The Best Hotels In Marrakech For The City Break Of Dreams
It’s everyone’s favourite North African city and we've rounded up the most stylish Marrakech hotels.
With North African temperatures but a short-haul flight time (under four hours and no jet lag), the fashionista’s favourite Moroccan city is the perfect destination at any time of year – especially when you can stay at one of the best hotels in Marrakech.
Morocco's red city is one of the most stylish places to visit this year, along with Lisbon, Mykonos and Copenhagen, of course. Home to Yves Saint Laurent's iconic blue Jardin Majorelle, the Unesco-protected medina packed with hammams and spice souks, and the Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakech is one of the most photogenic cities in the world.
Whether you want to check in at a traditional Marrakech riad within the medina maze or stay a little out of the city in a Palmeraie paradise, there’s a boutique retreat for you.
The dusky Djemaa el Fna square is Marrakech’s main hub, and it’s right by the entrance to the medina and its shop-lined labyrinthine streets. The city is also the gateway to the Atlas Mountains, perfect for when urban days get a little hectic. Or just stay by your palm-lined pool in the Palmeraie with a cocktail (no one’s judging).
For an unashamedly opulent, all-terracotta palace, book Selman and act like sultans – or get some interiors inspiration from Sakkan, which makes a literal art form out of eye-catching wall-hangings.
There are lots of traditional Marrakech riads in the medina, too – you’ll probably get lost trying to find your way to them, but that’s all part of the charm. We love 72 Riad Living for its lofty rooftop (with especially good views) and Riad Dar One for its modern soft furnishings and statement lighting.
Read on for our pick of the best hotels in Marrakech…
Sakkan
You’ll have serious wall-hanging envy the moment you step into this super-stylish riad in the medina, which has some of the chicest interiors in the city. Helpfully, you're in the right place to be inspired. Depending on what you want to stockpile, from clothing to carpets, Sakkan's staff will be able to craft your dream shopping itinerary.
They’ll also organise sunloungers outside of the city for pool days away from the bustle, trips to the best hammams in the neighbourhood and reservations at all of the most in-demand restaurants. Only if you can bear to drag yourself away from the hotel’s rooftop bar, that is…
Riad Antara
Formed on the foundations of a former Saadian residence, this riad is in the middle of the medina and close to the Bahia Palace. The colourful suites at Riad Antara feature oversize artworks above the beds, high ceilings and fireplaces, and some lead out to the main garden and patio.
What’s more, you won’t have to venture far for a classic Moroccan hammam, since there’s one within the riad – which is just as well, since you won’t want to leave your sunlounger on the terracotta rooftop terrace behind for long.
Le Farnatchi
Approved by stars from Scarlett Johansson to Angelina Jolie, this luxury conversion of six merchant houses is an A-lister on the riad scene, hidden among the maze-like alleys of Marrakech’s medina. Expect traditional Moroccan touches such as tadelakt plaster and tiles in each of its 10 suites. Then there’s the spa, roof terrace with views of the Atlas Mountains and possibly the best restaurant in town, Le Trou au Mur.
Le Farnatchi is a much-needed oasis of tranquillity from the bustle of the city, but what truly sets it apart is its five-star service. Whether you want market haggling done on your behalf or a hot-air-balloon tour at sunrise, nothing is too much trouble for the staff. Expect to be treated like royalty, no matter if you’re a celebrity or a mere mortal.
Dar Zemora
For those who want to escape the bustle of the city, the Palmeraie is the part of Marrakech for you. The palm-y paradise is just 20 minutes by car from the city centre, but with all of the peace and space you need for things like mountain-biking and horse-riding. Dar Zemora is a peachy private home formed of two wings, with a lounge with silk sofas to keep cosy in during the cooler winter months, and a summer version, too.
In the guestrooms, expect traditional Moroccan touches such as tadelakt plaster, tiles and marble, and there’s a hammam in a pavilion next to the kitchen garden. Days are spent playing croquet or boules – or head off on horseback or up in a hot-air balloon to explore your scenic surroundings.
Ksar Kasbah
This guesthouse was once a palace, and we’re sure its esteemed residents enjoyed its location in the city (as well as its contrasting calm, evident as soon as you cross the threshold – and nowhere more so than at the pool in the patio).
Flea-market finds, from Berber carpets to Tuareg mats, ensure that the decor at Ksar Kasbah is authentic and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a television in the house. Groups of up to 26 can take over the entire riad, which includes a terrace for amazing sunsets overlooking the medina and the Atlas Mountains.
Hotel Les Cinq Djellabas
Named after North Africa’s most beloved flowing robe, Les Cinqs Djellabas may not actually feature any of them (not five, in any case) – but what it lacks in breathable garments, it makes up for with a terrace overlooking the Atlas Mountains in the distance, a heated outdoor pool and shade-supplying gardens.
