Following our review of Palais Namasksar earlier this week, we continue with a review of Royal Mansour in Marrakech.

From the private road entry to the ceremonious gates and the 5 metre tall wall encircling the property, the Royal Mansour is regal in every way.

Commissioned by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI as part of a campaign to double the number of visitors to the city by 2020, no expense has been spared to create a truly magnificent hotel.

There are no standard rooms here, but a collection of 53 three-storey riads ranging from 1 to 4 bedrooms. Each riad also features a sitting room, ground floor patio, open-air entry courtyard and a rooftop terrace with private plunge pool and open fire.

The larger riads have a retractable roof around a central courtyard that closes automatically at the first drops of rainfall, but otherwise stays open to the elements around you.

Service is seamless and unseen, due to an underground network of tunnels and staircases that connect to each riad with staff entering discreetly though concealed doors. Things really do appear without you even noticing.

Lovely touches included personalised stationary in the room with my name embossed on the hotel’s writing paper. The little touches really do make all the difference.

The Royal Mansour’s three restaurants are overseen by Yannick Alléno, the much-lauded chef from Le Meurice in Paris where he holds three Michelin stars.

La Grande Table Française focuses on French haute cuisine, La Grande Table Marocaine does the same for Morocco’s cuisine and lunch can be taken at La Table, which offers more casual all day dining with a gorgeous courtyard next to the pool area.

The most striking detail about the Royal Mansour is not the immaculate grounds of lemon trees and exotic plants but the intricate craftsmanship of the buildings and interiors – over 1,500 Moroccan artisans worked on the stunning mosaic tiling, stuccos and latticework, which is truly mesmerising.

The Spa at Royal Mansour is stunning – you enter through a huge white atrium that feels like a birdcage, and features 2 pools, a hammam, a fitness centre and a number of treatment rooms.

While you think you’ve seen it all at Royal Mansour, when departing the hotel, your private chauffeur drives you to the airport and whisks you through security bypassing all queues. Now that’s my kind of service.

Royal Mansour is an oasis of elegance, grandeur and truly stunning craftsmanship in both the buildings and surrounding foliage.

Some of these photos were taken by me through my new Instagram account – you can follow the photos I take of the hotels I visit here.

If you would like Bon Vivant’s travel experts to plan your next trip to Marrakech with access to special rates, upgrades and VIP privileges, please click here to contact us or click here for further information.

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