The Hotel That Defined Marrakech
La Mamounia has been the address in Marrakech since 1923. The hotel sits inside the medina walls on 17 acres of 200-year-old gardens originally gifted to a Saadian prince. Winston Churchill stayed here repeatedly through the 1940s and 50s, calling it “one of the most lovely spots in the whole world.”
What you walk into today is the result of a 2009 redesign by Jacques Garcia — the same designer behind the Hotel Costes in Paris. The result is unapologetic Moroccan luxury: hand-laid tiles, carved cedar ceilings, low lamp-lit corridors, and three restaurants that consistently appear on “best in North Africa” lists.
The Gardens
The 200-year-old olive grove, the rose gardens (with 27 varieties), the citrus trees in the inner courtyards — the gardens at La Mamounia are listed as a historic monument by Morocco. You can walk them for hours. They’re visible from most guest rooms.
The Dining
Four restaurants: Le Marocain (Moroccan fine dining, terrace seating), L’Italien (modern Italian by Don Alfonso), L’Asiatique (pan-Asian by Jean-Georges Vongerichten), and the more casual Le Pavillon de la Piscine (poolside Mediterranean). All halal by default — alcohol is served separately.
