Hotel La Mamounia, Marrakech (what you need to know: ultimate guide)
La Mamounia hotel has been captivating its guests for over 100 years. Contemporary characters fall in love with it as much as Hitchcock did in the 1940s.
Located in a city that impresses with its sumptuousness, the La Mamounia hotel in Marrakech also wins hearts. It is a haven of tranquillity among the hustle and bustle that characterises the city. Here, Moroccan hospitality merges with the extravagance of its finishes.
La Mamounia has been captivating its guests for over 100 years. Contemporary characters fall in love with it as much as Hitchcock did in the 1940s.
A pretty gift
The La Mamounia hotel in Marrakech began as a wedding gift. In the 18th century, the Alaouite Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah gave his son Mamoun a 13,000 m2 orchard. Mamoun used this space as the official site for his garden parties.
Two centuries later, the Moroccan Railway Company chose this place to build a hotel because of its natural wealth. And it was in 1923 that La Mamounia was inaugurated.
The hotel was designed by French architects Henri Prost and Antoine Marchisio. The fusion of regional architectural codes with Art Deco gave it the magic that has represented it for over 100 years. Berber tapestries and zelliges - traditional tiles - decorate every corner of this resort.
"His initial conception of the project ultimately coincided with the idea of change of scenery and relaxation that the foreign tourist, already nourished with orientalist literature and exotic dreams, hoped to find in these places." -Khireddine Mourad, poeta y escritor.
Icon of Marrakech
La Mamounia became an icon when The Man Who Knew Too Much was filmed there. Alfred Hitchcock was a trendsetter in the 1950s. Charles Chaplin, Ford Coppola, and Roosevelt are just some of the characters influenced by Hitchcock who slept under the roof of this enormous palace.
La Mamounia hotel has 135 rooms and 72 suites; you will find elegance and comfort in every corner.
The rooms
Zouac (traditional Moroccan painting) and Moucharabieh (wooden latticework gazebos) ceilings create a welcoming, yet always elegant atmosphere. Deluxe rooms feature private outdoor spaces. Panoramic views of the exclusive gardens, the Atlas Mountains, and the famous 12th-century mosque.
Suites
King size bed or two single beds, down pillows and cushions, and solid cotton bed linen with hand-made details. Bathrooms have a marble bathtub and shower, and plush bath linens are from Maison Garnier Thiebaut. Carpets are handmade by local Berber artisans.
The cost per night in low season - November - is 10,920 MAD (1,101 USD). On the hotel's website, there are some offers available such as booking five nights for the price of four.
Exceptional suites
The six exceptional suites are an ode to Moroccan history and art. Every detail represents the hotel's refined signature. Textured fabrics, bathrooms decorated with veined marble, splashes of zelliges, and paintings by Jacques Majorelle are some of the features of these rooms.
From the one that bears the soul of Winston Churchill to the one with princely decor for the most passionate guests.
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Gastronomic offer
International flavours come together in the resort's four restaurants. Mediterranean, Italian, Asian, and Moroccan cuisine blend to meet - and exceed - the expectations of even the most discerning palates.
Next to the outdoor pool, the Le Pavillon de la Piscine buffet awaits you for a first-class breakfast. The flavours are fresh and aromatic. The main attraction is the grilled cuts of meat and the desserts by Pierre Hermé. His style is inspired by the Pavillon de la Menara in Marrakech.
LʼItalien and LʼAsiatique compete for food, but you choose which one to go to depending on your craving. LʼItalien offers Italian flavours with a Moroccan touch. The style is that of an upmarket trattoria where the kitchen spaces are interspersed with the tables. At LʼAsiatique you travel directly to Southeast Asia to Japan. There, avant-garde sushi and curry dishes take centre stage. Both restaurants are run by French-American chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
For dinner, the unbeatable Le Marocain. The hospitality of Marrakech embraces you in this place. An Andalusian music trio accompanies you throughout the evening. The staff welcomes you as if you were part of their family and the flavours convey the subtlety of Morocco. The dishes are made with spices and vegetables grown in the hotel's gardens. Delight your palate with a makfoul: a tagine of pressed veal leg, with candied tomatoes and onions.
The corners of the La Mamounia hotel in Marrakech
Over the last 100 years, the La Mamounia hotel in Marrakech has positioned itself as the most luxurious on the continent. In addition to the suites and the gastronomic offer, the resort has unique spaces that make your stay a fairy tale.
Its gardens are specially designed. These break with the reddish color of the entire city and highlight the green of nature. It is here where aromatic herbs, fruit trees and some sculptures give life to this space.
Likewise, La Mamounia has four bars where classic and signature cocktails brighten up your stay. Apart from drinks, they have snacks with all the flavor of Morocco.
As the well-being of the guests is part of the hospitality that characterizes them, at La Mamounia there is a spa. There you can choose, from a wide range of treatments, the one that suits your needs. If you want a different haircut, ask for a new look at the hotel's beauty salon.
Do you want a movie night? You have a date with the seventh art at Le Cinéma. The hotel's cinema room seats 20 people. This is where Pierre Hermé shows off his snacks and popcorn, and a different film is shown daily.
