After three years of extensive work and an investment of 120 million euros, the iconic La Mamounia Hotel in Marrakech reopened in September 2009. While the pink exterior and its sprawling twenty-acre garden, bordered by Almoravid walls, have remained largely unchanged, the interior has been completely transformed.
The art-deco style introduced in the 1986 refurbishment is now history. Everything, from the furniture to the paintings and old chinaware, was sold in an unprecedented "everything-must-go" auction last June. Today, La Mamounia has been reborn as an authentic Arab-Andalusian palace, blending traditional Moroccan elegance with the bold flair of star decorator Jacques Garcia. Garcia, known for his work on the Costes and Beaux-Arts Hotels in Paris and the Chateau du Champ de Bataille, has restored the essence of this 1920s hotel, originally a gift from Sultan Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah to his son Mamoun.
About 1,500 craftsmen brought their skills to this renovation, preserving La Mamounia's status as a gateway to the mysteries of Marrakech for celebrities and explorers alike. Now, the hotel exudes the mystery and sensuality of the East, serving as a living evocation of the Thousand and One Nights, updated to the 21st century with confidence and subtlety.
La Mamounia is poised to become one of the world's top five hotels, resembling more a private residence than a conventional hotel. Upon arrival, guests are met at the airport and chauffeured in a Jaguar to the hotel, where they are greeted in a dim, peaceful room with traditional desert hospitality offerings of dates and almond milk. The central space, filled with intimate couches, is scented with a unique cedar wood fragrance by Olivia Giacobetti and features unobtrusive elevators adorned in tooled leather.
The hotel's decor, with up to fifty craftsmen working on each bedroom, showcases meticulous attention to detail. From handcrafted stucco walls and painted wood to mosaics that blend with marble and carpets, every aspect reflects artisanal mastery. The 27,000 square meters of zelij tiling exemplify the extensive three-year refurbishment.
Managed by Picquot Didier, former manager of the Ritz in Paris and the Pierre in New York, La Mamounia's culinary offerings are equally impressive. Consultants Jean-Pierre Vigato and Don Alfonso, both two Michelin-starred chefs, oversee the French and Italian restaurants, respectively. The hotel also features a beautifully decorated Moroccan restaurant and the Pool Pavilion, set to regain its status as Marrakech's social hotspot.
Additional facilities include a glass gymnasium amidst the gardens, an exclusive spa honoring traditional hammams, and over 200 rooms and suites. Three separate riads offer the ultimate luxury of a private palace within the hotel.
Even those not staying at La Mamounia can experience its allure. Visitors can dine at the restaurants, stroll through the gardens, enjoy the tea room or bakery by the pool, or relax at the Italian bar or the famous Churchill Bar, the latter remaining much as it was when frequented by luminaries like Winston Churchill and Josephine Baker.
