If you like old-world charm, a wallop of warmth, the embrace of serenity and some serious history for company on a holiday in Marrakech, then, step into La Sultana – part of the ‘Small Luxury Hotels of the World’ – situated in the heart of the imperial Kasbah with the ancient Saadian tombs just across the wall. As you drive through the brick-lined alleys, dodging passers-by, towards the hotel and its walled compound, you’ll be in for quite a surprise to see the spacious hideaway that is a 10-minute walk from the Jemaa El Fna square.
Made of up five separate historic courtyard houses or riads, La Sultana is just where you would want to settle in before venturing out to explore the labyrinthine Kasbah. It is, without doubt, an ‘oasis of calm’ amidst the chaotic medina, an enthusiastic trail of tourists, hawkers and craftsmen.
Riad Bahia paints a picture of serenity with its white stucco ornamentation, hand-carved woodwork, tadelakt (polished plaster) surfaces and minimalistic décor. The riad houses the 1,000sq.ft. Lion’s Apartment that owes its name to the two magnificent lions carved near the fireplace. Riad Sheherazade brings to mind the lushness of the African savannah. An ode to the exquisite craftsmanship of Morocco, the columns of this riad are made of zellige. The long, ochre-hued corridors of Riad Almohade open up to the swimming pool hemmed in by colonnades, plantain trees, palms and sica trees, casting their shadows in the sunlight. The old-world charm of quaint Fez is reflected through the cedarwood balustrades and zellige tiles in Riad Saadia, which takes its name from the historic Saadian tombs. The rooftop terrace has a splash pool and offers a sweeping view of the Royal Palace, Koutubia Mosque – and if you can strain your eyes a bit, you can see the silhouette of the snow-capped Atlas mountains.
As many as 28 rooms and suites, replete with oriental splendour in keeping with the local tradition, make up La Sultana hotel’s living space. With boudoir-esque bedrooms – done up tastefully in a sophisticated way sprinkled with artisanal pieces and antiquities – private balconies, lovely patio views and helpful staff who cannot do enough to make your stay comfortable, you will feel pampered and very much at home.
Enjoy alfresco dining, or sip on a mint tea, Mojito or Manhattan on the lounge in a tranquil corner on the terrace, indulge in traditional Moroccan delicacies or sample some tapas at the lounge bar. The restaurant serves gourmet French and Moroccan cuisine. Traditional Moroccan salads, harira soup and dates, lamb couscous with traditional seven vegetables, braised beef with toasted almonds, tagine of Oualidia mussles, Berber tagine with lamb from the Ourika valley and vegetables, camel kebab are some of the gastronomic extravaganza on La Sultana’s menu. Bets of all, you can learn how to cook at the morning cooking classes in the terrace and whip up some traditional fare once you are back home and impress friends and family.
The spa uses products by Marokissime and Nectarome along with the best Moroccan organic plants and essential oils for beauty treatments and body scrubs. Try whatever treatment catches your fancy at Spa La Sulatana – balneotherapy, Oriental Dream royal hammam, chromotherapy, Moroccan massage, candle massage or the signature La Sultana relaxing massage using ylang ylang, orange blossom or pure Argan oil. The point of it all? Fair to say this is the best way to de-stress and rejuvenate. Besides, the indoor turquoise pool, which looks up to the vaulted ceiling and wrought-iron lanterns, is beckoning. Simply float or lark about in the plunge pool and get your fix of bliss.
Ideally, La Sultana is one of the best luxury hideaways in the Kasbah to soak in the ambience and the cultural richness of Marrakech. Poised on the Atlantic coast, facing a saltwater lagoon and beach nestles the La Sultana Oualidia. It is a 2.5-hour drive from Marrakech, so if you don’t want to stay in the city, this is a nice contemporary luxury hotel to check-into.
Getting there: La Sultana Marrakech is a 15-minute drive from the airport.
La Sultana Marrakech
403 Rue De La Kasbah, Marrakech
W: lasultanahotels.com
Smitha Sadanandan
