Begin an adventure of exquisite luxury amidst Morocco's lavish hospitality. Morocco offers a tapestry of luxury experiences, from the bustling souks of Marrakech to the peaceful tranquilly of the Sahara Desert. Imagine yourself ensconced in the luxurious comfort of a traditional riad, where beautiful mosaics and lush courtyards provide a haven of tranquilly.
Imagine savouring the best Moroccan food under the starry sky of a desert camp, with the calm cadence of camel hooves in the background. Morocco, with its rich history, magnificent landscapes, and legendary hospitality, offers a luxury holiday unlike any other. Allow the charm of this exotic destination to capture your senses and take your trip experience to new heights.
Kasbah Tamadot
Perched on the Atlas Mountains' foothills, overlooking the Ouirgane Valley, about an hour's drive south of Marrakech near the settlement of Asni. Although the property is located on a busy road, the lush grounds help to mask the sound of traffic. Because the property is at 4,330ft (1,320m), carry some warm clothing in the winter as it can get cool in the evening. Airport transfers can be scheduled.
Seven years of painstaking work converted this decaying hillside fortress into one of the most sumptuous High Atlas destinations, complete with planted gardens, chiselled courtyards, and opulent mountain-view apartments. Scheherazade herself would feel at ease here, floating kaftan-clad through the crazily blooming gardens and spinning tales on the lighted roof terrace while lounging on exquisitely embroidered plump pouffes.
Inside, exotically decorated salons are adorned with antiquities from the Arab Peninsula, India, and the Far East. But the real action is outside, in the beautifully groomed grounds or on the breathtaking Atlas-facing patio. Book one of the magnificent Berber tents set in the maquis, where evenings end with your own hot tub beneath a starry sky.
Tamadot provides exceptional amenities and service. Aside from the indoor (heated) and outdoor pools, there's a four-room spa with hammam and Watsu pools, a fully equipped gym, two floodlit tennis courts, a billiards room, library, and a kids' club during the school vacations. Beyond the fortifications, High Atlas trekking, camel riding, quad biking, and paragliding await. Furthermore, the Kasbah's shop sells wonderful Moroccan crafts, with earnings benefiting local community programmes.
The 28 rooms and apartments are spread throughout the property among the lovely greenery, ensuring seclusion. All of the suites have a terrace or a balcony, and one has a private pool. The Master Suite is a two-story mini-Kasbah with three bedrooms. There are also eleven Berber tents with individual decks, some of which contain private outdoor whirlpool baths.
Rooms are individually designed with antiques and furnishings purchased by former owner and antiques dealer Luciano Tempo, giving them a rich, exotic feel. All have king-sized beds, bathtubs with mountain views, and split air conditioning units to keep you warm on those cold winter nights. If you grow tired of the breathtaking mountain and valley vistas, televisions are available upon request.
The Kanoun Restaurant, which has an excellent terrace overlooking the rust-colored valley, serves Moroccan, African, and worldwide dishes. During the summer, tables are occasionally placed up by the Rooftop bar or snuggled in the garden vegetation. There is also pool service and the option to organise private dinners.
Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech
The hotel provides a resort experience and is located a 10-minute drive outside of the Medina. If you can drag yourself away from your own pool and the oasis-like gardens, a complimentary shuttle will take you to the bustling Djemaa el-Fna square.
The local surroundings are primarily golf courses, but for a taste of culture, the Museum of African Contemporary Art is right next door. Regularly changing exhibitions highlight new talent from around the continent (admission MAD 70/£5.40).
Marrakech's Menara Airport is a 15-minute drive away, as are the Jardins Majorelle and Gueliz, a popular new town shopping centre.
A line of palm palms greets you as you enter the resort and the main building, which holds the reception, two upscale restaurants (Shirvan and Ling Ling), and seven suites. French interior designers Patrick Gilles and Dorothée Boissier have embraced a relaxed but exquisite Andalusian-Arabic aesthetic, complete with curving alcoves, muted marble, and towering oak doors. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the public rooms with light, creating an unexpected yet successful departure from traditional Moroccan design.
