Nestled in lush gardens just minutes from Marrakech's main attractions, this upscale resort dazzles with luxurious suites, a serene spa, and exquisite dining options.
"A 15-minute drive from the city brings you to the sumptuous Mandarin Oriental Marrakech, set on 50 acres of landscaped gardens with oasis-like pools and olive and palm trees. The resort’s 54 villas and nine suites take their inspiration from both Berber and Andalusian architecture, with pink walls, soaring ceilings, and plenty of outdoor space for lounging. The villas range from one to four bedrooms with ample outdoor space; each has its own hot tub and private pool. Enormous marble-clad bathrooms feature steam room capabilities, and many have generous walk-in closets and oversize bathtubs. Ling Ling by Hakkasan is all about Cantonese cooking, while Shirvan takes its culinary inspiration from the Silk Road (think lamb shank tagine and tandoor-cooked Black Angus beef fillet). Meanwhile, the spa, with its Moroccan hammam and six treatment rooms, offers everything from Thai massage to aromatherapy body scrubs." - Nicola Chilton
"These are some serious digs: a total of 54 deeply private, one- and two-bedroom villas, all with creamy stone floors and carved tadelakt walls framed by stately columns (there are also nine first-floor rooms with fabulous Atlas views). The outdoor showers are enclosed with bamboo, while the courtyards have crackling wood fires and there are marble hammams in the bathrooms. A stroll through the 20 hectares of gardens, perfumed with the scent of 100,000 roses, leads to a spa and hammam of epic proportions, which unfurls in a series of graceful arches like those of the Mezquita in Córdoba. It's the attention to hand-crafted details like these that set the Mandarin apart from the city's more blingy five stars, and there's other carefully curated stuff, too—from making dinner-party dishes with high-flying chefs to touring the organic fruit and vegetable garden. When the heat of the day gets too much, just sneak back to the villa and spend the afternoon snoozing on a king-size daybed by the pool. This is somewhere to waft around indulging in all the extras, from yoga sessions to an in-room supper whipped up by a private chef. —Tara Stevens"
"Book a stay at the Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech for private villas with lush gardens and open-air spa treatments." - Travel + Leisure Editors
"This glorious hotel is a true oasis 10 minutes away from the medina of Marrakech. The property is vast, and while most rooms are villa-style with private pools, they don’t hold a candle to the gigantic hotel pool. It’s the jewel of the property flanked by several ponds that make the pool look even bigger and more impressive. —Eugene Shevertalov, associate entertainment director"
"A space at the Mandarin Oriental was transformed to look like a gritty Berlin nightclub for an after-party following the conference."
