Located in the heart of the medina, in the magnificent Dar El Bacha district, Tarabel Marrakech is a truly unique riad combining Moorish architecture with Napoleon-III style decor.
The privately owned Tarabel Marrakech exudes discreet luxury. The sense of peace and tranquility is felt everywhere. From the welcoming smiles of the white-smocked staff to divine homemade meals and the relaxing hammam, every element creates an intimate cocoon for guests.
Built around three courtyards, Tarabel Marrakech has been a labour of love since 2007, as five interconnecting riads have been “merged” into one seamless mansion. Step through the unassuming door into the central courtyard, with its neat orange trees and finely furnished porticos and grand salons, and it feels like stepping into a painting.
The co-owner, renowned interior decorator Rose Fournier, has an eye for exquisite detail, texture and colour. She curates her interiors, juxtaposing fine furniture and antiques with witty flea market finds. The property has evolved over the years to become one of the most desired hotels in the city.
Rooms and suites are individually and beautifully decorated, showcasing Rose’s collecting passions. Details include enormous beds (some carved four-posters), botanical prints, Chinese lanterns, rattan peacock chairs, tiled floors, antique maps and troupe l’oil paintings. Each room features two showers and a roll-top bath and an open-fire (for cooler evenings).
The hotel is 15 minutes by car from the airport. When you arrive, you are escorted down a narrow lane (a stone-throw from the legendary royal palace, Dar El Bacha Palace) to the entrance of the riad. The first thing you notice is the delicious scent of amber and orange blossom, and the delicate sound of running water from the fountains. In the evening the property is entirely candle lit.
The unique mix of authentic Moroccan tradition and the refinement of the Napoleonic style make this a very special place, with plaster columns, hand-painted wooden ceilings (mirroring Morocco’s traditional zwak patterns), and decorative tiling. There are Second Empire frescoes and paintings, and freshly cut flowers throughout the riad.
Verdant planting creates a real oasis. There’s a ground-floor swimming pool and a smaller granite black pool on the roof terrace, set with comfortable sofas and daybeds. But also large patios, terraces and open lounges for sunbathing/relaxing to ensure no one is ever on top of anyone else. And there’s a separate bar area for alfresco drinks. Guests are invited to simply unwind where they want, when they want.
Breakfast on the rooftop (or by the fire in winter) includes freshly baked breads, pastries, Moroccan pancakes, fresh fruit, eggs to order and yoghurt. Breakfast tables are spaced out so again guests feel a true sense of privacy.
The restaurant is open daily with a varied selection of Moroccan dishes, based on fresh seasonal products available in Marrakech’s kaleidoscopic souks. But “break out” areas around the riad mean you can dine alone as a couple, whether on one of the roof-top terraces, or in the summer salon decorated with hand-painted Zuber wallpaper. The idea is to maintain as much privacy as possible.
There’s a bijoux gift shop where you can purchase hand-crafts and Fleur d’Orange Tarabel’s specially created hotel fragrance and hand soaps.
Tarabel’s pièce de résistance is the gorgeous hammam and spa (“Les bains de Tarabel”), accessed through a secret, mirrored door. Welcomed by the wonderful Rkia, who manages the spa, you know you are in safe hands. The hammam and spa also has a separate entrance for non hotel guests.
For Rkia, the secret of a memorable treatment is the bond created between therapist and guest. Every treatment is perfectly tailored to the individual needs of your body. Les bains de Tarabel have partnered with Nectarome, one of the most prestigious, high-end, all-natural Moroccan brands. The spa is open 11am-8pm. There are two hammams, and three massage rooms, including two for couples. Treatments range from traditional hammam rituals and invigorating/relaxing massages, to foot and back reflexology, and manicures/pedicures (using pelargonium salts for exfoliation).
Tarabel’s mantra is: anything is possible, at any time. It’s luxurious enough to make you feel utterly spoilt. Yet wonderfully authentic to the true Morocco.