The desert-toned buildings imply that the gardens are the actual stars. Walkways lined with aromatic olive, orange, and almond trees, as well as 100,000 multi-colored roses, provide several routes around the various ponds and large central pool, past the sand-colored cottages, vegetable garden, and massive spa complex. Candles and lanterns illuminate the gardens at night, creating a very romantic atmosphere.
Bicycles and golf buggies transport guests, which include social media personalities, wealthy families, and honeymooning couples seeking solitude.
Staff here go above and above, as one would expect of a Mandarin Oriental hotel. Each villa has a butler, and any requests for buggies, dinner reservations, or help with your hot tub may be handled by a short Whatsapp message. Exact coffee preferences are memorised during breakfast, and personnel are always ready to provide a local recommendation.
This is a full-fledged resort experience, with a massive main pool (typically vacant because most visitors stay in their villas), two tennis courts, four restaurants, and a running track. Excursions to the Atlas Mountains, cookery workshops, and Medina tours can all be scheduled.
The latter are certainly worth booking, and include visits to neighbourhood communal bread ovens and the city's secret terraces.
The distinct spa building was inspired by Andalusia's cathedrals and old mosques, and it's a true wellness temple, complete with two marble hammams, a large indoor pool, yoga studio, beauty salon and gym. Six spacious treatment rooms offer a relaxing environment for cleanses, wraps, and massages with argan oil and orange blossom (from MAD 750/£58).
The hotel does not have normal rooms, instead offering seven entry-level suites in the main structure, each with a plunge pool with views of the grounds and the Atlas Mountains beyond. These are ideal for those with limited mobility or those who prefer to be close to the restaurants and reception.
The majority of visitors, however, come to stay in one of the 54 villas spread around the 10-acre grounds, which range in size from one to four bedrooms. Each is intended as a little riad and built around a big private pool, complete with an outdoor kitchen, dining table, sofa seating, and fireplace.
Moving indoors, you may enjoy your own spa day in the marble bathroom, which features a super-sized circular tub, steam room/shower and chaise lounge, as well as Diptyque goods.
This leads to a central bedroom, which is mostly taken up by a big bed and has French doors that open into a bubbling hot tub. On the opposite side is a sophisticated living room with Moroccan delicacies left every night, though most guests will undoubtedly stay outside. Classic cream-colored linens and dark wood are used throughout, while hand-woven rugs from Rabat and tadelakt plastered walls carved with Berber figures add a feeling of place.
Make reservations at Shirvan, the Silk Road-inspired restaurant run by Michelin-starred Paris chef Akrame Benallal. This is fusion food at its best, innovative but harmonious. Enjoy sharing dishes of caramelised lamb tacos with honey and raïta, as well as tandoori roasted cauliflower with tahini, orange blossom, and almonds, best served with cheddar cheese naan. Pistachio cake for custard is a must-order.
Hakkasan's Ling Ling, which serves delicate scallop siu mai and honey-glazed black fish, also attracts beautiful young Moroccans. On most nights, you can expect DJs and dancing.
The pool café serves traditional but delicious resort fare such as club sandwiches and lobster rolls, and guests can even reserve a private meal set in the hotel's vegetable garden. For pre-dinner cocktails, head to the Tent, a cocktail/lounge bar beneath canvas.
Breakfast at all Mandarin Oriental hotels is extravagant, and Marrakech is no exception. Shirvan's buffet includes freshly baked pastries (from apple-stuffed Danish pastries to wholegrain croissants), madeleines, daily changing cakes, cookies, cold cuts, cereals, and luscious fruit. Cooked options, such as poached eggs with avocado, are purposefully small, leaving room for Moroccan pancakes slathered with honey and almond butter.
La Sultana Oualidia
La Sultana Oualidia's location right above a marine lagoon provides stunning views. When the tide recedes, sandbanks and oyster beds appear; colourful fishing boats pass by all day, and the light is buoyant and beautiful. A useful slope opposite converts Atlantic gusts into soothing zephyrs. Flamingos and migrating stilts congregate along the estuary, and a sandy beach leads to the sea and surfable waves. Unfortunately, reaching such an idyllic location requires a lengthy journey of approximately two and a half hours from Casablanca or Marrakech.
