Casa Taos
Near Marrakech, Morocco
A luxurious but laid-back haven, set in orchards and lush gardens a 15-minute taxi drive from Marrakech
Step from your suite into 3 hectares of lawns, lemon and orange
groves and pecans, apricots, peaches and plums, and head for a
palm-slung hammock by the shimmering pool. First impressions
suggest a glamorous desert resort, but Hicham and Karima’s
renovated villa is run like a maison d’hôtes;
this is not a hotel, they insist, but a family home, filled with
warmth, generosity, life and soul.
Set in Souihla - Morocco’s ‘little California' - the
adobe-style villa is a confection of terracotta pillars, carved
cedar, tadelakt plaster and earthy talaouh, finished
off with splashes of vibrant colour. The 7 guest suites,
separated from the main house by a fountained terrace, are spacious
and striking; some have distant views of the Atlas Mountains,
others open onto the refreshingly cool pool, lined with parasols
and rattan loungers.
Hicham used to have a gallery in Casablanca, and every pore of the
décor reflects his love of art; he used to run restaurants,
too, and the food here is a real treat. From intimate courtyard
breakfasts to merry candlelit dinners in the contemporary dining
pavilion, the variety, quality and freshness of the dishes is
amazing. Bliss, too, to return from the medina to orange blossom
and birdsong - and you can rely on your hosts to negotiate a fair
price with the grands taxis into town.
Reviewed by Lesley Gillilan
Last updated 20 April 2012
Highs
- A tranquil oasis of lush gardens and palm trees, an easy drive from the bustling city
- Large, super-comfortable suites, furnished with art and artefacts and zinging with colour. Most have terraces or mini gardens and winter fireplaces
- Wonderful home-cooked food, prepared with fresh vegetables, fruit and aromatic herbs grown in the villa’s own organic kitchen garden
- An on-site hammam, where you can unwind with body scrubs and steam treatments
- The personal touch - the owners and their staff are perfect hosts, and guests of all ages are welcomed
Lows
- You are reliant on taxis to get you in and out of Marrakech
- Like many pools in Marrakech, this one is unheated
- No twin beds
