18 Best Hotels in Marrakesh, Morocco

Since 1923, Morocco's most prestigious hotel has achieved legendary status for its opulence, grandeur, celebrity guest list, and hefty price tag. Famed also for its elegant interiors, magnificent mature gardens, and immaculate service, La Mamounia occupies 20 acres of fragrant gardens that once belonged to 18th-century Prince Mamoun and is a glowing example of Moroccan Arab–Andalusian fine arts. As you enter the main foyer, doormen glide to your assistance as you're greeted by a waft of orange blossoms. The marble sculptures, velvet armchairs, antique furniture, and spacious lounges hung with Asian paintings ooze elegance. Animal lovers will be delighted to see that despite its five-star standing, La Mamounia welcomes furry friends—a rarity in Morocco. It also has its own colony of rescue cats and a friendly donkey wandering the grounds.

Just south of the Palmery, this fabulous hotel blends Moorish design details with ancient Egyptian architecture to make a peaceful paradise. As you enter into the lobby with its high vaulted ceiling, fountains, and pillars, the impression is of reaching a palace. (Oprah is a fan and stayed here on her trip to Marrakesh.) Accommodation is in two-story private terra-cotta villas and pavilions with generously sized bedrooms and high domed ceilings that surround an immense turquoise basin from which a series of smaller lagoons spread out through the manicured gardens. Some units have private dipping pools, fountains, and lush garden courtyards with drapes and white divans. There are Moroccan and Japanese restaurants to choose from as well as the option to dine at your own pavilion.

The word jnane means "garden," and this luxury property makes the most of its surroundings, with hacienda-style accommodations all surrounded by palms, olive trees, cactus gardens, herbs, and rose beds. Interiors are impeccably decorated with tadlak, antique rugs, paintings, textiles, and ethnic objects reflecting the artistic passion of lawyer-turned-designer Meryanne Loum-Martin. Outdoor terraces and nooks and crannies encourage daytime retreat, while a magnificent central drawing room with open fireplace brings guests together in the evening.

The Mandarin Oriental's first Moroccan property lives up to the ultraluxury hospitality brand's reputation. The property overlooks the Atlas Mountains and is surrounded by 50 acres of olive groves and rose gardens. All the suites and villas come with a private pool and butler (and the hotel slippers are to die for). Meanwhile, the decadent Asian restaurant Ling Ling serves up one of the best dining experiences in Marrakesh and is as popular with the city's luxury-loving residents as it is with hotel guests. To stay here, you need to be a traveler who's willing to splurge but also one who's motivated; it's tough to leave the property and you need to hire a car to get to any of the city's main attractions. 

The first African outpost from the Nobu hospitality brand is perfect for both business and leisure travelers. The design is a gorgeous fusion of Moroccan craftsmanship and Japanese contemporary touches. Rooms are simple but chic, and guests need only get on the elevator to either go upstairs to the vibrant rooftop bar or downstairs to the iconic Nobu restaurant. The vibe at both is cool and sophisticated, and there are as many solo guests as there are couples and groups. If you want to make the most of the amenities, book yourself a spa treatment and order sushi from room service.

Riad Tarabel is an enchanting hideaway that exudes old-world charm. Antique maps, peacock chairs, taxidermy birds, and sparkling chandeliers all have a place here, as do lush paintings that were shipped from the enigmatic owner’s family château in France. For those who love travel-inspired nostalgia and treasures, a stay at Tarabel is an absolute must. Pay close attention to the gilt mirrors that decorate Tarabel’s sitting areas. One of them is actually a secret door that leads to a spa—all you have to do is find and press the button.

You'll feel like a celebrity when you arrive at this dreamy resort, which opened to great acclaim in 2012 in Marrakesh's Palmery. Set among 12 acres of manicured gardens and shallow ponds, guests cross a moat to enter their accommodations, which range from spacious deluxe rooms centered on a courtyard garden to suites (some with fireplaces, terraces, or private pools), villas with private gardens, and three stately, multibedroom palaces. All are top-of-the-line with DVD-integrated plasma TVs, Nespresso machines, rain showers, and the plushest bedding, plus chic, contemporary interiors. On-site dining includes a French-influenced gourmet restaurant, a stylish lounge for tea, and Nomad Bar for cocktails. There's a central swimming pool for guests and visitors close to the restaurant as well as a shallow pool for children. The spa offers a range of divine massage and beauty treatments.

From the owners of the popular Riad BE in Marrakesh's medina, this widespread desert camp offers plenty of hangout spots and activities for its guests. You can order drinks and snacks to enjoy poolside, indulge in a spa treatment, or even sign up for a pottery workshop. The property has its own hilltop you can climb via stairs to enjoy the sunset and the friendly bartenders will even deliver your cocktail of choice while you're up there. While many of the camps in Agafay cater more to couples and the Instagram-loving crowd, BE is just as much a family-friendly option and has shallow pools that kids will love—likely inspired by the fact that the owners are parents to three little girls of their own and often bring them here on the weekends.

Originally built as a family home in 1982, Dar Ayniwen (House of Palms) is now a luxurious small hotel amid five acres of gardens, where guests are immediately made to feel at home by the warm and attentive staff. The house itself is filled with antique furnishings, rugs, lamps, paintings, and other objects collected from all over the world and over a lifetime by the owner's father. Several rooms, including the Rotunda Suite, can accommodate families and the hotel offers children's menus, babysitting services, and a library of books, DVDs, and games. Meals and snacks are available and are usually served on the garden terrace. A free shuttle to the medina and Marrakesh city center is available to guests on request.

