The grounds began as an estate of thirteen hectares inherited by Prince Al-Mamoun, who used it for open-air receptions. The hotel stands behind the 12th-century ramparts, and the gardens hold bicentenary olive trees, palms, Aleppo pines, oleanders, and orange, fig and peach trees. Arriving guests pass through sculpted plaster, zellige tilework and cool marble, and the corridors are lit low in the manner of the medina's narrow streets.
There are 135 rooms, 71 suites and three riads. The suites have one to three bedrooms, walk-in wardrobes and bathrooms in marble and zellige with both a shower and a bath. Six Exceptional Suites carry names from the hotel's history: Al Mamoun, Baldaquin, Churchill, Marqueterie, Majorelle and Koutoubia. The three riads of 700 square metres sit deep in the gardens, each with its own entrance, heated pool, private terrace, three bedrooms, a kitchen and a butler on duty around the clock. Each sleeps up to six.
Four restaurants share the grounds. Jean-Georges Vongerichten runs L'Asiatique, Simone Zanoni runs L'Italien, and Chef Rachid Agouray cooks at Le Marocain. Le Pavillon de la Piscine serves by the pool. Pierre Hermé runs two tea rooms, Le Menzeh and Le Salon de Thé, and there are four bars: Le Bar Majorelle, Le Club, Le Bar de la Piscine and Le Churchill.
The spa has two traditional hammams and one private hammam, ten treatment rooms, a heated indoor pool, a jacuzzi and a private spa suite. Treatments use Valmont, Susanne Kaufmann and marocMaroc. Outside there is a heated outdoor pool treated with ozone, a fitness room and yoga, and the hotel arranges golf. A private transfer meets guests at Marrakech Menara airport, six kilometres and about ten minutes away.
It suits travellers who want a historic palace with a garden large enough to walk in each morning, and families or groups who would take a riad.