The stunning main building is a toffee-colored kasbah-style structure that cascades upwards via turrets and terraces. In the centre is a glass-roofed spa adorned with Rietveld seats. Bedrooms are more conventional, with stained-glass windows, oleander weaves, and cool tadelakt-plaster walls, but nevertheless comfortable. Greenery, birdsong, and space abound throughout the property. Your conscience can also rest easy knowing that water is reused and adjacent farmers are assisted.
The spa features a hair salon, hammam, five treatment cabins, and a heated pool. A larger, fresh-water infinity pool overlooks the saltwater lagoon, as well as a greenhouse and a small gym.
The empty sandy beach is below, followed by a fish pond and a garden adorned with roses and daybeds. A pool table calls you back inside. As if that wasn't enough, the discreet, English-speaking staff can organise yoga, kayaking, surfing, and birdwatching. Not bad for a hotel with twelve rooms.
Even the most affordable Prestige Deluxe rooms feature a small salon space, a wood-burning fireplace, a giant bed, larger marble baths, and a spacious patio with a hot tub. The sole complaint is a lack of adequate coffee machines. Suites are worth the investment because they include baths and a lot more space. King of the casbah is a top-floor apartment with two balconies ornamented with faux cannons, while a newer treehouse is little but intensely romantic.
Breakfast is served in a small pavilion, with homemade vanilla yoghurt recommended. Just outside is a lunch bar, and below that is a jetty where local oysters are served. Drinks are provided on the patio and are best enjoyed as the orange sun plunges into the sea. That's the cue to head inside to an aquarium-walled dining room with innovative fresh-fish dishes, such as crab flesh with pureed avocado.
Four Seasons Resort Marrakech
The Four Seasons, located on the outskirts of Hivernage near the regal Menara Gardens, is a 10-minute drive west of the Djemaa el-Fna. In the evenings, visitors can take advantage of complimentary car service to restaurants in the medina and beyond.
Despite its boxy architecture, this resort is great fun because to a creative layout, competent service, and some clever culinary concepts. The resort is organised around a central centre (which includes a large, well-curated boutique, lounges, and two restaurants), and it spreads out in discrete two-story pavilions and homes surrounded by well maintained gardens. Book a couple nights and plan to remain for at least a week. The only challenge will be locating a vacant room.
Four Seasons is well-known for its service, but here they've struck an excellent mix between friendliness and professionalism. It helps that many of the 300-odd employees have been here for years, and you can tell how well they've bonded.
The stylish, Miami-style outfits of bright shirts, chinos, and skirts also contribute to a carefree, contemporary atmosphere. But don't let that deceive you; everyone here, from the towel-toting pool attendants to the tennis coaches, gym instructors, spa therapists, and kids' club carers, is completely committed to giving you with the greatest service possible.
To one side of the hotel's main hub is the family pool, designed like a jigsaw with multiple levels and lots of lounging areas, as well as direct access to the kid's club; on the other side is a discreet, adult-only pool with cocktail service and a gazebo-shaded restaurant serving light lunches and live Sunday crooning. Sybarites can unwind for the day in the enormous spa (which has separate facilities for men and women), while sports enthusiasts can book bespoke lessons with professional tennis players and personal trainers.
There are 139 rooms (including 27 suites), ranging from pool-view rooms in the main structure to pavilion patio suites and a two-bedroom villa with its own pool. All of them feature balconies or patios, and the patio suites have a little plunge pool on the sun deck.
The interiors are contemporary in style and immaculately furnished. While the burnt umber and cream tones are inspired by the desert palette, the overall vibe is clean and modern, with high-shine marble flooring, dark timber furnishings, sumptuous king-sized divan mattresses with down pillows, and massive marble bathrooms with double sinks and double-ended tubs. Media hubs, DVD players, iPod docking stations, and 42-inch televisions are all included as standard.
From the modern Middle-Eastern restaurant Inara to Quattro, an Italian restaurant specialising in southern Italian cuisine, the food concepts here are innovative and executed with style.
