La Mamounia – oriental dream time in Marrakech

“We’ll take care of everything, don’t worry” with these words ringing in my ears, I plopped down into one of the many fluffy sofas in the entrance area of La Mamounia. Due to flight delays and lost luggage, we didn’t reach the prestigious grand dame until half past one in the morning. But that didn’t seem strange to the concierge. He kindly did the check-in without any further action on our part and at the same time copied our lost baggage form with the casual note that everything will be taken care of. At that time, I had little time for the magnificent and detailed architecture of the lobby area. But ahead of us were four days of relaxation in Marrakech. Enough time to digest the stress of travelling, to arrive properly and to enjoy the legendary luxury hotel to the fullest.

Sleep like a fairy tale

As exhausted as we were, we only had eyes for the big bed on the first evening. The next morning, with the first glance of the eye, the great astonishment followed. We stayed in a Park Executive Suite. From the bed, there is an unobstructed view of palm trees stretching towards the blue sky. No wonder superstars like Nicole Kidman and Kate Winslet love la Mamounia. We, too, felt like superstars that morning at the sight of our suite. The attention to detail surpasses anything I’ve seen so far.

The hotel opened its doors in 1923. However, the history of the estate goes back further. More than 200 years ago, an opulent wedding took place on the site just behind the rust-red city walls. In the 1940s and 50s, the house experienced its first golden era and housed the high society of the time. After a renovation phase of almost three years, during which up to 1,000 construction workers were working at the same time, La Mamounia has been shining in new splendour since 2009. Parisian designer Jacques Garcia has done a great job. He skilfully bridged the gap between the Berber / Arab-Andalusian traditions and the typical Art Deco style with which la Mamounia stands out from the riad hotels in the medina.

Have a nice breakfast

On sunny days – and fortunately there are many of them in Marrakech – a day at La Mamounia starts by the pool. After admiring every nook and cranny of our opulent room, peppered with intricate wood inlays and colorful tiles, we too make our way to the pool. Breakfast is served at “Le Pavillon”. The neat pavilion was planned on the model of the famous pavilion in the Menara Garden. In addition to the great buffet with a wide selection of traditional Moroccan dishes and sinfully tempting pastries, I am particularly impressed by the excellent service. As soon as we sit down, we are poured water, coffee and fresh fruit juice. In such an ambience, the hustle and bustle of everyday life quickly give way to pure relaxation.

Relaxing walk
in the park

The heart and true luxury of the hotel complex is the huge park, in which the pavilion is located, among other things. Properties with such a sprawling green oasis are rare within the medina. Within the park there are numerous secluded corners. The many benches invite you to linger and are popular with guests for a short chat under the gnarled branches of the old olive trees. I can’t resist the charm of the park either. A truly magical spot. The hotel is close to the avenue with the bar and offers the opportunity to enjoy a cup of mint tea with a view of the greenery or to toast the evening with cocktails in the late afternoon.

Culture and relaxation

It is only a few steps from Mamounia to land in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the old town. For us, this is the ideal starting point to discover the hustle and bustle of Marrakech and to recharge our batteries in La Mamounia, like a rock in the surf. There’s nothing better than giving your flattened feet a breather by the pool. The pinnacle of relaxation can be found in the 2,500-square-foot spa. In addition to the breathtakingly beautiful swimming pool (can you even call something so beautiful?), three hammans invite you to a feel-good experience.

But the cultural experience is not neglected either. At the same time as our stay, the fifth edition of the “Prix Littéraire” took place. With the aim of providing an internationally acclaimed forum for contemporary Moroccan literature, a top-class jury of eight nominated works by francophone writers from Morocco will select a winner. I used this as an opportunity to brush up on my rusty French skills and read one of the nominated works. Unfortunately, my choice (“La Dame blanche” by Mai Do Hamisultane) was not quite as accurate. The winner of this year’s award is Reda Dalil with the short and concise book title “Le Job”.

Moroccan culinary delights

With a total of four gourmet restaurants, culinary delights are certainly not neglected. If you would like to taste Moroccan dishes in the open air in a romantic ambience, you should definitely plan a trip to Le Marocain. There are many traditional dishes on the menu, such as various couscous and tagine. My personal highlight was when the friend confidently ordered the Moroccan salad mix as a starter and was surprised with countless bowls. The portion would have easily been enough for four people. The waiter couldn’t help but grin and asked me to help my friend eat. Of course, I didn’t need to be told twice. The smell of the exotic vegetable combinations was too tempting.

Mamounia is a place for special moments. We are still puzzling over whether George Clooney spent a few honeymoons with his Elisabetta in one of the hidden riads in the park. Who knows… For us, the stay was definitely fantastic.

Information and tips about the “Grande Dame”

• Overnight rate per room from 500 CHF (depending on season and room category)
• In the Mamounia Shop you can buy a “piece” of Mamounia – for example the in-house olive oil, pressed from the olives of the extensive park
• The four restaurants (Le Marocain, L’Italien, Le Francais and Le Pavillon) also welcome external guests
• La Mamounia is located just a few minutes’ walk from the central Jemaa el Fna square, where a unique spectacle takes place from nightfall
• Within the medina of Marrakech, there are numerous magnificent palaces, colorful souks and historical sites that are worth visiting
• I also recommend taking a detour to the modern Guéliz district and the Jardin Majorelle

Note: I was invited by La Mamounia for this stay – thank you very much for this. As always, my readers can be sure that I always represent my views and enthusiasm here.