CHARLOTTE SKIDMORE discovers a beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of bustling Marrakech
Marrakech – culture, colour and a great climate for sun worshippers.
The Pearl hotel – a welcome haven from the busy markets of Marrakech.
Don’t get me wrong, Marrakech is a wonderful place, filled with endless possibilities of fabulous memories. But it is hectic by nature and The Pearl hotel is a great alternative to the more traditional riad that a traveller may choose to try.
For me, a person who likes life’s comforts but is prepared to give many many things a try, the five star hotel option offered me the right balance between the bustling medina, the main markets where local people sell their wares (plus a few ‘designer’ T-shirts and football tops into the mix) and relaxation.
With a fabulous roof top terrace, Sky Bar with pool and arguably the best views in the city, a luxury spa and three fabulous restaurants, the hotel more than met my expectations.
The restaurants
The Pearl’s three restaurants are the Moroccan Le Jouhara, Italian Del Café and my favourite, the Japanese Namazake.
The Moroccan restaurant has easily the best décor, with lavish drapes and lighting giving it equisite, luxurious surroundings. The restaurant serves Moroccan favourites, including many different types of tagines and the food there was flavoursome and well presented. The one morning that breakfast was served here it felt like a real treat.
The Italian was a fabulous option for more relaxed food like pastas and pizzas, all of which were incredibly tasty.
But the Japanese was knock your socks off magnificent. With delicious sushi of all shapes and sizes, the piece de resistance of which was a 20-piece platter for little over £10 sterling and tasty grills to name just a couple of highlights, this restaurant has London five star standards written all over it, with a lower price tag.
The kitchen is open plan and you can watch the chefs at work making the sushi and grilling your dinner, while enjoying incredible views across the city.
Breakfast at the hotel was good - although I did think toast and a couple of varieties of eggs in the morning was an internationally-recognised option.
Perhaps I am wrong and it by no means took away from the great spread of pastries, cereals, pancakes, cooked options, fruit and meats and cheeses laid on each morning.
The rooms
The rooms were in a similar lavish style to the Moroccan restaurant with stunning purple drapes in a separate living area in the
standard room.
The rooms do get quite dark, but I imagine this is to keep it in keeping with the traditional Morroccan décor of the room.
The spa
My husband and I enjoyed a hammam and massage in the lovely spa.
Have I ever had a hammam before? No. Would I recommend everyone to have one? Yes. Would I have another one? Probably not. Spas are for relaxation for me
For me the real treat was the relaxing massage at the end.
In conclusion
If you are visiting Marrakech and you want a luxury hotel to retreat back to after a busy day this is for you. Enjoy a nice cocktail by the pool whilst lounging on four posters and recharge yourself for more culture in this city of colour.
