Marrakesh
in Morocco

In the heart of the Medina is this architectural treasure and historically significant building that once was the biggest Islamic college in North Africa. Medresa Ben Youssef is a landmark of the city due to its past, which takes us back to 1500 when art and knowledge bloomed in Marrakech. This beautiful palace has captivating calligraphy, patterns and symbols carved in many materials, from wood to ceramic. You must visit this UNESCO World Heritage site and enjoy as much as we did the beauty of this institution, which blends with the clear blue Moroccan sky. 

Part concept store, part hotel (and a café set around a mulberry tree to boot) on the edge of Jardin Majorelle, Moro has the feel of a 1970s Melrose Place. Owners Mohcyn Bousfiha (an artist) and Mouad Mohsine (an entrepreneur) have created a stylish world of fashion, art, and design, alongside natural skincare from their in-house brand, The Moroccans. Don’t miss the prickly-pear scrub: it leaves skin feeling baby-soft. 

This treasure trove of a boutique gathers the best of the souk under one roof: glassware, wicker baskets, rugs, furniture, and, perhaps, the city’s finest selection of metal lamps. Ideal if you’re short on time but want the full bounty of the Medina. It’s still presided over by Mustapha himself, often holding court over mint tea and chatter with the Marrakesh set. 

There is no end to the things we love about NOMAD. From its chic and modern rooftop bar, to the menu that incorporates modern international influences into traditional Moroccan cuisine, to the flourless orange cake served as dessert.

If you are in search of complete tranquillity in the pure mountain air, the vast pavilions of Olinto are breathtaking in their comfort and cosiness. Overlooking the Atlas Mountains, each pavilion has its own private garden and a vast infinity pool that sweeps into the lush forest beyond. It might just be the most romantic spots around.

Marrakech is a city with plenty chic spaces and Pétanque Social Club is one of them. For brunch, lunch or dinner, this gem of a place serves exquisite food and has an impeccable service while simultaneously playing jazzy tunes that bring life to the green terrace. Bohemian, eclectic and fun, they invite you to the pétanque court as you sip your first cocktail away and wait for your entree. A great choice for date night or for late lunch with a group of friends. This hidden spot is truly one of a kind. 

Feeling like branching out from your daily tajine? Plus61 is a bright & breezy restaurant with a menu chock full of fresh, Australian cuisine.

In recent years, southern Morocco’s traditional craft of Tamegroute – roughly thrown, glazed pottery in a spectrum of greens ranging from emerald to olive – has become a must-have for interior lovers. Just beside Le Jardin Secret, Tamegroute Poterie has Marrakesh’s best picks; from sculptural candleholders to plates and bowls of every size, each piece is imbued with rustic charm.

Tucked beside the Bahia Palace and away from the souk’s commotion, Riad Rosemary is Belgian-born designer, and founder of design house LNRCE, Laurence Leenaert’s labour of love. Like the creative crowd it attracts, the riad is beautiful and endlessly surprising. At its heart stands a spiralling jacaranda tree that showers violet blossoms each spring. Over five years, more than forty of Leenaert's in-house artisans  painted soft, earthy tones, laid bespoke terrazzo, and inlaid hand-cut zellij tiles depicting Leenaert’s own designs. The five suites are among the Medina’s finest - generous in size, originality and comfort, right down to the hand-embroidered percale bedsheets. A simple but plentiful breakfast is served on the rooftop terrace, and in true home-stay fashion, guests are left to their own rhythms, trusted to treat the place as their own. 

This timeless luxury hotel never fails to make us feel like royal guests in its stunning palace-like walls. Get the full treatments in the hammam and spa, or immerse yourself in the enchantment of the hotel as you explore the gardens, the Riads and the gorgeous Moroccan craftsmanship. 

In the heart of Gueliz, Sahbi Sahbi is the dazzling new sibling to Grand Café de la Poste and Bô Zin. What makes it extraordinary? It’s entirely women-led. In a culture where kitchens are usually closed off, here they take centre stage: a vast open cooking space where guests watch Morocco’s once-secret recipes unfold before their eyes under highly skilled female chefs. From the slow melt of lamb tagines to chicken seffa crowned with sugared almonds, every dish feels like a revelation shared.

At the foot of the Atlas Mountains, stands an elegant palace with a unique atmosphere: Selman Marrakech. Enjoy the warmth and cosiness of this luxurious family estate. Designed by Jacques Garcia, enjoy the spacious rooms and wonderful spa. 

Shams rooftop restaurant and bar sits atop the Le Monde des Arts de la Parure museum in Marrakech, an enormous collection of African and oriental jewellery, clothing, and ethnographic items in a truly breathtaking modern building by Franco-Lebanese architects Michel Charrière and Joseph Achkar. The menu takes inspiration from both Mediterranean and Levantine cuisine, from traditional baba ghannouj and fattoush to goat's stuffed pittas with Greek salad and lashings of olive oil. With elevator access straight to the top, Shams is the place for long, lazy lunches in a leafy escape above the city, book-ended with a Moroccan iced coffee, of course. 

Celebrating the country’s exceptional natural bounty, The Moroccan Botanist houses an extensive range of organic teas and herbal blends from the country’s finest botanicals. In its apothecary-style store at the Jardins Majorelle – and select locations across the city – each carefully curated infusion, from invigorating to soothing, invites you to savour the scents and flavours of Morocco.

At 7 rue Ibn Rochd, Villa Aaron is a 1930s-built family home reborn as one of Marrakech’s most stylish restaurant-bars. Restored by the Amazoz Group with the owner’s granddaughter, the villa retains its soul in patterned zellij, vintage furniture and lush courtyards, refreshed by designer Michèle-Rose with soft light and greenery. Chef Luisma Naranjo’s menu blends Mediterranean generosity with Moroccan flair - from mechoui cannelloni to shakshouka ravioli - while skilled barmen pour playful cocktails from the marble-topped bar. Atmosphere is key here: live jazz, double bass or DJs drift through salon corners and shaded patios. And if you have the stamina, you may find yourself at Marrakech's most elegant house party, as last orders only happen at 2 am.