Rewrite
Exploring the souks of Marrakesh. Image | Courtesy of Beldi Country Club
Marrakesh is a city of duality: a place to devour the busyness of the streets before slipping into one of the city’s ancient hammams, where steam and ritual have remained unchanged for centuries, and ending the evening with rooftop cocktails. Yet beyond it lies an untouched side of Morocco that the world is only just waking up to – a land of stars and sweeping terrain that feels many miles away from the Medina’s clamour.
Once reserved for adventurous travellers seeking something wholly untouched, Marrakesh has quietly claimed its place at the top of many holidaymakers’ travel agendas. The souks draw crowds for good reason: textiles, leather goods and ceramics that are fast becoming as covetable as they are affordable. To stop there though is to miss the point of visiting Marrakesh entirely. Indulge in delicious tagine, learn to make tanjia from the locals and stay in a boutique riad that leaves you feeling like you’re sleeping inside an art gallery, but then escape the city entirely to a farmhouse on the outskirts, or deep into the Agafay desert, for tented camps, camel rides and a landscape that stays with you long after you leave.
Scarabeo Camp
in the city
The Mellah Hotel is a charming boutique establishment, superbly located in the heart of the Medina, close to historical landmarks such as El Badi Palace and within easy reach of the souks. Upon entering, you are met with a central courtyard with soaring arches that transports you a million miles from the bustle outside. In the winter you’ll find guests around a roaring fire in the lobby, whilst in the summer, they’ll be gathered on the rooftop with its distinct burgundy and baby-blue striped pool, cabanas and bar.
The Mellah Hotel. Photography | Celine Centurion
Art is a central theme throughout the hotel, with local crafts juxtaposed with mid-century furniture and traditional Moroccan architecture. A red wool structure from Amine El Ghotaibi, a local artist who creates conceptual work inspired by his country, hangs in the lobby and reimagines the desert in textile form. Each of the ten rooms offers a unique design: from camel leather floors made by the only person in the Medina who specialises in such a craft, to his and hers walk-in showers adorned with colourful, ornate tiles.
The Mellah Hotel. Photography | Celine Centurion
If the architecture isn’t enough, the food completes the picture: from hibiscus margaritas to Slow-cooked Beef with lime, salt and olive oil, alongside the most delicious harira soup bursting with aromatic flavour, the restaurant deserves a visit entirely on its own merits.
Continuing with destinations where art sits at the centre of their ethos, discover IZZA –another boutique hotel located deep within the Medina – which offers a special window into Marrakesh’s evolving art world and a restaurant worthy of a visit, whether you’re staying there or not.
Left: painting of Bill Willis by Maurice Grosser. Right: Photographs by Sebastião Salgado, both at IZZA. Photography | Felix Speller
With just 14 rooms, IZZA is one of the Medina’s more intimate and quietly exclusive stays. However, rooftop bar and restaurant NOUJOUM is open to outside guests, and we recommend you put it firmly at the top of your to-do list. NOUJOUM, meaning ‘stars’ in Arabic, sits above the city’s hum, intimate and entirely in a world of its own. Draped in trailing plants and looking down onto one of the hotel courtyards, there are few better places to watch the sun dip below the cityscape, with a drink in hand.
Begin the evening in one of the leafy, tucked-away corners with IZZA’s Garden – a gorgeous orange blossom and basil-infused vodka finished with melon liqueur and a home-made verbena and mint syrup – accompanied by some snacks (the Crab and Leek Croquettes – served with a delightfully large king prawn and langoustine and saffron mayonnaise – are superb).
NOUJOUM at IZZA. Photography | Felix Speller
When you’re ready to dine, enjoy a menu as considered as the space, with a breadth of largely Moroccan dishes to choose from. To start, devour Beef Carpaccio with truffled artichoke, pickled girolles and pastilla, and Sea Bass Ceviche cured in citrus juices, with a cactus chutney, where the superior quality of the locally sourced meat and fish shines through. For mains go straight for the tagines, with seemingly one for every mood. The Monkfish Tagine served with charred peppers and fennel stands out as a firm highlight.
Read more about IZZA here.
Riad Romeo + Romeo Gigli. Photography | Ben Roberts
Riad Romeo + Romeo Gigli. Photography | Ben Roberts
A relatively new spot, Riad Romeo was designed by the legendary Italian fashion designer Romeo Gigli and is now run by his daughter, Diletta. A collision of Milanese cool and Moroccan charm, the soaring interiors are striking and compelling. With an open, welcoming atmosphere and the brightly coloured architectural details the city is known for, Riad Romeo is an effortlessly chic base in the Medina.
