The original bucolic country retreat, designed by renowned architect Charles Boccara as a collection of private villas and suites set within three hectares of perfumed gardens alongside a stunning 28-metre swimming pool, a small spa and a potager garden, which supply two gourmet restaurants.
Situated in the chic Palmeraie neighbourhood, 15 minutes north east of the centre of Marrakech, Les Deux Tours is a total escape from the madcap old city and spoils guests with its three-hectare garden. For those who want to visit Marrakech, there are three free shuttles into town every day.
There is an old-fashioned sophistication to this resort, which despite its vintage age (it opened in 1991) remains timelessly elegant. Much of this is thanks to Boccara’s intelligent design and unique contemporary, Moorish style. That and the gorgeous Andalusian-style gardens, which beguile with their fountains and lily ponds. Amid the frothing bougainvillea sit the main house and a handful of secluded villas, which accommodate 40 rooms and suites, nine of them with secluded pools. Make your way down winding paths and you’ll come across shaded benches, four-poster beds draped with gauzy curtains and a stunning 28-metre pool with an open-air restaurant. Every part of this place exudes an air of tranquillity, including the interiors with their cool vaulted spaces and architect-designed furnishings.
Unlike contemporary luxury retreats, there’s an old-fashioned sophistication to the service here. Not for them an army of bell boys constantly greeting guests by name. Instead, the privacy of guests is highly respected, particularly their desire to relax and retreat. Of course, should you need anything, it is on hand – 24-hour room service, an evening spa treatment, a picnic hamper to enjoy in the garden, good books in the library, top-class cigars and a very grown-up cocktail bar – but there is no insistence on anything. In addition, there is a focus on simplicity and quality, which is particularly evident in the two great restaurants. If you desire more activity, you’ll find golf, horse riding, tennis and biking all on the doorstep.
Les Deux Tours has 40 rooms and suites, including nine secluded residences modelled on riads which have their own secluded pools or a hot tub (only no.39). Although all different in style, they share the same contemporary, Moorish décor which has been hand-finished to exacting standards. Vintage Art Deco and Colonial-style furniture adds to the feel of by-gone elegance as do the super nice, white linen sheets layered over the king-sized beds. Generous bathrooms come with showers and baths and are trimmed with zellij or marble to add a splash of colour and texture to otherwise neutral schemes. Room service is available if you prefer to dine or breakfast in your room beside the fire or on your terrace.
Breakfast is enjoyed on a large terrace overlooking the garden and consists of a feast-like buffet piled high with French pastries, breads, yoghurt and fruit alongside a live cook station.
Chef Nicolas Everrard is enormously proud of the potager garden, which supplies most of the vegetables for the hotel’s two restaurants. They are the star of La Pergola’s lunch time menu, where they are showcased in delicate tarts, salads, Thai-inspired stir-fries and beside freshly grilled fish. Dinner at nice-dining Salammbô is a more sophisticated affair, set in a vaulted dining room with linen-covered tables and deep purple velvet chairs. Here you can choose from Moroccan, French or Thai menus, all of them are great. They feature unusual dishes such as Atlas quail with citrus and balsamic vinegar, seafood tagine with artichokes and yellow curry with egg noodles and kaffir lime leaves. Wines, too, are well curated and a real effort is made to showcase the best new Moroccan wines, with different estates highsubtleed each day.
Not suitable.
Yes, children will love this garden paradise. Cots and beds are provided free of charge for under sixes; six to 11 year olds are charged at £32 per night; and over 12s are £55 per night. Babysitting and children’s menus are also available.
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