La Mamounia has always been the Grand Dame of Marrakech hotels, and now, after an extensive multi-million dollar renovation, she is more than ready for her encore.
The grounds of La Mamounia were originally a wedding gift to a Moroccan prince back in the 18th century, a lush garden of olive trees where the hotel was built in the 1920s.
Its original style was heavy Art Deco, and its guest list was a who’s who, with everyone from Winston Churchill to Elton John having stayed here. Today, guests of La Mamounia today are experiencing a much more luxurious experience than ever before.
La Mamounia was closed for three years starting in 2006, and while its trademark pink façade still stands, inside the hotel is much improved. French designer Jacques Garcia strengthened the Mamounia’s Moroccan look, while still keeping a touch of its old Art Deco flavour. A subterranean spa was added, rooms were made larger and patios and terraces were added.
The style now is distinctly North African, pulled together with stylish French flair. There are fewer rooms, just over 200 guestrooms, all luxuriously appointed with traditional woodworking, Garnier-Thiebaut linens and bath products made specifically for La Mamounia. Rates range from MAD 5,250 ($650 USD) per night for a classic room overlooking the hotel’s front entrance, to MAD 8,250 ($1,200 USD) for a smaller suite to MAD 72,000 ($9,000) for an opulent three-garden Riad, complete with private dining room and private swimming pool and terrace.
The hotel now boasts of four fine restaurants; Le Marocain offers local cuisine in arched dining nooks, le Pavillion de la Piscine serves breakfast and a Mediterranean buffet lunch poolside, Le Français offers formal French dining, while L’Italien offers up traditional Italian cuisine. Guests may also satisfy their sweet tooth at Le Menzeh, a garden ice-cream hut.
The brand new Mamounia Spa offers a wide variety of pampering services including hammam bathing and outdoor massage cabins. Its marble and mosaic décor is soothing and clean, while the spas signature treatments with Ghassoul clay or orange blossom water are bound to make guests feel lovely and relaxed.
One thing remains the same, and it is likely la Mamounia’s strongest feature, and that is its proximity to historic Marrakech, just moments from Djemaa el Fna square and the stunning 12th century Koutoubia Mosque.