When travel resumes we would love to return to Marrakech to explore the souks of the Medina, dine on fragrant tagine on open air rooftops and unwind at one of the many stunning Riad spas.
There is certainly an abundance of choice for luxurious accommodations in Marrakech, from the Royal Mansour to La Mamounia to the Selmann. Unbeknownst to us at the time of planning, our trip happened to coincide with the Dior Cruise Collection Show in Marrakech, which made hotel and restaurant bookings a bit more tricky.
Places to Stay, Dine and Experience in the Heart of the Medina
Riad 144, a lovely boutique design hotel is a hidden treasure within the grand maze of the Medina. Riad 144 exudes contemporary design whilst maintaining essences of traditional Morrocan decor. It is very conveniently located within walking distance to the markets, souks, restaurants and museums.
One of the dishes you must try at Riad 144 is their Lemon Chicken Tagine, made from a secret family recipe from the Chef. We had a relaxing dinner on the rooftop terrace one evening as the sun slowly set over the Atlas mountains. What a beautiful crimson desert sunset as we enjoyed Moroccan Gris wine.
After a few hours of wandering the souks of the Medina, pop into Nomad for a lovely quiet reprieve. Nomad is a great alfresco spot to take a break and enjoy some cold refreshments or lunch in between perusing the Medina.
With its rooftop overlooking the Medina, Nomad offers a chilled out vibe and a perfect vantage point away from the hustle and bustle of the spice markets below.
A few traditional and must try dishes at Nomad are the Nomad Couscous and the Chicken Pastilla. Pastilla is a traditional sweet and savoury Moroccan pastry made from crêpe-like werqa dough similar to filo pastry and savoury slow-cooked meat or vegetables in broth and Moroccan spices. A sweet version of pastilla can also be served as a dessert. The Vegetarian Pastilla was filled with sauteed spiced market vegetables, caramelized onions with dates and a crunchy layer of toasted and ground almonds, cinnamon, and sugar.
The Nomad couscous was made from a slow braised preserved lemon infused beef over spiced fresh seasonal vegetables and wheat couscous. The refreshing Moroccan Iced Green Tea with local herbs and fresh mint went nicely well with these dishes.
Another great spot in the heart of the Medina for sunset drinks or dinner is Terrasse des Epices. Terrasse des Epices has an expansive terrace perfect for alfresco dining under the stars in the evening. Founded by Nicholas Nancy in 2007, it offers a wonderful inviting atmosphere along with good food and service. You could easily spend a whole evening here.
Terrasse des epices offers both a traditional Moroccan and International menu with many dishes to select from. The Assortment of Morrocan salads is a great sharing starter for the table and enables you to sample the various traditional spices and ingredients.
A must try on the menu is the Makfoul Tagine a slow braised lamb in broth and spices. The lamb was well-braised and tender. We soaked up every last bit of the sauce with the accompanying couscous and bread.
Another specialty at Terrasse des epices is the Chocolate Pastilla, which is the sweet version of the traditional pastilla pastry.
If you are only planning to venture into the Medina to spend a night or two, El Fenn is your destination. A boutique hotel with a 7,000 square foot rooftop terrace, bar & restaurant, spa, three swimming pools, 31 guest rooms and a shop for you to explore. Owned by Vanessa Branson, sister to Sir Richard Branson, El Fenn oozes art and design with traditional rich jewelled tones, natural textures and a beautiful contemporary art collection.
Enjoy an evening tipple or dinner at El Fenn's rooftop bar and restaurant. Experience the rooftop terrace's chilled out atmosphere and stunning close-up views of the iconic Koutoubia Mosque.
Places to Stay, Dine and Experience in surrounding areas of the Medina
La Mamounia Palace is of a symbol of elegance and luxury and has been around for almost a century. With its sprawling gardens and olive groves, its grounds are a palace oasis like no other. La Mamounia is also home to one of the best spa and hammams in Marrakesh.
If you are planning on visiting on a weekend, the poolside Sunday brunch is a must with its ample Seafood Bar and roast carving stations. Heaps of Lobster, King Crab legs, oysters, and shrimp - all for to you devour in a beautiful setting.
With relaxing poolside views like this, it certainly is an easy way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon at La Mamounia.
