Hotel
Royal Mansour Marrakech
A luxury hotel inside the medina walls made up of 53 private riads, each with its own courtyard, set in gardens with a spa and several…
La Mamounia
Marrakech's grand palace hotel since 1929, set in historic gardens inside the medina walls, with four restaurants, four bars, a large spa and outdoor pools.
At a glance
- Type
- Palace hotel
- Area
- Medina (Bab Jdid), Marrakech, Morocco
- Price
- $$$$ · Luxury
- Official site
- mamounia.com
Good to know
- Gardens
- Pools
- Spa and hammam
- Four restaurants
- Four bars
- Tennis courts
- Gym
Why we recommend it
La Mamounia opened in 1929 and has been the city's most famous hotel ever since. It was conceived in the early 1920s by the architects Henri Prost and Antoine Marchisio on the site of an 18th-century estate of palace and gardens, around 15 hectares in all, that Sultan Mohammed ben Abdallah gave to his son, Prince Moulay Mamoun. Winston Churchill was among its admirers, describing it in a 1935 letter as a wonderful place, and a bar in the hotel still carries his name.
The hotel was comprehensively renovated by the designer Jacques Garcia and reopened in 2009, and in 2020 the main building, restaurants, bars and pavilions were refreshed again. It has 135 rooms, 71 suites and three private riads, and the hotel offers a range of categories from classic rooms to large suites and the three riads, which suit families or groups who want more privacy.
The gardens are the heart of the place, and the pools, a gym and tennis courts are set within them. Dining is a highlight: L'Asiatique par Jean-Georges, L'Italien par Simone Zanoni, Le Marocain and Le Pavillon de la Piscine, alongside two tea rooms by Pierre Hermé and four bars, including Le Churchill and Le Bar Majorelle. The spa offers hammams, massages and treatments, and there is a gym, tennis courts, and a hair and beauty salon.
La Mamounia suits couples, honeymooners and travellers for whom the hotel is part of the trip, and it also welcomes families. Its position inside the medina walls means you can walk to Jemaa el-Fnaa in around fifteen minutes, yet the grounds are calm and secluded. Book well ahead for spring and autumn, and reserve restaurant tables early if you are not staying. Smart dress is expected in the restaurants and bars in the evening.
The hotel is on Avenue Bab Jdid, on the western edge of the medina, ten minutes' walk from the Koutoubia and a short drive from Marrakech Menara Airport. Guéliz, with the Jardin Majorelle, is a quick taxi ride north. Guests arriving by car can use the hotel's parking, for which the hotel publishes a plan on its website.
La Mamounia FAQs
When did La Mamounia open?
It opened in 1929.
How many rooms does it have?
135 rooms, 71 suites and three private riads.
What restaurants are there?
L'Asiatique par Jean-Georges, L'Italien par Simone Zanoni, Le Marocain and Le Pavillon de la Piscine, plus tea rooms by Pierre Hermé.
Is there a spa?
Yes. The spa offers hammams, massages and treatments, with a gym and tennis courts.
Can non-residents visit?
Non-residents can book the restaurants and bars, which is a good way to see the hotel.
How far is it from Jemaa el-Fnaa?
About fifteen minutes on foot.
Why is there a bar named after Churchill?
Winston Churchill stayed at and praised the hotel, and Le Churchill bar is named after him.