DAR ZEMORA
Intimate Moorish retreat steeped in the romance of Marrakech
APPROACHING DAR ZEMORA AT NIGHT is a magical introduction to Marrakech. Flanked by olive trees, the driveway is lit by twinkly lanterns. Step inside, and things just keep getting better.
Dar Zemora sits in three acres of gorgeous gardens filled with date palms, lemon trees, jasmine and bougainvillea in the sleek Palmeraie district – the city’s smartest residential area – just 15 minutes from the Medina. From here you can have your fill of hustle-bustle and action at the souks and still be back swinging in your hammock with only birdsong to break the stillness, in next to no time.
Inside the villa, just five gorgeous bedrooms and suites have been created with decadent Arabian Nights in mind. Lanterns abound, throwing light against the surfaces of tadlekt (polished plasterwork) and terracotta brick tiles. Around you, antique and modish Moorish are beguilingly blended to seduce the senses, with exquisite hand painted ceilings and traditional moucharabieh woodwork.
Hit the spot
In Palmeraie, ten minutes from the Medina.
Bedtime
The Perla suite has a fabulous four-poster, fireplace and utterly private terrace. You’ll also love the Zahara suite, with its private garden.
Be savvy
Atmospheric lighting is not conducive to reading War and Peace.
Be smitten
Arabian Nights start here.
Billowing gossamer drapes
Two stylish sitting rooms have sofas to sprawl on, while the Omar Room has a welcoming fire on winter evenings. The artistic and cosy library has leather armchairs, fireplace and beautifully intricate hand-painted ceiling, while the Fan room – an inside/outside loggia hung with swaying gossamer drapes – invites you to recline on sumptuous floor cushions or sip an aperitif before dinner.
Two luxurious suites have fireplaces and private terraces, while the three elegant bedrooms overlooking the gardens are similarly seductive. All have huge marble bathtubs, original artworks, rugged floors and intimate lighting. Little touches abound, whether it’s scented candles, flowers and books or the complimentary afternoon tea.
The vast and swoon-worthy Zahara suite comes with soaring ceilings, cool sofas, Moroccan rugs, a fireplace (lit on cool nights), a four-poster bed and its own garden reached through the French doors. Deep chocolate paintwork and cleverly mixed antique-new furnishings add style and ambience and there’s a huge marble bath. The top-floor Perla suite has a huge private roof terrace where you can laze on day beds in the shade of billowing muslin.
Outstanding home-cooked Moroccan food (you’ll need to book ahead) is served by candlelight in Zar Demora’s dark red dining room or on balmy summer nights on the lantern lit terrace overlooking the lily pond. The quail tagine is a treat and you’ll be pushed to find better food anywhere in town.
Peace reigns in the gardens, where splashes of colour from roses, scent from the flowering jasmine and the rustle of bamboo make sunbathing and dips in the heated outdoor pool a tranquil treat. It’s the perfect place to chill or book a massage. There’s also a traditional hammam on the property where you can steam and soak.
This peaceful and shamelessly romantic haven just a short petit taxi ride from Djemaa el Fna square and all the colour of the Medina (though the best laid sightseeing plans can easily melt away here) is one of Marrakech’s must-keep secrets. Charming and attentive service and some of the friendliest staff in town are the icing on the cake.
Dar Zemora was reviewed by Room for Romance
Dar Zemora sits in three acres of gorgeous gardens filled with date palms, lemon trees, jasmine and bougainvillea in the sleek Palmeraie district – the city’s smartest residential area – just 15 minutes from the Medina. From here you can have your fill of hustle-bustle and action at the souks and still be back swinging in your hammock with only birdsong to break the stillness, in next to no time.
Inside the villa, just five gorgeous bedrooms and suites have been created with decadent Arabian Nights in mind. Lanterns abound, throwing light against the surfaces of tadlekt (polished plasterwork) and terracotta brick tiles. Around you, antique and modish Moorish are beguilingly blended to seduce the senses, with exquisite hand painted ceilings and traditional moucharabieh woodwork.
Hit the spot
In Palmeraie, ten minutes from the Medina.
Bedtime
The Perla suite has a fabulous four-poster, fireplace and utterly private terrace. You’ll also love the Zahara suite, with its private garden.
Be savvy
Atmospheric lighting is not conducive to reading War and Peace.
Be smitten
Arabian Nights start here.
Billowing gossamer drapes
Two stylish sitting rooms have sofas to sprawl on, while the Omar Room has a welcoming fire on winter evenings. The artistic and cosy library has leather armchairs, fireplace and beautifully intricate hand-painted ceiling, while the Fan room – an inside/outside loggia hung with swaying gossamer drapes – invites you to recline on sumptuous floor cushions or sip an aperitif before dinner.
Two luxurious suites have fireplaces and private terraces, while the three elegant bedrooms overlooking the gardens are similarly seductive. All have huge marble bathtubs, original artworks, rugged floors and intimate lighting. Little touches abound, whether it’s scented candles, flowers and books or the complimentary afternoon tea.