Quattro provides Sicilian couscous with scorpion fish, fresh orange and olive salads, tiger prawns with paccheri pasta, and child-friendly pizza, all of which highlight Moorish influences in southern Italian cuisine. Similarly, on Inara's Atlas-facing terrace, classics like chicken tagine sit alongside Lebanese mezze and seared seabass with Berkoukche rice scented with saffron and preserved lemons.
The bar is also excellent, with bar master Simo delivering sophisticated drinks and lovely conversation, while Azzera, the poolside restaurant, specialises in salads and flavor-forward dishes such monkfish coconut curry. The one minor flaw is the breakfast buffet, which, despite offering a diverse selection of pastries, scrambled eggs, cold meats, and savoury foods, may become overcrowded when the hotel is full.
Azalai Desert Camp
Azalai Desert Camp is hidden in the Sahara Desert's dunes, in an area known as Chigaga, about three hours from Zagora, the largest town to the north. A four-wheel drive is required to get there; most guests stay at the Azalai Desert Lodge in Zagora. The sealed road terminates in the settlement of Mhamid, from where it is a 90-minute trip across the desert. Local guides are important because the road frequently changes with the wind.
Large white tents are decorated with rustic charm. Antique travel trunks, rustic timber furniture, rattan and carpets, and lanterns to illuminate the night all contribute to the atmosphere. Outside the tents, a sofa and coffee table are on the beach, while a fire pit and dining area are further away.
Porters, most of whom are sons of nomads, hoist luggage as if it were weightless and dash up the dunes to drop it off at your tent. Each tent has a personal butler who takes care of everything and serves welcome drinks (typically mint tea) and meals.
There is a three-hole golf course buried in the dunes, camel rides and trips to the next hamlet (nine miles distant) are available upon request, and boules and chess are put up outside the tents. If you choose to dress up, traditional men's and women's clothing is available in the tent. The camp does not function in July and August.
Four huge white canvas tents and three slightly smaller ones are separated from one another, giving the impression that you are alone in the desert. Berber carpets cover the rattan floors, which are slightly uneven, and there is a little 'deck' in front of the tent entrance. In the winter, king-sized mattresses are piled high with blankets and brocade covers, while elegant tin battery-powered lanterns offer illumination.
The bathrooms are separated from the bedroom area by a curtain, so there isn't much privacy - but this is 'camping' after all. Bathrooms have chemical toilets, pump showers with hot water (available upon request), and robes.
Mint tea, coffee, pastries, and dates are offered upon arrival, but it is the meals prepared in the camp kitchen that truly wow. Dinner is served by candlelight, with lamps strategically set on the sand along the tent's perimeter. It's a four-course set meal that combines Moroccan and French cuisine and might look like this: vegetable soup, Moroccan savoury pastries, tagine (beef or chicken), and chocolate soufflé for dessert.
Alcohol is not available, although guests may bring their own. Breakfast is provided outdoors (or inside the tent if it's windy or chilly) and includes boiled eggs, Moroccan and French pastries, fresh orange juice, and tea or coffee.
Fairmont Taghazout Bay
It is around a 45-minute drive from Agadir airport and the city proper, so vehicle rental or a hotel-arranged transfer is required. Once settled in, you'll be reluctant to leave this enormous, sand-toned resort that wraps around Taghazout Bay, affording spectacular views of the Atlantic from every aspect.
The resort, built of native stone and wood that integrates beautifully with the desert-like surroundings, descends in a series of shallow terraces and low-rise structures to one of Morocco's most pristine coasts. Long favoured by the surf and yoga crowd, its introduction adds a more mature cool to the region.
Gleaming floor-to-ceiling windows bring the brilliant blue outdoors into pared-back public areas with contemporary Moroccan handcrafts and furniture. All doors appear to lead to sleek, shaded terraces or sunken gardens, delicately fragrant with the herbs and flowers that will eventually make their way into your cocktail.
It is the epitome of bright and airy, with a heavy dose of tranquil and soothing thrown in - the kind of place where, by the time you walk from the front desk to your room, your cares and anxieties will have drifted away like the early morning mist.
