In 2023, Marrakech’s iconic La Mamounia celebrated its centenary with a lavish new look. The Grande Dame of Marrakech, rejuvenated by the dynamic duo Jouin Manku, now seamlessly balances heritage and modernity at just the right frequency.
Since the 1970s, Marrakech has been a dream destination, drawing inspiration from luminaries like Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Bergé, and bohemian jet-setters like Talitha Getty. Nearly fifty years later, the ‘Red City’ is leveraging its lifestyle and craftsmanship to attract a new wave of tourists passionate about food, art, and organic cosmetics, including the famous argan oil, a Moroccan marvel. Similar to Yves Saint Laurent’s affinity for the city, today’s lifestyle enthusiasts swear by La Mamounia, the iconic palace from the 1920s that hosted Hollywood stars of the 1950s.
The city’s image underwent a positive transformation, thanks to events like COP 22 in 2016 and the opening of the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, according to Lamia El Ghorfi, La Mamounia’s Director of Communication. Marrakech, once a mass tourism destination, is regaining its status as a high-end locale for chic bohemian clientele.
Jouin Manku’s creative process drew inspiration from Jacques Majorelle’s fresco, where undulating motifs in shades of yellow and green set the tone. Mirrors were added, new perspectives created to expand space, and passages through the alleys were carefully designed. The Art Deco nuances along this pathway breathe new life into the Mamounia gardens, creating a unique ambiance.
The former French restaurant now transforms into an Italian haven under Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. The redesigned Churchill Bar, resembling an Orient Express carriage, features sculpted black marble, individual emerald-toned lights, and smoked oak. Accompanied by Kaviari caviar, the legend lives on, hosting daily private cinema screenings.
Inspired by traditional Tamazight jewelry passed down through generations in Moroccan families, the luminous sculpture sets the tone upon arrival, inevitably capturing attention with its artistic resemblance to Jean-Michel Othoniel’s work. Textures rhythmically frame glass beads, crafted through sandblasting, fluting, or complete transparency.
Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa wrote, “Everything needs to change for everything to stay the same.” This echoes the revival of La Mamounia in Marrakech, equally legendary. Three months of work and the efforts of 300 Moroccan artisans were invested in orchestrating the new decor of Marrakech’s Grande Dame. A significant renovation had taken place in 2020, amid the pandemic. Architects Jouin Manku, working remotely under the guidance of Pierre Jochem, the palace’s director, faced the challenge. Celebrating its centenary in 2023, La Mamounia, with Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku at the helm, opens up spaces, introduces light from the Majorelle alley onto rediscovered ceiling frescoes, and carefully balances tradition and modernity with crimson banquettes inspired by Moroccan sedaris, now adorned with paintings, sculptures, photographs, and ceramics.
Popcorn is replaced by Pierre Hermé snacks, even at the Moroccan-themed tea salon, where delightful pastries are shared in the Andalusian patio. A crystal chandelier sets the tone, showcasing La Mamounia’s commitment to opulence in decor, service, and cuisine, ensuring its legacy for the next centenary.
Describing their work as a “parure for the Grande Dame,” Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku highlight a monumental suspension, a blend of Mamounia’s distinctive worlds. Symbolizing the past and the future, it descends from a pyramidal ceiling to commemorate the palace’s centenary, paying homage to Moroccan craftsmanship, contemporary expertise, and Berber culture.
La Mamounia in Three Points:
1 – A palace just three hours from Paris, now embracing a highly Moroccan decorative style reminiscent of its glory days from 1923 to 1986. Patios, fountains, intricately carved cedar ceilings, zelliges, and plasterwork immerse guests in Arab-Andalusian tradition. The hotel consistently earns accolades, such as Conde Nast Traveller’s recent recognition as the best urban hotel. It boasts the best spa in Morocco, a delightful pool in the vast garden, and a charming pavilion for tea amid orange trees and cacti. La Mamounia is not just a luxurious retreat but also a cultural hub, hosting its literary prize and the annual 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair.
3 – Beyond being a mere garden, La Mamounia’s estate encompasses an eight-hectare park surrounded by 12th-century ramparts. The magnificent vegetation includes 700 orange trees, 5000 rose bushes, 21 species of cactus, 6 palm species, and 200 olive trees. Advisable is to request a sun lounger and spend an afternoon reading in this green and peaceful haven, under the shade of lemon or bougainvillea trees. The park also houses a 1500-square-meter vegetable garden, supplying produce for La Mamounia’s restaurants and bars.
2 – Among La Mamounia’s four restaurants, Le Marocain stands out, offering authentic yet contemporary Moroccan cuisine. Dishes blend flavors from land and sea, from pigeon with vermicelli to lobster tagine. The restaurant, housed in a three-story pavilion in the park, provides an intimate and warm interior with small private lounges. To enhance the cultural immersion, musicians play tableside on the lute. On the terrace, guests savor their meals to the sounds of nearby fountain ripples.
Three Recommendations in Marrakech from Lamia El Ghorfi
-La Mamounia’s Director of Communication
- For a tea or snack during a shopping spree in the Medina:
Le Café des Épices: 75, Rahba Lakdima (Spice Square). Ideally located in one of the Medina’s most famous squares, in the spice market. Its terrace offers a delightful break amid the lively neighborhood. Besides tea, you can savor a local specialty, spiced coffee. - Café Clock: 224 Derb Chtouka. Twenty minutes from Jema-el-Fna square, Café Clock is a soothing oasis where culinary pleasures meet intellectual stimulation. The venue houses a library and hosts musical evenings. Guests can discover camel burgers, almond milkshakes, homemade ice cream, and a rich menu of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
- To purchase a beautiful Beni Ouarain rug: Le Palais Saâdien, 1 Haram Cheikh Ksour, in the Medina. With their minimalist geometric patterns, the exquisite handwoven wool rugs from the Beni Ouarain tribes have naturally found their place in contemporary interiors. Le Palais Saâdien is among the best suppliers, also offering stunning decorative objects in intricately carved metal, typical of Moroccan craftsmanship.
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Combining Moroccan prestige and contemporary luxury, the rejuvenated but faithful La Mamounia remains an icon of charm, elegance and Moroccan hospitality...