Built into the wall of the old city, Royal Mansour sits on the very edge of the bustling souks and vibrant life Marrakech is so famed for. Not to worry though, the 53 stand-alone riads that make up this marvel are surrounded by over 14,000 square-metres of landscaped gardens, walled off from the rest of the world within their very own luxurious medina with vista after vista of winding paths, delicate fountains, marble pavements and Moorish arches.
A riad, derived from classical Arabic term for garden, is a traditional Moroccan house or palace with an open-air interior garden. Of the 53 that are available in the Royal Mansour, all are three stories tall but they differ in size from one to four bedrooms. Each contains works by leading artisans, a private courtyard with a fountain and a canopy that automatically closes when the sensors detect rain, a living room with an open fire and a plunge pool situated on the rooftop terrace. One other notable sybaritic highlight is the private butler that comes with every accommodation – when you need him he will magically appear, for he, like all the hotel’s 500 staff members, uses underground tunnels and hidden elevators to navigate the property discretely.
Stepping inside, the interiors are bedecked with traditional tiling, ornate cedarwood carvings, and tadelakt plaster finishes. Beds are by Simons, linen by Porto and Philips provide the ubiquitous flat-screen TVs. The larger lodgings include extra sitting rooms, galleries and a further al fresco rooftop dining area. But no matter which size you opt for, the roof terrace will be the crowning feature with views that range from overlooking the sparkling city to marvelling at the magnificent Atlas Mountains.
Should you wish to leave your personal haven, there’s an extravagant 2,500-square-metre spa, an indoor and outdoor pool, a kids club, a gym and two gastronomic restaurants, both of which are supervised by Yannick Alléno, who brought three Michelin stars to Le Meurice in Paris. La Grande Table Marocaine serves local cuisine while La Grande Table Française is probably already the best French restaurant in Africa. Of course, staying within your riad could well prove irresistible, if that’s the case you’ll have to decide whether you prefer to laze it out in bed, pomp it up in the courtyard or get romantic under the stars on the rooftop terrace.
While the aim was to be the best in Morocco, the result is possibly the finest hotel in North Africa, the Royal Mansour is worthy of praise indeed.
WHAT Royal Mansour
WHERE Rue Abou Abbas El Sebti, Marrakech
WHEN Officially open since July 2010
WHY Morocco’s flagship hotel is not just a sybaritic paradise, it is also a showcase for national decorative arts. With its dedication to service, privacy and customer satisfaction this is the most exciting hotel to open in the Middle East for some time.
www.royalmansour.com
