A vibrant international travel destination and global design mecca since the 1960s (thanks in part to Yves Saint Laurent), Marrakech has become even more of a hot spot lately, luring discerning explorers and creatives from around the world. I was fortunate to first experience the Red City (so nicknamed for its red clay buildings and walls) at the impressionable age of 14. Having grown up in England, with travel primarily to countries with similar cultures, arriving in Marrakech was an eye-opening moment, both beautiful and intimidating: The markets were bountiful, the people were passionate, the architecture was enthralling.
Twenty years later, while much of the world has rushed to modernize, Marrakech has struck a graceful balance between advancing in important areas such as technology and commerce while remaining steeped in history, culture, and tradition. I have explored Marrakech both as an eager-eyed tourist and as an eagle-eyed business owner. My Miami-based boutique, Tighemi, curates exclusive, handcrafted Moroccan home decor that our team and I hand-source in Marrakech. From established showrooms to discreet ateliers and workshops, from contemporary designs to one-of-a-kind antiques, the city offers something for everyone. While there is so much to see, here are some of my don’t-miss picks in this captivating city.
STAY
Riads are traditional Moroccan guesthouses that have been renovated into boutique hotels, offering authentic hospitality in a relaxed, residential atmosphere. Primarily situated in the Medina (the old city, where the souks and markets are), some offer gracious amenities such as rooftop terraces and pools; others, more modest settings with quaint courtyards and fountains. If you are looking for a larger property with more services, there are many hotels in Guéliz (the new city, outside the walls of the Medina) and the Palmeraie (the expansive land just outside of Marrakech that serves as an oasis for thousands of palm trees).
Le Farnatchi
One of the elegant suites in Le Farnatchi riad.
Courtesy of Le FarnatchiA beautiful, traditional Moroccan riad located in the oldest part of the Medina, Le Farnatchi offers ten unique suites set across multiple courtyards, an in-house spa, a rooftop for dining or relaxing, and a restaurant, Le Trou Au Mur. The staff is exceptionally friendly and attentive. Located just steps from the souks, Le Farnatchi is a great option if you’re looking to stay in the middle of the action in an authentic setting.
Derb el Farnatchi, Rue Souk el Fassis, Marrakech
lefarnatchi.com
Villa des Orangers
Rooms at Villa des Orangers, as in many riads, open onto a lush open courtyard.
COURTESY OF VILLA DES ORANGERS
The rooms have an indoor/outdoor feel at this Relais and Château property.
COURTESY OF VILLA DES ORANGERSLocated in a slightly calmer area of the Medina, Villa des Orangers bridges the gap between riad and modern hotel. The Relais and Châteaux property has built multiple small riads to provide guests with more amenities, such as two pools, lounges, a screening room, and a bar, but maintains the architecture and charm of its original foundations. Enjoy a spectacular candle-lit French-Moroccan dinner by the pool, or challenge your companion to a game of backgammon by the fire during cooler months.
6 Rue Sidi Mimoun, Place Ben Tachfine, Marrakech 40000
villadesoragers.com
La Mamounia
The luxurious Al Mamoun suite at La Mamounia, with a terrace overlooking the palm gardens.
Courtesy of La MamouniaArguably Marrakech’s most famous hotel, La Mamounia has hosted everyone from Winston Churchill to the Rolling Stones. Boasting four world-class restaurants, an expansive spa, multiple pools, and carefully manicured gardens, La Mamounia is right on the outskirts of the Medina, but its grounds offer a peaceful oasis at a grand luxury hotel with high-touch service. Even if you don’t stay here, be sure to stop by for a cocktail.
Avenue Bab Jdid, Marrakech 40040
mamounia.com
SHOP
The Souks
When in Marrakech, you must experience the souks. Here you will find hole-in-the-wall workshops and boutiques that sell everything from spices and sweets to metalwork lanterns, textiles, and jewelry. Some areas of the souks specialize in a particular trade such as leather, wood, or ironwork. These are fantastic places to see craftsmen creating their handmade wares. If you prefer to not get lost in the maze of the souks (albeit a fun adventure), daily guides come at a reasonable price and can be organized through your hotel.
