As the other Easyjet passengers lugged their bags up to passport control we were quietly ushered into a VIP waiting lounge whilst our landing cards and passports were checked for us. Instead of fighting in line, we sat in a blissfully air conditioned room cooling down with traditional Moroccan refreshments. La Mamounia ensures their guests feel well looked after from the moment you walk off the plane… and this preferential treatment was just the beginning.
This year La Mamounia celebrates its 90 year anniversary and with the property’s recent full renovation, there has never been a better time to visit. Redesigned by the internationally acclaimed Jacques Garcia, this new improved palace has won too many awards to count. Garcia describes it as “reminiscent of a far away time and place, La Mamounia evokes a modern day fairytale.”
After admiring the beautiful grand hall we were taken up to our room by a friendly member of staff. He smiled as we excitedly examined every detail of our spectacular room. The rooms, though similar in style and mood, have their own character… the accommodation is split into four main categories: rooms, suites, signature suites and riads. We were staying in a lovely executive suite overlooking the perfect park of La Mamounia.
Our room was rich and decadent, dressed in fabulously heavy velvety materials with cream walls and deep red furniture. The light streamed in from the large balcony and gave the room a warm glow and yet the thick walls and precious materials are ideal for cooling it in the summer months. Fresh white roses added fragrance and life to the room and an array of wonderful Moroccan pastries and champagne provided the perfect afternoon treat. Traditional craftsmanship can be seen in every detail: the intricately carved plaster, the repetitively patterned tiles and highly decorative handmade metal tables. It is disconcerting when a hotel ignores its country’s heritage, it can disorientate me and waking up in the morning I can suddenly forget I’m even away from London… La Mamounia ensure this doesn’t happen with Moroccan culture and creativity visible in every aspect of the hotel.
Our bed and bathroom were made for relaxing… the very highest quality with every special touch you could desire. Each bathroom includes a stand alone bathtub, marble surfaces, a walk in rain shower, separate toilet and two sinks. It felt like a miniature spa, especially with the custom made Mamounia toiletries.
In the daytime there is plenty to entertain you in this haven. First you must explore the well kept, lush gardens, working up an appetite for the ice-cream and macaroon parlour. For those who crave sunshine, a stint by the Mamounia pool should tan you sufficiently, order a fresh pineapple juice from one of the attentive waiters to stay hydrated in the heat. The giant spa offers every imaginable treatment in a stunning setting, and for those in need, a hairdresser is also on site. The tennis courts are lovely if you can stand the soaring temperatures and professional coaches are on hand to give lessons.
When it is time to eat there are several options to choose from: for fine traditional Moroccan cuisine you must try Le Marocain – delicious pigeon pastillas, chicken with olives, preserved lemon tagine and succulent meat grill. I can also highly recommend the celebratory 90 year anniversary Icone red wine which enhances many of the menu choices. Those guests who are tired of tagine can choose to dine at the equally distinguished L’Italien or Le Francais showcasing the best of Italian and French cooking. After dinner pop into the Winston Churchill bar (as a homage to this famous regular visitor, the room was left in its original wacky style) for a cocktail and a touch of live jazz.
During the day more casual eateries provide lighter dishes and refreshing drinks, though after the buffet breakfast bonanza you shouldn’t need much more sustenance. Everything you could ever desire for your morning meal is here. I couldn’t resist the classic croissants and orange juice, though if I’d been more adventurous I definitely would have opted for a customised homemade omelette or an extravagant pile of waffles.
Those revisiting their favourite Moroccan hotel will never have expected such a spectacular reincarnation… those arriving for the first time will fall in love with the undeniable magic of the Mamounia masterpiece.
More information and book here.
Many thanks to Visit Morocco and Travellink Morocco.
Cannizaro House Hotel, Wimbledon
Set in the secluded leafy suburbs of south-west London, Cannizaro House offers a characterful location to while away a wintry evening and rest your weary head.
After a confused taxi driver struggled to negotiate his way there, we eventually arrived at this magnificent home away from home. Although the building is grand, the service felt discreet and relaxed, and I felt instantly calmed walking in on a Friday evening. The main reception area has a real buzz, with a grand piano, cocktail bar and real fireplace making the place cosy.
As well as the hotel and restaurant, meeting rooms are available in all shapes, sizes and styles, and are easily adapted to suit the occasion. The staff at the hotel work extremely hard to make your every wish a possibility, often transforming the whole house for weddings and functions.
We were given one of the many recently renovated suites, complete with high tech underfloor heating and luxurious furnishings. Each room is individually decorated with carefully selected furniture and special wallpapers, I particularly loved the retro pink flamingo design. Many guests become attached to a particular room, and can’t bear to stay anywhere else, but after seeing a few, I’d be happy to stay in any of them!
Our room had numerous indulgent features, with an epic four-poster bed and lush dark blue and black décor. A desk is available in one corner for the more studious guests and a big flat screen TV occupies the other corner. I danced around the bathroom in amazement at its size. Fully modernised and filled with soft enveloping bathrobes and Duck Island toiletries, it was an absolute indulgence.
Once settled, we went to satisfy our hunger in the restaurant. This eatery deserves recognition, bringing in customers who inhabit the hotel and visitors from afar. The daring chef prepares intricate British dishes with character and flair. The autumnal menu offers a variety of intriguing flavours. After warm bread and farmhouse butter, we were treated to mini amuse-bouches from the kitchen. I adored my pumpkin soup with crème fraiche, sweet and very smooth with a kick of spice. Following the waitress’s recommendations, for starters we chose Lobster Lasagne which went down very well, my guest mentioned its clever construction and luxurious creamy taste and I went for the Goat’s Cheese Salad. This was nice with an assortment of interesting textures and flavours. However the cheese, with a smoky burnt edge, was rather overpowering, and I would suggest a smaller portion size.
For mains my date was brave selecting the Lamb with Sweetbreads while I opted for the more conservative choice, Duck with Kale. Both were cooked to perfection, tender high quality meat seasoned delicately and paired with cleverly complimenting vegetables.
A pre-dessert lemon mousse was a delight accompanied by our digestif cocktails, Polish Martinis. Cheese and Pistachio pudding completed the meal, prettily presented though lacking the inspiration of the mains.
Rising from an immersive night’s sleep, we were back in the conservatory dining room for a delicious breakfast. If you can leave time to stroll in the picturesque grounds, the Italian and Rose Gardens are especially pretty, and a lovely place to picnic in the warmer months.
This transformed stately home achieves a feat many cannot, incorporating a modern hotel with a fine dining restaurant; the walls play host to ever-changing pieces from local artists.
Cannizaro offers couples a weekend retreat to rest and recuperate, families a place to eat and explore and friends a welcoming hotel to reminiscence and catch up. I’d definitely recommend this hotel and it would be ideal if you are watching the tennis at Wimbledon, but be warned – it’ll cost you more than a few punnets of strawberries!
Visit the Cannizaro website here.