La Maison Arabe
4.5
Nestled in the walls of Marrakech’s medina, La Maison Arabe is an oasis of calm away from the lively souks. It’s small enough to have a warm, welcoming atmosphere and personalised service, yet large enough to provide plenty of secluded spots to relax. At the fine dining Le Restaurant, you can sample an exclusive local menu underneath a hand-painted zouaké ceiling accompanied by Arab-Andalucian music. Enter Les Trois Saveurs, lit by teardrop-shaped lanterns, and enjoy French, Moroccan and Asian cuisine inside or al fresco on the poolside terrace. As night falls, head to the 1930s-style Piano-Jazz Bar for classic pre- and post-dinner drinks. There’s also a refreshing central swimming pool in a courtyard strewn with olive trees and roses, and a spa with two hammams. If you want to get a little further out of the centre, then make the most of the hotel’s exclusive Country Club, just 15 minutes away by free shuttle service – where you’ll find a second pool in lush gardens and another restaurant, Le Figuier. Back at the hotel, rooms and suites are housed in two buildings – patio side and garden side – that surround the swimming pool. Each is unique in décor and layout – most feature a fireplace and terrace, and all have a traditional marble bathroom and Wi-Fi.
Combining the tradition and history of five riads, this member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World provides some of the highest standards of accommodation and service in Morocco. Converted from homes, this stunning hotel embodies the tradition and style of authentic Marrakech. Talented chefs create a refined medley of international flavours in the restaurant, served in dining rooms around the pool or al fresco on the spacious roof terraces overlooking the city and the Atlas Mountains. An outdoor heated pool with jet stream fringed by terraces creates cool oases of relaxation. Panoramic rooftop garden terraces with shady corners, a bar, caidal tent and water misted solarium offer breathtaking vistas of Koutoubia Mosque and the Saadian Tombs. Each of the hotel’s elegant rooms and suites has a unique décor that perfectly reflects the intimate riad feel. Adorned with sculpted ceilings, unique pieces of antique furnishings and artwork, you can expect contemporary facilities such as a free minibar, iPod docks and free Wi-Fi throughout. Prestige Rooms are simple, spacious and chic; for extra space, choose a Junior Suite, or a Suite which features a terrace.
Les Jardins de la Medina is an oasis of calm, with an exclusive location on a quiet medina street just a few minutes’ walk from the main attractions of Marrakech. Built on the foundations of a traditional riad – and retaining the original architecture – this modern hotel has a pool (heated in winter) set amid mature olive trees, orange trees and jacarandas that come together to make this the largest private garden in the medina. The restaurant and bar occupy the former grand salon of the riad, with its impressive high sculpted cedar-wood ceiling, and have the charm of a bygone era. A sunny restaurant terrace overlooks the pool and gardens and offers delicious flavours of Morocco as well as cuisine from around the world. Rooms and suites are housed in newer buildings spread throughout the vast gardens. Designed to reflect the rooms of the medina, Superior Patio View Rooms are cool and shaded, opening out onto a patio with trees and fountains. Superior Garden View Rooms are more spacious, where you can enjoy the sights and sounds of the tropical gardens. Most of Les Sultanes Rooms have a fireplace, and all have a private terrace or large balcony with garden views.
Combining with Sofitel Palais Impérial to create the Sofitel Marrakech, this stunning hotel is a city oasis with abundant facilities. In a popular area of Marrakech, the hotel is a peaceful retreat from the buzz of this exotic city. Both hotel buildings sit in beautifully manicured gardens laden with palms and bougainvillea which provide welcome shade and a sophisticated and elegant setting. As well as having fun bartering in the souks of Marrakech, you can unwind poolside with refreshing dips in the large pool when things get too hot. There’s also plenty of opportunity for a holiday workout in the fitness centre, or you can bypass this and head straight to the sauna, Jacuzzi and hammam. For a true taste of pampering and indulgence, a visit to the state-of-the-art revitalising spa is a must. The resort also has a fine array of dining. There’s organic cuisine at L’Oasis, global flavours at Le Jardin and an elegant gourmet combination of French and Moroccan influences at L’Orangerie. The So Lounge features four concepts, including the So Good, which serves international cuisine, and the So Fun with live music to dance the night away. Palais Darkum serves delicious pastries and the decadent Lawrence Bar is the place to go for a range of cocktails. The Sofitel Marrakech Lounge & Spa Hotel is home to 163 recently renovated rooms and suites, including Superior Rooms which are stylish and elegant with a balcony and views over the town, and Deluxe Rooms which have garden and pool views.
