It’s a cliché, of course, but there’s truly nowhere quite like Marrakech. Sitting at a historic crossroads between Europe, Africa, and the Arab world, the city’s blend of cultures remains as complex and dazzling as one of the spice blends you’ll find stacked into pyramids within its labyrinthine souks. And whether you’re there to wander through the dusty brick corridors of its mosques and palaces or sip on gunpowder mint tea—or simply to browse the stalls of those aforementioned souks and pick up a pair of colorful leather babouches—it offers a bombardment of the senses like no other.
Still, there’s a deeper reason why generations of stylish travelers have gravitated to Marrakech, seeking to channel its unique spirit of glamour and grit. The unforgettable images of the Rolling Stones drifting through the streets in spiffy tailoring, or Talitha Getty in a breezy caftan on the roof of her riad in a richly patterned jacket and harem pants. The wonders of Yves Saint Laurent’s Jardin Majorelle, with its cacti and exotic plants against a sea of cobalt blue, and the journey through fashion history offered in the adjoining museum. Or, the more recent generations of fashion glitterati who flock to the city in search of inspiration and creative nourishment, from Jean-Paul Gaultier to John Galliano, and whose collections have been inspired by the city’s distinctive aesthetic.
Playing no small part in Marrakech’s popularity as a tourist destination, too, is the head-spinning array of world-class hotels the city has under its belt, from legendary destinations like La Mamounia, to playfully-designed riads like El Fenn and Jasper Conran’s L’Hotel, to buzzy new upstarts like the Nobu Marrakech with its lively rooftop bar and pool.
Here, find Vogue’s pick of the very best Marrakech hotels—from intimate, homely stays in the heart of the medina, to the tranquil estates owned by global hotel brands with every luxury imaginable on the fringes of the city.
Amanjena
Photo: Robert Rieger