An Indulgent Oasis in The Red City
Kathryn Otto and partner John Coyne enjoyed a little slice of paradise at Mandarin Oriental Marrakech
Location
A short 15 minute drive through the city from Marrakech Menara Airport leads to Mandarin Oriental Marrakech, one of the city’s finest hotels. Renowned for its opulence and elegance, the hotel has welcomed many A-List guests and hosted a host of high profile weddings, including an all-white festival style party for Idris and Sabrina Elba’s nuptials back in 2019.
The city’s Medina (old town) is also just a 10 minute drive from the hotel and offers a whole host of historic sites, busy souks and the buzzing Jemaa el-Fna that really comes alive at night. For those looking for nearby places to explore, the hotel works with local guides to offer bespoke and tailor-made experiences to suit most interests. These include anything from a private visit to the Yves Saint Laurent Museum for fashion lovers, a visit to the nearby Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden for modern art lovers and hot air balloon rides over the Djebillat Desert for those who seek a little adventure.
Accommodation
Set within 20 hectares of olive groves and beautifully landscaped gardens, the opulent hotel offers a true resort experience. The property features 7 spacious 1 - 2 bedroom suites with some offering views of the hotel grounds or the Atlas Mountains. Alongside the suites, the hotel also offers 56 villas, designed by Gilles and Boissier, the famed founders of the Parisian design studio by the same name, each with its own private pool and garden and offering butler service.
Family
Families are thoughtfully catered for, with spacious villas that offer a great home-from-home and a range of activities for families to get involved in. These range from a Family Pottery Class guided by a local potter and a Golden Hour Family Photoshoot in the hotel grounds to a Honey Masterclasses, where families learn about honey production and enjoy a specially paired honey tasting menu in the organic garden. The on-site kids club also provides hours of joy for your little ones and the hotel even offers a babysitting service.
Wellness
The wellness options at Mandarin Oriental Marrakech are varied. You can enjoy treatments at the Spa (crowned the World’s Best Resort Spa at the World Spa Awards in 2024), relax with a traditional Moroccan hammam experience, play Tennis or Padel at the Fitness Centre or enjoy a glow up at the on-site Beauty Salon.
Dining
The food at the hotel is exceptional and is available in three main areas. Breakfast is a laid-back affair with a buffet served at Shirvan, which also serves up Michelin-starred cuisine by Chef Akrame Benallal in the evening. You can also enjoy relaxed poolside dining during the day at Pool Garden and indulge in some modern Cantonese flavours at Ling Ling restaurant in the evening. For those who require a quiet night in, In-Villa Dining is also available with an extensive menu on offer.
Our Experience
Marrakech had been on our bucket list for a long time, and when we noticed Mandarin Oriental was celebrating its tenth anniversary, it gave us the perfect excuse to finally visit.
We chose to fly from Liverpool Airport and booked the Aspire Lounge, which has recently undergone a total refurbishment and is now twice the size, with a standard lounge on one side and the luxe adults only space on the other. There was a wide variety of food to choose from and a large selection of drinks, which offered a lovely way to start your holiday away from the hustle and bustle of the terminal. This set the scene perfectly for the luxury weekend we were about to embark on.
After a short flight, we arrived at Marrakech Menara Airport and were greeted by our driver, who chauffeured us to Mandarin Oriental Marrakech. On arrival, we were greeted by our hosts who escorted us to the lounge, where we were served a traditional Moroccan tea, which proved to be wonderfully refreshing after our travels.
After checking in, we were taken to our villa via buggy and this was when we first realised just how plush the resort was. Everywhere was immaculate and we were surrounded by greenery and scented flowers. We also noticed each villa had high walls and tall wooden doors, making each one so private.
As the large, tall doors to our villa were opened, we were amazed by the beauty inside. Directly in front of us was a serene, deep green pool with a jacuzzi. To our right was a lounge area with two sofas and an outdoor fire pit, while to our left were sun loungers and a table and chairs, perfect for alfresco dining. We soon noticed an outdoor kitchen behind us and we hadn’t even entered the villa yet!
Once inside, we continued to be impressed. We walked through our lounge into an office area, before reaching our raised bedroom overlooking the jacuzzi and pool with double sliding doors leading outside. Our bathroom came complete with a sauna and an impressive round bath with further doors leading out to the lounge area by the pool.
We were so tempted to just stay in our villa as it was just so beautiful, but thankfully we decided to try the delights of Ling Ling on the first night, an Asian restaurant in the centre of the resort. We chose to sit outside, overlooking the impressive grounds and pool, surrounded by outdoor fires creating such a romantic atmosphere. As you come to expect at a Mandarin Oriental property, the service was impeccable and the food was so divine. Our sharing plates arrived as and when they were ready, the standout dishes for us were the sweet and sour chicken. We enjoyed our evening and Ling Ling so much that we booked again for the following evening.
After such a peaceful sleep, we enjoyed a walk around the resort, which has plenty of areas to explore, surrounded by olive trees and 10,000 roses. There was an art exhibition on display during our visit, which was part of the anniversary celebrations, full of Moroccan creativity.
We had lunch by the pool area under one of the shaded pergolas, a nice relaxed spot to enjoy a long, leisurely bite to eat. Later, we indulged in a treatment at the spa, an Oriental Essence massage, which is the spa’s signature body treatment and we soon realised why. It focused on muscle tension and relaxation and we left feeling recharged, both physically and mentally.
We have visited many beautiful places around the world, but we can say, hand on heart, that Mandarin Oriental Marrakech is possibly one of the most special places we have experienced. It’s such a magical resort with exceptional service; it is hard to believe this little slice of paradise is only a four hour flight away. We will be back for sure and be spreading the word about just how special this place is.
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