Our Favorite Spots in Marrakech

10.04.2024

© Le Riad Monceau and Bistro Arabe, Topolina Shop, and La Fondation Jardin Majorelle.

It’s THE easy destination, the ultimate sure bet that always delights. Marrakech has everything you need for both family vacations and romantic getaways. Just a 3-hour flight from Paris, it offers sunny weather (even in November!), places full of history, dream hotels, and vibrant restaurants...

SETTLE INTO THE NEW OASIS AT CLUB MED

Never short on (good) ideas, Club Med has launched a new concept: the Family Oasis. Inaugurated on May 15 at Club Med La Palmeraie in Marrakech, where just 20 years ago, Henri Giscard d’Estaing launched his famous premium upgrade policy, this new opening highlights the brand's focus on families.
Of course, the existing village already offers many facilities for children and teenagers, but thanks to this true village within a village, designed exclusively for tribe vacations, Club Med cleverly strengthens its offer.

The Family Oasis, named Ksar after the fortified Moroccan villages surrounded by pisé walls, unfolds its one-story buildings in the heart of a garden dotted with pools and water basins for the little ones, with an entire range of water games. There are 66 family suites with two bedrooms, preserving the parents' privacy, all with a garden or terrace and one or two bathrooms. The décor, designed by interior designer Laurent Maugoust, emphasizes the codes of a true Moroccan atmosphere: zelliges, Majorelle blue, or the green of palm trees.
Families staying at the Ksar of course enjoy the famous all-inclusive formula, all the services dedicated to children, including the new Baby Club Med, welcoming toddlers from 4 to 23 months, complementing the mini Club for ages 4-10, the Teens Club for ages 11-13, and the Chill Pass Club for ages 14-17. No restaurant here, but a lounge bar, furnished with colorful sofas and armchairs, placed in the center of the gardens.

As for dining, nothing changes: everyone gathers at the massive indoor and outdoor restaurant, where themed buffets are spread out. And don’t worry, this new family oasis won’t create a rush at the buffets: it’s proven that mealtimes differ based on nationalities, families, couples, and groups of friends...

A tip : at least one evening a week, for a bit more intimacy, book at El Kébir restaurant, where you can enjoy Moroccan specialties in an elegant setting. Lastly, the numerous sports facilities (tennis courts, golf practice range, archery, flying trapeze, yoga school...) offer the whole family an active vacation. La Palmeraie is 10-15 minutes from downtown, and shuttles run every hour between the club and the city.

Club Med La Palmeraie, Sidi Yahya La Palmeraie, Marrakech 40000, Morocco.

STAY IN STELLA CADENTE’S NEW BOUTIQUE HOTEL

The perfect spot for a romantic getaway! Stella Cadente has just opened a hotel in Marrakech. No surprise: our beloved designer, known for her boundless creativity, has been living in Morocco for ten years!
Close to the Medina, this two-story boutique hotel revolves around a blue patio with a central fountain. It houses 7 rooms, each unique, named after a tale from One Thousand and One Nights, where Stella elevates Moroccan craftsmanship. Color reigns supreme: navy blue for The Two Viziers, soft green in Sinbad the Sailor… The whole place is spiced up with photos of Stella and Florian Claudel, with whom she created a design and decoration agency in 2010.

We loved having meals on the rooftop in azure hues, surrounded by bougainvillea. The perks? The Riad offers massages, including a signature treatment imagined by Stella herself. Special mention for the super-stylish boutique.
Maison Stella Cadente, Riad Laarousse 29, Derb el Guerraba, Marrakech 40000. Room starting from €170.

LUNCH AT A UNIQUE RESTAURANT

We love having lunch at La Famille in the shade of lemon trees. Good news for vegetarians: the menu is entirely dedicated to them and changes daily. Seasonal vegetable dips, the day’s salad made with barley semolina, fresh fruits and vegetables with plenty of herbs, pasta revisited with lemon, zucchini strips, mushrooms, and figs... We fell for the focaccia pizza with herb pestos and grilled vegetables.
Finally, another aspect we love: the service and the kitchen are run by women.

