Villa des Orangers

Press Reviews

AWARDS

Top 10 Best Luxury - Africa, Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Awards 2009

REVIEWS

Lonely Planet
"The Beherecs' refined 'villa' is one of the few big hotels in the medina and is now the only Relais & Château establishment in Marrakesh. It's popular with pampered Europeans and diplomats as it manages to retain the character of a riad (town house) within the context of a very elegant and successful hotel.

With a hotel in Paris, the Beherecs have been at this a long time, so when they opened the Villa des Orangers in 1998 its almost immediate success was hardly a surprise. It was once the rather grand home of a magistrate and the stucco courtyards and refined patios are all original. It has to be said that the rooms and suites are rather corporate in feel, but who could complain at the ample space, the marble bathrooms and the chic, understated decor? What recommends it is actually its size; it's one of the few places in the medina where dinner is a noisy, convivial affair. They recently added an 18m pool to the third lounger-lined patio dedicated to health and beauty, which nicely rounds off an already extensive list of facilities."

Frommer's
"For a more extravagant experience, book a room or suite at Villa des Orangers, set in a breathtakingly restored riad. Much of the original craftsmanship - such as delicately carved walls that look almost like lace - remain intact. The new furnishings are of very high quality. And especially in the public spaces and suites, a sophisticated, clean-lined décor with splashes of Moroccan fabrics, poufs, and pillows is fit for the most stylish magazine pages.

Plan to have lunch one day in the orange-tree filled courtyard, off of which is a long, narrow pool fit for a king. Many rooms have their own outdoor terraces; ours was adjacent to a smaller rooftop pool and came complete with an outdoor shower in addition to a large en-suite bathroom. The range of accommodations is wide; three new suites are enormous and at least one includes an extra room off of the kitchen that houses a massage table. True opulence, but it's all served up without ostentation. The dining room, decorated in muted colors with modernist elements and candlelight, is a must for dinner. The kitchen's chef takes a creative look at traditional Moroccan cuisine, which you'll appreciate after a few nights of repetitive set menus at restaurants in the city."

The Telegraph
"La Villa des Orangers, the only Relais & Châteaux hotel in Marrakesh, has been popular with its British clientèle since it opened in 1999. Though less intimate than the other riads reviewed here, it combines the best of both riad and hotel, providing a typical riad setting with five-star service and comfort. Its 19 elegant rooms are decorated with local crafts - carved wooden furniture, chiselled plaster and camel-bone frame mirrors. There are homely touches, too, with leather babouches in which to flop, and "Essence de Marrakesh" bath goodies in which to soak. Three patios and three salons, in addition to the dining room, provide plenty of nooks for private dining. There is a minimalist pool on the third patio, and another on the roof terrace, which has splendid views over the Koutoubia mosque towards the Atlas Mountains."

Guest Reviews

Reviews are only from people who have stayed there and booked through i-escape.

• “Once inside the villa walls, the setting was outstanding with beautiful, courtyards, ante rooms, dining rooms, roof terrace & pools. The staff were very courteous & helpful. The food was excellent. However considering the villa was not very busy, I do think we could perhaps have had a "better" room - our bathroom window opened onto the busy medina & was relatively noisey if left open.I am sure other rooms of same price were available or the chance of an upgrade would have been welcome, particularly as very few rooms were being used,The interior of the room was of good quality & very clean”
  Hillary, United Kingdom (08.04.11)