The Palmeraie hotel has 10 luxurious lodges throughout its grounds. Unsurprisingly, since it was created by the owner of the city’s finest rooftop restaurant Le Foundouk, the food is as good as you’d expect – and you can enjoy some music by the pool with a sundowner first.
Riad Dar One
The exterior may be traditional Marrakchi riad, but inside it’s a much more modern affair, thanks to stylish striped soft furnishings, smooth plaster walls and statement lighting. You’ll find Riad Dar One at the end of an alleyway in the Jewish quarter within the medina, steps from Djemaa el Fna square.
If you’re coming to Marrakech for the hammams, you’ll be pleased to know that the riad’s staff have helpfully partnered with the best local spas to send you on your way for a good scrubbing. The patio has a pool to help cool you down during the stifling summers and, in winter, guests can enjoy the still-sunny terrace (plus its view of the medina and mountains).
Selman
Fans of terracotta will just love Selman, a princely palace crafted almost exclusively in everyone’s favourite dusky colour (even down to the decking around the pool). Designed by the superstar architect Jacques Garcia, the hotel is home to a Chenot spa, a vast palm-lined pool and an elaborately tiled indoor pool.
The restaurant is almost absurdly opulent (the ceiling is dripping, literally, in chandeliers) – and the regal lobby has purple chairs, decorative columns, huge vases of flowers and even more chandeliers. There’s even a stud farm, ready for the regular equine events.
Les Deux Tours
Iconic for all the right reasons (four-poster beds in the gardens, anyone?), Les Deux Tours in the Palmeraie is one of the city’s original hotel heroes. The aforementioned gardens span more than seven acres – it will take you a while to enjoy all that this hotel has to offer (two restaurants plus a sushi bar, a hammam and various places to drink, for a start).
The traditional villas all have original features, from antique Moroccan furnishings to fireplaces, tartari ceilings and bejmat tiles; some even have hand-carved wooden frescoes above the bed. The city may be calling, but we know where we’d rather be (on one of those alfresco iron beds, obviously).
Riad Jaaneman
This boutique retreat is on the diminutive side even for a riad (there are just five rooms), but that just means you’re more likely to have the plunge pool and traditional Moroccan salon (officially a bhou) to yourself. The former has shade helpfully provided by palms and banana trees. The suites at Riad Jaaneman include a split-level one with its own patio and a fountain – and you can thank the Italian owners for the Carrara marble sinks in the bathrooms.
The riad’s neighbourhood is officially one of the most sought-after in the city – the king’s second palace is here for a reason. You’ll be able to reach Djemaa el Fna within a five-minute walk.
The Oberoi Marrakech
Marrakech has lots of luxurious riads, but one of the most unabashedly opulent hotels in the city is the Oberoi outpost, a little away from the action on a vast estate east of the centre. The grounds are dotted with ancient olive groves, citrus trees, water features and courtyards, with a perfect vantage point out across to the snow-tipped Atlas Mountains.
Inside, the palatial interiors feature oversize chandeliers, high ceilings, carved columns and frescoes. There are a handful of restaurants to choose from – enjoy fine-dining Indian fare at Rivayat or Mediterranean dishes at Tamimt.
Caravan by Habitas Dakhla
Technically a 45-minute drive from downtown Marrakech, but worth it for the enlightenment that awaits, Caravan by Habitas Dakhla is a spiritual stay that was inspired by the Burning Man festival in Nevada. The brand, which has a growing number of outposts everywhere from Namibia to Mexico, is also influenced by nomadic cultures and traditions, with hotels that take glamping to new levels. It’s the perfect destination for adventurous travellers seeking something a little different.
The 50-acre camp has 20 canvas tents, two pools, a horse and camel stable, an outdoor cinema, a yoga and wellness centre, and a restaurant (there are no miniature gas stoves to worry about here). You’ll also be able to meet your fellow guests at the signature Habitas agora, or community-gathering space.
72 Riad Living
Anyone coming to Marrakech to shop will enjoy staying at 72 Riad Living in the medina, which has minimal distance to cover to drop your newly purchased wares off. After you’ve got lost in the labyrinth during the day, the rooftop will be calling – it’s one of the highest in the medina, which means some of the best views (for both sunsets and stargazing).
And if you’d prefer your own private rooftop space, book one of the junior suites with not only a terrace, but a hot tub out there, too.
Nobu Hotel Marrakech
For something a little different to a classic Marrakech riad, stay at the Nobu Hotel, which brings an international flavour to the Moroccan city. It also means you can swap tagines and pastilla for Nobu classics like black cod miso, yellowtail sashimi and rock shrimp tempura.
