La Sultana Marrakech: A Luxury Hotel Fit for Sultans
I’ve never set foot in a more beautiful hotel. Words to describe it? Timeless. Graceful. Opulent. Stylish. Unique. Palatial. Every last detail of this hotel is pure perfection. Consisting of 5 riads (traditional Moroccan residences centered around a courtyard or garden) with 28 individually themed rooms total, La Sultana is a shrine to Moroccan design and craftsmanship. From the minute you step into this hotel, filled with glimmering gold accents, you can feel the outside world of endless streets, honking mopeds, open-air butcher shops, donkey traffic, aggressive hawkers, and snake charmers melt away to nothing but a distant whisper.
Wow Factor
Upon arrival, guests are whisked away to a richly appointed salon where a multi-tiered tray of Moroccan pastries awaits, accompanied by mint tea. You’ll pass through the distinctly decorated riads on the way to your room, encountering chic minimalist decor featuring sun-drenched white stucco, as well as fiery terra-cotta and beijmat (brickwork) juxtaposed against Majorelle blue garden elements. There’s also an ochre-hued courtyard of carved cedar wood with plenty of elaborate zellige tile work evocative of the imperial city of Fes, and rooms centered around a pool framed by banana and palm trees and interlaced with brick corridors full of Moroccan lanterns. Perhaps the most impressive of all is the African section, decorated with a fusion of Moroccan and Senegalese design styles, complete with African masks, animal-patterned furniture, and safari-themed rooms.
Verdict: Fabulous!
Design & Style
La Sultana has the grand ambiance of a royal palace. The rooms and suites are decked out in sumptuous Moroccan furnishings fit for a sultan, queen, or perhaps maharajah, with stained glass windows that open onto courtyards filled with beautiful ceramic tile-work, mosaic fountains, carved wood accents, and Moroccan art. Every last inch of this hotel is a feast for the eyes, packed with lavish carvings, marble accents, and elegant lanterns that cast a magical spell.
Verdict: Fabulous!
Luxury Meter
Outnumbering guests, the staff are extremely attentive, waiting on your every need. It’s hard to find a reason to leave the property, as everything you need is provided. A full breakfast is included, along with snacks and beverages, and gourmet dining on site. Live musicians perform classic Moroccan music in the evenings, and there’s a bar with an underwater window into the swimming pool. The spa has an extensive menu of treatments, there’s a beauty salon and boutique, and you’ll be showered with all the usual luxury amenities, along with thoughtful extras like sound-proofed rooms and welcome platters filled with pastries, dried fruit, and nuts.
Verdict: Fabulous!
Location, Location, Location!
La Sultana is located in the kasbah (royal palace of the sultans) next door to the ancient Saadian tombs, within Marrakech’s historic medina, or walled old town. From the hotel’s deck you can take in the skyline and panoramic views of the Atlas mountains, all while soaking up some sun. This is a true oasis in the middle of the bustling pink city.
Verdict: Great
Culinary Prowess
Riads are excellent places to enjoy world-class Moroccan cuisine. La Sultana features a tasting menu where guests can sample several courses of Moroccan specialties such as pastilla, a Moroccan meat pie (usually prepared for special celebrations like weddings) made of puff pastry and dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon, and harira soup, a tomato and lentil soup served during Ramadan and also a meal in itself. Other standouts include foie gras with juicy apples, and Moroccan salads, which by the way don’t include a shred of lettuce, but instead consist of assorted vegetable dishes ranging from carrots to beets to pickled cucumbers, lentils, and spiced chiles. Standout classic dishes slow-cooked in a tagine, or clay pot, include honey-glazed leg of lamb and a beef tagine with figs and walnuts. La Sultana also offers cooking workshops, perfect for foodies and those looking to explore the gastronomic side of Moroccan culture.
Verdict: Fabulous!
Spa Report
When in Morocco, you can’t miss the traditional Moroccan hammam, or Turkish-style steam bath. After de-robing, attendants pour buckets of water over your body then apply a scrub which is again washed away with more buckets of water. Afterwards, you lay on heated marble platforms, guaranteed to force your muscles to surrender, as you take in the steam. Next comes the exfoliation process where an attendant scrubs your skin rigorously with a kissa, or rough glove, to remove dead skin cells. Follow this up with a massage for the ultimate experience. La Sultana offers several massage packages and additional treatments including therapeutic baths, seaweed treatments, chakra-balancing, and aromatherapy using organic oils in classic Moroccan scents like rose, honey, almond, lemon, orange blossom, and argan oil.
Verdict: Fabulous!
Details
La Sultana
403 rue de la Kasbah 40 000
Marrakech, Morocco
Tel. +212 5 24 38 80 08
