The title compound, C(22)H(26)N(2)O(3), was synthesized by esterification of trans-rac-2-hexyl-1-oxo-3-(2-pyrid-yl)-1,2,3,4-tetra-hydro-isoquinoline-4-carboxylic acid in the presence of H(2)SO(4) in methanol. The dihedral angle between the benzene and pyridine rings is 84.46 (17)°. The piperidine ring adopts a screw-boat conformation. In the crystal, inversion dimers linked by two C-H⋯O bonds occur.