Hotel les Saisons

Flags from half a dozen nations fly above the entrance to Hotel les Saisons, but this small boutique property is more local than international. Past the metal detectors flanking the entrance, the unpretentious lobby has a lounge with attractive modern decor and fun accents, though generic wall art of nature scenes takes the look down a notch. Clocks showing the time in Dubai, Casablanca, Paris, and New York hang above the reception desk, underneath the soft, red glow of accent lights hidden in cornice that runs around the room. A separate door leads into the hotel's main public space, Cities restaurant and bar, which has a totally different, playful rock and roll theme. The hotel attracts a mix of leisure and business travelers, though it isn't a popular pick for families. 

The hotel has a central Casablanca location that's a four-minute walk south of the Casa Port railway station and the Port of Casablanca. United Nations Square and the Place des Nations Unies tramway station are a six-minute walk southwest of the hotel, and the main entrance of the atmospheric Old Medina is a 12-minute walk to the northwest. Other attractions, like the Church of the Sacred Heart, Abderrahman Slaoui Museum of Moroccan Art, and the Art Deco buildings of Place Mohammed V, will take 15 to 20 minutes to reach on foot. Hassan II Mosque, the largest mosque in Africa which features a 689-foot minaret, is a six-minute drive away on the waterfront. Anfaplace shopping center and La Corniche beach area are about a 20-minute drive from the hotel. Plan on an hour-long drive to the Mohammed V International Airport. 

The hotel has 48 guest rooms with tiled floors and old-fashioned wood furnishings, some of which show a little wear. Neutral walls, except for the walls behind the beds which are painted red, are decorated with prints of oil paintings and framed mirrors. Standard rooms have double beds, wooden work desks, and seating areas with glass tables and dated armchairs. Upgraded rooms come with larger seating areas with velvet couches, while Junior Suites have separate living rooms. Free Wi-Fi comes standard, along with flat-screen TVs and lightly stocked minibars, but there are no tea kettles or coffeemakers. The bathrooms are accented with stone tiles and have shower/tub combos. Doubles and Junior Suites get larger bathrooms that add bidets.

The top feature at Hotel les Saisons is the rock-and-roll-themed Cities restaurant and bar, which serves French and local Moroccan cuisine. Some tables are tucked away in alcoves or around corners, but the main space is fun, with colored globe lights hanging down into an open bar and dining room with a mezzanine section above. Portraits of rock stars and actors adorn the walls, and the bar has regular live performances featuring Arab music from around the world. No fitness center or spa is on-site, but there's a 24-hour internet corner, and freebies include breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi throughout.