Mandarin Oriental Marrakech: The Perfect Desert Oasis

Experiencing 21st-century luxury encompassed with oriental charm at the Mandarin Oriental had been a dream of mine for a while now.  The Mandarin Oriental Group of hotels is known for its’ luxurious properties around so many exotic destinations. 

While planning for our trip to Marrakech Morocco, staying at the Mandarin Oriental was a top priority.  I was looking for the perfect retreat in Morocco and the Mandarin Oriental Marrakech did not disappoint.

The best part was that it was conveniently located.  With only a 15-minute drive from the Marrakech Menara international airport, a five-minute drive from the Medina, and a 15-minute drive to New Marrakech (modern city area with malls), Mandarin Oriental was our best option for convenient luxury.

Upon arrival, we were completely enamored by the symmetrical design of the resort from every angle.  This was made possible by two French architects, Patrick Gilles, and Dorothée Boissier.  The resort was designed keeping the Berber (indigenous people of North Africa) and the Arab-Andalusian influences in mind with a huge emphasis on the four elements (air, water, fire, and earth). 

Set amidst approximately 50 acres of landscaped gardens of olive and willow trees and with over 100,000 flowers, I couldn’t help but fall in love with how dreamy the ambiance of the hotel was.  I was in for a bigger surprise when I learned later that the backdrop of the resort was none other than the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. 

There are a total of 54 private villas with pools and hot tubs and spacious outdoor shaded areas for dining, relaxing, or having Moroccan tea from your own kitchenette! Apart from the villas, Mandarin Oriental Marrakech also offers nine beautiful suites, seven of which have their own plunge pools and panoramic views of the gardens, the Atlas mountains, and the medina.

| THE ENTRANCE |

The grand entrance opens up its arms with towering walls filled with bougainvillea.  We had our own red carpet welcome when we arrived and we couldn’t have been more elated by this gesture by the staff.

| POOL GARDEN RESTAURANT & DIAMOND POOL |

Mandarin Oriental Marrakech offers a beautiful heated swimming pool of approximately 6500 sq ft.  The huge diamond shaped pool is stunning with its’ multicolored tiles and overall design.  They offer 2 kinds of day passes. 

One is a Pool Garden pass that includes two Mediterranean-flavored dishes with pool access and will cost you 500MAD per person.  The other is a Grab & Swim pass that includes small bites, with signature cocktails and pool access every day except Fridays, from 3 to 8 pm. This pass costs 350MAD per person.

We did not get a chance to take a dip but we didn’t forget to indulge in some amazing detox juices poolside!  I would highly recommend a cocktail made of basil, ginger, and lemon or a fusion of mango and peach with basil.  The pool garden restaurant has a very dreamy ambiance with shaded pergolas and a bougainvillea backdrop that will leave you speechless.   This was the sole reason we decided to try an al fresco lunch by the pool and it did not disappoint.  I had a refreshing buddha bowl while hubs had his favorite chicken sandwich with a side of fries and salad.  Per hubs, MO Marrakech had the best chicken sandwich in Morocco, hands down.

| MANDARIN POOL VILLA |

We stayed in the Mandarin Pool Villa which has a contemporary design based on the traditional riad.   The entrance to our villa was through a walled courtyard with beautiful roses and white bougainvillea hanging down from the walls.  If that wasn’t enough to have us mesmerized, the long outdoor pool that we were greeted with was beyond breathtaking!  The outdoor area had two beautifully decorated daybeds and a romantic curtained alcove perfect for dining and relaxing.  We also made our own Moroccan mint tea in their cute outdoor kitchenette.  The spacious master bedroom opens up to the long central heated jacuzzi and pool. The room has a modern yet authentic Moroccan feel.  The walls are decorated with tadelakt and Berber designs while the hand-woven rugs are specially brought in from Rabat.  The best part about this villa was the huge round tub, big enough to fit a family!

| ATLAS SUITE |

We were upgraded to an Atlas Suite during our stay (perks of being a FAN of MO member) and it was beyond stunning.  With the Atlas mountains as our backdrop, we enjoyed our mornings and evenings in the outdoor terrace overlooking the vast gardens. The spacious master bedroom also had the same consistent decor as the Mandarin pool villa and opened up to the outdoor plunge pool.   Some other cool features were the atmospheric lighting and a control pad that we used to open and close the curtains. On one of the mornings, we opted for an in-room breakfast out on the terrace.  We had fresh fruit platters, various bread baskets, and the best bircher muesli I’ve tried in all my travels. All, while enjoying the stunning views that MO had to offer.

| THE SPA |

Mandarin Oriental Marrakech offers a huge ~20,000 square feet spa.  They have four individual treatment rooms, including one Thai treatment room, where you have the option to get treatment under the olive trees. They also offer one couple and one single spa suites, each with a vitality bath and a private garden.  Not forgetting, two hammams with private scrub rooms.  I missed out on experiencing the hammam but I’ll definitely save it for next time.  My favorite part of the spa had to be the indoor heated swimming pool.  The flooring of the pool felt amazing and the chlorine levels were just perfect.  We also spent some time at the gym and yoga room where we learned that private yoga lessons were also available with an instructor upon request.  Yoga can be done both indoors and outdoors in the open gardens.  If you are more health conscious or love spa days, you can request rooms closer to these two amenities.

| DINING |

The prettiest tea lounge that I’ve experienced is the Le Salon Berbere.  The owner of the Mandarin Oriental has the space adorned with ornate collectibles that are for sale if you wish to buy.  The designs on the walls and decor show off the Berber and Andalusian influences. You will pass through it to get to the Mes’Lalla restaurant which is their Moroccan signature restaurant and where we had our very first and not last rack of lamb.  I loved having breakfast each morning at Mes’Lalla outdoors.  The outdoor area had a Parisienne chic atmosphere, so romantic! If you’re in the mood for a more Cantonese experience from Hakkasan, head over to their fabulous Ling Ling restaurant where the ambiance is hip and the DJ will have you dancing the night away.  You also have the option of having an outdoor lunch at the Pool Garden and if you have difficulty leaving your lavish villa, then in-villa dining is also available.

| HOTEL GROUNDS & LEISURE ACTIVITIES |

The hotel is very well maintained with endless gardens of flowers, olive trees, and organic fruits and vegetables.  The property was so vast that we decided to explore the grounds on bicycles which they provide for their guests.  There are pathways that lead to so many picturesque areas throughout the grounds and we made sure to capture all our sweet moments!  There are a variety of leisurely activities provided by the hotel that you can take part in mentioned in the list below:

• Jogging or cycling around the resort
• Golfing at two golf courses with complimentary access from the hotel by car
• An in-house zoo where children and adults alike can visit and play with the animals
• A kids club (Kasbah) where children can have fun and simultaneously get skillful lessons in weaving, calligraphy and more
• Cooking classes with their Chefs
• Variety of day-trips with private chauffeur and guide (Atlas Mountains, Essaouira, Agafay desert)
• Quad biking, camel rides
• Cultural tours in the medina
• Guided shopping tours in traditional markets
• Tennis courts close to the resort

| SUMMARY of the MANDARIN ORIENTAL MARRAKECH |

Our overall experience at the Mandarin Oriental Marrakech was magical.  This was our perfect desert oasis retreat that we had been looking forward to.  The staff truly went above and beyond to provide the most excellent and detailed service and the best we received while in Morocco!  This would be a perfect luxury getaway with a loved one, with family, or even friends.  

Become a FAN of MO for free to enjoy privileges that you won’t get elsewhere: Click here