In a country noted for its friendliness, the staff here is especially kind and cheerful, eager to assist and infectiously excited about both the hotel and the region. They exude pride, and it's impossible not to be captivated from the start.
Sprawling gardens are teeming with endemic plants and traversed by stone walks that lead to the ocean.
You could ride a golf cart, but it's much more enjoyable to walk and discover surprises along the way. The property's core consists of two granite-lined pools, one for families and the other for adults, each with a swim-up bar and four-poster day beds that are discreetly shrouded by purple-tinged elephant grass and lavender.
A two-story spa features traditional Moroccan beauty procedures, multiple massage rooms, a yoga studio, a hammam, and salt-water pools.
A boardwalk runs directly in front of the property, stretching from an iconic surf break at Devils Point to the beach, and a carefully curated programme of locally immersive activities includes surf and yoga workshops, visits to Argan oil co-operatives, hiking in the Anti-Atlas' hidden valleys, and sunset fishing trips (bring your catch to the Reef & Beef, and they'll cook it for you).
The rooms are sleek, basic, and wonderfully comfortable, with king-sized or twin beds heaped high with snowy sheets, deep baths, and rain showers. There's plenty of storage space, minibars loaded with gourmet goodies, and a generously equipped workstation, but the best place to be is on your balcony - which all rooms have - with a drink in hand, watching the sun set over the Atlantic.
Start your day at The Commons, where you can have m'semen (a tender Moroccan morning pancake folded into handkerchief-like squares and topped with butter and local honey), wood-fired focaccia, flawlessly poached eggs, and smoked salmon.
Beef & Reef serves Dahkla oysters, exquisite grilled chicken, and Tomahawk steaks, followed by a drink of fizz from the champagne cart on the beach terrace. If you go in the late afternoon, you can witness horses galloping through the waves, kids playing football, and the occasional camel lolloping by.
Dress for dinner in the hotel's flagship restaurant, Morimoto, where the acclaimed chef has created an unusual Japanese menu with Moroccan influences, including a superb locally caught toro with preserved lemon. Finish the night at Nola, where you'll be serenaded by a jazz trio and served a wonderfully indulgent Taghazout Old Fashioned - bourbon with date syrup and cardamom bitters.
Caravan by Habitas Agafay
A beautiful desert site about 45 minutes from Marrakech and its international airport. The tranquil location of the Agafay is the ideal complement to a busy city break spent combing the souks before arrival.
There are other activities available from the property, like camel riding, electric bike excursions, and guided treks to the surrounding Atlas Mountains, but you may prefer to rest and enjoy the pool.
It's all about reflecting the environment of rocky dunes and making the most of the outdoors with a carefully designed hippie-ish look that never feels overpowering. Cream/beige tents blend into the dusty desert slope, with only a few squat houses built in traditional style.
The rest of your time will be spent outside, from the emerald-tiled bar with its wooden canopy and hanging woven lanterns to the yoga dome adorned with well-worn Berber carpets and the white daybeds strewn around the infinity pool.
A moderate colour palette predominate, with the odd explosion of Majorelle blue in the form of a patterned pillow or standout vase. Cacti, aloe, and fountain grass are scattered throughout, and there's a particularly attractive olive tree studded with metal lights that, if you're like me, you could spend hours admiring. At sunset, the sky typically becomes a deep pink, and you can see the shapes of camels going up and down along the far horizon.
The service at the camp and on hotel-arranged tours is swift, informative, and kind. The trips are worth the extra money: don't miss out on the thrill of riding an electric mountain bike through a eucalyptus forest and into the desert, or spending a day in the Atlas Mountains at a local's home.
The facilities are extensive, ranging from two pools (note that only one is open during the low season and neither is heated) to an outdoor yoga dome and massage treatment rooms. There's also a horse and camel stable, a cooking garden, a bar, a restaurant, a fire pit and a number of seating places for pre-dinner cocktails.
One of the finest aspects of staying here is the daily schedule of complimentary events, which fosters a genuine sense of community among guests. Nevada's Burning Man festival inspired the atmosphere of this place, as evidenced by what's on offer. I enjoyed the community meal at a large table where we met and talked with people from Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom; another highlight was learning about the constellations from a local astrologer. Other activities include sunset sessions with local DJs, daily tea ceremonies, and camel rides at sunset.
