Picolo recommends · Hotel in Marrakech, Morocco
El Fenn
Sunset on the roof, a drink by the pool, and the Koutoubia minaret standing right in the middle of the view over the medina.
Late afternoon on the roof of El Fenn, the loungers fill up, someone orders a drink at the bar and the Koutoubia turns gold. Below you, the house is a maze of courtyards, stairways and rooms that never repeat themselves.
El Fenn grew out of several old townhouses a short walk from the Koutoubia. Every wall carries contemporary art, the colours are strong, and the furniture is mixed with a collector's confidence rather than a decorator's plan.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose El Fenn
We chose El Fenn as our design pick in Marrakech. No two rooms are alike, some have a fireplace or a plunge pool, and the roof gives the house a social life that most riads do not have.
It is bigger and busier than a classic riad, and the layout means stairs and winding passages rather than lifts. Families with small children, or anyone who wants a quiet, traditional house, will be happier elsewhere.
What you get
- Pool on the roof
- Rooftop bar with medina views
- Rooms that are all different
- Courtyards full of plants
- Dining on site
A day at El Fenn
- Morning
- Coffee in a courtyard while the house is still asleep.
- Midday
- A walk to the Koutoubia gardens and into the souks beyond.
- Afternoon
- A swim on the roof once the shopping is done.
- Evening
- Drinks at the rooftop bar as the minaret lights up.
Location
Medina, Marrakech, Morocco
Open in MapsQuestions about El Fenn
Does El Fenn have a pool?
Yes, there is a pool on the roof, next to the bar. Some rooms also have their own plunge pool.
Is El Fenn suitable for children?
It can work for older children, but the many stairs, narrow passages and plunge pools make it hard going with toddlers.
How far is El Fenn from the Koutoubia?
Only a few minutes on foot, and you see the minaret from the roof. Jemaa el-Fnaa is also within easy walking distance.
Other hotels nearby
Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
How Picolo chooses
Our editors pick every hotel themselves, and most of them we have stayed at. No hotel can pay to be included or ranked higher. When you book through our links, Hotels.com pays Picolo a small commission. It never changes the price you pay, and it never decides what we write.