Marrakesh dreaming

El Fenn:What boutique hotels sometimes lack in scale is often made up by style. A smaller business can harbour a particular brand of character: unique flavour, attention to detail, little flourishes, and authenticity. El Fenn is no exception; its modern take on Moroccan interiors, three pools, and excellent concierge service take it to the next level. Add in the beautiful handmade tiles and vintage furniture, plus the staff's plentiful tips, and you have a stay to savour. Continuing the theme of discovery, the El Fenn boutique is a tightly edited selection of the best local designers and artisans where everything, including the wall decor, is on sale. It sits within the hotel's bar and restaurant area, making it easy to stock up on local treats while sipping mint tea.

La Sultana:For a more luxurious five-star experience, you can’t beat La Sultana. With opulent interiors and impeccable service, it offers sun-bleached perfection and historic provenance. Located in the UNESCO-listed Medina World Heritage Site, its luxurious hammam is a must for all the senses.

Riad Mena:For style and substance, head to Riad Mena, with tiered terraces overlooking palms, citrus and banana trees, and the Medina at its doorstep. Its beautiful interiors and natural sense of flow take you from the garden courtyard to the pool, then to the patio and the curtain-screened loggia. Bohemian, fresh, elegant and unpretentious, it is luxury minus the fuss.

Berber Lodge: A short drive from Marrakesh, this tranquil lodge sits across several hectares of cacti and centenary olive trees. There, a pared-back way of living, home-cooked food and sleeping under the stars await. One of our favourite places to stay, the Berber Lodge is all about refined simplicity. Nestled near the village of Oumes, we love it for its deep connection to preserved Moroccan nature and the calm of its individual lodges.


EAT

Jemaa el-Fnaa: Immerse yourself in this World Heritage site at sunset, where the square comes alive with storytellers, snake charmers and acrobatics. Street vendors sell barbecued brochettes, chicken tagines, hot fried fish and snail broth from steaming carts lit by fairy lights, so get ready to try new flavours and soak up the square’s lively, authentic atmosphere.

La Famille:Situated in Marrakesh’s bustling Medina, enter through a tiny hole in the wall, and you’ll find yourself in a charming garden full of olive trees. Feast on vegetarian dishes while you sip homemade lemonade and admire the calming, driftwood-inspired interiors. Finish with a strategic exit through the gift shop.

Grande Café de la Poste:Atmospheric doesn’t get much better than this: an iconic café where you can enjoy fresh salads and excellent steak and frites, all the while surrounded by a setting worthy of a Wes Anderson movie. It is also a great place to go at night for a drink, when Marrakesh’s old-world charm comes alive.

NOMAD Marrakesh: With a fresh menu and a cool rooftop cocktail bar overlooking the spice market, NOMAD is a welcoming gastronomic feast in a picture-perfect spot.  


SHOP

Majorelle 33:Opposite the tranquil Majorelle gardens, 33 Rue Majorelle is a concept store known as the Moroccan answer to Colette in Paris. Whatever you can dream up, it probably has it: jewellery, wooden furniture, vibrant textiles, modish interiors, Warhol-esque Pop Art, artisanal clothing and unusual homewares.

Lrnce: A contemporary take on traditional items like ceramics and kilims. The find oversized suitcases are made of.

Le Souk: No trip to Morocco is complete without a pit stop at the Marrakesh souk. Set in the bustling energy of the Medina, it's all silk caftans, soft leather Moroccan slippers and artisans hammering silver into jewellery. A dream for homewares, fashion, knick-knacks and food, it's always good fun to haggle for the perfect wicker basket.

If you're too time-poor to soak it all in, stop at Moustapha Blaoui, some of the best interiors the Souk has to offer. Just down the road is Soufiane's new carpet showroom; once you see his carpets, you will never go anywhere else. Then stop by Jardins Secret, a not-all-that-secret but fun garden amid the bustle, where you can recharge before you hit the shops again. Finally, La Fil d'Or is the best for traditional slippers and cotton kaftans.

Kulchi Rugs:A beautifully curated selection of rugs by fellow Australian Cassandra Karinsky. Her showroom is as breathtaking as her rugs.

V. Barkowski: Belgian designer Valérie Barkowski spent decades behind a slew of international brands before falling in love with Marrakesh and opening Dar Kawa, a traditional guesthouse in Morocco. Her showroom, a few minutes away, has the same strong aesthetic signature, mixing hand-embroidered details and colourful tassels. Save room in your suitcase for their luxury bed and bath linens.

Flea markets: Dig deep and bargain hard at the local vintage flea market for old silver and retro furniture, often sourced from old hotels being demolished. The best place to pick up Tamegroute pottery at the best price.

Magasin General: In the cool industrial district, this treasure trove offers a curated collection of 20th-century European designer vintage furniture, exciting objects and Belgian bed linen.

Marrakshi Life:Textile designer Randall Bachner produces all his own fabrics. In-store, watch the fabric be hand-loomed in front of you while you shop his collection of shirts, bottoms and jumpsuits.

DO

Visit a Hammam:Magical is the only way to describe a traditional hammam experience. Your trip to Marrakech is not complete until you are slathered in black olive-based soap and scrubbed until you are as soft as a baby. We particularly love the day spa at La Sultana for a truly luxurious experience, but one visit may not be enough.

Head to a local gallery:Gallery 127 is our pick for beautifully curated Moroccan photography shows. Bonus points for location: the gallery is nestled in an incredible loft-like space, which is worth a visit in itself.

Museé YSL:Be stunned by the beautiful building by KO Architects while immersed in couture gowns and the history of Yves Saint Laurent's time living in Marrakech. The museum also houses a library of over 5000 books on fashion.

Majorelle Gardens:Yves Saint Laurent poured his love into these gardens where he lived with Pierre Bergé, and the cacti, bamboo bushes and palm trees still thank him. The garden, 12 acres of botanical paradise, was gifted to the city of Marrakech and now includes a gift shop full of decorative pillows and handmade jewellery.

Beldi Country Club:Perfect for a day of tranquillity when you really need to hit the reset button, this is one special treat you should definitely indulge in. A huge rose garden will greet you, and the scent is unmatchable and unmistakable. A dreamy retreat just 15 minutes from the Medina, this is the ideal spot to escape the hot desert sun, swim in a tiled 50-meter pool, or read a book from cover to cover and fully relax. Whether you spend the day dipping your feet in the pool, taking a long nap under an olive tree, or indulging in a beautiful fish barbecue, a day here is a must to gather your thoughts and leave feeling utterly refreshed.