One fabulous week in Marrakech !

Edwart and me just come back from Marrakech and we loooved it ! I must say we were welcomed in the greatest places in very privileged conditions, we could enjoy and visit the most beautiful riads and hotels and taste the most delicious food. Choukrane to Fabrizio from Maison Arabe, to the french chef Laurent Chancel and Mustapha the morrocan chef, both from Royal Mansour, with many thanks also to Patrick Langlois and Ali from Fouquet’s Naoura Barriere, Amine from Mamounia…choukrane everybody and especially our dear funny and amazing friends who will  recognize…

1) La Maison Arabe

We stayed in my favorite Riad called “la Maison Arabe”owned by Prince Fabrizio Ruspoli and very well located in the Medina, not far from famous Djema El Fna square.

    

We loved our room with a private balcony and overlooking the swimming pool.I will rememember the delicious breakfast with moroccan pancakes and yogurt, so sweet and smooth. We enjoy the spa very much, 1001 nights atmosphere, it’s sooo good to start your trip with a hamman session and unforgetable massages ! The riad is decorated in a traditional style with taste and refinement for every details, at the image of the owners.

10 min drive from the Riad  there is the Country club reserved for hotels guests only with a bigger swimming pool and amazing gardens smelling roses and rosemary…you can enjoy a light lunch under the shade of olive trees and  it’s possible to hire the place for private event. Ideal for a birthday or wedding party there !!

  

2) ROYAL MANSOUR

Thanks to adorable friends  we could appreciate and enjoy Royal Mansour , which is more than the best and most beautiful palace hotel in the world : here we are on a Royal scale.

Imagine a private Medina with top luxury riads (all with private pools), surrounded by a magical scented garden , a spa that gives you a taste of paradise on earth, a french team in the kitchen from le Meurice (under Yannick Alleno supervision), new moroccan chef who worked in Monaco with Alain Ducasse…  and the most exquisite polychromic marbles, sophisticated fabrics, velvets, impressive  and delicate wood marquetterie, pietradura marquetterie,  embroideries on leather, impressive carved and painted ceilings, cristal chandelier all different the ones from the other, traditional zelige (mosaics) and tadelakt walls , EVERYWHERE ! without speaking of the library with an opening roof to observe the stars…no you’re not in a morrocan fairy tale you’re in Royal Mansour for Royal holidays !

The best craftmen of the kingdom worked there in order to offer the essence of Moroccan style blend in a contemporary refined atmosphere. Impossible to  talk about  high luxury if you haven’t been there once !

The entrance- the piano bar-the library-  the bar decorated with pink gold leaves on the mirrored wall- the swimming pool-

                 

3) Mamounia by night :

We decided to go to that legendary palace hotel just for a drink then we were filled with marvels discovering the garden by night -with three centuries old trees -, the silent pool, the impressive refined lobby (the hotel has been totally redecorated by famous french interior designer Jacques Gracia-,  and decided to  eat at the Moroccan restaurant (but you have also a french one and italian one). We enjoyed our perfect couscous so much ! and the service was so friendly. We spent a lovely evening accompanied by excellent traditional musicians.

     

4) Fouquet’s Naoura Barriere

if you are used to read me you know we love La Baule seaside resort in west France. We went there 2 months ago and were recommended to visit the new hotel from Barriere group that opened in Marrakech. It’s  located just in font of La Maison Arabe ! We met Patrick Langlois, a very charming man who worked 25 years in La Baule before he participated to the launching of the new hotel in the Red City.We had a dinner by the pool and enjoyed the dessert. And  guess what,  I took something VERY french- even  so parisian- and hard to find now in Paris : Crepes Suzette !! so funny and extra delicious. Ali who knows also Deauville (we love Normandy Barriere hotel in Deauville,  the best hotel in Normandie) was our waiter and prepared these famous “crepes” !

  

5) Shopping

The day before we left Joe took me in his favorite shops in Gueliz, the modern and trendy part of Marrakech and great shopping area ! you wil find in many fashion city guides “Scene de lin” for home interior design and that’s definitly the place to shop for home souvenirs ! fabricks, blankets, cushions, scarfs, home accessories, a dream ! it makes you want to buy and decorate your own riad .

For fashion I love the creations of Nourredine Amir in Villa Amir. The place is all what I like : minimalist , only stone and glass, with opening on orange tree floroushing in a courtyard. Incredible work with ribbons twisted  for this corset, it looks like a sculpture !

      

I also recommend warmly Amina Tifnouti , 3 rue des vieux Marrakchis, I bought 2 tops , one in black velvet , the other in black silk, both embroidered with traditional moroccan motifs. I will wear them during our next trip to Venise for Biennale of contemporary art , we’ll stay in San Clemente Place hotel, I’m so excited !!