Conrad Rabat Arzana
"Why book? For a front-row view of the rolling waves of the Atlantic Ocean, from a sleek contemporary hotel on the edge of the laidback Moroccan capital. Set the scene The first thing you notice at the Conrad Rabat Arzana is the ocean. (In fact, it’s probably the second and third, too.) The hotel sits right above the rocky shores of the Atlantic, which is practically everywhere you look for mesmerizing views and an invigorating booming soundtrack of waves making landfall. On a rainy morning the vistas are wild and windswept, both sea and sky taking on leaden hues; on a sunny afternoon, the blue waves roll towards the land in hypnotic lines, merging into the sky. And, come evening, the ocean’s surface is suffused with gold as the sun dips beyond the horizon. The heart of the hotel is the ocean-facing terrace with its two infinity pools, perfect for cooling off in summer and lovely for sitting around on a sunny winter day. The rest of the property radiates outwards from here, incorporating four restaurants, rooms and suites spread across a number of individual low-rise blocks, the Conrad Spa, and meeting and events space. Your fellow guests are likely to be a mix of local staycationing families on weekends and holidays, and those traveling on business or attending events during the week in the hotel’s conference facilities. The backstory Opened in December 2022, the hotel is Hilton’s first luxury property in Morocco and the first in the country for the Conrad brand, which currently numbers a benchmark of nearly 50 properties across five continents. The hotel will be joined by residential villas and a waterpark as part of the overall Arzana development. The rooms Rooms are contemporary in style, decorated in grays and whites with touches of aquamarine in the carpets that reflect the ocean outside. These are clutter-free spaces, cool and calming with occasional nods to Moroccan heritage in the form of black-and-white photography of Rabat’s heritage sites in the rooms, and handmade plates adorning walls in the corridors. All rooms and suites come with balconies, or terraces for those on the ground floor, and some of the suites have their own gardens with plunge pools. Accommodations are split over a number of different blocks, some closer to the sea and others set slightly back. To appreciate the majesty of the Atlantic from your balcony, splurge on one of the upper-floor ocean-view options. Junior suite 2201 has perhaps the best views of all, perched right above a rocky spot where the waves constantly pound the coastline. Look to the right and you’ll see the skyline of Rabat in the distance, and to the left, glorious Atlantic sunsets. If your budget stretches to it, the 6,700-square-foot Royal Suite sprawls across the entire top floor of the building closest to the sea, with endless ocean views and multiple terraces featuring an outdoor pool and a jacuzzi. Bathrooms are large and spacious, with freestanding soaking tubs in all room types, and sliding doors that allow for an open-plan room or can be closed for more privacy. Refillable amenities are by Swedish luxury fragrance brand Byredo, and you’ll find thoughtful touches left around the room by the housekeeping team, like little bowls of rose petals left by the sink. The ever-present Atlantic Ocean is one of the main reasons to stay at this hotel, and the views had me mesmerized for hours. If you’re a light sleeper, the constant crashing of the waves may impinge on your night’s slumber. If that’s the case, opt for a room set back from the ocean’s edge, or bring earplugs. Or better yet, just surrender to the sounds of nature’s power and majesty. There are few places where you’ll feel so close to the force of the ocean, yet so comfortably removed from it. Rates start at $265 per night. Food and drink The hotel’s four restaurants offer everything from traditional Moroccan cuisine to sushi and sundowners. All-day restaurant La Brise is the place to start the day with a light Moroccan breakfast—think yogurt with orange blossom, grated carrot with raisins, orange slices with cinnamon—or head to the buffet for Moroccan breads and amlou, a blend of crushed almonds, argan oil and honey that’s like a local take on peanut butter. For something more substantial, try the scrambled eggs with scallops. The daytime menu features plenty of seafood—ocean crab, king prawns, flambéed turbot—as you would expect from its setting, but a great way to start any meal here is the Moroccan salad selection. Featuring multiple dishes including zucchini with coriander, mussels with lemon confit, and sweet pumpkin with sliced almonds, each one is as pretty as it is tasty, and a great introduction to local flavors. Just off the lobby, Feuillage is the spot for teas, coffees and jewel-like cakes, from macarons filled with fresh raspberries and cream, to lemon tarts topped with a shimmer of gold leaf. Next to the pool and