Archive for May, 2018

Where to Stay in Marrakech, Boutique & Chic 8 Top Riads

Sunday, May 13th, 2018
Ryad Dyor, Marrakech

Ryad Dyor, Marrakech

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moroccan Riads are the ideal place to stay when visiting Morocco. Tucked away from bustling city life, Riads serve as the perfect escape to read a book, enjoy a typical Moroccan meal, a sunset cocktail or simply decompress and take in the sights and sounds of an exotic setting. The majority of Boutique Riads in Morocco are centuries old and have been restored by talented Moroccan artisans. Each property differs with some having Andalusian, Moorish or Spanish architecture. The traditional décor, made up of intricate hand-made zellij tilework, tadelakt walled interiors and draped terraces offer an Arabian Nights sensibility.  With more then 1,000 traditional riad homes in Marrakech’s ancient medina, we’ve narrowed it down to the “Best 8 Marrakech Riads Marrakech Riads” that are well appointed with beautiful rooftop terraces, excellent cuisine and priced just right for almost any traveler who wants to splurge on a little bit of luxury.

Ryad Dyor
A luxury riad located in the Riad Larouss region of the medina. Owned by two designers, one Dutch and the other Spanish, this boutique hotel is a standout place to stay in the Marrakech. medina. Modern design meets Moroccan flair: a chic riad with lamplit courtyards, roof terrace and cool, understated décor. Ryad Dyor is converted from a pair of riads, whose 2 shady courts lead into each other, one with an ornately tiled fountain, the other with a rose-petalled splash pool. Copper lanterns, Balinese mirrors, egg-smooth tadelakt bathtubs surround guests. On the roof, under a loggia hung with gauzy textiles, the manager knows just when to offer cocktails or mint tea to guests lazing in the afternoon sunshine. The laid-back atmosphere – everyone is made to feel at home, nothing is too much trouble – will delight couples seeking both style and substance on a long weekend break or some post-trek pampering.
Property Amenities: Plunge pool, terrace, traditional hammam/spa, gourmet restaurant, wifi, laundry services
Driba Jdida, Sidi Ben Slimane, + 212-5243-75980

Riad De Tarabel
Riad de Tarabel is a luxurious boutique hotel in an old colonial mansion in the heart of the old medina of Marrakech. With ten rooms, including three suites this boutique property is a mixture of Colonial and French design. Riad de Tarabel was built in the 19thCentury and renovated in 2006. Each room is individually designed with true elegance that combines family heirlooms with contemporary pieces creating a French, colonial-feel. All of their Junior Suites have clawfoot baths and one has a fireplace. Some have open bath facilities.
Property Amenities: Rooftop plunge pool, Hammam, Dining area with restaurant, Wifi, Laundry
Derb Sraghna, Dar El Bahca, +212- 661-989782

Riad Tarabel, Marrakech

Riad Tarabel, Marrakech

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Riad 72
Wrapped around a central courtyard brimming with banana trees, Riad 72 is a chic, well-appointed riad in the Marrakech medina. The elegantly decorated salon has an intricately carved ceiling, and gently lit by beautiful copper lanterns. The courtyard is flanked with large banana trees. Featuring classic Moroccan furnishings with contemporary flair, this boutique property also has a cuisine menu with Ottlolenghi inspired recipes.
Property Amenities: Terraces, panoramic garden, traditional hammam/spa, restaurant, balconies, wifi, laundry services
72 Arset Azwel, Bab Doukkala, +05243-87629

Riad Idra
Riad Idra is an elegant, contemporary, Moroccan, riad located in the Dar El Bacha region of the Marrakech medina. Riad Idra is a luxurious cocoon shielded from the commotion of the ochre city and a well-hidden jewel. A house full of light the intimate courtyard offers an outlet to the world of sight and sound for a magical stay.
Property Amenities: Spa/Traditional Hammam, Rooftop terrace Wifi
105 Derb Tizougarine, Dar El Bacha, +212-5243-91776

Riad Jaaneman
An elegant boutique riad in the bohemian heart of the Marrakech medina Riad Jaaneman is a refined oasis of urbane flamboyance and sophistication. Just a stone’s throw away from the timeless bustle of the souks and the vibrant rhythms of the city, Jaaneman defined is classical style meets eclectic harmony. Originating from an Indian word that literally means ‘Soul of Me’, “Jaaneman”  translates into ‘My love’ or ‘darling’. With 5 originally decorated suites, each boasts cutting-edge design reminiscent of art deco and a feeling of the Orient. Luxurious bed linens and artisanal soaps are just a few of the luxury amenities travelers can anticipate.
Property Amenities: Spa/Traditional Hammam, Rooftop terrace, Wifi
12 Rue Dar Sraghna, Dar el Bacha, +212-5243-82164

