The Best first impression of Marrakech

Marrakech has long been on our travel bucket list. With many positive impressions and stories from friends and colleagues, the Morrocan city is a must-go for luxury travellers. Embracing the oriental dream perfection with stellar views of the Atlas Mountains and proximity to the Sahara desert, Marrakech is ideal for a luxe weekend trip or a week-long holiday. Morroco finally opened up for tourism again (post-pandemic) and I thought it is the right place to spend my birthday weekend. To fully enjoy the dream of Marrakech, I decided to bed myself at a family-owned property first rather than any big chain hotel. I couldn’t have made any better choice than picking the Selman. Designed by Jacques Garcia, who also did La Mamounia a few kilometres further up the street, Selman Marrakech is the pure dream for oriental interior goals.

We landed at the brand new Marrakech Menara Airport and did the roughly ten-minutes-drive by private chauffeur. Soon afterwards we were already welcomed by an array of staff who whisked us through the stunning lobby and offered us a seat on the terrace that was just filled with sunshine. Our first Morrocan tea arrived and we were asked for passports and credit cards. While we enjoyed a round of welcome drinks and Morrocan beer, check-in was done and after we have finished the arrival ceremony, we were already on our way to the room. Wherever we looked, we found impressive details - might it be the stunning courtyard with a water pond, the lavish hallways with dimly lit floor lamps or the beautiful palm-lined outdoor spaces. At some point, we arrived in front of door 111, which was the entrance to our ground-floor Prestige room. 

A Dreamy room fit for discerning travellers

Upon entering our room, we were overwhelmed by the dark wood at first but matched the brown tones of the furniture extremely well. The foyer came with lots of storage space and a semi walk-in-closet. Just on the right was the spacious bathroom with single vanity, bathtub, separate toilet and bidet as well as a walk-in shower. All finishings were very classic and again blended in perfectly with the hotel’s interior design. There were plenty of towels and hotel-branded Neroli toiletries. Housekeeping did a great job keeping the rooms clean and well-maintained. Once we moved further, the main part of the room consisted of a huge and heavenly double bed, a sofa just in front of the bed and a spacious writing desk underneath an en-mirror television. Our semi-separated lounge area offered two comfy chairs and a table that had all the welcome amenities on it, a niche with a sofa as well as a leather-covered sideboard that hosted the well-equipped minibar. A double glass door opened onto our private terrace with a lounge and two armchairs.

A Spa Of Another Universe

Overall we loved our prestige room that spread across 70 square meters. However, we spent most of the time outdoors at the lavish 80-meter pool and the stunning spa by Henri Chenot. Considered the longest hotel pool in Africa, the outdoor swimming pool is among the most instagrammable locations in the whole of Marrakech. Not only did we enjoy breakfast with the stunning view, but also for afternoon drinks and post-dinner - to be honest, this setting was catching our breath at each hour of the day. Other than spending time outdoors, we adored the Chenot Spa at Selman Marrakech. The staff was always super friendly and offered us tea and towels whenever we looked in their way or just stood around with no plans. Inside the spa, you can find a spectacular heated indoor pool, a sauna and hammam, a vitality pool along with a gym and several treatment rooms. Right next to the inside area of the spa are two additional outdoor pools in a very serene setting. It was the perfect place to relax and enjoy a day of tranquillity - totally worth a stay alone at Selman Marrakech.

A Dinner With A Show - The Real Game-Changer

After we settled back in the room, it was time to get ready for our very first Morrocan dinner. We thought there is no better way to start the Marrakech adventure than having dinner at Asyl restaurant - considered the best of its kind in town. The location alone is simply stunning. You walk along the 80-meter pool where candles have been put up all the way, then upon entering the heavy doors your hands are washed and you are welcomed by lovely local live music. It’s just magical to see how Jacques Garcia implemented the Morrocan twist into his signature style. We felt like in a real oriental fairytale. Service here was also over the top and the food selection was very good. However, nothing could beat the unique entertainment programme. There were belly dancers with candles on their heads, followed by a one-of-a-kind horse show featuring the hotel’s horses. The feeling of sitting outdoors on a beautiful March night along with other hotel guests gathering around a fire, sipping Morrocan tea and enjoying one of the best live shows I have ever seen, is all I could have wished for my birthday. 

On the second day, we explored the old town of Marrakech with the Medina and Jemna El Fna, the famous market square. We rushed through the narrow streets and visited some local handicraft stores until we stopped at Nomad for drinks and a light lunch overlooking the old town. Back at the Selman, we headed straight towards the Chenot Spa for a traditional Morrocan Hamam - which I highly recommend. Within 45 minutes you are washed, scrubbed and refreshed. Your skin will feel as good as never before. At the end of our relaxing day, we headed to a classic: Bo Zin. This is where the who is who of Marrakech comes together to enjoy comfort food and enjoys classics along with modern sounds. 

On our last morning, we again enjoyed a sumptuous buffet breakfast at the Selman. While the buffet is neither very European nor American, there are several classics to be found at the buffet but prepare for a Morrocan experience. As far as we were concerned, we ended up having pancakes, fruits, white bread and ham. The croissants and puff pastries were excellent as was the tea selection and fresh orange juice. I found the light at the buffet a bit too harsh for the otherwise beautiful interiors. While I loved the unique scent throughout the hotel for the post-dinner atmosphere, I found the oud smell to be too much for the first hours of the day. Apart from that, Selman Marrakech delivered what I expected from one of Africa’s leading luxury hotels and I was happy to have had the chance to stay at this amazing property. I would definitely recommend staying here if you want to embrace the traditional Morrocan dream experience.

Disclaimer: The stay was provided by Selman Marrakech and we were guests of the hotel for editorial purposes. However the above written has not been influenced and represents the author’s own opinion.