The vast and swoon-worthy Zahara suite comes with soaring ceilings, cool sofas, Moroccan rugs, a fireplace (lit on cool nights), a four-poster bed and its own garden reached through the French doors. Deep chocolate paintwork and cleverly mixed antique-new furnishings add style and ambience and there’s a huge marble bath. The top-floor Perla suite has a huge private roof terrace where you can laze on day beds in the shade of billowing muslin.
Outstanding home-cooked Moroccan food (you’ll need to book ahead) is served by candlelight in Zar Demora’s dark red dining room or on balmy summer nights on the lantern lit terrace overlooking the lily pond. The quail tagine is a treat and you’ll be pushed to find better food anywhere in town.
Peace reigns in the gardens, where splashes of colour from roses, scent from the flowering jasmine and the rustle of bamboo make sunbathing and dips in the heated outdoor pool a tranquil treat. It’s the perfect place to chill or book a massage. There’s also a traditional hammam on the property where you can steam and soak.
This peaceful and shamelessly romantic haven just a short petit taxi ride from Djemaa el Fna square and all the colour of the Medina (though the best laid sightseeing plans can easily melt away here) is one of Marrakech’s must-keep secrets. Charming and attentive service and some of the friendliest staff in town are the icing on the cake.
Dar Zemora was reviewed by Room for Romance
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
Dining in
A curved archway leads into the candlelit dining room, with its burnt-orange walls, velvet cushions, pristine white linen and bold artworks. The cooking here is just as intoxicating as the setting: three nights a week it’s traditional Moroccan (dinner is bookable in advance), with classics such as chicken pastilla or the chef’s sublime quail tagine. On other nights you can tuck into a six-course menu with more French and European flavours.
Dining moves out onto the terrace during summer months, lit by lanterns and the moon dancing off the lily pond. You can order light bites at any time, poolside or in your room.
Dining out
Foodies rate Le Tobsil – set in a beautiful old riad – as arguably the best restaurant in Marrakech. French-owned Yacout and pricier Dar Marjana – set in a small palace – are also top local favourites. Marrakech has restaurants to suit every taste, especially French.
Where?
Dar Zemora
What’s cooking?
A six-course tasting menu and traditional Moroccan dinners, depending on the day of the week.
Dress the part
Be as chilled as you like.
Top table?
All the dining areas are invitingly intimate – as is the terrace.
See & Do
The sights, sounds and spice-laden smells of the city’s crowded souks are unmissable. You’ll probably lose your way in the jostling labyrinth of alleys, but that’s part of the fun. You’ll find clusters of metal workers, spice merchants and carpet weavers, not to mention tailors and wool dyers. Towering over the scene is the tall Koutoubia minaret.
All the main sights are easily walkable from Djemma el Fna square, and lovebirds should make time for a stroll through leafy Menara Gardens or tranquil Majorelle Gardens, where Yves Saint Laurent keeps a house.
See the Medina from above with a walk along the medieval ramparts and 12 miles of city walls, still standing after 700 years. You might not be after a day exploring this full-on city, so it’s probably your cue to head back to base for a blissful hamman. Great out-of-town excursions include a 4WD day out in the rugged Atlas Mountains or a trip to the coastal town of Essaouira.
Shop
Hone your bargaining skills before a foray into the souks, where you can pick up anything from jewellery and silken slippers to carpets and love potions. You can probably even trade your lover for a camel or two.
Spa
Dar Zemora has a wonderfully sensual wellness suite with everything you need to wind down be pampered. Melt in the traditional hammam, try a rose-oil massage, or book a facial or manicure.
After dark
Marrakech was made for late-night partying and the night club scene (dance your Moroccan slippers off at Pasha nightclub) is pretty lively. There’s no shortage of atmospheric places for a cocktail or two, though you can’t beat the free nightly entertainment in around the main square, Djemma el Fna. Sip mint tea in one of the cafes and watch the snake charmers, fire jugglers, singers and story tellers.
Dates
January
Marathon de Marrakech
Runners dash to the Palmeraie district and back from Djemma el Fna square.
July
Marrakech Popular Arts Festival takes to the streets with free folk dancing, Berber music and theatre. Get ready to rock the kasbah.
December
The Marrakech Film Festival showcases latest Arab and African releases, not to mention outdoor Bollywood screenings.
A curved archway leads into the candlelit dining room, with its burnt-orange walls, velvet cushions, pristine white linen and bold artworks. The cooking here is just as intoxicating as the setting: three nights a week it’s traditional Moroccan (dinner is bookable in advance), with classics such as chicken pastilla or the chef’s sublime quail tagine. On other nights you can tuck into a six-course menu with more French and European flavours.
Dining moves out onto the terrace during summer months, lit by lanterns and the moon dancing off the lily pond. You can order light bites at any time, poolside or in your room.
Dining out
Foodies rate Le Tobsil – set in a beautiful old riad – as arguably the best restaurant in Marrakech. French-owned Yacout and pricier Dar Marjana – set in a small palace – are also top local favourites. Marrakech has restaurants to suit every taste, especially French.
Where?
Dar Zemora
What’s cooking?
A six-course tasting menu and traditional Moroccan dinners, depending on the day of the week.
Dress the part
Be as chilled as you like.
Top table?
All the dining areas are invitingly intimate – as is the terrace.
