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Room Request! La Mamounia

A look inside Marrakech’s grand dame hotel

There’s a reason why Winston Churchill once referred to La Mamounia as “the most lovely spot in the whole world.” The historic property—located a stone’s throw from the bustling souk and medina—is a tranquil oasis in the heart of Marrakech. La Mamounia is exquisite in every sense: from the verdant, jasmine-perfumed gardens, to the seemingly infinite number of hand-cut tiles that run throughout. Gaze upward, and you’ll notice intricate carvings on the ceiling, which represent the handiwork of more than 1,000 artisans.

La Mamounia spans 17 acres, yet it has just 136 rooms and 71 suites. It’s the kind of place that feels like an Arabian Nights fantasy—flickering lanterns illuminate long, dark hallways, and the scent of cedar and rosewood (customized for the hotel) seems to follow you wherever you go. Unless of course, you find yourself near Le Marocain (one of the hotel’s four restaurants) where the smell of rich tagines and other signature Moroccan dishes will tempt you to grab a table and stay a while.

But the hotel’s greatest selling point is arguably its rooms. (Just ask The Rolling Stones, Kate Winslet, Elton John and Tom Cruise, all of whom have stayed there.) For the inside scoop about which room in particular guests are most drawn to, we asked La Mamounia’s General Manager Pierre Jochem.

 

The most requested room:

All of our guestrooms and suites are requested for various reasons for different guests, but the most requested room categories are our Executive Suite, Prestige Suite and Signature Suites.

 

What makes it so special:

Entwined with both Moroccan and contemporary architecture and design, La Mamounia’s Executive Suites are complete with a king-size bed, separate lounging area, two balconies and a luxurious master bathroom and guest bathroom. All of the suites have their own personalities designed to give guests their own individual experiences when staying at La Mamounia, while also evoking a sensation of grandeur during their visit to Marrakech.

Celebrity guests:

The list of famous celebrities, royal and international jetsetters is long, but we can mention recent ones such as Jennifer Aniston, Orlando Bloom, Salma Hayek, Juliette Binoche, Francis Ford Coppola, Cara Delavigne and more. 

 

The rate:

Executive Suite start at $1,700/night; Prestige Suites are around $2,575/night; Signature Suites range from $3,090 to $8,241/night.

Your personal favorite:

My favorite room option is the Prestige Suite, especially number 440.

Because… 

The breathtaking view over the Atlas Mountains, our 200-year old gardens and the swimming pool. It’s a stunning and unique vantage point. Suite 440 receives amazing light, has nice tones of reds and whites and provides the perfect setting for a getaway! Monica Bellucci, an Italian actress and fashion model, recently stayed in Suite 440.

Fun fact:

Situated within the imperial red city of Marrakech, La Mamounia has remained a leading destination for travelers from around the globe including royals, heads of state, film makers, musicians, actors and fashion designers alike. Sir Winston Churchill recalled La Mamounia as, “the most lovely spot in the whole world” when inviting Franklin D. Roosevelt to visit him in his favorite place. Renowned as a place of glamour and haute couture, La Mamounia is no stranger to the spotlight; Alfred Hitchcock even chose La Mamounia as the site to film The Man Who Knew Too Much with James Stewart and Doris Day. Other big names that followed to indulge in the hotels grace and refinement have been Princess Caroline of Monaco, Nelson Mandela, Jacques Chirac, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Nicole Kidman, Kate Winslet, Tom Cruise, Yves Saint Laurent and Julio Iglesias. The changing art exhibitions, unique gastronomy experience, and the overall affluence of the hotel stays true to its reputation as one of the leading hotels of the world.

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