English entrepreneur Vanessa Branson created this riad "adventure" in 2002, and since then it has been reworked and extended into a palace of individually conceived rooms designed with a stylish modern aesthetic. The property appeals to fashionable sophisticates although families with children are equally welcome. The atmosphere is chic, relaxed, and trendy, but it's expensive compared to other properties in the same category. There are three pools, a hammam spa, restaurant, spacious bar with lounge, exclusive designer boutique, library, and shaded garden patios. The roof terrace is huge and attracts outside guests for evening cocktails, as does the restaurant. Hardly any wonder that most guests stay four to five days—some even two weeks. 

The Four Seasons is a luxurious mini-medina outside the walls of the old city; avenues of palm trees, arcades, and patios connect the low-rise pavilions, all surrounded by acres of exotic gardens, terraces, pools, and fountains. The facilities are second to none, with contemporary Moroccan decor throughout and impeccable service. All rooms have a private terrace or balcony with views to the lush grounds. One swimming pool is for families; the other is a tranquil delight for adults only. In addition, there is a kids' and teenagers' club, a spa, games room, tea salon, library, and a fine Moroccan restaurant. 

Opened by celebrated British designer Jasper Conran, peace and tranquility reign supreme at this stylish riad set within a former 19th-century Ciadal palace. L'Hotel has six spacious suites, including Agadir, its newest and largest suite, which comes with its own private courtyard and fountain. Conran furnished all the rooms and common spaces with antiques and artworks from his private collection, which makes staying here feel like you're visiting a well-off friend's lush Marrakesh villa. Four-poster beds are made up with hand-finished Egyptian cotton linen surrounded by billowing white voile drapes. While all suites overlook the garden courtyard, request one with a private balcony or terrace. The on-site restaurant serves Moroccan cuisine either in the elegant dining room or on your own private terrace. There are no TVs and children are not accepted unless the entire riad is booked for private use. The sun-drenched roof terrace is ideal for afternoon tea or sunset cocktails.

There's a certain over-the-top charm to this series of five interconnected riads of palatial proportions, each with a different decorative theme inspired by previous ruling dynasties. The hotel concierge offers all services and comforts associated with a small luxury hotel and there's a Romanesque underground spa and massage suite, as well as on-site cooking classes. There are also salon areas and lounges in each of the different riads, plus a billiards room and other spaces for meeting, greeting, or relaxing. A nighttime aperitif beside the patio pool amid rows of man-size lanterns is hard to beat. The very pleasant terrace restaurant is open to nonguests and has both French and Moroccan menus.

Take your breakfast or lunch here, but head elsewhere for dinner.

On the souk's northern tip is this lavish riad spread across five adjoining properties, known for its fabulous decor and elite clientele (Angelina Jolie and Russell Crowe have stayed here). Its location in the heart of the busy El Mok'f neighborhood may be a bit more on the edgy side, but once you've reached the riad, you may never want to leave. TVs are hidden behind carved moucharabia screens and iPod docks are filled with cool tunes. Hidden alcoves and salons are great places to grab a meal, but don't miss the terrace for sunset. 

This sophisticated hotel set in 12 acres of gardens is the height of bohemian boutique chic, if a bit Beverley Hills. Each of the exceedingly large rooms, decorated in an ornate mixture of Moroccan and Art Deco styles, open onto the pool's veranda, which is shared with the other guests. For true luxury, choose one of the huge Arabian "'tents"' tucked away in the gardens; each is an enormous permanent fixture with solid walls, kitted out to resemble the regal tents used in times gone by for stately occasions—the stuff of fairy tales, with four-poster beds, sunken pools sprinkled with rose petals, fireplaces, and romantic lighting. The mansion was originally constructed for a French countess, who then decided to make it a luxury hotel. Staff is at your beck and call, and meals are served around the pool, in the gardens, or in the elegant lounge. 

Built and owned by King Mohammed VI of Morocco, the Royal Mansour is an ultraluxurious private medina within the medina, comprising 55 individual three-story riads complete with a private patio, sitting room, rooftop plunge pool, fireplace, and personal butler. Master artisans from across the Kingdom finished each with zellij tiles, hand-sculpted plaster details, and polished tadlak. It's here that visiting heads of state and the super-elite will be housed during state visits or celebrity events; the rest of the time it's open to anybody with pockets deep enough to pay the rates. From the riads, pathways lined with 100-year-old olive trees transplanted from the King's own Agdal Gardens lead to the reception and the various fine-dining restaurants, while there is a stunning garden with massive outdoor pool and the "Le Jardin'" restaurant pavilion, overseen by Michelin-starred chef, Yannick Alléno. The luxurious hotel spa, with white wrought-iron atrium, resembles a birdcage and reputedly has one of the best (and possibly most expensive) hammams in Marrakesh. 

Formerly the private residence of a Marrakesh judge, this exquisite 1930s property has all the understated glamour and class you'd expect from a Relais & Chateaux hotel, with unobtrusive service, libraries to hide away in, and guest rooms with enormous bathrooms. The street outside is a busy thoroughfare, but when inside you are hardly aware of it. Dine in the excellent contemporary Mediterranean and Moroccan restaurant, or take your meals by the heated garden pool, terrace pool, or fireside on a private, orange-tree–filled patio. 

The ultraluxurious White Camel is more of a resort than a camp; guests have access to air-conditioned suites and a spa that offers a wide range of services, including massages and manicures. Beyond its luxurious amenities, The White Camel also boasts three restaurants, a bar, and an infinity pool that’s simply stunning at sunset. Even the most high-maintenance traveler will be hard-pressed to find anything to complain about during their stay at this desert camp. Its name is fitting because, as Moroccan owner Abdelkhalek Benalila explains, the white camel was once a coveted rarity in M’Hamid El Ghizlane, the desert village in the Sahara from which he hails.