IZZA Marrakech

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46 Driba Laarida, Dar IZZA, Sidi Ahmed Soussi, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco.
From:520,00$ /night
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About this hotel

This multi-riad hotel combines traditional and modern, holding a unique contemporary art collection while also honouring the colourful nature of Moroccan craftsmanship. Fourteen luxurious bedrooms partner with pool terraces, salons, courtyards and a flower-framed roof terrace to create this exquisite medina hideaway.

Location

The hotel is set in a quiet residential neighbourhood in the north of the medina. This is a great place to experience local life at the Rue el-Gza food market, the huge vintage market of Bab el Khemis and the zaouia (shrine) of Sidi Bel Abbes. Bel Abbes was revered for his charity and had many wealthy followers. As a result, you’ll find yourself in good company at IZZA surrounded by other grand riad palaces owned by the likes of the Hermès family.

Ambiance and Design

IZZA bills itself as a “house of friends” and a place of counter-cultural cool. The icon that inspires this ethos is the decadent American designer Bill Willis (1937-2009) whose old home IZZA is restoring and whose personal photographs and hand-drawn designs fill the hotel’s walls. Willis was a master decorative storyteller who could conjure narrative-based atmospheres and was renowned for transmuting traditional Moroccan crafts into fantastically imaginative medieval-modern interiors. His creative zing can be seen in the zig-zagging marble and zellij floor in Bill’s Bar, the elegant arches beside the pool, the restrained stuccowork and the magnificant zellij-tiled fireplace in the library.

But perhaps the real inspiration that Willis bequeathed unto the IZZA is the unexpected combination of all this traditional craft with a cutting-edge collection of more than 300 works of contemporary, digital and AI-generated art, which sits beside a burgeoning assemblage of exciting modern Moroccan artists such as Hassan Hajjaj, Leila Alaoui, Kadija Jayi and Mouhcine Rahaoui. It’s a fascinating juxtaposition that proves endlessly interesting as you explore the riad’s tranquil maze of salons, stairwells, courtyards and roof terraces. Art and artistry hide (and are easily found) everywhere here.

Service and Amenities

Managing Director Rémi Delpech comes from a big hotel background. He envisions IZZA as the Royal Mansour of riads and certainly his 50-member staff already execute their roles with an unaffected charm and easy professionalism that is hard to find elsewhere.

The riad has an impressive array of facilities, including a 10-metre heated pool, a Tonal smart gym with Peloton bikes and a bijou hammam (a larger complex is in the works), but best of all are the fabulous experiences that “event ambassador” Aicha Benazzouz dreams up. These include collaborations with the prestigious 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, photography workshops with Moroccan artists, gallery tours in Gueliz, vintage motorbike excursions to art deco mansions or pottery lessons at out-of-town retreats. You name it and she can probably arrange it. This makes IZZA a great springboard for exploring the secret side of Marrakech – something many visitors miss out on.

Suites and Rooms

Fourteen rooms encircle three tranquil courtyards. They vary considerably in size and the smaller ones are snug but all are decorated in a plush style with king-sized beds dressed in Pierre Frey fabrics, mid-century modern furniture and art from the likes of Michaël Zancan, Matt DesLauriers and Tyler Hobbs. Bathrooms are similarly luxurious with glossy tadelakt (Moroccan plaster) and zellij-tiled walls that refract the light and underfloor heating to ward off winter chills.

The best rooms are the Izza, Yves, Grace, Christina, Marianne and Talitha suites, which have additional space for desks, lounge areas, terraces, bathtubs (as well as showers) and, in the case of Izza, a kitchen, library and private terrace with plunge pool.

Hospitality and Cuisine

IZZA’s rooftop terrace is a lovely flower-framed stage for the bar and restaurant with tables beneath pergolas draped in vines. Starting the day here with a cheeful greeting from Hussein is a highlight. The pastry chef is a genius and the freshly made croissant, bread, msemem (flatbread) and beghrir pancakes are the best in the medina. There are also hot dishes including a very good eggs Royale with saffron and bowls of loubia (beans) with sun-dried tomatoes or merguez.

The lunch and dinner menus offer a mix of Moroccan and Mediterranean dishes, meant for sharing, including several tagines as well as gnocchi, ravioli, seared steak and lamb chops. While dishes are well executed (the monkfish tagine is a standout), the menu is quite short if you’re enjoying a longer stay. It’s still a work in progress though, with the aim of developing a destination dining experience.

Value for Money

Double rooms from €210 ($234) in low season; and from €260 ($296) in high. Airport transfers and breakfast included.

In addition, guests booked into regular rooms receive a complimentary evening cocktail, while those in suites also enjoy a 45-minute massage.

Special Needs Access

Two rooms, Brion and Pierre, are on the ground floor near the bar, tea salon and lounge. However, the nature of the riad with multiple level changes and stairs means that it isn’t suitable for wheelchair users.

Is this place family-friendly?

The vibe at IZZA is sophisticated and art-focused, mainly appealing to couples and groups of friends. That said, there aren’t any age restrictions on children and there are two interconnecting rooms (Allen and Leila). Baby cots and extra beds are available at no extra cost.

Hotel Facilities

Bar
Fitness centre
Laundry
Pool
Restaurant
Room Service
Steam room/hammam
Wi-Fi

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