Es Saadi Marrakech Resort – Palace

The Es Saadi Marrakech Resort – Palace has been operated by the same family for three generations, and has a long history of hosting the world’s most famous and influential people. The exquisite blue gate resembles the entrance to a sultan’s palace, setting the mood. Architecturally, the common spaces are beyond elaborate, with lots of ornate carved stone and sculpted plaster, hand-carved furniture, and striking modern paintings. The atmosphere is poetic, with the lush gardens lit by 1,001 lanterns at night. Tea is not just tea; it comes from a silver samovar, served in colorful tea glasses. Lobby and hallway furniture is dramatic in color -- deep wines, acid greens, and sunset oranges -- and style, with elaborate inlaid chairs, and beautiful upholstered sofas and poufs that invite reclining. Even elevator interiors are filigreed, and guest room doors are works of art. The pool has an ancient temple feel, with column “ruins” in the chlorine-free water and a palm tree island in the center. Everything about the Es Saadi is of the finest quality, and guests here join a long line of celebrities and superstars, royalty and other public figures, who have made this resort their playground and hideaway.

The Es Saadi Marrakech Resort – Palace is located between the medina, with Jamaa el Fna Square and the Koutoubia minaret, and the Hivernage district. It's within a 19-minute walk of the medina, and about a five-minute of the train station in Gueliz. The Palaid de Congres convention center is also nearby. Guests in search of nightlife beyond Es Saadi's casino and nightclub will find plenty of it close by in Hivernage. Golfers will find seven excellent courses in the vicinity. The resort provides free transfers to and from the airport, which is a 10- to 15-minute drive from the property.

Rooms at the Es Saadi Marrakech Resort – Palace are sumptuously decorated, each with its own individual flair. Every suite is done in a different kind of wood: dark, light, mahogany, sculpted, or hand-painted, with silk and velvet divans, striking bathroom details like nickel silver sinks and bronze bathroom mirrors, and the occasional airy canopy bed. Bathrooms are palatial, with soaking tubs and separate showers. Corner suites are Italian in design, and very elegant, bringing a touch of the resort’s 1950s and ‘60s history to the decor. Beds are comfy; they feature premium bedding and a pillow menu is available. Balconies have lovely garden views. Connecting rooms are available for families and groups traveling together.

The Es Saadi Marrakech Resort – Palace is home to the first casino in Marrakech, circa 1950, now solidly in the 21st century when it comes to music, dancing, and decor. There are gorgeous indoor and outdoor pools, and two gyms: one for weights and cardio, one for fitness (like zumba classes). The stunning spa is built around a 100-year old eucalyptus, with Dior providing beauty treatments and Phyto styling hair. Bio du Bled serves slow food. La Cour des Lions serves fine Moroccan cuisine in a stylish penthouse dining room. Bar Egyptian offers live music nightly in a sexy 19th-century Orientalist atmosphere.