Picolo recommends · Hotel in Marrakech, Morocco
La Mamounia
Gravel paths under olive and orange trees, a long pool, and the Koutoubia minaret rising just beyond the old city wall.
Step off the lobby terrace and the noise of the city drops away. The gardens of La Mamounia are older than the building itself, a grid of olive groves, orange trees and tall cacti that runs back from the pool towards the wall.
Inside, Moroccan tilework meets art deco, and the service has the ease of a house that has looked after guests for a very long time. Jemaa el-Fnaa, the great square of the medina, is a ten-minute walk away.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose La Mamounia
This is the classic Marrakech address, and it earns the name. You get a garden of real scale within walking distance of the medina, and a hotel that handles everything for you, from dinner to a car to the souks.
It is a big, formal hotel, not an intimate riad, and the gardens and bars also draw visitors who are not staying. If you want a small house where the owners know your name, look elsewhere.
What you get
- Gardens of olive and orange trees
- Pool in the garden
- Several restaurants and bars
- Spa
- Classic grand hotel service
A day at La Mamounia
- Morning
- Breakfast under the trees before the garden warms up.
- Midday
- A walk through the walls to the Koutoubia and on into the souks.
- Afternoon
- Back to the pool while the medina is at its hottest.
- Evening
- Dinner in the hotel, then a nightcap in one of the bars.
Location
Bab Jdid, Medina, Marrakech, Morocco
Open in MapsQuestions about La Mamounia
How far is La Mamounia from Jemaa el-Fnaa?
It is about a ten-minute walk from the hotel gate to the main square, which makes evening visits easy. A taxi is quicker if you are tired after a day out.
Can you visit La Mamounia without staying there?
The gardens and bars are popular with outside guests, which is worth knowing if you want quiet. Hotel guests have the pool and the garden mornings largely to themselves.
Which rooms should I ask for at La Mamounia?
Ask for a room facing the gardens. The view over the olive and orange trees, and on clear days towards the Atlas, is a big part of why you stay here.
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Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
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