The solar-powered glamping tents are divided into four categories, ranging from tiny to large: Explorer, Dune, Desert, and Atlas. The décor is fantastic, with enormous Berber rugs, patterned sofas, hardwood furniture, and smart headboards all combined. Terraces vary in size and design, from modest setups to ones with electric lamps and rattan chairs. All enjoy views of the nearby desert and the Atlas Mountains in the distance.
Private eco-bathrooms have a toilet and a shower, though water flow and temperature can vary depending on the time of day. Atlas has a fantastically comfy extra-large double bed, while the others feature a double or an extra-large double and a single. When the temperatures drop in the low season, you might expect to discover hot water bottles tucked beneath the sheets when you get home from dinner. Toiletries, a hairdryer, and a safety deposit box are all included - but don't expect televisions or phones; after all, this is a place to unwind.
Olivar has a variety of lunch and evening menus; understandably, the accent is on Moroccan cuisine, but many dishes incorporate Berber and Middle Eastern elements. There are even Mexican-inspired variations, which isn't surprising given that the Habitas company began in Tulum.
Everything is great, but the menu is limited, so if you stay for more than a few nights, you may want to try something different. That being said, the fresh and zingy fish tacos served tempura-style with mustard and burned onion at lunch were so wonderful that I ordered them twice and could have eaten them again.
Dinner is a fish tagine and chicken kapsa with crunchy garlic and tahini. There is only one house red and white wine, which seems unusual for a hotel of this level; drinks such as the Sunset (vodka hibiscus and rosemary agave syrup) are inventive and tasty. Before each meal, expect a selection of terracotta bowls loaded with thoughtful nibbles such as local bread, almonds, olives, dates, dips, cheeses, delicious fried foods, and more.
You can order juices and smoothies for breakfast (try banana, soy milk, amlou, cacao, and dates) before moving on to à la carte selections such as tomato confit quiche, eggs with sauteed cauliflower and pickled onion, and sweet banana bread with coffee mousse.
Rebali Riads
Several years ago, Morocco enthusiasts and surfers found the allure of Sidi Kaouki. It's now the go-to destination for tourists looking for a laid-back, barefoot-in-the-sand getaway that combines typical seaside charms - gold sand beaches, dramatic sunsets, bountiful seafood, fresh air, and fitness - with dependable weather.
Unless you are on your riad's top terrace, you cannot see the Atlantic. But, because it's only a two-minute walk away, you can saunter down to the beach in the morning with a cup of tea in hand and no one will notice.
A couple of local cafés (the nearest is three minutes away) and two good venues for a fish meal or supper are also nearby. If you wish to explore the area and visit Essaouira (a 20-minute drive away), a rental car is required. If you want to party, this is not the place, unless it's within your riad.
This property is designed as a mews of one- to five-bedroom homes. The larger units offer own walled gardens, enormous pools, eating terraces, and barbecue spaces, while the smaller units have shady, intimate terraces that overlook a large common pool. Each has been uniquely decorated with vibrant handwoven throws from local weavers and quirky local artworks.
The open-plan design provides plenty of space for group activities while also allowing for rest. Kitchens are well-stocked with basic cooking supplies (you can even send someone to shop for you), as well as traditional cooking equipment like terracotta tagines. Spacious living areas have open fireplaces, allowing you to cosy yourself even when the wind and rain arrive, as they can in these parts.
The service is responsive and thoughtful; if you need anything, there is always someone at reception to ask. There's a well-stocked library with board games, DVDs to borrow when you need to plug the kids in so you can sip wine in silence under the stars, and a variety of sports to participate in during the day, including tennis, horseback and camel rides along the beach (from MAD100/£8 per hour), windsurfing and boogie boarding, mountain biking and trekking.
Rebali also offers yoga sessions (£25 per person), henna tattoos, and stargazing. There's a lovely, tadelakt-lined hammam and spa on site (£40 for a scrub down; £40 for a 60-minute massage), hammocks scattered throughout the gardens, and a massive dining table on one of the terraces if you want to hire the entire place out and fill it with everyone you've ever met. The internet isn't very reliable, which offers you even more motivation to spend your time here entirely disconnected.
