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El Fenn, Marrakech - hotel review

Kasia Gatkowska
Kasia Gatkowska

You’ve probably seen the perfectly filtered images of El Fenn all over your Instagram feed, but it’s been a passion project of its owners all the way back since 2004 - long before Instagram even existed.

Where is it?

Inside the medina, tucked down an alleyway, and at the heart of the action - you can walk to the main square and souks in just a few minutes. The airport is only two miles away and a taxi journey to El Fenn will take 10-15 mins.

The Annex Riad (El Fenn)
The Annex Riad (El Fenn)

Style

On entering El Fenn, you’ll have only one thought: ‘this will be good for the ‘gram.’

The hotel is a maze of interconnected riads which take up an entire acre of the medina. Take time to explore when you first arrive, you’ll find hidden nooks, shadey courtyards, glistening plunge pools, plush velvet sofas, and thoughtful design details around every corner.

Owned by Brits Vanessa Branson (sister to Richard) and political advisor Howell James, the hotel was one of Marrakech’s first boutique riads when it opened in 2004. It started life as a place to showcase Vanessa’s impressive private art collection and, to this day, in both the rooms and common areas, the art works are constantly being added, removed and re-curated so that no two visits are ever the same. Mixing the rich, vibrant, colours of Marrakech - think jewelled tones of mustard yellow, Tyrian purple and fuschia - with Vanessa’s art collection makes it a visual delight.

El Fenn claims to have the best rooftop in the city and we’re inclined to agree. With hessian canopies, wicker lanterns, colourful striped cushions, plunge pools and views of the Koutoubia mosque, sipping sundowners and listening to the adhan (call to prayer) was the highlight of our trip. Don’t leave Marrakech without a visit (non-guests can book for dinner and lunch or pop up for drinks).

The rooftop for one of the private suites at El Fenn (El Fenn)
The rooftop for one of the private suites at El Fenn (El Fenn)

Facilities

El Fenn is one of the few hotels inside the medina to have a swimming pool; in fact, there are three, including a plunge pool on the roof. There’s also a spa which offers all the usual treatments like massages, facials and mani/pedis as well as traditional hammams.

For the more energetic, yoga and pilates classes can be booked on the rooftop or jogging tours of Marrakech can be booked for groups of up to 6 people.

Food & Drink

El Fenn’s food and drink game is strong. It all kicks off with a pot of tea or coffee left outside your room at 7:30am, followed by a relaxed breakfast on the charmingly Bohemian rooftop. Home-made yoghurt, Howell’s granola (the recipe is in the hotel leaflet, should you feel inspired to recreate it at home), seasonal fruit salad, croissants, freshly baked bread followed by an a la carte menu of eggs, pancakes and tagines.

There’s complimentary afternoon tea served in the main courtyard daily from 3:30pm. And then there’s lunch and dinner which won't disappoint. Served on the roof in the summer months, or in the cosy restaurant when the temperature drops, the menu is a mix of traditional Moroccan dishes and European cuisine. A buzzy place - book ahead for both lunch or dinner.

One of the rooftop lounge areas (El Fenn)
One of the rooftop lounge areas (El Fenn)

Which room?

There are plenty of different types of rooms to choose from: small, medium, large, extra large, plunge pool rooms and two or three-bedroom suites. There’s also a five-bedroom Annex Riad two minutes walk from the main hotel which can be rented out exclusively. It comes with 24/7 on-site service and two plunge pools - perfect for throwing a riad party. Did someone say hen do?

We stayed in a ‘large room’ which came with a king size bed, open fireplace, seating area, large camel leather desk, some of Vanessa’s wonderful artwork and a huge, cavernous, open plan bathroom. If your budget allows, we’d suggest opting for one of the two plunge pool rooms.

A 'large' room (El Fenn)
A 'large' room (El Fenn)

Extra curricular

The beauty of a trip to Marrakech is that it can be any type of holiday you want. Whether you want to face plant on a sun lounger by the pool, shop until you reach your overdraft limit in the souks or spend a day hiking in the Atlas Mountains, you’ll find something to suit you.

Within the Red City, there’s the option of a trip to Majorelle Gardens, the gardens restored by Yves Saint Laurent. If you do go, book tickets with the hotel and head down early in the day to beat the crowds. Beautiful, but packed with people desperate for the perfect Instagram shot. We’d suggest heading somewhere slightly further afield like Berber Lodge or Beldi Country Club for a truly serene garden experience.

The souks inside the medina are both hectic and exhilarating. If you’re up for the haggle, enjoy the ride. For hassle-free shopping head to Gueliz (near the Majorelle Gardens) for independent boutiques and more familiar brands like Zara.

If you’re got time to spare (2-4 days), take the train to the coastal town of Essaouira for some proper downtime.

The spa (El Fenn)
The spa (El Fenn)

Best for

Anyone who’s low on content for their Instagram feed. And couples or friends looking for a chic break.

How to get there

Ryanair, Easyjet and British Airways all fly direct to Marrakech. Flights start at £150 but can go up significantly in popular months.

When should I go?

The best time to visit Marrakech is mid-March to May or September to November. The summer is sweltering with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in August.

Details

Rooms start at £200. The Annex Riad can be rented exclusively for £1100. Breakfast is included. Visit El Fenn’s website for more info and to book.

2 Derb Moulay Abdellah Ben Hezzian Bab el Ksour, Marrakech 40000, Morocco.00 2 12 524 44 1210