with views over the ocean, L’Oursin offers drinks and light food throughout the day, and a menu of “Mapas”, or Moroccan tapas. The beautifully plated prawns al ajillo, topped with crispy garlic slices and edible flower petals, pair well with a glass of Moroccan Sauvignon Blanc, as does the pizza topped with spinach, feta, honey and pine nuts. At 99 Sushi, a brand born in Spain with a Michelin star for its Abu Dhabi outpost, nigiri and maki are made to order at the sushi counter, and the à la carte menu features tempura, teriyaki tuna and beef grilled on volcanic stones. But perhaps the most comforting item on the menu is the Capumiso soup. With truffle, leek and a layer of tofu foam on top, it’s like a cappuccino version of a miso soup. Each of the hotel’s restaurants offers outdoor dining areas with heaters to warm up even the chilliest evenings. Be aware that some of the indoor and outdoor areas allow smoking; it's better to check your surroundings before settling down, getting comfy, and encountering a smoky surprise. The spa This being Morocco, it’s only right that you should dedicate an hour (or more) to being thoroughly scrubbed, soaped, soaked and splashed in the hammam. While some can be overbearingly hot, the hammam here is kept at the perfect temperature with just the right amount of steam, never stifling or claustrophobic. The products are marocMaroc, a brand inspired by Moroccan ancestral beauty treatments. You’ll come out feeling practically reborn and with baby-soft skin, ready to sink into a deep slumber. Save your hammam for the evening and head straight to bed afterwards for the most comforting results. Other treatments in the Conrad Spa include hot stone massages, some performed on water beds with light therapy (which can be a little disconcerting—better to stick to a regular treatment bed), facials using results-driven Biologique Recherche products, and salon services for hair, hands, and feet. There are also wet areas with steam, sauna and ice fountains for men and women, and an outdoor relaxation terrace with a vitality pool. The neighborhood/area Located a 25-minute drive down the coast from the Moroccan capital Rabat, the hotel is surrounded by a residential neighborhood, and will soon be joined by a waterpark. Right now there’s not much to do in the immediate vicinity other than go for breezy, bracing beach walks, and it’s well worth making the effort to head into Rabat, one of Morocco’s most overlooked cities and a wonderfully laid back place compared to other crowd-pulling destinations like Marrakech and Fez. The hotel can arrange cars and drivers as well as guides if you want to have someone show you around, but part of the joy of Rabat is simply wandering its relaxed streets. The Medina is hassle- and motorbike-free (and much cheaper than those in the more touristy cities), the views from the ramparts are extraordinary, there are plenty of little cafés where you can sip mint tea and nibble pastries, usually accompanied by a resident cat or two. The service The service is friendly and eager, especially in the restaurants where the teams are keen to make recommendations so you don’t miss out on trying Moroccan flavors during your stay. After telling the front desk staff that I planned to spend a chilly evening warming up in my bathtub, I returned from dinner to find it already prepared for me, with bubbles and rose petals floating in the water. For families This is a hotel that’s popular with Moroccan families who come to staycation on weekends and holidays. As such, they’re very used to welcoming children. There’s a kids’ club with indoor and outdoor play areas, including a climbing frame and trampoline, table tennis and table football, and activities like outdoor sport, mini-discos and something called—rather excitingly—“Funky Time.” The hotel can also arrange babysitting services, and kids are catered for in restaurants with special menus. There are also a number of stay packages targeted at families, including interconnected rooms and upgrades. Eco effort The rooms here are free of single-use plastic; amenities come in refillable bottles and drinking water comes in glass. Behind the scenes, the hotel team reduces food waste through a number of initiatives, including distributing unused food to those in need through partnerships with local associations. Priority is also placed on purchasing products locally, sourcing organic products from local cooperatives, and supporting local businesses. Accessibility The hotel is fully compliant with ADA standards, and has five accessible Deluxe rooms designed to accommodate guests with limited mobility and disabilities. Worth it? Yes. If you’re coming to the end of a journey through Morocco, this is the kind of place where you could hunker down for a couple of days, sprawled out by the pool, eating, drinking, and doing little else but relaxing as you gaze out at the ocean." - Nicola Chilton
