Extravagantly
lavish Moroccan-style interiors
Individually decorated
rooms with kitschy touches
Rooftop terrace
with panoramic views
Restaurant
serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner -- Moroccan style
Two blocks from
busy Mohammed V Avenue
Swimming pool
with loungers and kids' section
Free Wi-Fi
throughout (though connection can be patchy)
No alcohol served (a pro for some)
Pool can be shady
and cold
Dated bathrooms
-- some in need of repair
The Moroccan
House Hotel is a mid-range, 54-room property set on a modern block in Gueliz -- the New City -- with some of the most extravagant Moroccan-style interiors around. The
unbridled decorative zeal continues to the individually styled rooms with four-poster "baldaquin" beds, which,
while fun, might not be to everyone's taste. The hotel has a restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, a rooftop terrace, a swimming pool, and a spa with hammam and various scrubs and massages.The heart of the medina -- the Old City -- is within a 25-minute tedious walk, or a 10-minute cab ride from the hotel.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Ordinary apartment-style building belying over-the-top decorative extravagance
From the street, the Moroccan House Hotel doesn't look much different from the mid-rise apartment blocks surrounding it. Approaching the
entrance -- lined with traditional "zellige"
tiling and flanked by golden Arabian figurines -- guests will soon get a taste of the
unbridled decorative extravagance that lies within. The flamboyant Moroccan styling
really takes off inside, with few surfaces escaping adornment with geometric
patterns, elaborate ornamentation, and colorful fractals, all illuminated by a
huge traditional lantern that hangs over a petal-strewn centerpiece fountain. A
series of lounges continue the Moroccan-kitsch theme in crimsons and blues,
while a pleasant shady swimming pool area and rooftop terrace feel
positively plain in comparison.
Location
Set in Gueliz -- in the New City -- about a 10-minute cab ride to the medina
The hotel is
situated on a fairly quiet road in the lively Gueliz neighborhood of the New
City. Its main thoroughfare, Mohammed V Avenue, is a busy
boulevard of cafes, restaurants, and shops located two blocks from the hotel. The lovely Jardin Majorelle, with the Islamic Art Museum of Marrakech, is about a 15-minute from the hotel. While
the entrance to Marrakech's medina could be reached in a brisk 15-minute walk, its main attractions, such as Djemaa el-Fna square
and the souks, are best reached by taxi -- about a 10- to 15-minute ride. The main train station is about five minutes away by cab, while Marrakech Menara International Airport is about a 15-minute drive.
Rooms
Individually styled rooms and suites with kitschy decorative touches and basic amenities
The hotel has 54
air-conditioned rooms and suites, and while no two are the same, most blend kitschy decorative touches, such as tasseled drapes and leopard-print fabrics, with traditional
Moroccan tiling and intricately patterned furnishings and ceilings. Rooms include tube-style TVs with satellite channels, mini-fridges, Wi-Fi, and safes (for a fee). Bathrooms, which have shower/tub combos, are somewhat dated, and some could use renovating -- though a full suite
of toiletries are provided. While some higher-floor rooms provide views over
the city, the Wi-Fi signal tends to get patchier the farther away from the lobby.
Features
Rooftop dining with panoramic city views -- but no alcoholic drinks
Breakfast is
served in the ground floor restaurant or on the panoramic rooftop terrace in
warmer weather, and includes a 40-selection buffet of mostly Moroccan dishes (it's not
included in the rate). The hotel restaurant also provides a lunch menu and a
five-course dinner, which guests can also have on the roof under the stars, though it's a bit pricey and no alcohol is served. The pool includes a kids' section and loungers, but it's often in the shade so can be chilly. The spa includes a hammam, a menu of massages, and facials.