The bonus : La Famille is proud of its boutique with a lovely selection of wooden, brass, or wicker home decor items and jewelry signed by Stephanie Jewels. Don’t forget to book!
La Famille, Derb Jdid 4, Marrakech Medina. Between 10 and €20.

HAVE A DRINK ON AN AMAZING ROOFTOP

A real Swiss army knife, El Fenn! This boutique hotel in a former palace features a décor that doesn’t shy away from red: it’s everywhere, in the stripes on the parasols and chairs, on the walls, and even in the collection of plates hanging on the rooftop!

Speaking of which, this new rooftop bar is the big novelty of the year, offering stunning views of Koutoubia and the Medina. You can settle in for a cocktail with tapas, lunch, or dinner.
Final perks: the boutique, also in red, where you can buy a few emblematic pieces from the place : plates, rugs, lamps...
El Fenn, Derb Moulay Abdellah Ben Hezzian, Bab El Ldoue, Medina, Marrakech. Dishes between 8 and €27.

ENJOY A JAZZ CONCERT

A stone's throw from Jemaa El Fna, Le Riad Monceau, a boutique hotel with 10 rooms, is also a true temple of music where jazz reigns supreme.
In the patio of Bistro Arabe or La Pergola, all the evenings unfold to the rhythm of high-profile concerts. David Lyttle, Stephen McCraven, Ricky Ford, or the Paris Jazz Sessions : all the jazz greats gather here…
Le Riad Monceau, Derb Jamaa 63 - Riad Zitoun Lakdim, Marrakech Medina 40000.

DINE AT A NEW RESTAURANT

First good point: Villa Aaron, located between the Kasbah and Jemaa El Fna, is easy to find. Behind a colorful façade, the restaurant reveals a vibrant and colorful décor over two floors that we really like: walls adorned with hand-painted tiles in flashy colors, zellige tiled floors, rattan armchairs, or large sofas in alcoves overlooking the patio, fringed rococo lights, and abundant greenery, with a real palm tree and wallpaper resembling an oasis.
The menu, led by Spanish chef Luisma Naranjo, is an ode to comforting cuisine inspired by Moroccan traditions and Mediterranean flavors.
La Villa Aaron, Ibn Rochd 7, Marrakech.

VISIT THE MAJORELLE GARDEN

It’s impossible to go to Marrakech without visiting the Jardin Majorelle, created by painter Jacques Majorelle in 1931 and purchased in 1980 by Yves Saint Laurent and Jacques Bergé at the Saint-Laurent Museum.
After or before strolling through the famous garden and soaking up its iconic blue hues, head to the museum. First, you’ll be amazed by its architecture: the terracotta and concrete building resembles an assemblage of cubes, with a lace-like brick design, nodding to fabric weaving. The atmosphere completely changes inside, warm and intimate.

The entire world of the couturier is on display: photos, sketches, drawings. You can admire the essentials of Yves Saint Laurent, who designed the modern woman’s wardrobe: the peacoat, the pantsuit, the tuxedo, the safari jacket, and fifty designs revisiting the couturier’s key themes: Masculine-Feminine, Black, Africa, and Morocco. We were mesmerized by the showcases full of colorful jewelry, rich in opulence (even though they’re all fake!) : brooches shaped like doves, sunflowers, hearts, crosses, earrings, heavy gold necklaces, and ribbons.In the Medina, just a 1-minute walk from Jemaa El Fna square and 3 minutes from the souks.

Musée Saint-Laurent, Yves St Laurent street, Marrakech 40000, Morocco. Entrance €14.

GO SHOPPING

Mustapha Blaoui. A real Aladdin’s cave: on 1,000 m², Mustapha Blaoui's shop, one of the most iconic addresses in the Medina, is an institution for décor enthusiasts. It gathers the best of Moroccan décor: rugs, cushions, wrought-iron lanterns, Berber rugs, carved wooden tables, mirrors, woven baskets, artworks... The only danger? Excess baggage on the way home!
144 Arset Aouzal, Dar el Bacha, Marrakech 40030.