For a tranquil and serene experience, definitely book yourself into Chenot Spa at the Selman. Chenot Spa simply put is a beautiful sanctuary with indoors and outdoor pools each offering their own form of healing therapies and relaxation.
Chenot Spa offers your mind and body a new approach to regain its biological rhythm and balance, Biontology. A personalised nutritional programme and treatments are provided to each guest to help activate the process of toxin elimination in the body. Chenot Spa offers treatments aimed to release the energy blocked within the body, with a draining and toning effect.
If you are looking for a bit of culture and inspiration, head over to the Yves Saint Laurent Museum and Majorelle Garden. The Majorelle Garden is one of the most enchanting and mystical gardens in Morocco adorned with the infamous vibrant blue hues throughout.
The infamous blue hue is dotted throughout the gardens and is absolutely captivating.
Pop into Cafe Le Studio for an alfresco lunch at the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, offering traditional Morrocan fare and creative French dishes. Cafe Le Studio takes its name from Yves Saint Laurent's workspace in Paris and 'evokes the calm and intimate environment where the designer would retreat and work.'
Saving the best for last...the Royal Mansour....the grand dame of Marrakech. The Royal Mansour has been uniquely designed to incorporate elements of an authentic medina with luxury riads and corridors of winding alleyways within the grounds of the palace. The palace oozes sophistication and luxury.
In addition to the luxury riads and immaculate grounds, there are many gastronomic delights to discover at the Royal Mansour with Chef Yannick Alléno at La Grande Table Marocaine and Le Jardin and Massimiliano Alajmo at Sesamo. Enjoy inventive cocktails at the relaxed setting of Le Jardin's terrace bar, situated within the beautiful grounds of Royal Mansour before or after dinner.
Normally I don't have too much commentary regarding an airport, however the architectural design of the Marrakesh Menara Airport facade captured my eye.
Considered one of the most beautiful airports in the world, the terminal extension of the Marrakech Menara Airport features arabesques made of 24 rhombuses and three triangles. Designed by Swiss Architects E2A Architecture, the building illustrates well how both contemporary design and traditional cultural motifs can intersect.
In continuation of the airport theme, we had connected via Madrid airport en route home and there is one stop that all foodies must pop into. As for the creme de la creme of airport amenities...an Ibérico Jamon tasting at Origins by Enrique Tomas.
Yes, a glorious tasting plate of four different types of Ibérico Jamon spanning its flavour profiles of smooth, aromatic, intense to tasty. From Gran Reserva, Ibérico de Cebo, Cebo de Campo to Ibérico de Bellota all paired with a lovely Cava or Rioja.
I was sooo tempted to pick up a whole leg of Ibérico Jamon as my carryon, though was met with a look of disapproval by my travel companion. I eventually settled for a few vacuum packed parcels though had I been by myself....well we all know what would have happened.
And I will now leave you with this heavenly thought of Ibérico Jamon tasting...simply divine.
LOCATIONS
Riad 144
Derb Sidi Ahmed el Barj N° 93 Kaa Sour, Sidi Ben Slimane,
Marrakech 40000, Morocco
+212 (0) 5243-86469
La Mamounia
Avenue Bab Jdid, Marrakesh 40040, Morocco
+212 (0) 5243-88600
Selman Marrakech
Route d'Amizmiz، Marrakesh 40160, Morocco
+212 (0) 5244-59600
Royal Mansour
Rue Abou Abbas El Sebti
40000, Morocco
+212 52980-8080
El Fenn
Derb Moulay Abdullah Ben Hezzian, 2,
Marrakesh 40000, Morocco
+212 (0) 5244-41210
Terrasse des epices
5, Souk Cherifia, Sidi Abdelaziz,
Marrakech Medina, Morocco
+212 (0) 5 243-75904
Nomad
1 Derb Aarjane, Medina
Marrakesh 40000, Morocco
+212 (0) 5243-81609
Musee Yves Saint Laurent and Cafe Le Studio
Rue Yves St Laurent
Marrakech 40000, Morocco
+212 (0) 5242-98686
Origins by Enrique Tomas - Madrid Airport
Madrid Airport, Terminal 4,
Floor 1, Boarding area J