Soufiane Zarib
A well-known Moroccan designer and creator, Soufiane Zarib’s showrooms are works of art. Primarily known for exquisite handwoven rugs, Soufiane Zarib houses a combination of collections he designs himself, vintage pieces he has sourced over the years, and artwork from local creatives. The original showroom (Showroom 16) is located in the Medina and will soon offer a rooftop café for clients. His newest showroom (listed as Warehouse Zarib Soufiane on Google maps) is located in the industrial quarter of Sidi Ghanem. This breathtaking space is spread across four floors and will soon feature artisans creating in-house.
16 rue Sidi Ali Ben Hamdouch, Dar El Bacha, Marrakech 40000
soufiane-zarib.com
The soaring ground floor and courtyard of the Soufiane Zarib showroom in Sidi Ghanem.
Lauren Walsh
In the shaded courtyard of the Maison Sarayan shop, you can enjoy fresh juices and light bites.
Lauren WalshMaison Sarayan
Just a few blocks from Soufiane Zarib’s Sidi Ghanem showroom is the colorful and inviting Maison Sarayan. Featuring a more modern aesthetic, here you’ll find fun textiles and hand-painted tableware, along with larger-scale tables and sculptures. Their café is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a coffee or light bite in a beautiful setting.
377 Rue Sidi Ghanem, Marrakech 40000
maisonsarayan.com
Orenzo
The artist Orenzo’s iron cactus sculptures have been appearing in Marrakech for decades and his gallery and shop is a verdant oasis.
COURTESY OF ORENZOIn Marrakech, you’ll likely see numerous metal sculptures of cacti. While often copied, the original designs and artwork belong to Orenzo. Their boutique and gallery just outside Marrakech offers a range of designs, from tabletop pieces to garden sculptures. Be sure to check out the Black Room gallery: Set in darkness and showcased with carefully placed lighting, discover original artworks that Orenzo has collaborated on with a resident artist.
Km 9 Route De L Ourika, Marrakech 40000
maison-orenzo.com
EAT
When in Morocco, I love to enjoy the local delicacies the country is known for—tagine, tangia, mechoui, pastilla, and couscous. Here are just a few of my favorite restaurants in Marrakech.
Le Foundouk
The rooftop terrace of the multistory Le Foundouk restaurant, a Medina classic.
Courtesy of Le FoundoukSituated in the oldest part of the Medina, Le Foundouk serves both Moroccan and international menus and has been a crowd-pleaser for decades. With architecture as intriguing as the food, this multistory space surrounds a ground-floor courtyard and offers spectacular rooftop dining.
55, Souk Hal Fassi Kat Bennahid, Marrakech 40000
fondouk.com
La Grande Table Marocaine at the Royal Mansour
The Royal Mansour hotel is home to a unique dining experience, La Grande Table Marocaine.
Courtesy of Royal MansourIf you’re going to have one Moroccan dining experience in Marrakech, I urge you to make it La Grande Table Marocaine. The restaurant is set in arguably the most exclusive and opulent hotel in Marrakech, the Royal Mansour. Commissioned by King Mohammed VI, the hotel is one of the most beautiful examples of Moroccan architecture and craftsmanship I’ve seen. The restaurant blends traditional Moroccan cuisine with international techniques to serve delicious dishes with impeccable service. The 24-hour slow-cooked lamb shoulder for two is not to be missed. Arrive a little early and enjoy a cocktail at neighboring Italian restaurant Sesamo’s bar. Adorned with Murano glass, the bar is known for their vast Negroni menu, however my favorite is their fresh and frothy take on the Bellini.
Rue Abou Abbas El Sebti, Marrakech 40000
royalmansour.com
Le Grand Café de la Poste
Café de la Poste, housed in a former post office, has a sultry French colonial ambience.
