Key to Paradise

An ornate arch frames a salon where carved wood, mosaic panels, and layered artworks converge, turning the room into a living gallery Step through the

- WORDS VARUNI MOHAN

Step through the carved cedarwood doors of La Mamounia and you feel less like a guest checking into a hotel and more like a character entering a story. For nearly a century, this Marrakech landmark has balanced its reputation as one of the world's most glamorous addresses with the soul of a Moroccan palace. The effect is immediate with Zellige mosaics glinting in the light, arabesque ceilings overhead, and each corridor breathing the rhythm of the city outside while offering a world apart within.

The setting is as rich as its interiors. La Mamounia unfolds across 17 acres of gardens once gifted to Prince Al Mamoun in the 18th century. Roses, orange blossoms, olive trees, and palms frame pathways where Winston Churchill once painted, calling this “the most lovely spot in the whole world.” That sense of stillness endures, punctuated by fountains and the sound of birdsong, reminding visitors that Marrakech has always been a city of gardens as much as souks and squares.