The red city has just been elected the best tourist place in Africa.I have been to Morocco a couple of time but this was my first her and I have been happily surprise by the cleanest of the place.
Where to stay:
la Mamounia : the mythic hotel of Marrakech, being refurbished recently by the French designer Garcia is the place to stay. It is gorgeous, the place is very Moroccan opulent , the service is impeccable. The staff are beautifully dress. Set in a garden of orange, citrus, mandarine trees...in the Medina.
Riad La Sultana:
The other place to stay in the Medina if you look for a more boutique hotel. Perfect of season, when all the other hotel are empty (specially in the Palmeraie). Beautifully riad, very quiet, excellent service. Pure luxe !
Where to eat:
Lunch : La Terrace des Epices. This roof top restaurant is my favorite for lunch. Located in the souk, they serve good morrocan food and an excellent chocolate pastilla in a modern decoration in brown and aubergine shade.
Diner:
Dar Yacout , the best place for diner. Spectacular service very old school, great diner.
La Mamounia both restaurants the Moroccan and the Italian are excellent. The service is immaculate. Really enjoy the main bar also.
Le Foundouk, nice place, nice roof terrace for lunch also
Comptoir : trendy place so expect pretty girls serving, busy place but average food.
Al Fassia ( Guelioz) : should be very good but we did not had the chance to try it.
Bo Zin : suppose to be good also (trendy).
Dar Moha
Thing to know:
Some taxi will try to charge you five times the price, ask for them to put the meter on or fixe a rate before.
Most of the people are very nice and helpful when you are lost. Some people will try to help you with your direction for a small fee, if they become to difficult the good way to get ride of them is to pretend to call the police they will instantly disappear. Aggressive behavior is not tolerated in Marrakech, there is tourism police in the Median in civil clothes specially there to prevent this problem.
What to do:
Walk in the Medina, visit the tannery, the souk, Palais La Bahia, musée de la Photographie and the Medersa Ben Yusut next . Visit the Saadian cave and Palais El Badi near the kasbah district.
Of course, don't miss Jemaa el Fna Square , have mint tea on one of the café and enjoy peolpe watching, cruise ont the square watch the story teller, the water men, the shops and of course the snake charmers. From there you can walk to la Koutoubia mosque and the gardens around or take a horse caleche ride.
Visit the Marjorelle garden, Yves Saint Laurent and Bergé private garden.
Treat yourself with a hamman
Play golf!
Treat yourself with a hamman
Play golf!
Shops:
For nice quality kaftan " Chez Belhaj "
For beautiful furniture and decoration "Cherkaoui"I have been very impress by they selection of furniture and objects....
For more modern art and closed: "33 rue Marjorelle".
Herborist and Argan products: Rahba Kemina n°156
Dressing code: in November it can be chilly in the evening and warm in the day time around 20 to 23 degree. Chic is the dress code for evening and more cool in the day time. I recommend to dress appropriately for the woman (cover your shoulders and legs). This is a muslim country and most Morrocans are dress in long kaftan and coat with they hair cover.
Book: Susan Simon Shopping in Marrachek... she suggest a few of interesting walk.
Have a break from the busy Marrakech ...head to the high Atlas. One hour drive from Marrakech in the Toubkal valley (highest peak in north africa 4157m) is the luxury hotel the Kasbah Tamadot. It is own by Sir Richard Branson . The best is to stay in one of the tent, the view on the village on the other bank of the river is spectacular. The tent is heated which is very convenient for this season. The outside pool is also heated. For lunch, you can take a 30 minutes drive to the village at the bottom of the Toubkal then a short 15 minutes walk to the Kasbah Toubkal.