As well as the signature Japanese dishes, guests can enjoy some sake at the rooftop bar, which has 360-degree views of the city and its Atlas Mountain backdrop, and DJ sets in time for sunset.
Royal Mansour
This Marrakech hotel is so opulent, it’s literally fit for a king (the Moroccan sovereign is the proprietor). It has all the five-star frills you could hope for, including a stellar spa and four restaurants. The dazzling decor spans columns, mosaics and fountains, with courtyards, corridors and gorgeous gardens linking up the 53 individual riads that make up the palace.
Royal Mansour is just steps from Djemaa el Fna, so it has a prime postcode too, naturally.
Riad Joya
Back to the traditional riads that Marrakech is famous for, but with a detour via Italy – Riad Joya is within the walls of the medina, but with Italian-inspired decor for its seven stylish suites.
Similarly, the restaurant serves a mix of Moroccan, Mediterranean and Italian flavours. There’s a spa, perfect for a hammam (just ask your butler, with three hours’ notice) or a mani-pedi. And there’s also a rooftop with sunloungers and drinks service, so you can enjoy the bustle of the medina below at a distance.
Riad Kniza
Riad Kniza, in the heart of Marrakech’s medina, dates back to the 18th century. The boutique hôtel de charme has been restored with the help of artisans to create a historic Marrakchi feel.
The owner is an antiques dealer (and does it show) and guide, who has helped US presidents and Hollywood A-listers such as Tom Cruise and Jennifer Aniston navigate the souks of the city and beyond. Naturally, his guests are given access to this insider knowledge, too.
Mandarin Oriental Marrakech
One of the grandest luxury hotels in Marrakech is unsurprisingly the city’s Mandarin Oriental outpost, which is a 10-minute drive from the centre of the medina. The estate spans almost 50 acres of grounds, with landscaped gardens and olive groves, plus a backdrop of the Atlas Mountains.
Guests can book private villas with their own gardens to hide out in for the duration of their stay, venturing out only for dips in the sizeable swimming pools, a treatment at the stellar spa or a meal at one of the various restaurants. These include Ling Ling by Hakkasan, where you can dine on modern Cantonese cuisine, and Shirvan, for convivial sharing plates. At the spa, there’s a traditional hammam of course, but also open-air treatmens, facials by Dr Barbara Sturm and one to one yoga classes.
P'tit Habibi
With a name that means ‘little darling’, it’s hard not to feel instantly fond of P’tit Habibi. The boutique hotel has long been one of Marrakech’s most stylish stays – but since it has just five rooms, you’d best book early. The riad is at the northern end of the medina.
It’s designed to feel like an especially well designed private home and is the perfect Marrakech hotel for groups of friends hoping to book out a few rooms. Communal spaces include a library, roof terrace and lounge, and film screenings can take place out in the courtyard on request. Moroccan-style breakfasts are served daily and should you be in need of lunch or dinner, tagines, couscous and kebabs can easily be rustled up by the chef.
Four Seasons Resort Marrakech
Four Seasons Resort Marrakech is a five-star sanctuary, located between the medina and the buzzy neighbourhoods of the Ville Nouvelle. There are 40 acres to explore, with Moorish gardens and various pools to cool off in. It’s an ideal hotel in Marrakech for families – as with most Four Seasons outposts around the world, kids are almost as well catered to as the adults, with a kids’ kasbah that has a theatre, a shallow swimming pool, a mini kitchen and outdoor play areas.
Activities on offer for guests include day trips out into the Agafay Desert, which you can explore by camel or quad bike, visits to Yves Saint Laurent’s villa, and shopping itineraries to hit up the souks, shopping centres and concept stores of Marrakech. Book a suite with a private terrace so that you’ll have a view of the Atlas Mountains awaiting you on your return to the hotel.
Caroline Lewis has been a travel journalist for more than a decade, reviewing luxury hotels and covering destinations all over the world, but with a soft spot for Greek islands and absolutely anywhere in Italy.
Among her most memorable trips are a month spent subsisting almost solely on guacamole in Mexico, sleeping in a room made of ice in Swedish Lapland and a rather lengthy but thankfully bear-free drive across America's wild west.
She was previously deputy chief sub-editor on the print team at Harper’s Bazaar and is a long-time contributor and editor at Mr & Mrs Smith. She writes about travel for Hearst Digital titles such as Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, Red, Esquire and more. She read English and Philosophy at Durham, before doing a master's degree in magazine journalism in her hometown of Bournemouth.
When she's not testing out the buzziest new hotels, she's at home in London, probably baking.
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