Rebali features 18 spacious rooms scattered across six villas and riads on many acres of land, in various layouts. Like the rest of the property, they are light and spacious, with terracotta tiled flooring and tadelakt bathrooms. Some come with balconies, while others have patios. All feature huge windows wrapped in clean white cotton, which you may open to enjoy the pleasantly refreshing Atlantic breezes during your afternoon siesta.
A delicious farmhouse breakfast featuring Moroccan breads, pancakes, eggs, and coffee is served on the main patio or in your villa. This is also the time to make reservations if you wish to enjoy a typical Berber lunch or dinner at the riad. The cuisine includes everything from grilled, locally caught fish to chicken, preserved lemon, and olive tagine.
Sign up for a hands-on cooking session with their great in-house chef Hassan, who will go over a menu with you - goats cheese briouats, sardines cooked in chermoula, smokey aubergine salads - before accompanying you to Essaouira's markets to purchase materials. Back at the riad, he'll teach you how to create the meals before everyone eats what you've worked hard for. If you wish to stock your own fridge with wine, go to Carrefour in Essaouira and request it as part of your shopping list, or visit the organic vineyard Vall d'Argan, which is a 45-minute drive away.
Hotel Sahrai
Perched on a hilltop above the Ville Nouvelle (new town), with expansive views across the city to Fez's very own Table Top - Mount Zalagh - is a great base if you find medina life claustrophobic; luckily, it's close enough if you still want to pop in and out of the souks for some retail therapy. The problem is that, while the new town is interesting to walk around, especially if you enjoy faded Art Deco architecture, there isn't much else to see.
It's worth noting that the hotel was once called as Dhar el Mehraz, and many taxi drivers still refer to it by that name - something to keep in mind if you're stopping by for drinks or supper.
General Lyautey, the military governor of the French protectorate from 1907 to 1925, used to spend his holidays at Hotel Sahrai. The only remnants of the old structure are the arches that run along the façade in a magnificent galleried terrace that remains the most bucolic site in town. Similarly, renowned French interior designer Christophe Pillet was given full reign to combine elements of historic Fassi design, such as the intricately carved plaster walls of the dining room and bedrooms, and the hand-beaten, filigree brass lanterns of the spa, with a more contemporary aesthetic.
Exposed Taza sandstone and elegant geometric streams define indoor and outdoor spaces, while floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows flood the space with glittering North African light. Contemporary Italian furniture, subdued Beni M'gild Moroccan rugs, and lush greenery keep the interiors stylish yet calm.
Because of the extensive amenities available, many visitors never leave the five-star hotel. It boasts three restaurants and two bars, a cutting-edge gym, and an L-shaped infinity pool where you can swim laps down one side and float about on the other while admiring the vista.
Sahrai is home to the only Givenchy spa in North Africa, complete with opulent marble steam rooms and a jade green dipping pool. A top-flight hammam scrub costs roughly £30, while a magnificent 75-minute massage with rose essential oils costs £100. There is also a couples treatment room with a separate terrace for some post-treatment canoodling.
This is a sizable pad with 50 guest rooms, all generously proportioned and with the same floor-to-ceiling picture windows that make the rest of the space feel so light and airy. I really appreciate room 314, which has the nicest views of the pool and the city (from a conveniently located chaise longue). There is also a workstation, which is a wonderful addition in these days of itinerant working, cable television, and plenty of wardrobe space.
The bathrooms are a less successful piece of design, enclosed within a glass case with drapes that are difficult to pull and a sunken bath that is so difficult to get into that it might be a genuine headache for anyone except the most agile.
Relais de Paris, a bistro-style restaurant, does decent food well; try the excellent value steak frites and a big French salad for roughly £18. Amaraz, the hotel's premier restaurant, offers a selection of solid Moroccan cuisine and less successful Lebanese favourites.
The rooftop tapas bar and bodega, complete with a conservatory-style chill-out room, is more relaxing and a popular destination for late-night beverages during the summer months.
