La Mamounia Hotel

Avenue Bab Jdid 40 040 Marrakech

A spendid oasis of calm in the midst of the hubbub that swells Marrakech’s earth-red city walls, La Mamounia is among the world’s iconic hotels. An exhaustive renovation has rejuvenated this grand old dame and given her a new lease on life – decadent interiors are a picture of Moroccan elegance with dark wood furniture, hand-carved, tiled frescoes and sumptuous fabrics prevailing throughout. The hotel’s exquisite rooms are booked out by celebrities and royalty, as they always have been – Winston Churchill once stayed here, and in his former room hangs a landscape he painted during his residence – and there are decadent new touches like signature-scent soaps and shampoos, a pastry tower stocked with delights from the in-house patisserie, and a suitably luxurious spa. The hotel boasts three restaurants, all superb – Le Français, L’Italien, and Le Marocain, which is the most exceptional; its all-female kitchen crew prepares fragrant tagines and couscous dishes in a traditional-style riad located in the hotel’s extensive gardens. Sunday brunch by the pool pulls out all the stops (care for second helpings of the all-you-can-eat grilled whole lobsters or oysters?) – and, like everything at La Mamounia, so does the price tag. That aside, your only real problem while staying here will be you’ll never want to leave. Doubles from £460.