La Mamounia
La Mamounia reopened in September 2009 following a major renovation under the direction of designer Jacques Garcia. No one was really surprised at how fantastic the hotel looks. After all, it was world famous shortly after it opened in 1923 and the management was not about to lose its super star rating to any of the upstarts that have opened in recent years. Surprisingly the hotel has actually gotten better with age.
Underneath the exquisite Moorish architecture. antique furnishings and fine Oriental carpets are 21st-century conveniences fit for the most demanding of clients including celebrities, financiers and just plain sophisticated travelers.
Located in the heart of Marrakech, La Mamounia is within walking distance of the medina, the souks and Jemaa El Fna Square. It is nestled in romantic gardens that date back nearly 300 years. The city's 12th-century walls are a backdrop with waving palm trees and the harsh sunlight coloring in the seeming artwork.
Walking the halls and lobby, guests might easily imagine why historical luminaries such as Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, Edith Piaf and the Rockefellers called this vulnerable hotel home. In recent years, it has played host to diplomats and celebrities such as former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Brad Pitt, Elton John, Tom Cruise and George Clooney.
La Mamounia features six restaurants and cafes. L'Italien features Italian fare created by Jean-Georges. L’Asiatique by Jean-Georges, An original creation by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, our restaurant L’Asiatique by Jean-Georges is located in the Hivernage neighbourhood of Marrakesh.
Le Marocain offers Moroccan cuisine prepared by chef Rachid Agouray. Le Pavillon de la Piscine offers Meditteranean cuisine.
Located in the La Mamounia Gallery, Le Bar Churchill kept much of the original wooden structure of the bar, as well as its iconic murals and images of famous musicians, evoking the feeling of a speakeasy or hidden jazz club.
The new La Mamounia also features a 27,000-sq-ft spa, a fitness studio and 20 acres of historic gardens.
Meeting rooms and ballrooms, all connectable, offer plenty of room for conferences, seminars, banquets and exhibitions. Also on the premises are a casino, tennis and squash courts, a fully equipped gym, a golf course, shops and an art gallery.
All rooms are wheelchair accessible, and some are designated this way.
This hotel and its luxurious amenities can be a bit overwhelming. But the friendly staffers, most of whom speak English, more than compensate for the sometimes pretentious feel of the hotel. This marvel of architecture has no rival in Marrakech and is worth a visit for tea and pastries if one is staying at a less famous hotel.
Following the refurbishment, there is no doubt that La Mamounia still reigns supreme as the finest, most famous hotel in the city, if not the whole country.
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