Riad Dar Darma, Marrakech

Riad Dar Darma, Marrakech

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dar Darma

A haven of calm in the Marrakech, medina, Dar Darma has been awarded a place on the Conde Naste gold list of Hotel in 2017. This traditional riad of 6 Suites, Dar Darma offers privacy, traditional Moroccan hospitality in a relaxed, atmosphere. The terraces have sweeping views that stretch from the Medina rooftops and the Koutoubia Mosque to the Atlas Mountains. The shady lounges, the swimming pool and a little basin offer the perfect place to cool off in the hot summer months Darma’s Moroccan lounge, the hall of arches and the fireplace lounge looks out onto a shady patio and are ideal places to relax, read, listen to music and enjoy dishes made by their traditional Moroccan chef.
Property Amenities: Spa/Traditional Hammam, Dipping pool, Rooftop terrace, Wifi
11/12 Derb Tarik Sidi Bouharba, +212-5243-76657

Riad Joya
Crafted with care by Italian art director and owner, Umberto Branchini, Riad Joya provides a high-octane dose of Milanese chic amid the medina’s dusty lanes. Sumptuous suites, as well as a lovely plunge pool, and a cracking rooftop bar. Riad Joya is an elegant boutique hotel of timeless beauty and seductive atmosphere well appointed in the Marrakech medina.  The overall atmosphere is of an elegant private house where understated luxury fuses with eclectic style and bespoke service and attention.
Property Amenities: Spa/Traditional Hammam, Rooftop terrace, Wifi
Derb El Hammam,+ 212- 5243-91624/ +212-5 24 38 50 55  

Riad Dar Mo’Da

A charming boutique, riad, Dar Mo’da is located in the Mouassine, historic quarter of the Marrakech medina, just minutes from Djemma El Fna square. This traditional Moroccan home has been restored impeccably. Dar Mo’Da’s wall to wall, white, clean lines and cool atmosphere coupled with traditional Moroccan, Syrian and Italian designer pieces, make it a one-of-a-kind place to stay. Guests can relax in the welcoming courtyard featuring a dipping pool or in the adjacent lounges and dining room. Dar Mo’da has four exclusive suites whose décor combine the magic of the orient and the comforts of the west. The roof terrace offers breathtaking views of the city and nearby Koutoubia mosque with the backdrop of the Atlas mountains and beyond.
Property Amenities: Spa/Traditional Hammam, Dipping pool, Rooftop terrace, Wifi
182 rue el Moussine, Moussine+212- 524 442819 

Discover the Best Moroccan Riads & Boutique Hotels. Follow us on Instagram.

For More Information about Travel Exploration’s Boutique & Chic Marrakech Riads

Morocco’s Imperial Cities, Seaside Resorts,Sahara Desert,Berber villages, A Taste of Morocco, Magical Kasbahs, Ruins & Waterfalls, Absolute Morocco, The Best of Marrakech, Fes, and Ouarzazate

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration
Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806 or + 1 (212) 618882681 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Marrakech Art Deco, A Paradise of Architectural Gems

Friday, May 11th, 2018
Cine-Palace, Gueliz

Cine-Palace, Gueli

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A great way to discover the Moroccan city of Marrakech is through a Guided walking tour of its Art Deco Architecture in the new city of Gueliz. You can spend an afternoon gallery hopping, shopping at designer boutiques and eat your way through Marrakech’s, trendsetting new town. As one of the most sought-after Colonial cities in Morocco, Gueliz is all the rave.

Morocco’s Colonial history and the beginning of Art Deco Gueliz dates back to 1912 when an agreement was signed with France, called “Protectorat.” A French army general and colonial administrator named Louis Hubert Gonzalve Lyautey had the vision to modernize Morocco with the preservation of its cultural traditions and local customs.

Lyautey created the Ville Nouvelle (new town) Gueliz, originating from the French word Église, which means church. Gueliz was the first town to be built outside the Marrakech medina with views of the Atlas Mountains and a referendum requiring no building to stand beyond 3 stories high or the equivalent of a palm tree.