One of the highlights of any trip to Morocco is the food and a cooking class is the perfect way to explore it. Cooking with Laila is a hands-on experience that begins at the market, sourcing fresh, local ingredients, before heading back to the kitchen to learn the art of creating an authentic tagine. Learn considered techniques and how to cook with a terracotta pot – skills that you can take home, together with the spices picked up in the souks.
Beldi Country Club
beyond the medina
No trip to Marrakesh is complete without experiencing a hammam. Beldi Country Club is an ideal spot to do exactly that. Sitting slightly outside the Medina and conveniently close to the airport, Beldi offers some peace and quiet away from the city, with three pools, a restaurant and a spa set within spectacular sprawling gardens. A day pass makes it an ideal addition to any itinerary. Enjoy a three-course set lunch before spending the afternoon swimming and sunbathing at a pace the Medina simply doesn’t allow, before finishing with a deeply restorative hammam in the spa.
Beldi Country Club
Following an ‘off the beaten path’ drive, you’ll arrive at a Farasha Farmhouse – a retreat that is quite unlike anything else in Morocco: think quintessentially Moroccan architecture with its curved arches, handsome pottery in every corner and uninterrupted views of the rolling Moroccan countryside. Each bedroom is centred around one thing: a huge bed, dressed impeccably and impossible to leave. Many rooms come with a private courtyard or balcony, creating your very own sanctuary. The considered interiors leave no stone unturned, with classic pieces merged with modern Moroccan art, including another striking piece from Amine El Ghotaibi, sitting proudly in the main house.
Farasha Farmhouse. Photography | Ben Roberts
Farasha has recently expanded, adding six rooms in a new building that looks directly onto the main house and the pool, which sits at the heart of the farmhouse as its natural focal point. With a shaded lounge area and bar adorned with bright orange tablecloths and fresh flowers, it’s the perfect place for a long and lazy lunch.
As the afternoon stretches on and the sun begins to set, head up to the roof, filled with Moroccan poufs. Take in the 360-degree view of the farm and surrounding landscape while savouring a sundowner before dinner and, as night falls, curl up in one of the oversized shaggy white armchairs beside a roaring fireplace.
Farasha Farmhouse. Photography | Ben Roberts
Dinner is where Farasha truly comes into its own: a delectable set evening menu of burnt aubergine, roasted tomatoes and a lamb shank that falls straight off the bone, with most of the produce grown on the property itself. Set amongst olive groves, Farasha grows 80 percent of its own vegetables, following a true farm-to-table concept, even creating its own preserves, from strawberry jam to honey.
The preserves are available for guests to take home and are also served at breakfast which, at Farasha, is an event in itself, with a never-ending flow of khobz, msemen, eggs, fresh fruit and homemade juices. For those not staying overnight, a lunch, day or evening pass is available, though if you can stay the night, do. Waking up at Farasha, with that uninterrupted view and a sumptuous breakfast, is an experience that makes the drive down that unmarked path absolutely worth it.
Scarabeo Camp
into the desert
If time allows, a trip to the Agafay Desert is an unforgettable finale to any Marrakesh itinerary. At just under an hour from the city – and only 40 minutes from the airport – it’s an easy and incredibly rewarding escape. Scarabeo Camp, established over 12 years ago, is one of the first and most prestigious camps in the region.
Here you will find several accommodation options, but Les Roches Noires is the newest and nothing short of exceptional. No detail is overlooked: tents come with a fully functioning toilet, shower and wood burner. Twin seats face directly onto the horizon, affording a private view over the remote desert that seemingly goes on forever. You can also wander up to the viewing deck, filled with Chesterfield sofas, which looks out onto the snow-capped Atlas Mountains.
Scarabeo Camp
At night, the camp transforms entirely. A sea of candles casts the dining tent in a light that feels almost cinematic, as a group of locals dressed in ceremonial outfits performs Gnaoua (a celebrated form of traditional Moroccan music with roots across Africa). The food – a daily menu centred on an abundant feast of tagine – more than holds its own. The beef option with apricots and prunes offers the perfect blend of sweet and savoury, with the chicken is made with olives, caramelised fennel, carrots, roasted peppers and aubergine.
Return to your tent to find the wood burner already lit – the kind of small, thoughtful gesture that sums up everything Scarabeo does so well. Step outside before sleeping if the sky is clear to marvel at the stars above the Agafay Desert for the most sublime end to your trip.