JILL SIMPSONWhether you’re looking for a break from Moroccan cuisine, or craving a French favorite, this elegant French brasserie is set in a historic former post office in Guéliz with indoor and outdoor seating as well as a cocktail lounge. Equally enjoyable for an al fresco lunch or a candlelit dinner, be sure to check their current lineup of live music!
Angle Boulevard El Mansour Eddahbi et Avenue Imam, Marrakech 40000
grandcafedelaposte.restaurant
SEE & DO
Musée Yves Saint Laurent and Jardin Majorelle
Yves St. Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé beautifully restored the villa and gardens created by painter Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s. The Cubist villa designed by French architect Paul Sinoir in the 1930s features the bold ultramarine blue known as “Bleu Majorelle”, which reappears throughout the cactus and palm gardens.
Courtesy of Jardin MajorelleIt’s well known that Yves Saint Laurent drew great inspiration from Marrakech and spent many years there with his partner, Pierre Bergé, living in and restoring the painter Jacques Marjorelle’s villa and stunning gardens. In addition to the gardens, you can visit the Musée Yves Saint Laurent, focusing on Saint Laurent’s fashions and his relationship to Morocco, and the Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Arts, which showcases the remarkable craftsmanship of the country’s nomadic Berber tribes. (Be sure to purchase tickets online in advance and anticipate wait times during high seasons.) At the YSL Museum, stop by the elegant gift shop for distinctive souvenirs and Café Le Studio for smoothies and delicious light bites.
Rue Yves St Laurent, Marrakech 40000
museeyslmarrakech.com
Sunrise Hot-Air Balloon Flight
Riding in a hot-air ballon at sunrise over the desert and the Atlas Mountains is a spectacular way to enjoy a birds'-eye view of the landscape.
Lauren WalshWhile I was initially hesitant to opt in to such a seemingly touristy activity, I was blown away by my hot-air balloon experience. Though it requires a painfully early wake-up (most companies pick you up from your hotel around 5 a.m.), it’s absolutely worth it for the sunrise flight. The team drives you about 30 minutes outside of Marrakech where you will enjoy an hour-long flight with spectacular views over the Atlas Mountains, along with dozens of other balloons in flight. Most companies offer a “traditional Berber breakfast” afterward, which is nothing to write home about, but the balloon ride certainly is.
Moroccan Cooking Class
An engaging, hands-on way to learn about the cuisine, spices, and culture of Morocco is through a cooking class at La Maison Arabe riad. The very personable chef at the restaurant will teach you step-by-step in a state-of-the art kitchen how to prepare an authentic meal, then you’ll sit down to enjoy eating it and getting to know your classmates.
1 Derb Assehbi, Marrakech 40000
cenizaro.com
DAY TRIPS
If you’re in Marrakech for more than a few days, consider traveling outside the city to take in the beautiful scenery at the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Enjoy lunch under the olive trees at La Pause, a desert camp in the dunes of Agafay featuring oversized sculptures around the property. Or relax and enjoy a meal in bohemian simplicity at the Kasbah Bab Ourika hotel, overlooking the lush greenery of the Ourika Valley, where much of the produce used in the kitchen is grown. Both are about an hour from the center of Marrakech and an easy way to see more of the country without having to venture too far.
La Pause
Dramatic sculptures dot the arid landscape at La Pause desert camp in the Agafay dunes, where you can eat lunch in a Berber tent, enjoy dinner under the stars, or stay overnight in a tent or lodge.
Lauren WalshDouar Lmih Laroussiene, Commune Agafay, Marrakech
lapause-marrakech.com
Kasbah Bab Ourika
The majestic Atlas Mountains are only about an hour’s drive from Marrakech, and well worth a day trip. Stop at the Kasbah Bab Ourika for lunch in a stunning setting.
Courtesy of Kasbah Bab OurikaTnine Ourika, Ourika 42452
kasbahbabourika.com
