El Fenn

Stepping out from El Fenn puts you straight at the edge of the medina and its souks, while inside you can duck away from all that bustle into a lovely little sanctuary. The place is a riot of Marrakech color, fabrics, tapestries, and textures, with thoughtful art and design everywhere. It feels more like walking into a Wes Anderson set than checking into a boutique hotel, in the best possible way. Honestly, this is one of my favorite hotel stays ever, and the building itself is a work of art that's hard to describe. What made it feel alive was how relaxed and personal everything was. Ayoub at the front desk took care of our many requests, and Mary ran the rooftop restaurant and bar; we felt completely at home with them. Everyone, from the doormen to housekeeping and the cooks, was smiling. I've stayed in lovely hotels around the world where the service can feel stiff or make you feel out of place. That wasn't the case at El Fenn. I can't say enough good things about the hotel and restaurant. Just stay here, it's so worth it.

We went to El Fenn so I could show my husband a traditional riad before we booked a stay. I'd visited the restaurant before and had always respected the place, so this was especially disappointing. At reception, we politely asked whether we could look around first. They told us to wait for someone to show us, and after about 25 minutes another woman spoke rudely to us, said showing the property before payment went against policy, and asked us to keep waiting. While we were there, a German couple arrived after us and were welcomed straight away and given a full tour. It was hard not to feel that the supposed policy only applied to us. The staff also kept speaking French to me, even though we both clearly speak Arabic. I don't speak French, and the whole manner felt dismissive and unwelcoming. I'm Moroccan, and I had brought my husband, who doesn't look foreign, to discover riads. I expected equal treatment and professionalism from a well-known place like El Fenn. Instead, we went to La Mamounia afterwards, where we were treated warmly and respectfully from the start. I'd highly recommend it for Muslim Arab people. Hospitality shouldn't depend on appearance or assumptions, and after this experience I wouldn't feel comfortable recommending El Fenn.

The rooftop is lovely, with a beautiful view of the Koutoubia mosquée. Even though the day was a bit rainy, sunset with the call to prayer was a moment we really enjoyed. The pool, chairs, bar, and restaurant are all beautifully designed, and the drinks are great. I was there with my kid, and everyone was kind and patient with him. They even offered him a delicious strawberry drink for kids. Everything is about a five-minute walk away.

My group’s special dinner at El Fenn was the favorite evening of our whole trip. I brought a group of women from the US this year and trusted Inssam to arrange all the details, as she’s helped me make just the right reservations for myself and friends since I first started coming in 2019. She coordinated with the different teams to get us a lovely welcome, beautiful seating, the right timing and menu, and the best servers. The group won't forget how warmly we were received. The setting, rooms, and menu have always brought me back, but it’s the team that makes the place special. SHOKRUN BEZAFFFF Inssam and team for making all our visits so memorable. I’m already looking forward to working with her again on another special evening and the little reservations in between.