End-of-year festivities in Marrakech: the Select Guide for an unforgettable stay in palaces, starlit rooftops and magical experiences

Spend Christmas or New Year’s Eve in Marrakech and experience the magic of the festive season in a whole new way. Only a few hours from Paris, Marrakech offers a complete change of scenery: illuminated palm trees, Berber lanterns, the warmth of winter and oriental refinement offer an elegant alternative to traditional Christmas. With its dream hotels, enchanting dinners and exclusive experiences, Marrakech is the destination of choice for celebrating the holidays in style.

Chic and magical experiences in Marrakech

• Sunrise hot-air balloon flight: At dawn, embark on a silent flight over the red lands and peaks of the Atlas Mountains. A breathtaking experience, to be savored before a breakfast served in the desert, the kind of memory you won’t forget.
• Private excursion to the desert or mountains: In a 4×4 or on the back of a camel, get away from the hustle and bustle of the city for a moment of serenity. The day ends with dinner under the stars, served in a traditional Berber tent in a hushed, intimate atmosphere.
• Relaxation at the Royal Mansour Spa: A true haven of peace, this exceptional spa blends spectacular architecture with high-level Oriental rituals. Marble Hammam, argan oil massage, expert treatments: everything is designed to offer total relaxation, in a setting that’s both luxurious and soothing.
• Stylish shopping and star-studded dining: Marrakech is full of inspired boutiques. Among the most popular: Different Marrakech, L’Mida or the design boutique at Riad El Fennideal for finding ceramics, textiles or decorative objects. In the evening, prolong the elegance with dinner at La Grande Table Marocaine at the Royal Mansour.
• Attend a traditional Fantasia followed by a private dinner: Morocco’s emblematic equestrian show, the Fantasia combines costumed riders, black powder rifles and meticulous choreography. It often ends with a dinner in a tent, accompanied by Gnawa musicians. A rare moment of art, tradition and hospitality.
• Visit to the Jardin Majorelle and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum A lush refuge in the heart of the city, this legendary garden invites contemplation. The neighboring museum traces the designer’s relationship with Marrakech in a refined, elegant and uncluttered setting. An aesthetic and cultural stopover not to be missed.

Our hotels for an exceptional stay

Mandarin Oriental Marrakech

Just ten minutes from the medina, the Mandarin Oriental stretches over 20 hectares of landscaped gardens, dotted with ponds, century-old olive trees and blooming roses. The estate features private villas with swimming pools, outdoor lounges, private hammams and absolute privacy. The architecture blends sleek modernity with refined oriental touches. On the wellness front, the spa is one of the most renowned in the country, offering a range of oriental-inspired holistic treatments. At Christmas, the hotel is decked out in a thousand lights and offers tailor-made experiences. A sophisticated oasis where luxury, serenity and hospitality come together in a dream setting.

Park Hyatt Marrakech

This contemporary jewel at the gateway to the medina embodies understated luxury to perfection. Surrounded by breathtaking scenery, the Park Hyatt Marrakech is set in the heart of a wooded estate, with olive groves, citrus gardens and majestic views of the Atlas Mountains. The architecture is inspired by traditional kasbahs, revisited with modern elegance. The contemporary rooms, spacious and uncluttered, offer absolute comfort, noble materials and serenity. The TFAYA restaurant offers subtle Moroccan cuisine, modernized with talent. Spa, swimming pool, art galleries, attentive service: everything here is designed to soothe. An ideal address for an elegant, soothing end-of-year break in the heart of nature. Find out more about this exceptional place…

La Villa des Orangers

This exceptional riad, a member of Relais & Châteaux, lies just a stone’s throw from Jemaa el-Fna square. Behind its ochre walls, you’ll discover a hushed world of shaded patios, mosaic fountains and sumptuous rooms with handcrafted furnishings. Theatmosphere is calm and intimate, with discreet, attentive service. At Villa des Orangers, you can enjoy refined Mediterranean cuisine in elegant surroundings, by the pool or in the courtyard. The spa, inspired by Moroccan rituals, completes the experience. For those looking for a Christmas break that combines local tradition with five-star comfort, this address is a real gem.

Le Naoura: a luxury oasis a stone’s throw from the medina

In the heart of Marrakech, just a few minutes from Jemâa el-Fna square, Le Naoura Barrière embodies warm, discreet luxury. In a decor designed by Pascal Desprez, combining Moroccan influences and French elegance, this 5-star hotel seduces with its hushed atmosphere, luminous patios and heated swimming pool in absolute calm. The 78 rooms, 7 suites and 26 private ryads, some with swimming pools, offer generous volumes and sublime views of the Koutoubia or the gardens. The 24-hour butler service and expert treatments at the Spa Diane Barrière ensure a tailor-made wellness experience. In terms of gastronomy, Le Fouquet’s Marrakech brilliantly blends Moroccan tradition with a brasserie spirit, under the leadership of talented Chef Hamza Afquir. A stay at Le Naoura is a refined interlude in the heart of the red city, where the art of living is contemporary, intimate and profoundly Moroccan.

Not-to-be-missed restaurants

Le Marocain – La Mamounia

In a sublime pavilion surrounded by gardens, Le Marocain is an iconic restaurant, an absolute benchmark for Moroccan gastronomy. The décor is sumptuous: colorful zelliges, sculpted ceilings, soft lighting. The menu pays tribute to the great classics: lamb tajine with prunes, pigeon pastilla, couscous with seven vegetables, all prepared with rare precision and elegance. The service is impeccable, the atmosphere hushed, and the selection of wines and teas perfect. During the festive season, the experience becomes even more magical, with evenings featuring traditional musicians. A place of memory and pleasure, not to be missed.

La Grande Table Marocaine – Royal Mansour

Considered to beone of Morocco’s finest restaurants, this Royal Mansour raises Moroccan cuisine to the level of gastronomic art. The décor, with its precious woodwork and glittering lanterns, invites you on a sensory voyage. In the kitchen, respect for tradition blends with a quest for excellence: subtle versions of harira, airy briouates, tajines with rare spices and delicate pastries. The service is orchestrated like a silent ballet. For a Christmas or New Year’s dinner, it’s a destination of choice, as much for its setting as for the emotion it brings to the plate.

Ling Ling by Hakkasan – Mandarin Oriental Marrakech

In an ultra-contemporary and sensual setting, Ling Ling offers refined Asian cuisine, with Cantonese influences revisited in a modern version. Dishes to share, dim sum, house cocktails… the experience is as visual as it is tasty. The ambience increases in intensity as the evening progresses: subdued lighting, carefully selected playlist, smooth service. Perfect for a chic New Year’s Eve party or a dinner among aesthetes of taste. The restaurant attracts a discerning, trendy international clientele, without ever losing its spirit of sophistication.

Nomad

More casual but resolutely chic, Nomad has become a classic for lovers of contemporary Moroccan cuisine. Situated in the heart of the medina, on a terrace overlooking the rooftops, the place seduces with its fresh and inventive menu: zaalouk twist, vegetal kefta, revisited desserts. The service is attentive, the atmosphere sunny, the colors cheerful. It’s the perfect address for a lunch break between two visits, or for an elegant but unpretentious dinner.

With its exclusive experiences, exceptional accommodations and pleasures for the senses, the winter version of Marrakech promises a Christmas of elegance and change of scenery. In the red city, the festive season is lived differently, with light, refinement, warmth and the art of entertaining.