Avenue Mohammed V (Former avenue Mangin 1930) Gueliz

Avenue Mohammed V (Former avenue Mangin 1930) Gueliz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First built as a military camp, Gueliz was small and occupied primarily by the French. This French quarter grew rapidly and architects embraced Parisian Art Deco by creating large avenues, bustling cafes and theatres, along with charming villas and a central market.

Gueliz was designed by French architect, Henri Prost. Its original main tree-lined avenue was called Avenue de France. Today Avenue de France has been renamed Boulevard Mohammed VI and is filled with modern office buildings, banks, boutiques that are surrounded by magnificent Art Deco facades that remain from the city’s colonial past. Travelers and locals frequent Boulevard Mohammed VI for evening walks and picnics, sipping Moroccan tea at its sprawling cafes on sunlit terraces and to shop at luxury boutiques as they take in the glorious flora and fauna in full bloom year round.

One of the Art Deco highlights of Gueliz is the Church of Holy Saints-Martyrs, built in 1928 and inaugurated in December 1931. It was also designed by the architect and urban planner French Henri Prost and commission Marshal Lyautey,

Le Petit Cornichon, Gueliz, Marrakech

Le Petit Cornichon, Gueliz, Marrakech

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Art Deco Guide to Gueliz, Marrakech’s Trend-Setting New Town- Art Deco Buildings,  Art, Shopping & Eating

A city that has long been the home of jet-setters, fashion designers, hippies and artists, today, Gueliz is all the rave. Bustling with chic restaurants and celebrity chefs, designer boutiques, concept stores and art galleries, Gueliz is one of Morocco’s most sought-after city’s for its nightlife, shopping and Art Deco facades.

What to See: Art Deco Facades, Sites & Gardens Gueliz

Church of Holy Saints-Martyrs – Built in 1928, designed by the architect and urban planner French Henri Prost this was the only church in Gueliz at the time.

Cine-Palace – Built in 1926, this cinema is a replica of  Cinema Eden in La Ciota France. Dilapidated it’s charming facade and open air theatre, in ruin,  is a memory of an Art Deco past.

The Villa Bel Air – Located on the Avenue Hassan II, is one of the few villas in Gueliz that has not been affected by new construction.

Comptoir des Mines Galerie – Founded by Art Holding Morocco, this new gallery is a contemporary art space located in an Art Deco building that was once a mining company. Recently renovated into an Art Gallery, Comptoir de Mines features Contemporary Moroccan Art.

Comptoir des Mines Galerie – Founded by Art Holding Morocco, this new, chic gallerie is a contemporary art space located in an Art Deco building that was once a mining company. Recently renovated into an Art Gallery, Comptoir de Mines features Contemporary Moroccan Art.

Jardin Majorelle – This is the former Art Deco home, with Moorish charm, of Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge. It houses a fashion designer’s collection of decorative arts and artworks by Jack Majorelle with rotating exhibitions. The Majorelle Gardens has burbling streams and pools filled with water lilies and lotus flowers and is painted with vibrant primary colors, with an intense blue the Jacque Majorelle saw in the Atlas Mountains.

The Renaissance Hotel – Located in Gueliz The Renaissance is a Marrakech institution. This historic hotel was built by the French architect, Henri Prost. The hotel has preserved its façade which was built in 1952.

La Mamounia Hotel & Gardens– Perfect for afternoon tea, sunset cocktails or pool lunch, this Art Deco historic hotel  is where Alfred Hitchcock wrote the movie The Birds. It is situated on the edge of the walls of the old city of Marrakech and is named for its 200-year-old gardens, which were given as an 18th Century wedding gift to Prince Moulay Mamoun by his father.

Jnane El Harti (Harti Gardens) – A creation of the urban garden Jnane El Harti dates back to the end of the 1930s.  Translated as “janân al-harthî”, which means, “Gardens of my plowed earth” this garden was originally created to produce food. The current Jnane El Harti occupies six hectares is decorated with wooden benches and maintains a sprawling cactus garden, a restaurant with views of the garden and a sports hall. Perfectly representative of East and West, the Harti Gardens is a mixed space of Mediterranean vegetation with olive, citrus and ficus surrounded by European lawns, shrubs, palms and cactus.

