Opera Plaza Hotel

Called the “Pearl of the South,” Marrakech is also known as the imperial city. Opera Plaza Hotel is located in the heart of Marrakech on a street congested with scooters and cars. The serene hotel interiors provide a lovely escape from the highly-trafficked area outside. Sleek brown sofas, paintings of Arabian horses, light marble floors, and Moorish lamps decorate the bright lobby that overlooks the pools. Newly arrived guests are offered mint tea. The decor and entertainment facilities appeal mostly to couples, but families do vacation here as well.

The lagoon pool is large and stylish with a lifeguard and a separate shallow pool suitable for kids. Surrounding palms, cacti, and gardens create a tropical atmosphere. The deck is furnished with sleek brown rattan lounge chairs, red umbrellas, and a carpeted canopy gazebo. A swim-up bar with submerged stools is a sweet touch.

The Opera Plaza is directly across the street from the Marrakech railway station. The hotel, as the name implies, is also opposite the Royal Opera House. Casual dining and fast-food options, like McDonald’s, are within close walking distance, and a number of major cultural attractions are readily accessible by car. Jemaa El Fna Square, the Maison de la Photographie de Marrakech, the famed Almoravid Koubba structure, and the Museum de Marrakech are all less than 15 minutes east by car. The Oukaïmeden Ski Resort is almost a 90-minute drive south, while Marrakech Menara Airport is a bit more than 10 minutes southwest by car. Guests suggest hiring a guide to explore the local souks (marketplaces). 

The Opera Plaza offers Double/Twin and Triple Rooms along with Executive Suites. Dark-wood furniture and Moorish doorways, tiles, and textiles create a modern Moroccan atmosphere. General features include air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, safes, and minibars. Standard features in bathrooms include shower/tub combos, heated towel racks, and bidets (in certain spaces). Some guests complain, though, about impractically deep tubs and partial glass shower doors. Pets are allowed for a fee. Suites have bathrobes, slippers, tea/coffeemakers, longer beds, sectional sofas in sitting areas, and bathrooms with walk-in showers. The best balcony views overlook the pool or Royal Opera House.

The hotel offers numerous dining options. Le Rossini serves international cuisine buffet-style in a modern setting. Le Melkis cooks up authentic Moroccan fare and the Bella Italia offers a buffet and stone pizza oven. The bar, Le Kech, features live entertainment, and another stage can be found at the Aida. The pool bar is stylish with white curtains and rattan chairs. There’s also a cafe and cigar lounge on-site along with a gift shop.

Two modern meeting rooms are available for business travelers and private functions, fitting up to 150 people. Wi-Fi and audiovisual services are provided as well. For those looking to relax and be pampered, the hotel spa is stylish and beautifully lighted with Moroccan designs, two hammams, treatment rooms, and a solarium. The gym is bright, featuring wood floors and modern equipment. There’s also a six-lane bowling alley that’s colorfully designed with a game room offering billiards and foosball.