Scarabeo Camp
words. Miranda Bunnis
edit. Olivia Cichero + Huma Humayun
in HTML format, including tags, to make it appealing and easy to read for Japanese-speaking readers aged 20 to 40 interested in fashion. Organize the content with appropriate headings and subheadings (h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6), translating all text, including headings, into Japanese. Retain any existing
tags from
Exploring the souks of Marrakesh. Image | Courtesy of Beldi Country Club
Marrakesh is a city of duality: a place to devour the busyness of the streets before slipping into one of the city’s ancient hammams, where steam and ritual have remained unchanged for centuries, and ending the evening with rooftop cocktails. Yet beyond it lies an untouched side of Morocco that the world is only just waking up to – a land of stars and sweeping terrain that feels many miles away from the Medina’s clamour.
Once reserved for adventurous travellers seeking something wholly untouched, Marrakesh has quietly claimed its place at the top of many holidaymakers’ travel agendas. The souks draw crowds for good reason: textiles, leather goods and ceramics that are fast becoming as covetable as they are affordable. To stop there though is to miss the point of visiting Marrakesh entirely. Indulge in delicious tagine, learn to make tanjia from the locals and stay in a boutique riad that leaves you feeling like you’re sleeping inside an art gallery, but then escape the city entirely to a farmhouse on the outskirts, or deep into the Agafay desert, for tented camps, camel rides and a landscape that stays with you long after you leave.
Scarabeo Camp
in the city
The Mellah Hotel is a charming boutique establishment, superbly located in the heart of the Medina, close to historical landmarks such as El Badi Palace and within easy reach of the souks. Upon entering, you are met with a central courtyard with soaring arches that transports you a million miles from the bustle outside. In the winter you’ll find guests around a roaring fire in the lobby, whilst in the summer, they’ll be gathered on the rooftop with its distinct burgundy and baby-blue striped pool, cabanas and bar.
The Mellah Hotel. Photography | Celine Centurion
Art is a central theme throughout the hotel, with local crafts juxtaposed with mid-century furniture and traditional Moroccan architecture. A red wool structure from Amine El Ghotaibi, a local artist who creates conceptual work inspired by his country, hangs in the lobby and reimagines the desert in textile form. Each of the ten rooms offers a unique design: from camel leather floors made by the only person in the Medina who specialises in such a craft, to his and hers walk-in showers adorned with colourful, ornate tiles.
The Mellah Hotel. Photography | Celine Centurion
If the architecture isn’t enough, the food completes the picture: from hibiscus margaritas to Slow-cooked Beef with lime, salt and olive oil, alongside the most delicious harira soup bursting with aromatic flavour, the restaurant deserves a visit entirely on its own merits.
Continuing with destinations where art sits at the centre of their ethos, discover IZZA –another boutique hotel located deep within the Medina – which offers a special window into Marrakesh’s evolving art world and a restaurant worthy of a visit, whether you’re staying there or not.
Left: painting of Bill Willis by Maurice Grosser. Right: Photographs by Sebastião Salgado, both at IZZA. Photography | Felix Speller
With just 14 rooms, IZZA is one of the Medina’s more intimate and quietly exclusive stays. However, rooftop bar and restaurant NOUJOUM is open to outside guests, and we recommend you put it firmly at the top of your to-do list. NOUJOUM, meaning ‘stars’ in Arabic, sits above the city’s hum, intimate and entirely in a world of its own. Draped in trailing plants and looking down onto one of the hotel courtyards, there are few better places to watch the sun dip below the cityscape, with a drink in hand.
Begin the evening in one of the leafy, tucked-away corners with IZZA’s Garden – a gorgeous orange blossom and basil-infused vodka finished with melon liqueur and a home-made verbena and mint syrup – accompanied by some snacks (the Crab and Leek Croquettes – served with a delightfully large king prawn and langoustine and saffron mayonnaise – are superb).
NOUJOUM at IZZA. Photography | Felix Speller
When you’re ready to dine, enjoy a menu as considered as the space, with a breadth of largely Moroccan dishes to choose from. To start, devour Beef Carpaccio with truffled artichoke, pickled girolles and pastilla, and Sea Bass Ceviche cured in citrus juices, with a cactus chutney, where the superior quality of the locally sourced meat and fish shines through. For mains go straight for the tagines, with seemingly one for every mood. The Monkfish Tagine served with charred peppers and fennel stands out as a firm highlight.
Read more about IZZA here.
Riad Romeo + Romeo Gigli. Photography | Ben Roberts
Riad Romeo + Romeo Gigli. Photography | Ben Roberts
A relatively new spot, Riad Romeo was designed by the legendary Italian fashion designer Romeo Gigli and is now run by his daughter, Diletta. A collision of Milanese cool and Moroccan charm, the soaring interiors are striking and compelling. With an open, welcoming atmosphere and the brightly coloured architectural details the city is known for, Riad Romeo is an effortlessly chic base in the Medina.