Where to Shop in Gueliz: Designer Boutiques & Concept Stores

33 Majorelle -
  With two levels of design, fashion and accessories created by Moroccan and international designers, as well as the traditional Moroccan goodies like the green pottery from southern Morocco and a selection of funky babouche, this is the shop for trendy souvenirs and gifts. Like a high-end department store, new designers are exposed with a collection hanging regularly, giving this concept store the leading edge on the latest trends. A small gallery is attached and features a changing art exhibit. The location is perfect – across from Majorelle Gardens. 
Address: 33 Rue Yves Saint Laurent

Majorelle Gardens Boutique -
 Easy to find and with a friendly owner Toufik, this is one of the best up-market boutiques for fine Moroccan fashion with a Western twist. Using the finest silks, Toufik creates a stunning collection of kaftans, velvet vests, and cotton tunics are part of the collection that changes regularly. But if you don’t see exactly what you are looking for, custom orders are possible and take up to two weeks.
Address: 9-11 Soukiat Laksour

MOOR
  – Owned by fashion designer Yann Dobry of Akbar Delights in the medina, Moor features a selection of upscale Moroccan couture. Using the finest artisans and materials, Moor is known for its embroidered silk, cotton and linen tunics. The cool and calm colors throughout the shop create a relaxed shopping experience. Look up or even just on the walls – the décor, a selection of Moroccan home wares sourced from around the Kingdom, is also available! 
Address: 7 Rue des Vieux Marrakchis , Guéliz

Yahya Creation 
-  If the patterns created by Moroccan lampshades and lanterns peak your interest in taking a fine lantern or lampshade home with you, be sure to stop by Yahya Rouach’s showroom. Clients including Harrods and Neiman Marcus have been known to stop by to commission orders. Yahya’s pieces are unique and one-of-a-kind. His pieces light up various areas of the Royal
 Mansour hotel and other boutique raids in Marrakech.  
Address: 49 passage Ghandouri, Rue de Yougoslavie, Guéliz

Where to Eat in Gueliz: Trend-Setting Restaurants & Classic Art Deco Cafe’s

Grand Cafe La Poste  – Gueliz’s chic Brasserie which has kept the charm of the time Liautey is part of the history of Marrakech. La Poste has a 1930’s ambiance with a grand staircase and cozy upstairs large nook with a fireplace along with chic dark spaces reminiscent of the days at Parisian literary cafes. This traditional Brasserie’s menu makes it perfect place for brunch, cocktails or an evening meal. Address: Avenue Imam Malik, Gueliz

Le Petit Cornichon – A one-of-a-kind bistronomique culinary experience in the heart of Gueliz with an excellent wine list. The menu is lovingly created by resident manager, Erwann Lance. Lance has several Michelin restaurants in Paris and New York. He also the former head of dining at the Royal Mansour, in Marrakech. Le Petit Cornichon is one of the hottest tables in town and serves up some of Marrakech’s most delightful French cuisine with a twist. Each dish is full of local flavor and stylishly presented on plate. The weekend’s three-course tasting menu including fois gras is a must. The wine list offers local Moroccan wine traditionally not found in other restaurants along with a large selection of exceptional international wines. Address: 27, Rue Moulay Ali, Gueliz

Baromètre Marrakech – A new chic address in Gueliz, Baromètre is a type of underground culinary lab where Mediterranean fusion tapas and contemporary fare are served alongside exotic cocktails. The food is beyond delicious therefore make sure to leave space for more the one dish.  Be prepared for a speakeasy, mysterious atmosphere that is perfect for the food enthusiast.  Address: Rue Moulay Ali Gueliz | Résidence Al houda, Gueliz

Cafe Les Negociant – A landmark cafe in the center of Gueliz. Built in 1919, this is one of the city’s historic “man cafe’s” and a meeting place for a morning traditional Moroccan nous-nous or mint tea.  Cafe Les Negociant has been refurbished in keeping with it’s Art Deco architecture. Address: 110 Mohammed V, Gueliz

Pâtisserie Amandine – Perfect for a late afternoon hot chocolate or cappuccino. Amandine offers  wide range of French pastries, Moroccan cookies and one of the best mille-feuille in town. It’s macarons in rainbow colors, zesty lemon tarts and delightful, raspberry panna cotta pots should be on every foodie’s bucketlist. Address: 177 Rue Mohammed Al Béqal, Gueiz

For More Information about Gueliz Art Deco or visit my Instagram Feed

For More Information about Travel Exploration Morocco’s Art Deco Tours

Morocco’s Imperial Cities, Seaside Resorts,Sahara Desert,Berber villages, A Taste of Morocco, Magical Kasbahs, Ruins & Waterfalls, Absolute Morocco, The Best of Marrakech, Fes, and Ouarzazate

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration
Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806 or + 1 (212) 618882681 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.