Who's Going
Sarah Jessica Parker, Stuart Church, Kim Cattrall
Reason to Stay
Palmeraie Location, Golf Course, Luxury Suites
Hotel Type
Luxury Resort
With a delayed opening and no official date offered yet, most anticipate that this former-Mandarin Oriental Jnan Rahma in Marrakech that doubled as Abu Dhabi in last year's Sex and the City 2 will alas open by the end of 2012. A cinema moment we felt cheapened the overall glitz and glamour of the upcoming Marrakech property; the hotel is in fact far grander than its Hollywood screen moment. Stuart Church penned the interiors with owner Jaouad Kadiri, who together create a hotel set to rival uber-lux outpost of Aman Resorts and La Mamounia. The look of the hotel was inspired by "noble Berber Kasbahs, the richness of Indian pageantry, the splendor of Ottoman architecture and exotic Thai influence" evident throughout the property. An impressive arrival outside the medina, visitors make their way down a grand driveway with head-on views of the copula-topped resort with rambling architecture in the backdrop of the High Atlas mountains. The forthcoming resort will have its own nightclub, outpost of Jiva Spa that will be the largest in the region, cake shop and billiards bar leaving little reason ever to venture outside the monolith property.
The Room
A total of 161 rooms and suites are located within the confines of the main hotel palace or surrounding riads located amongst tranquil reflection ponds and exploding fountains. Rooms feature a reinterpreted Ottoman style each with private outdoor living rooms with daybed and resort or mountain views. Elaborate details include “decorative ironwork, hand made Venetian style mirrors, hand painted floral ceilings and the ancient technique of tadelakt, the waterproof plaster used for the walls.” The hotel’s best room is called the Royal Suite and is located in the cupola of the main building with indoor atrium, staff of butlers and grand salon with martini bar and private dining room.
Preferred Room
Royal Suite
Special Features
Designer Interiors, Luxury Spa, Gourmet Eatery
Amenities
Pool, Spa, Lounge, Bar, Golf Course, Nightclub, Cafe
