Kleiman (played by David Strathairn), was shot at Golden Rays Luxury Resort in Primosten near Sibenik.
Image by Google Maps
The hotel in the French Riviera from the 3rd episode is the Villa Dalmacija in Split.
Image courtesy of BBC - Map
The moonlike landscape of the unique island of Pag was used in scenes in barren and desertic countries.
A production unit was filming on location during a week in the city of Mumbai in India.
Image by courtesy of BBC
Some establishing shots were filmed in Moscow (pictured, one of the Seven Sisters: the Moscow State University), Prague, Cairo, and other minor filming locations.
The Taika Waititi movie with Scarlett Johansson was also shot in Prague - Find all the locations in our report Where was Jojo Rabbit filmed?
Image by courtesy of BBC
Belgrade doubled as Moscow in episode 8. Alex goes out of the metro near the iconic Hotel Moskva, and later on, takes a walk in the popular street Kneza Mihaila.
Image by courtesy of BBC and Jorge Láscar
Can you help to improve this article about the shooting locations of McMafia? To complete and correct this report, any feedback, info, or images that you may have are more than welcome, thank you!
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NOTICE: If you’re using this information on your website, please credit and link to this page as a source.
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Ra Moon
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In the 5th episode Hotel Amber in Tel Aviv is actually Hotel Ambasador in Opatija/Croatia.
ReplyDeleteThe circular building at the end of episode 7 is the House of Artists in Zagreb, Croatia
ReplyDeleteThanks, updated!
DeleteI believe that the scenes in the cafe where Alex and his dad met the
ReplyDeleteguy from the Russian embassy in ep7 was shot at Crockers Folly, Aberdeen Place London NW8.It's a Victorian/Edwardian pub now a Lebanese restaurant
I was at a party there recently.
Thanks you’re absolutely right - looks amazing !
DeleteCool, thanks for your help!
DeleteWhere is the bar that Alex father and the Russian embassy guy meet in episode 8
ReplyDeleteIn the opening sequence, there is a desert (urban) coastline, looks like it could be somehere in the Gulf - where is it?
ReplyDelete...found it: it's Doha, looking south.
DeleteI recognized the White Palace in Belgrade Serbia. I believe it was used in the episode when Alex and Vadim were signing an agreement.
ReplyDeleteThe peace talks in episode 7 were filmed in the Royal Palace in Belgrade, not the White Palace, but they're in the same Royal Compound. I think the White Palace is where the Mexicans and Russians come to their ultimate agreement at the end of episode 8.
DeleteTalks with russian investors in middle of episode 8 were shot in Football asociation of Slovenia training center near Kranj/Slovenia. Google NZS Brdo or nzs.si/brdo
ReplyDeleteBelgrade Block 23 (44.80827413611624, 20.42397236878747) filmed as Godman's childhood residence in episode 8
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know the exact location of the apartment Alex Godman’s parents lived in whilst in London
ReplyDeleteAll comments are reviewed prior to publication