The Maison Arabe: much more than a palace of a thousand and one nights

Today I am taking you to Marrakech to discover The Maison Arabe, a 5-star hotel located right in the heart of the medina that amazes anyone who sets foot there. Just a stay? No, it’s much more than that… I’d rather talk about an experience, a journey in travel that lets you discover the authenticity and the best of the red city, right in the heart of this «house». Yes, this palace really does live up to its name because you really feel at home, and you’re far from the classic, standard-ized Marrakchi palaces that neglect this authentic side and the human dimension.

Let us not forget that if we inhabit a place, the place also inhabits us.

Fabrizio Ruspoli, the creator of this enchanting universe, is a lover of Morocco. In his youth, he often visited his grandmother, an Egyptologist based in Tangier, and he has always been fascinated by Moroccan traditions, culture, heritage and savoir-faire. After numerous projects to restore ancient historical buildings in Italy and Provence, a return to Morocco seemed inevitable… That’s when he discovered La Maison Arabe, this gem of Moroccan culture, which he restored with love and passion.

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But long before it was a hotel, The Maison Arabe It was undoubtedly the best Moroccan restaurant in Marrakech, created by the Larochette-Sebillon sisters in 1940, during the reign of El Glaoui, one of the greatest Moroccan moguls. Famous worldwide, this restaurant hosted illustrious personalities such as Ernest Hemingway, Winston Churchill and Boul de Breteuil who regularly returned to enjoy this delicious cuisine, whose recipes were kept secret by the dadas, the absolutely remarkable Moroccan cooks.

More than just a director, Prince Fabrizio of Rome is considered a father by all his employees whom he knows personally. From gardeners to the room service staff, through the barman and the ladies, he takes pride in emphasizing the human and familial aspect, which is central to his management style. I was touched to learn that he took care of the sick dog of his gardener by taking him himself to the best veterinarian in the city. But again, if an employee at La Maison Arabe becomes pregnant, he will do whatever is necessary to ensure that she gives birth in the best clinics and hospitals in the country. Another notable example: some of the workers who participated in the restoration of the palace 20 years ago now hold high-ranking positions! Fabrizio It involves each of its staff members in the life of La Maison Arabe by valuing them and constantly training them so that they can flourish within this beautiful and great family.

That's it; before even discussing La Maison Arabe in detail, I wanted to set the scene by introducing you to this simply formidable, passionate and fascinating character.

A The Maison Arabe, Here, all that is tranquility, authenticity, well-being and refinement... An oasis in the heart of Marrakech… This large «house» has 26 rooms and suites, each equally beautiful, with unique, refined decor that combines traditional Moroccan style with a contemporary touch. My room was spacious and had a lush private patio; the bedding was very comfortable, and facing this beautiful bathroom was a spacious functional dressing room.

Walking through La Maison Arabe reveals many very pleasant places that invite us to immerse ourselves even more in the atmosphere. We take our time, wander around, and enjoy an exquisite cocktail in this 1930s-style Piano-Jazz bar that would almost bring to mind the sets of the films Casablanca and Out of Africa; we have a mint tea in the shade by the pool or in the large patio; we relax in one of those comfortable armchairs to read a novel by the fireplace… We feel at home and out of time…

In the evening, we had the privilege of enjoying an exquisite dinner at the restaurant «The Three Flavors» in a warm and elegant setting. The Maison Arabe revisits the best of Moroccan cuisine in a «fusion» style, with also French and Asian influences, to the delight of our taste buds! Fabrizio Being a big music enthusiast, we had the pleasure of attending a live performance of traditional music during this grand dinner… Want to try new flavors? Check out these too  »The Restaurant» and its more traditional cuisine. Even if you are just passing through Marrakech without staying in this palace of a thousand and one nights, this gastronomic stop is a must…

As Fabrizio often repeated to us: a country, a region or a city is also discovered through its savoir-faire, its traditions and, among other things, through its gastronomy… Maison Arabe offers to bring home one of the most beautiful travel memories: Moroccan cuisine. Head to the cooking workshops in «Gardens of the Kasbah», Fifteen minutes by shuttle on the road from Ouarzazate to attend cooking classes with the famous chefs. This enchanting place is remarkable, poetic, with its lush garden, its scents, its large avenue lined with olive trees and this majestic Kasbah where you can savor the dishes you have prepared! One can only be literally charmed by this calm and relaxing place that contrasts with the frenetic pace of the city center of Marrakech.

Want to feel well? Come and visit the SPA at La Maison Arabe, At La Maison Arabe, an experienced team will provide you with relaxing treatments tailored to your preferences… For my part, I even managed to fall asleep so much that I felt completely at ease! The atmosphere is relaxing, the light is subdued, and gentle, light music transports you once again beyond time… What a joy! Having tried several spas during my previous trips to Marrakech, La Maison Arabe is by far the best, you can be sure of that!

Having had many conversations with the hotel staff, I can assure you that they know the city inside out and are always happy to recommend the best places to visit and provide the best itineraries to truly experience «real» Marrakech, away from the tourist traps. During these three days of intense travel, we also revisited the Majorelle Garden, In this haven of peace in the heart of the city, we ventured into the most remote alleys of the medina to discover the city’s backrooms with its artisans, antique dealers, and foundouks, accompanied by a private guide recommended by the hotel, and then we went to discover the Soleiman Palace, The former residence of the Pasha, now transformed into a magnificent restaurant where traditional music concerts are regularly organized.

 

During this stay, I was pleasantly surprised by the little touches of attention from the staff. The service is really excellent. A simple example: the first evening, we wanted to go out into town after dinner, to have a digestive walk and wander the dark streets of the medina. Before leaving the hotel, the receptionist insisted on giving us a map of the city and a mobile phone to call the hotel if we got lost! The next morning, I woke up late and didn’t have much time to enjoy breakfast by the pool because of the schedule we had ahead of us. The waiter prepared me a small box with Moroccan crepes, pastries and drinks to take away. Cool right? Of course, this kind of attention is valid for all the hotel’s guests and not just during this stay 😉

A big thank you to our exceptional guests for this unforgettable short stay, and especially to Fabrizio and Nabilla, Not to mention Jeanine and Laurence who organized this wonderful trip.

Thibault.

 Practical information

The Maison Arabe is located in front of the Bab Doukkala Mosque,
5 minutes' walk from Jemaa El Fna Square, the Koutoubia Mosque or the Artisan Center.

The Maison Arabe
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1, Derb Assehbé
Bab Doukkala
Marrakech Medina
Phone: (+212) 5 24 38 70 10
Fax: (+212) 5 24 38 72 21
reservation@lamaisonarabe.com

* invitation