Marrakech Hotels
$$$$ (over Dh2000)
$$$ (Dh1150 to Dh2000)
$$ (Dh400 to Dh1150)
$ (under Dh400)
These rates are for a double room per night and include all taxes and breakfast unless otherwise stated.
Luxury
Opened in the 1940s as a restaurant, La Maison Arabe was a popular dining place for the rich and famous (Winston Churchill was a patron). It closed in the 1980s but reopened in 1998 as a hotel under the new ownership of Italian blueblood and African antiques collector Frederic Ruspoli. His collection is now the centerpiece of luxuriously restored suites and rooms, most with private terraces, set around central courtyards. In terms of luxury, its suites rival La Mamounia, and the in-house restaurant and hammam (traditional steam-bath) are well worth a visit. The pool is a 20-minute drive away, but it's served by an hourly shuttle bus.
1 Derb Assehbe, Bab Doukkala, Medina
Tel: (024) 387 010.
Website: www.lamaisonarabe.com
Price: $$$
Set within lush gardens (once the royal grounds of the Sa'adians) and with fine views of the Atlas mountains, this art deco luxury hotel has been the place to stay for the rich and famous since it opened in the 1920s. Winston Churchill described it as 'the loveliest spot in the whole world' and was a frequent visitor - the Churchill Piano Bar is named in his honour. In its heyday, it wasn't so much a hotel as a way of life, with a casino to rival Monte Carlo and silver screen movie stars sipping highballs at high tea. Sadly, the addition of a conference centre and refit in the mid 1980s left it more kitsch than elegant, and its haughty staff and erratically enforced dress policy can be off-putting. However, a major overhaul is now in progress to restore La Mamounia's grande dame status, and bookings are already filling up for its comeback. It's expected to reopen in 2008.
Avenue Bab Jedid, Medina
Tel: (024) 388 600.
Website: www.mamounia.com
Price: $$$$
Moderate
This riad (courtyard guest house) is the definition of Marrakech cool, with its blend of traditional lofty architecture, handsome custom-made furnishings, and ultramodern bathroom fittings by Philippe Starck. Proprietors Michael and Michel are blazing the trail for responsible riad tourism with clever use of natural light and solar energy, contributions to local charities, and standard-setting wages for their top-notch staff. With such thoughtful attention to detail, restorative massages, and an acclaimed in-house chef, the Al Massarah is an idyllic spot to unwind by day and sleep exceptionally well at night.
26 Derb Jedid, Bab Doukkala, Medina
Tel: (024) 383 206.
Website: www.riadalmassarah.com
Price: $$
A snug, comfortable riad with four standard rooms and two suites, well located for the Jemaa el Fna, the Badi and Bahia Palaces and the souks. The large living room invites banter among guests but the real hang-out spot is the kitchen, where you can watch the in-house chef create tasty meals from scratch and pick up a few pointers. Sunny balconies and a shaded roof terrace with a view of the Koutoubia make the Eden a heavenly retreat at the right price.
25 Derb Jedid, Medina
Tel: (072) 046 910.
Price: $$
Website: www.riadeden-marrakech.com
Other Recommendations
Tucked behind the Jemaa el Fna and down the block from the Koutoubia mosque, the Jardins de la Koutoubia has 72 rooms and suites, clustered around a palm-filled courtyard with a large pool, decked out in a smart, spiffy, modern Moroccan style. Another major draw is its sleek, serene spa, which offers traditional hammam treatments with skincare from Clarins Paris. The piano bar is a prime spot for an evening cocktail, and you can dine on a range of international cuisines from India to France on the patio, garden, or rooftop. While the rather steep rates don't include breakfast or the personalised service you'd get from competitively priced medina riads, for location and space it can't be beaten.
26 Rue de la Koutoubia, Medina
Tel: (024) 388 800.
Website: www.lesjardinsdelakoutoubia.com
Price: $$$
Once the retreat of a German ambassador and antiques collector, this elegant guest house is a maze of historic riads set around five courtyards and faceted with private balconies, terraces, staircases, and lightwells. Each of the 12 rooms and suites has its own décor scheme with custom furnishings and antiques. They range from the cupola-capped Ottoman suite with Turkish tile and latticework harem balcony to the Chaouen junior suite with an 18th-century Moroccan woodwork ceiling and inviting fireplace. Among the mansion's many charms are a pool with Jacuzzi, subterranean hammam, in-house chef, and well-stocked libraries and wine cellar. The hidden location offers both serenity and convenience: it's at the end of a quiet, winding alley just off a bustling souk, five minutes' walk from the Jemaa el-Fna.
87 Derb Moulay Abdelkader
Tel: (024) 378 655.
Website: www.riyadelcadi.com
Price: $$$
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