a Mamounia, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, is a luxury 5-star hotel in the heart of Marrakech, Morocco. Renowned for its rich history, Moroccan charm, and timeless elegance, it is considered one of the most iconic luxury hotels in the world.
In 2018 and 2021, La Mamounia was voted the ‘Best Hotel in the World’ in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. It was also named ‘Best Hospitality Heritage Hotel’ by Connoisseur Circle Awards and ranked the ‘31st Best Hotel in the World’ by The World’s 50 Best Hotels in 2024 – just a few of its many prestigious accolades.
The hotel takes its name from the ‘Gardens of Mamoun’, a lush park gifted by Sultan Mohammed Ben Abdallah to his son, Prince Mamoun, as a wedding present. These gardens, which still surround the hotel, were once the setting for grand celebrations.
La Mamounia, designed by French architects Henri Prost and Antoine Marchisio, officially opened as a hotel in 1923.
Over the decades, it has welcomed an endless list of iconic guests, from world leaders to Hollywood legends. Winston Churchill, a regular visitor, famously described it as “the most lovely spot in the whole world”. Other notable visitors include Charlie Chaplin, Yves Saint Laurent, Mick Jagger, and Alfred Hitchcock, who filmed scenes from The Man Who Knew Too Much there.
The hotel underwent a major renovation in 2009 by designer Jacques Garcia, bringing modern luxury while preserving its historic charm. Another refresh in 2020 further enhanced its interiors and spa.
La Mamounia blends traditional Moroccan architecture with timeless elegance, making it a symbol of Moroccan hospitality. The hotel combines Art Deco style with Moorish architecture, featuring intricate zellige tiles, carved wood, and grand archways.
La Mamounia is in a prime location near several attractions, including the Koutoubia Mosque, Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, the souks, the Saadian Tombs, the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, and Bahia Palace. The hotel is just a 10-minute drive from Marrakech Menara Airport.
On arrival, attentive staff welcomed us warmly, guiding us through the grand entrance into the palatial lobby. The doormen gracefully held the door open as we entered. They were dressed in traditional Moroccan uniforms with long red robes.
A stunning chandelier in the lobby, specially designed to mark La Mamounia’s 100th anniversary in 2023, immediately delivers a true ‘wow’ factor the moment you step inside.
Check-in took place in a comfortable lounge area with plush velvet alcoves. We were offered a glass of almond milk infused with orange blossom water and a fresh date – a lovely Moroccan tradition that set the tone for our stay.
After check-in, we were given a brief tour of the hotel, showcasing its amenities and dining options. We arrived early, our room was not yet ready, so we took the opportunity to explore the hotel’s stunning gardens. The gardens are filled with orange, olive and palm trees, along with a 1,500m² vegetable garden. They have been meticulously maintained for over 100 years.
La Mamounia features 135 rooms, 71 suites, and 3 Riads. Each room showcases exquisite Moroccan craftsmanship, with intricate woodwork, mashrabiya windows, sculpted stone, and stunning zellige tilework.
The hallways leading to the rooms are lined with plush carpets and marble floors. The walls are adorned with black and white prints on one side and illuminated by torch lamps on the other.
Our room, a Park Executive Suite, was beautifully decorated in a traditional style, elegantly appointed, and incredibly spacious. It included a living room, dressing room, guest bathroom, and a main bathroom. The double terrace offered stunning views of the Gardens and Atlas Mountains, providing ample outdoor space to relax and enjoy the surroundings.
The main bathroom was spacious, featuring a freestanding bathtub and a separate walk-in shower. It was adorned in marble and intricate mashrabiya wooden latticework. Plush terry bathrobes and Mamounia toiletries were provided, along with slippers and Havaianas flip-flops. Razors, hairbrushes, and toothbrushes are available on request. A beach bag and yoga mat were also provided in the room.
A bowl of fresh fruit, a delicious chocolate cake and an assortment of Moroccan sweet treats were in our room on arrival – a thoughtful addition. To our delight, these were replenished during our stay.
Our room was equipped with a coffee machine and capsules, but unfortunately, there was no kettle, tea bags or milk provided. This was quickly rectified by housekeeping, who promptly supplied these for us.
The bed was incredibly comfortable, dressed in Egyptian cotton sheets and plush down pillows. Getting up in the morning was a challenge – but the breakfast was well worth it!
Modern comforts included Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and air conditioning. Guests can also enjoy complimentary access to PressReader, which provides newspapers and magazines on their smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
While there is no iron or ironing board in the room, they are available upon request.
Breakfast is served daily from 7AM to 11AM at L’Italien par Jean-Georges and, weather permitting, outdoors at Le Pavillon de la Piscine. We got to experience both during our stay because it rained one morning while we were there.
