Words by Sarah Finley
Walking into the luxury five star hotel and palace Es Saadi, the first thing that strikes you is the décor – statues of lions, a beautiful fountain and deep red sofas – all with a beautiful back drop of traditional Moroccan colours and wall tiles. Greeted with some delicious Moroccan mint tea it calmed us from our journey and kicked us finally into holiday mode.
A 20-acre hotel based between the Medina and the New Town, it’s an authentic Moroccan hotel and a perfect place to unwind for a weekend. Staying in one of their executive suites, it had not just a pool view but one of the Atlas Mountains, which reminded us daily just where we were as we relaxed on our balcony. The room itself was spacious and housed a king bed, living area and a large bathroom – styled with mahogany wood bedposts, marble wash basins and velvet cushions.
Relaxing is Es Saadi’s forte – when we weren’t cocktail in hand at the poolside we were lounging in its spa. Stretching over three floors the spa is home to the Oriental Thermae, a range of traditional and contemporary treatments and is home to the only Dior Institute outside Paris. We spent an afternoon in the gym, then relaxing in the indoor pool and saunas after, and finally we enjoyed what can only be described as ‘a heavenly massage’ from one of the masseurs.
Breakfast in the sunshine is always a treat, so sipping coffee at Jardin D’Hiver every morning, their ground floor restaurant, was bliss. The buffet was well stocked, coffee was on tap and you could choose other local and international dishes, including Moroccan crepes and eggs.
The hotel also houses a casino for those looking to have a quick dabble – but make sure you dress up for the occasion. Just inside the casino is the L’Epicurien restaurant, dimly lit and decorated with crystal chandeliers, mahogany furniture and large mirrors you’ll be entertained as well as fed. Live bands play nightly and we had the luxury of listening to a great saxophonists play while we ate our lamb and Chicken lemon grass dishes.
Visiting the Medina is a must when you go to Marrakesh. We were taken around by Madhi at Entourage Travel who knew the ins and outs of the markets. In such heat, around 25c it’s always a good idea to take a tour guide who knows where he’s going – getting lost is very probable otherwise.
Weaving our way through the Moroccan streets we found our way to Jamaa el Fna square – which was heaving with life. Stalls selling everything from olives to breads and if you’re feeling adventurous snake charmers. Taking 20 minutes out, we found a roof top bar to admire the square and take in the surroundings.
Next up was a carpet shop where we saw the handiwork of women who had spent months hand weaving them. Then a local apothecary – where we saw how lotions and potions were mixed. We ended the tour at a restaurant hidden away in one of the back streets where we feasted on some local delicacies – another one of Madhi’s great finds.
Driving through the streets back to the hotel it’s easy to see why Es Saadi is so popular. In such a busy city, where everyone is trying to get somewhere, it’s a haven for peace and relaxation.
Rooms at Es Saadi hotel start from £149. Entourage Travel organises private tours all over Morocco.
Address: Avenue Quadissia, 40000,, Marrakech 40000, Morocco
