Hotel & Spa Le Doge 

An Art Deco mansion with individually styled rooms, rooftop dining, and a traditional hammam in central Casablanca.

From the street, Le Doge looks more like a private home than a city hotel. Inside, a sweeping, red-carpeted staircase curves beneath stained glass, while fabric-lined walls, vintage furniture, and plenty of colour bring the 1930s into the present. Minimalism wasn’t invited.

Le Doge’s origin story sounds made for the cinema, although the hotel itself calls it a legend. An Italian entrepreneur is said to have given the mansion to his wife, whom he met in Morocco. The house passed through the family and remained a private residence until 2009, when it opened as a boutique hotel. Today, it’s part of Relais & Châteaux.

Each of its 16 rooms and suites is inspired by a different artist or cultural figure from the Art Deco era. Names range from Coco Chanel and Josephine Baker to Man Ray and Ernest Hemingway. The two largest suites are dedicated to Hemingway and Jean Cocteau, and colours, fabrics, and furniture change from one room to the next.

Le Jasmine serves Moroccan food beneath antique silver chandeliers. Take the lift to the fifth floor and the mood changes, with Mediterranean plates, drinks, and Casablanca rooftops at Le Doge Café. The small spa handles post-sightseeing recovery with a hammam and massages. Pool days belong elsewhere. Le Doge is about character, food, and exploring the city from a central address.