Hanout. Cleverly blending current fashion and Moroccan couture heritage, sounds good? Then head to Hanout. Expect two collections per year made from natural fabrics, plus numerous capsule collections. Long dresses, kimonos (€255), blouses, skirts, pants, coats, and capes are available in contemporary, well-tailored designs. The originality of the collections and their regular updates make frequent visits a must!
15 Riad Zitoun En Jdid, Medina-Marrakech.

Maison Bahira. A must-visit address in Marrakech for finding collections of embroidered home linens with ancient motifs, updated in a modern way on traditional fabrics. A plus: Maison Bahira employs both women and men in fair trade and ethical working conditions.
131 bis Derb Gachgach, Derb Dabachi Marrakech 40000.

33 Rue Majorelle. Located opposite the famous Jardin Majorelle, this concept store is THE place not to miss. In a vast space with niches and corners, it features more than a hundred designers reinterpreting Moroccan craftsmanship with a modern twist: woven baskets, colorful ceramic plates, babouches with Berber prints (€48), gold jewelry (gold-plated necklace starting from €43), sandals, oriental lamps, and Moroccan-made cosmetics.
33 Yves Saint Laurent street.

Topolina. In the industrial district of Sidi Ghanem, this shop offers ready-to-wear pieces and accessories with a unique style imagined by Isabelle, a ready-to-wear designer. Her original creations, colorful and slightly eccentric (shirt €150, wide leg pant €150), are off the beaten path... We love it.
369 Sidi Ghanem, Marrakech.

Ahram Cuir. Leather clothing lovers, this is your spot! This specialist in leather apparel for both men and women (leather, suede, sheepskin, leather goods) also offers made-to-measure garments, whether classic, sporty chic, or glamorous.
1 avenue Sidi El Yamani, Derb J’did, 1st floor and El Ksour, Marrakech.

Côté Bougie. To bring the scents of Marrakech back with you, grab some handcrafted candles made in Morocco with eco-friendly practices: non-GMO soy or mineral wax, 100% cotton wicks, and recycled glass. We loved the aptly named Matin à Marrakech (40h, €34) with notes of orange blossom, jasmine, lily, or Fleurs de Figuier with a woody, bold scent.
457 Sidi Ghanem, Menara Gueliz.

INDULGE IN A DREAM SPA

To feel like a princess from One Thousand and One Nights, opt for a treatment at the fabulous spa of the iconic La Mamounia. This incredible oasis of refinement, with a fabulous décor over 2,500 m², features two traditional hammams and a private hammam, ten treatment and massage rooms, including three for couples, a heated pool, a whirlpool, and a private spa.
It’s hard to choose from the menu of treatments (no less than 80!), featuring Valmont, Morocco MAROC, and Augustinus Bader products. To complete this experience, no hesitation: treat yourself to a massive brunch by the pool—what else?
La Mamounia, Avenue Bad Jdid, 40040, Marrakech.

And Also

Read: Best of Marrakech, a beautiful book showcasing the most stunning hotels, restaurants, party spots, Art Deco district villas, hidden Riads... all served with gorgeous photos.
Dine at any time at Grand Café de la Poste, a legendary spot since the 1920s.
Head to Atika: from high heels to knee-high boots, from sandals to loafers, the shoe selection is incredible.
Find your favorite at the Galerie des Tanneurs, an elegant shop brimming with bags, luggage, and timelessly stylish shoes.
Bring back a dozen Beldi glasses, an icon of Moroccan craftsmanship. You’ll find them in Medina’s décor shops or at the Beldi Country Club factory.
Marvel at the stunning collections at MAP Marrakech, featuring nearly 3,000 pieces of jewelry, ornaments, clothing, and textiles...
Party at Theatro in the Es Saadi Hotel: grandiose shows featuring dancers, acrobats, and international DJs...