You absolutely must…
Must Eat:
Marrakech has always been known for its food. Moroccan cuisine is one of the most outstanding in the world, and it includes such delicacies as tagine, pastilla, cous cous and fresh mint tea. For one night you must experience the ultimate in Moroccan food, in the ultimate setting at Yacout.
Must Shop:
Shopping in marrakesh is more than just a past time. It is an integral part of the culture. People have been coming to shopin the souks just off Jemma el Fna for more than a thousand years. Despite the rise in tourism the souks are still the place to shop for rugs, jewellery, leather, pottery and wooden furniture.
Must Visit:
For one day organise a car and driver and go to Ourika in the Atlas Mountains. You will not believe mountains like this exist just outside the palm-fringed borders of the city.
• The beauty, authenticity and exotic charm of a historic riad.
• The pleasure of three swimming pools a spa, and a private cinema in the Medina.
The Whole Story
A big historically important town house, with three pools, a spa and a private cinema on the inner edge of the Marrakech Medina.
Marrakech was a famous city long before America was discovered. It was rich from a lucrative trade in slaves, gold and spices, and it was legend for its beautiful hand-craft in silver pottery, leather and rugs. To protect itself, the city was heavily fortified, and the elite – the wealthy merchants, the princes, and sultans – lived in splendid palaces in the very heart of the city. Enclosed by walls three to four stories high, these were inward looking fortresses with beautiful gardens, fountains, swimming pools, terraces and intricate stairwells, none of which is discernable from the outside. These riads survived largely due to Morocco’s isolation for 500 years, and subsequently die to the protective nature of one hundred years of French colonialism. The Medina, the city’s ancient labyrinth of impossibly tiny laneways, shops and town houses has survived intact.
Situated within the courtyard walls of one of the city’s largest riads, Riad El Fenn combines an English flair for expat lifestyle with a healthy respect and admiration for Moroccan style and tradition. The secret to El Fenn’s lifestyle is to offer an abundance of spaces to retreat and to call your own: lush gardens and terraces, a snug salon with a fireplace, a roof terrace with day beds, a plunge pool on a private terrace and lots of hidden corners to disappear into.
When it comes to dining the approach to food is to keep it simple. Emphasis is on fresh produce, delicious ingredients and a purposefully limited choice. At Riad El Fenn they understand that you want to eat well but you do not want to be bombarded with choices and when it’s time to relax with a drink, since Riad El Fenn is more of a home than a hotel, the bar is literally where you want it to be, on the roof, in the courtyard etc.
The Rooms
21 suites and bedrooms are all quite different but each has a small or large sitting area and bath shower en suite. The largest suites top at 900 sq ft with private terrace and small plunge pools enjoying wonderful views.
The showers have power, the baths are deep, the heating/air-con is effective and discreet, the mattresses firm, the pillows plentiful, the linen fine, the beds huge, the bath oils delicious, the candles scented. All rooms have mini bars, iPod docking stations and safes. Room service is available. Ask your Travel Guru for more details on each of the different rooms available.