La Mamounia review: our verdict
As night falls, lanterns placed directly on the ground mark the pathways, and the palace lights up with subtle touches: it is at this moment that La Mamounia most resembles its legend. By day, the garden unfolds its century-old olive trees, bougainvilleas, and cacti, just steps from the Koutoubia, with Jemaa el-Fna within walking distance.
No need to stay overnight to enjoy it: you can enter for tea on the terrace, taste the reinvented gazelle horn during tea time by Pierre Hermé, or end the evening at the Churchill bar; cigar enthusiasts also find a proper place to smoke. For a special occasion, a first trip to Marrakech, or a luxury break for two, with staff who seem to anticipate your desires. Not for a tight budget: dining is priced at the palace's level, and orientation in the vast estate can sometimes be lacking.
The insider tip: tea time, the simplest access to the palace for those not staying on-site. The pitfall: being sent to the bottom of the garden, ask precisely where it is served. The best time: dusk, when the lanterns light up.



