Mejjat 3/38, Cercle Ennakhil, Commune J’Nanate, Marrakech, BP 7212, Sidi Abbad, Morocco. Show on map
The Mosaic Palais Aziza & Spa, in Morocco, is a Marrakesh hotel offering elegant rooms, a good restaurant and two swimming pools. Review by Oliver Smith.Check Availability
Those in the main building are elegant and unfussy, but feature all the trappings you’d expect – Egyptian cotton, duck down duvets, private balconies/outdoor seating areas and iPod docks.
Who goes?
The hotel was in its infancy during our stay – just one other room was occupied, by a middle-aged British couple.
Location
In a leafy suburb, three or four miles northeast of the city centre. You’ll feel a little cut off – there are no shops or restaurants nearby, just a couple of other guesthouses and the homes of wealthy Moroccans – but that’s precisely the point: it’s somewhere to stay if you prefer waking to the sound of birdsong, not the din of the medina. Taxis, or a driver for the day, can be organised at reception.
Style/character
Décor is traditional, utilising a palette of reds and browns, with Zellige tiles, Moorish arches, water features, and handcrafted lanterns and furniture. The hotel’s focal point is its two swimming pools (one of which is heated). To one side lies the main building, housing around 20 bedrooms, a reception area and a spa. To the right is the main restaurant and to the left an outdoor grill. Opposite there’s a bar, beyond which lie gardens dotted with lime and pomegranate trees, red flowers, and six stand-alone ‘pavilion’ suites.
Service
Karim, the hugely likeable CEO of the Mosaic Hotels Group, could often be seen overseeing matters, with his young children in tow. Staff were well turned out, friendly and attentive.
Rooms
Those in the main building are elegant and unfussy, but feature all the trappings you’d expect – Egyptian cotton, duck down duvets, private balconies/outdoor seating areas, iPod docks, monsoon showers, and good coffee-making facilities. The pavilion suites are more extravagant, with high barrel-vaulted ceilings and pretty little private gardens. Each is named after a different Moroccan city, and care has been taken to source materials for each, such as tiles and glass, from those destinations. Bathrooms are smart and spacious, with double vanity mirrors and whirlpool tubs. Ours also had a separate shower-cum-steam room – a nice idea but not especially effective.
Food and drink
The main restaurant – Maroliano – offers a delicious fusion of Moroccan and Italian (pasta with pistachio and basil pesto sits alongside chicken tagine on the menu) in a seductive setting. Prices are quite dear (£50 per person for three courses, including wine). Breakfast – eggs, toast and pastries, served overlooking the pool – was unspectacular. Sandwiches and snacks are available throughout the day.
Value for money
It’s expensive for Marrakech, but with its owner’s commitment and attention to detail, it deserves to succeed. Doubles from £252 per night, including breakfast and airport transfers.
Access for guests with disabilities
Not recommended.
Family-friendly?
