Hotel Akabar

The toilet and shower room were so dirty they didn’t meet the minimum standard for the hotel category. The bed linen had someone’s under hair, and the towels were old and brownish. There was no refrigerator, hair dryer, water, tissue, A/C remote control, cup or glass.

The food was just mediocre and a bit pricey for what it was. The Tajine was good, but I’d avoid the European dishes. On the plus side, the hotel is among some top restaurants and lively spots, and most historic places in the city are within walking distance. The staff were all friendly and smiling, and the sincere welcome at check-in stood out. I was given a room with a good view on the first floor.

Our triple room had three beds but only one visible outlet, so we had to take turns charging our phones. That made planning our days really inconvenient. The hotel also wouldn’t let guests bring in outside food or drinks, not even bottled water. We had to buy everything there at ridiculously high prices. A small bottle of water cost more than triple what it would at a nearby shop. It felt like an obvious cash grab. The pool was one reason we booked, but it was completely empty when we arrived, with no water, maintenance signs or explanation. Showering was an ordeal too, because the water pressure was so weak I couldn’t rinse properly. At check-in, the receptionist charged us far more than the listed city tax rate. We understood she seemed exhausted from fasting for Ramadan, but that didn’t excuse it. When we pointed out the difference, she acted confused, kept pretending not to understand despite our attempts to resolve it, and never corrected the “mistake.” It felt like a total scam. Breakfast was the same every day: dry, stale bread, bad coffee and tasteless pastries. There was no variety, it didn’t seem fresh, and it felt like old food was being recycled. My stay at Hotel Akabar in Marrakech was a disaster. I regret booking it and hope others avoid the same mistake. The hotel is a joke. Stay somewhere else if you can.

I didn’t stay at the hotel, but I wanted to write this because I couldn’t find recommendations for the restaurant at the Akabar Hotel. The service was very good, and the food is excellent. The meat-piece tagine is affordable, delicious, juicy and melts in your mouth. We also had mint tea and local Moroccan beer, both of which were delicious. I highly recommend the restaurant at the Akabar Hotel.