L’Italien par Jean-Georges features an open kitchen where guests can watch as the chefs prepare their dishes.
The extensive breakfast buffet offered everything from fresh pastries and breads to seasonal fruits and local specialties, all beautifully presented with ample choice. The pastries were replenished almost as soon as they were taken.
An à la carte menu was also available, offering eggs cooked to order, omelettes, pancakes, as well as Moroccan specialties.
The service was excellent, with attentive and accommodating staff. The food was both delicious and fresh, making for a truly enjoyable experience.
La Mamounia has a diverse selection of four restaurants and four bars to cater to every taste. L’Italien par Jean-Georges serves Italian cuisine, while Le Marocain offers authentic Moroccan dishes.
L’Asiatique par Jean-Georges features a variety of Asian-inspired creations, and Le Pavillon de la Piscine offers casual outdoor dining by the pool.
A wide selection of cocktails, drinks, and light bites in a relaxed yet elegant setting are available in Le Bar Marjorelle. Le Club, located on the top floor of Le Marocain, provides stunning views of the gardens.
Le Churchill serves a refined selection of cocktails and cigars, and Le Bar de la Piscine, by the pool, has a refreshing variety of healthy juices, creative mocktails, and exclusive house cocktails available.
For tea enthusiasts, Le Salon de Thé par Pierre Hermé and Le Menzeh par Pierre Hermé have a selection of fine teas, pastries, and Pierre Hermé’s signature macarons.
Non-resident guests are welcome to visit the bars and restaurants at La Mamounia, but advance booking is recommended.
Elegant attire is required in all restaurants and bars. Luxury leather sandals are allowed, but plastic sandals and flip-flops for men and women are not. After 6PM, smart city shorts and bermudas are not permitted. However, children under the age of 12 are allowed to wear city shorts and/or bermudas.
La Mamounia Spa spans 2,500m² and offers over 80 treatments for the face and body. The spa uses luxury products from renowned brands such as Valmont, Augustinus Bader, and marocMaroc.
It features 2 traditional hammams, a private hammam, 10 treatment rooms, a heated indoor pool, Jacuzzi, relaxation room, a barber, a hair salon and a nail salon.
The Jacuzzi is heated to 34°C, and the indoor pool is kept at 28°C. The spa is open daily from 9AM to 9PM.
The hotel’s facilities also include an outdoor pool, two clay tennis courts, a gym, a sauna, table tennis and a boules court.
Overlooking the beautiful gardens, the gym is bright and airy, fitted with state-of-the-art equipment. Yoga and Pilates classes are also offered. The gym is open daily from 7AM to 8PM.
The outdoor pool, entirely clad in Murano glass, is spacious and heated to 28°C, making it perfect for swimming year-round. There are ample sun loungers around the pool. Fresh towels and bottled water are provided.
The pool is open daily from 8AM to sunset and is exclusively reserved for guests of the hotel.
La Mamounia does not have a kids’ club, but a babysitting service is available upon request.
Older children can enjoy the games room, with pool tables, table football, pinball machines and boardgames. A light snack menu and a range of cold drinks are available. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. The games room is open daily from 12PM to 9PM.
The hotel features a 20-seater cinema with deep blue plush velvet seats and dimmed lighting. Two daily screenings are offered at 4PM and 8PM, featuring films in both English or French, with subtitles available.
La Mamounia has several boutique shops that offer a curated selection of luxury items. These include La Boutique Mamounia, La Boutique Pierre Hermé, Dior, Saint Laurent and Studio 14.
La Boutique Mamounia offers a range of exclusive La Mamounia products, including bags, wallets, accessories, tableware, linen, candles, incense, golf items, and Moroccan crafts.
The Dattes fragrance diffuser, created exclusively for La Mamounia by Parfumerie Fragonard, fills the hotel with a warm, oriental scent with sweet and slightly spicy notes. This is available for purchase in the boutique.
Dogs up to 8kg are welcome in the rooms, suites, and riads. They are allowed on the terraces of Le Bar Majorelle and Le Pavillon de la Piscine only.
A currency exchange and an ATM are conveniently located within the hotel grounds.
A stay at La Mamounia is a perfect blend of timeless elegance and Moroccan charm. The hotel seamlessly combines Moroccan tradition with 5-star luxury, surrounded by stunning gardens and rich history. Immaculately maintained and spotlessly clean, it upholds the highest standards of excellence. Throughout our stay, the staff were consistently charming, polite, and attentive, making our experience truly unforgettable.
For more information, visit https://mamounia.com/.