This hotel is a luxurious retreat close to Marrakech’s famous Djemaa el-Fna square. Making up Sofitel Marrakech with Sofitel Marrakech Lounge & Spa Hotel, both hotel buildings are found among beautifully manicured gardens with pretty bougainvillea and palm trees. Settle in the lounge with some traditional mint tea after a busy day exploring the souks that are just a 20-minute walk away, or choose between sun loungers and four-poster-style sun beds and spend a day by the picturesque pool. You can keep on top of your fitness routines in the modern fitness centre, or opt for a more relaxed approach with a traditional Moroccan steam bath with calming eucalyptus oil or a signature So Exhilarating Body Massage at the state-of-the-art So Spa. Dining here is a treat, where guests can choose between organic cuisine at L’Oasis, international dishes at Le Jardin and an elegant combination of French and Moroccan influences at gourmet restaurant L’Orangerie. The So Lounge features four concepts, including the So Good, which serves international dishes. Palais Darkum has delicious pastries and the decadent Lawrence Bar is the place to go for a cocktail. The recently renovated rooms and suites are modern and have views of the garden, pool or Atlas Mountains.
Marrakech is one of those places where you’ll want to really immerse yourself in the local culture and there’s no better way of doing this than staying in a traditional riad. There are six riads that make up Angsana’s luxurious collection and we’ve chosen to feature three of them: Bab Firdaus, Blanc and Si Said. Each house has been lovingly restored to their former glory with beautiful courtyards and one-of-a-kind rooms and suites. The interiors, rooms and suites are decked out with hand-made crafts, decadent décor from whimsical whites and creams to Mediterranean terracotta, and antique furnishings. While the style might transport you back in time, there are still a handful of thoroughly 21st-Century necessities like a spa (in Bab Firdaus but open to all guests), which has a large jet pool, hammam and steam bath. There’s a restaurant in the courtyard of Si Said which continues the local vibe by serving flavour-filled Moroccan and eastern Mediterranean dishes like tagines. There are 41 rooms and suites in total which are spread throughout the different riads. Riad Bab Firdaus has clean and crisp Double Comfort Rooms furnished with dark wood pieces, and spacious Junior Suites which have a living area. Over in Riad Blanc, the Double Comfort Rooms have dramatic décor such as grand headboards and mahogany furnishings but light wall colours, curtains and bedding. The Junior Suites here have large bay windows and locally crafted furniture. We love the bold colours, aromatic cedar-wood fixtures and unmistakably Moroccan décor in the Superior Rooms and Suite Maricaine at Riad Si Said.
As soon as you step over the threshold of this brand new hotel, it will strike you that it’s a truly special place. There are 28-acre gardens, which are filled with citrus and olive trees and have been exquisitely landscaped to make the most of the views of the Atlas Mountains. Grand archways create a frame and waterways draw your eye upwards to the snow-capped peaks. The hotel’s design really gives you a sense of place with palatial Moroccan architecture that’s been inspired by the 14th-Century Islamic college, Medersa Ben Youssef which you can visit during your stay in Marrakech. Oberoi know that your room is a sanctuary so they have been designed with a calming ambience and comfort in mind. But there’s also a touch of under-the-radar opulence thanks to the nods to Moroccan style and vivid splashes of colour. They are all incredibly spacious, from the Deluxe Rooms with Private Terrace to the striking Royal Villa with Private Pool which has been modelled on a majestic Indian palace. The Deluxe Villas, the ground-floor Presidential Villas and the first-floor Royal Suite all have a private pool and views over the gardens. The ode to Morocco doesn’t end with the architecture and design – the hotel’s fine dining restaurant Siniman gives you an unforgettable taste of the country, too. Mediterranean cuisine and international dishes with produce sourced from the hotel’s own organic garden are the focus at Tamimt which is decorated with grand chandeliers and intricately painted frescos. You’ll want to spend an hour or two before or after dinner at Vue, a bar that has incredible Atlas Mountain views and serves signature cocktails, fine wines and single malts.
Riad & Dar Amina
3.5
Hidden away within the medina, this is an authentic escape and a cosy retreat to return to after days spent exploring Marrakech. As with all riads, the large ornamental courtyard is the focal point here, furnished with comfortable sofas for lounging and trees and shrubs centred around the rose petal-filled fountain. It’s particularly enchanting after dark, when the tree-hung lanterns and candles cast a warm glow. Meals are served on the patio or in the lounge, and there’s a strong emphasis on Moroccan and French cuisine – home-cooked tagines are a speciality. On the rooftop there’s a sun deck and Jacuzzi. Opposite, a small dar is beautifully decorated, showcasing regional designs and beautiful painted cedar wood ceilings, and housing a hammam and massage treatment room. Rooms and suites are divided between the main riad and the smaller dar. They are simple yet delightfully presented, each with air-conditioning and a bathroom featuring a shower and brass sink encased in traditional tiling. There’s the choice between Standard Rooms, more spacious Superior Rooms, and Suites that have a sitting area and bathroom with bath and shower.
Sofitel Marrakech Lounge & Spa
Sofitel Marrakech Palais Imperial
Angsana Riads
The Oberoi Marrakech
