In short… Royal Mansour is truly living like royalty—you’re staying in the King of Morocco’s residence, after all.
The backstory… When the king decided he wanted to create a royal palace, and also make it a hotel, he amassed the finest artisans in the country to create this masterpiece in a very quick three years. The scale of everything is incredibly grand—from the front gate arch to the enormous pool. There was no budget, and it’s palpable.
The rooms… Each guest has their own riad, situated as if they were in a medina—vertical suites that are off of charming alleys (no hallways with doors). The entrance brings you into a courtyard, as a traditional riad has, and then there is an expansive living room area and kitchen on the ground floor. Above that on the next level is the bedroom, and above that is the rooftop terrace with a plunge pool and loungers. Stylistically, it feels very regal Moroccan—and you can tell that everything is made by hand.
The food and drink… We had the most over-the-top feast at their Grand Table Marocaine restaurant. It was a tasting menu and I don’t think we’ve ever had a more delicate, complex Moroccan meal. We still talk about their incredibly light couscous. And we were very impressed by the tea-pouring skills of the waiters. Breakfast is an insane affair, which starts (and for us, ended, because there was so much!) with the most divine pastries, and everything is served at the table–no buffet in a palace! They have several other restaurants—we thought the sushi at the pool was great. Sometimes after too many tagines you just need a flavor break!
The spa… Definitely the most beautiful spa I’ve ever been in. The intricate woodwork for the main waiting area is just beyond. I had booked a hammam experience, since our friend who lives there said it was really the best. I’ve done a hammam before, but never like this—it felt like being bathed like a child—and because it’s all done with you lying on a heated marble floor, very trad style, it just hits so differently from being on a table. The resting room for after your treatment is so lovely. You have these private little curtained beds with a little tray for your tea and your dates and nuts. I felt like I was living in a completely different century.
Be sure to… Get a ride to the airport from the Royal Mansour in one of their many red Bentleys! Our driver was so kind and stayed with us until he handed us off to their handler at customs. I joked with him that we might have been his only clientele who he stood with at a Ryan Air counter, but he politely made us feel like it was completely normal for him.
Date of stay… January 18-20, 2024
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