Thursday nights feature complimentary tapas from 7 to 8 p.m., with live music on Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday brunch (all you can eat for £28) is a delightful way to spend a couple of hours, complemented by a refreshing bottle of locally produced Moroccan rosé.
Breakfasts are a huge buffet event, groaning under the weight of Moroccan breads and pastries, fruits salads, and farmhouse cheeses, as well as some more traditional dishes like bessara (fava bean) soup laced with spice.
The Capaldi
The Capaldi estate has 15 acres and is located 35 minutes south-west of Marrakech. While it's a bit of a hike into town, it's a wonderful position just five minutes from the Lalla Takerkoust lake on the edge of the Agafay Desert and 15 minutes from Amizmiz (the starting point for climbs up Mount Toubkal). For the ultimate experience, combine a few days here with a stay at the sister hotel, Riad Capaldi, in Marrakech. Airport trips start at about €45 (£41).
This beautifully landscaped, 23-room country resort adds a touch of luxury to the Moroccan countryside. The two-story main house, draped in jasmine, spills out onto well-landscaped gardens centred on a huge mirror-like pool. Peering through the bougainvillaea and palms reveals a jigsaw of cubist cottages, housing rooms, and suites to suit all budgets and tastes.
Snaking paths lead you out of the main villa to a cinema and a large separate structure with a superb restaurant with a spacious bar and lounge (fire-lit at night) and an outside terrace for summer eating.
There is a second heated pool and a stylish summer house with sofas for nighttime parties. It's extremely nicely designed, stylish yet relaxing, and a good value.
Ed and Tara Lyle, the proprietors, are gregarious hosts who provide the kind of heartwarming hospitality that only local owners can. Aside from the two pools (one heated), hammam, spa, library, and home cinema, you may experience the entire Moroccan environment, including trekking in the Atlas foothills, paragliding, and waterskiing at the neighbouring Lalla Takerkoust lake. To get the whole experience, combine your stay here with a few days at the Lyle's second property, Riad Capaldi in Marrakech.
With eight different room classifications, The Capaldi provides a wide choice of excellent accommodations at a very reasonable price. Choose from huge double rooms with views in the main villa, quiet garden suites (some with own pools), and even one or two magnificent villas. All have king-size beds, fireplaces, and separate dressing facilities. As you move up the scale, you'll find a Juliet balcony or private patio, and the two Deluxe Pool Suites each have their own pool and loggia-covered terrace.
Design-wise, the property has a simple Moroccan flavour. pleasant colour washes in sand, taupe, charcoal, and beige provide a pleasant backdrop for intriguing objets d'art, glittering brass lanterns, carved furniture, and vibrant throws and cushions.
Breakfast on the terrace is hard to top in the summer, while in the winter, guests gather around the enormous central fireplace. Menus are reduced down, but to great effect, demonstrating that less is frequently more. For breakfast, fresh breads and jams are served alongside steaming hot coffee and tea, while à la carte options include light herb omelettes, scrambled eggs, and salmon.
Lunch features a tapas-style menu with all of the usual suspects (club sandwiches, burgers), as well as some nice light plates of fish and salads made with garden leaves and herbs.
Chef Hassni puts on a show in the evening, however. With a history in Michelin-starred restaurants, he creates contemporary dishes with a subtle French flair. Expect artichoke carpaccio with passion fruit vinaigrette or locally sourced duck in red jus with caramelised apple. There's a well-curated wine list with French and Moroccan options to complement.
Conclusion
Ultimately, Morocco's best hotels embody luxury amidst the country's alluring scenery. From the magnificent riads of Marrakech's old medina to the elite beachside resorts on the Atlantic coast, each business provides an unrivalled blend of indulgence and sophistication.
Morocco's finest hotels offer an exceptional experience against a backdrop of breathtaking mountains, sun-kissed deserts, and blue oceans, with every detail expertly tailored to suit to the most demanding preferences. Immerse yourself in the sumptuous comforts and polished elegance of these getaways, where every moment is a celebration of luxury and refinement, creating a lasting impression of extravagance on your Moroccan adventure.