See & Do
The sights, sounds and spice-laden smells of the city’s crowded souks are unmissable. You’ll probably lose your way in the jostling labyrinth of alleys, but that’s part of the fun. You’ll find clusters of metal workers, spice merchants and carpet weavers, not to mention tailors and wool dyers. Towering over the scene is the tall Koutoubia minaret.
All the main sights are easily walkable from Djemma el Fna square, and lovebirds should make time for a stroll through leafy Menara Gardens or tranquil Majorelle Gardens, where Yves Saint Laurent keeps a house.
See the Medina from above with a walk along the medieval ramparts and 12 miles of city walls, still standing after 700 years. You might not be after a day exploring this full-on city, so it’s probably your cue to head back to base for a blissful hamman. Great out-of-town excursions include a 4WD day out in the rugged Atlas Mountains or a trip to the coastal town of Essaouira.
Shop
Hone your bargaining skills before a foray into the souks, where you can pick up anything from jewellery and silken slippers to carpets and love potions. You can probably even trade your lover for a camel or two.
Spa
Dar Zemora has a wonderfully sensual wellness suite with everything you need to wind down be pampered. Melt in the traditional hammam, try a rose-oil massage, or book a facial or manicure.
After dark
Marrakech was made for late-night partying and the night club scene (dance your Moroccan slippers off at Pasha nightclub) is pretty lively. There’s no shortage of atmospheric places for a cocktail or two, though you can’t beat the free nightly entertainment in around the main square, Djemma el Fna. Sip mint tea in one of the cafes and watch the snake charmers, fire jugglers, singers and story tellers.
Dates
January
Marathon de Marrakech
Runners dash to the Palmeraie district and back from Djemma el Fna square.
July
Marrakech Popular Arts Festival takes to the streets with free folk dancing, Berber music and theatre. Get ready to rock the kasbah.
December
The Marrakech Film Festival showcases latest Arab and African releases, not to mention outdoor Bollywood screenings.
GETTING THERE
Location
Rue El Aandalib, Palmeraie, Marrakech
Parking
There is free guest parking – but don’t hire a car here unless you are heading out of town.
Trains
Marrakech station – 1km
Taxis
Around 150 Dirhams (GBP 10) from the city centre. Ask the hotel to meet you at the airport and organise your transfers. Petits taxis operate within the city limits or – for journeys out of town – grands taxis are licensed to travel outside. It's wise to agree the fare before your journey.
Airport
Marrakech Menara – 5km
Rooms and suites
Three rooms and three suites
Special features
Bedrooms have giant marble bathtubs for double soaking, while suites each have fireplaces and a large terrace for soaking up the rays. You won’t find a TV, but you can borrow a DVD player from reception.
Also…
There’s a heated outdoor pool and croquet lawn, a library and plenty of private corners for stretching out.
ESSENTIAL INFO
Rates guide
GBP 145-285
Open/closed
Closed 31 July – 23 August
Check-in
As early as occupancy allows.
Check-out
Midday
Minimum night stay?
Three nights over Easter, five over Christmas.
Breakfast
The full Zemora breakfast including Moroccan pancakes and homemade bread is served until… everybody has had some. No need to stir from beneath the covers early here.
Room service
Available morning and evening
Children
Welcome – though it’s not really a place for under 10s.
Pets
No
Air conditioning
Yes – all rooms
Languages
English, French and Arabic
Wedding license?
No, but receptions can be held for up to 30 people
Eco conscience
The pool is heated by solar panels and water comes from a well.
Your contact
Paul and Lindsay Kentish – owners
Location
Rue El Aandalib, Palmeraie, Marrakech
Parking
There is free guest parking – but don’t hire a car here unless you are heading out of town.
Trains
Marrakech station – 1km
Taxis
Around 150 Dirhams (GBP 10) from the city centre. Ask the hotel to meet you at the airport and organise your transfers. Petits taxis operate within the city limits or – for journeys out of town – grands taxis are licensed to travel outside. It's wise to agree the fare before your journey.
Airport
Marrakech Menara – 5km
Rooms and suites
Three rooms and three suites
Special features
Bedrooms have giant marble bathtubs for double soaking, while suites each have fireplaces and a large terrace for soaking up the rays. You won’t find a TV, but you can borrow a DVD player from reception.
Also…
There’s a heated outdoor pool and croquet lawn, a library and plenty of private corners for stretching out.
ESSENTIAL INFO
Rates guide
GBP 145-285
Open/closed
Closed 31 July – 23 August
Check-in
As early as occupancy allows.
Check-out
Midday
Minimum night stay?
Three nights over Easter, five over Christmas.
Breakfast
The full Zemora breakfast including Moroccan pancakes and homemade bread is served until… everybody has had some. No need to stir from beneath the covers early here.
Room service
Available morning and evening
Children
Welcome – though it’s not really a place for under 10s.
Pets
No
Air conditioning
Yes – all rooms
Languages
English, French and Arabic
Wedding license?
No, but receptions can be held for up to 30 people
Eco conscience
The pool is heated by solar panels and water comes from a well.
Your contact
Paul and Lindsay Kentish – owners