One of the highlights of any trip to Morocco is the food and a cooking class is the perfect way to explore it. Cooking with Laila is a hands-on experience that begins at the market, sourcing fresh, local ingredients, before heading back to the kitchen to learn the art of creating an authentic tagine. Learn considered techniques and how to cook with a terracotta pot – skills that you can take home, together with the spices picked up in the souks.
Beldi Country Club
beyond the medina
No trip to Marrakesh is complete without experiencing a hammam. Beldi Country Club is an ideal spot to do exactly that. Sitting slightly outside the Medina and conveniently close to the airport, Beldi offers some peace and quiet away from the city, with three pools, a restaurant and a spa set within spectacular sprawling gardens. A day pass makes it an ideal addition to any itinerary. Enjoy a three-course set lunch before spending the afternoon swimming and sunbathing at a pace the Medina simply doesn’t allow, before finishing with a deeply restorative hammam in the spa.
Beldi Country Club
Following an ‘off the beaten path’ drive, you’ll arrive at a Farasha Farmhouse – a retreat that is quite unlike anything else in Morocco: think quintessentially Moroccan architecture with its curved arches, handsome pottery in every corner and uninterrupted views of the rolling Moroccan countryside. Each bedroom is centred around one thing: a huge bed, dressed impeccably and impossible to leave. Many rooms come with a private courtyard or balcony, creating your very own sanctuary. The considered interiors leave no stone unturned, with classic pieces merged with modern Moroccan art, including another striking piece from Amine El Ghotaibi, sitting proudly in the main house.
Farasha Farmhouse. Photography | Ben Roberts
Farasha has recently expanded, adding six rooms in a new building that looks directly onto the main house and the pool, which sits at the heart of the farmhouse as its natural focal point. With a shaded lounge area and bar adorned with bright orange tablecloths and fresh flowers, it’s the perfect place for a long and lazy lunch.
As the afternoon stretches on and the sun begins to set, head up to the roof, filled with Moroccan poufs. Take in the 360-degree view of the farm and surrounding landscape while savouring a sundowner before dinner and, as night falls, curl up in one of the oversized shaggy white armchairs beside a roaring fireplace.
Farasha Farmhouse. Photography | Ben Roberts
Dinner is where Farasha truly comes into its own: a delectable set evening menu of burnt aubergine, roasted tomatoes and a lamb shank that falls straight off the bone, with most of the produce grown on the property itself. Set amongst olive groves, Farasha grows 80 percent of its own vegetables, following a true farm-to-table concept, even creating its own preserves, from strawberry jam to honey.
The preserves are available for guests to take home and are also served at breakfast which, at Farasha, is an event in itself, with a never-ending flow of khobz, msemen, eggs, fresh fruit and homemade juices. For those not staying overnight, a lunch, day or evening pass is available, though if you can stay the night, do. Waking up at Farasha, with that uninterrupted view and a sumptuous breakfast, is an experience that makes the drive down that unmarked path absolutely worth it.
Scarabeo Camp
into the desert
If time allows, a trip to the Agafay Desert is an unforgettable finale to any Marrakesh itinerary. At just under an hour from the city – and only 40 minutes from the airport – it’s an easy and incredibly rewarding escape. Scarabeo Camp, established over 12 years ago, is one of the first and most prestigious camps in the region.
Here you will find several accommodation options, but Les Roches Noires is the newest and nothing short of exceptional. No detail is overlooked: tents come with a fully functioning toilet, shower and wood burner. Twin seats face directly onto the horizon, affording a private view over the remote desert that seemingly goes on forever. You can also wander up to the viewing deck, filled with Chesterfield sofas, which looks out onto the snow-capped Atlas Mountains.
Scarabeo Camp
At night, the camp transforms entirely. A sea of candles casts the dining tent in a light that feels almost cinematic, as a group of locals dressed in ceremonial outfits performs Gnaoua (a celebrated form of traditional Moroccan music with roots across Africa). The food – a daily menu centred on an abundant feast of tagine – more than holds its own. The beef option with apricots and prunes offers the perfect blend of sweet and savoury, with the chicken is made with olives, caramelised fennel, carrots, roasted peppers and aubergine.
Return to your tent to find the wood burner already lit – the kind of small, thoughtful gesture that sums up everything Scarabeo does so well. Step outside before sleeping if the sky is clear to marvel at the stars above the Agafay Desert for the most sublime end to your trip.
Scarabeo Camp
words. Miranda Bunnis
edit. Olivia Cichero + Huma Humayun
and integrate them seamlessly into the new content without adding new tags. Ensure the new content is fashion-related, written entirely in Japanese, and approximately 1500 words. Conclude with a “結論” section and a well-formatted “よくある質問” section. Avoid including an introduction or a note explaining the process.
