La Maison Arabe

La Maison Arabe's reputation has always been related to food - and even more strongly now with the city's finest cookery school.

La Maison Arabe was the first restaurant open to foreigners in the medina in the early 1930's. The restaurant very quickly established itself as one of the leading restaurants on the African continent.  In 1995 the property, and adjoining riad, was bought by Fabrizio Ruspoli and after 3 years of renovation opened as Marrakech's first boutique hotel.  'Le Restaurant' at La Maison Arabe carries on the tradition of the original estabishment, featuring some of the finest classic and refined Moroccan cuisine in the country.  The cooking school at the hotel's country club opened a few years ago and is one of the most enticing courses on offer in the city.

But, La Maison Arabe is so much more than a destination for the gourmond.  This achingly elegant hotel is the perfect place to stay for a special weekend or at the start of a Moroccan tour.  Ideal for a couple or a family with grown up children.  Children are certainly accepted but you will not find many here.  It is also not ideal for those with walking difficulties as although cars can reach the front door, inside is a warren of deep pile carpeted stairways.

This is the ultimate boutique hotel, with only 26 sumptuous rooms and suites, guests often say they feel like they are staying at a luxurious private club.  Every room and suite is unique in it's layout, although not always the largest,  and most have a fireplace and private balcony or terrace.  This is the only riad which offers guests two heated swimming pools, either at the hotel or in luxurious gardens at the Country Club annex, a short 15 minute ride from the hotel.  A free shuttle bus runs between the two.  There are two restaurants and one of the finest and most beautiful spas you will ever find. 

The country club opened in 2000 and is a peaceful and luxuriant garden settings far away from the hustle and bustle of the medina. Guests can walk through the hotel's organisc vegetable gardens which provide many of the herbs for the cooking school.

However the cooking school is maybe what draws many of the guests.  Half day workshops are open to both guests and those staying elsewhere and hae become a 'must do' activity for visitors to Marrakech.  The workshops are run by a dada who has been at the hotel for nearly 10 years and a university professor who serves as translator and is a wealth of information regarding Moroccan culture and Marrakech.  These days everyone want to learn to make the delicious lamb tagine with preserved tangeries and baby eggplants!