La Mamounia Hotel in Marrakech: A Feast for The Eyes, Pleasure and Opulence

Few hotels supersede your imagination of an oriental, alluring and exotic Marrakech experience. Every inch of this palatial style hotel enhances the experience of having arrived in a regal estate of an Arabian kingdom. Marrakech itself is a doorway to all senses: exotic and tantalizing, fragrant, radiant and humming. Seduced by the light, colors and artisanship, international socialites and artists have set down roots for centuries.

At La Mamounia, no embellishment is too extravagant. The name itself inspires a search for escapism. I felt like I had arrived at a delightful grand secret palace. You might be sharing your experience with legends, fashion designers, Arabian princes and their entourage, authors and artists-anyone with exquisite taste. For many travelers, La Mamounia is synonymous with Marrakech itself.  The hotel is famous for its stunning blend of Art Deco and Orientalist style. Vibrant mosaic tile, intricate stucco, carved woodwork and boldly lacquered ceilings embrace your visual experience, whereas the scents from the 20-acre lush gardens embalm your senses and give you a sense of having arrived in an oasis of peace, hidden away from the bustle of the nearby medieval souks.

Greeted by the impressive doormen, the journey inside is a luxurious choreographed experience is unfolding wherever you look, from vibrant saffron-yellow hued lacquered ornate ceilings, lush furniture and exotic intricate décor. The hotel represents an escape and a sensorial journey celebrating a refined Moroccan lifestyle: an exquisite exercise in style, a daydream which invites you to taste, feel, touch and sense.

Opulence, yes. Excess, no. This hotel has not lost any of her powers of seduction. Suspense is maintained by the innovative play of light and shadow, conspiring to create a sense of mystery. La Mamounia is a veritable anthology of Moroccan craftsmanship.

The myths and legends of the city’s glamorous bohemian history all set foot at La Mamounia. The property has lured discerning international travelers since its opening in 1923. Among its guests, Winston Churchill took up residence for long periods of time, painting. Several movies were filmed here, such as Hitchcock’s ‘The Man Who Knew Too Much’. World-class chefs captain the 4 restaurants, all offer unique and different dining experiences.

Lush courtyards offer peaceful visual delights, one of my favorites is the ‘Tea Salon’ in the glass covered courtyard, where colored glass panels create everchanging reflections on the polished stone surfaces. Huge lanterns, made by local craftsmen in the nearby souk, adorn the spaces throughout.

A water filled courtyard off the lobby is mesmerizing in its visual richness, and the sheer fact that it is for your eyes only.  

The hotel has undergone a series of renovations. Most recently 3 years of extensive reconstruction by Jacques Garcia in 2009. The myth about the myth, the refuge of the traveler to the orient is Garcia’s description of the boldly reconfigured palace.

La Mamounia is located in the Hibernage District which was opened in the ‘Roaring Twenties’ as a winter haven for French diplomats. The hotel is within walking distance to the old medina, yet La Mamounia is an oasis of peace.

“Wherever I travel, I visit amazing hotels with extraordinary guest experiences. La Mamounia was my highlight in Marrakech. Which hotel is your favorite?”

Address: Avenue Bab Jdid, Marrakesh 40040, Morocco