ALBERT OIKNINE : THE MOROCCAN CAFTAN IS BOTH TIMELESS AND RESOLUTELY CONTEMPORARY
A leading figure in Moroccan fashion, Albert Oiknine embodies a generation of designers who have…
From the moment of arrival, Marrakech sets its own rhythm: a subtle balance of elegance and nonchalance, a singular light, and the lingering scents of orange blossom and spices. The city promises a complete escape, a sense of elsewhere within easy reach, where each moment seems suspended between age-old heritage and contemporary effervescence. Sublime in the early morning, as birdsong accompanies the first steps through a medina still at rest, Marrakech is no less captivating when the sun begins to fade, revealing another face altogether. As night falls, the city turns festive and glamorous. From Jemaa el Fna to panoramic rooftops, the nightlife scene displays boldness and creativity. The international jet set mingles with Marrakchis in an atmosphere that is unmistakably cosmopolitan
A former imperial capital, Marrakech unfolds a majestic heritage. The Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Dar El Bacha Museum, El Badi Palace, Bahia Palace, and the Saadian Tombs, with their refined, lace-like stuccowork – tell the story of a learned, powerful and visionary Morocco. To wander through Marrakech’s historic quarters is to move through centuries without ever leaving the present, and to feel the heartbeat of a city that has never ceased to inspire travellers, writers and artists.
Impossible to resist the call of the souks. Vibrant labyrinths, they form the commercial and sensory soul of Marrakech. Colourful spices, time-worn leather, finely worked lanterns and rugs with ancestral patterns: each stall becomes a stage, each artisan a storyteller. One happily loses oneself here, guided by scents, voices and the light filtering through wooden trellises.
Marrakech is also a remarkable laboratory of creation. Time-honoured skills, zellige, tadelakt, pottery and weaving, resonate with contemporary design. Discreet workshops, inspired concept stores and bold young talents illustrate that tradition is never static, but constantly reimagined. This creative energy is found at the heart of the medina, in the city’s newer districts, and around Sidi Ghanem, an industrial area that has become one of the most stimulating epicentres of Marrakech’s creative scene.
Marrakech has elevated the garden to the status of a true art form. Historic gardens, hidden patios and the pools of riads create oases where time slows, carried by the murmur of water and birdsong. The Jardin Majorelle, maintained by the Pierre Bergé–Yves Saint Laurent Foundation, stands as the city’s emblem.
Among Marrakech’s other green havens, the Jardin Secret, a traditional palace-garden in the heart of the medina, reveals the art of Islamic gardening; the Cyber Parc Arsat Moulay Abdeslam shades the entrance to the medina; and Anima Garden, near the Atlas Mountains, blends botany with contemporary art
In Marrakech, a journey is etched as much through images as through enveloping,unforgettable scents. In March, orange blossom perfumes gardens, patios and alleyways during the Zahria, a moussem marked by traditional distillation rituals. This gentle sweetness mingles with notes of jasmine, rose, amber and cedar. Leading figures in luxury perfumery, Serge Lutens and Abderrazzak Benchaâbane draw their inspiration from the Ochre City, where scent is given pride of place at the Mus.e du Parfum, opened in 2016 in the heart of the medina by Abderrazzak Benchaâbane.
In Marrakech, gastronomy is more than a pleasure, it is a story of generosity. From family tables to chefs’ restaurants, cooked salads, slow-simmered tagines and Friday couscous tell a story of terroir and transmission, of recipes passed down through generations.
As evening falls, Jemaa el Fna comes alive: grilled skewers, harira and spiced snails animate the square. Riads and refined dining addresses reinterpret the classics, including tanjia, while rooftops and secret gardens celebrate the moment. Cooking classes, particularly at the Mus.e de l’Art Culinaire, extend the journey, allowing recipes and know-how to travel home in one’s suitcase.
For decades, Marrakech has drawn artists, designers and collectors. Galleries, foundations, artist residencies and museums – including MACAAL, recognised as one of the continent’s leading African art museums -shape a scene in constant effervescence. In February, this creative energy reaches its peak with 1-54, a highly regarded contemporary African art fair, transforming Marrakech into a vibrant, cosmopolitan celebration of art.
Marrakech is multiple, intense and generous. It captivates with its elegance, surprises with its energy, and leaves a lasting impression on those who discover it. A magnetic destination, at once a refuge and a source of inspiration, from which one always returns changed, with a single certainty: an irresistible desire to come back.
In the Ochre City, bahja, that radiant, contagious joy, is not a concept but a way of life; some would even call it a philosophy. Above all, it is a source of inspiration that invites everyone to cultivate shared happiness. It is felt in the warmth of a welcome, the smile of a shopkeeper, the unhurried rhythm of tea shared in the shade of a patio.
Bahja is the city’s unique ability to celebrate the present moment, to blend the gravity of history with the lightness of today, the effervescence of its squares with the serenity of its gardens. A gentle yet vibrant energy that envelops the visitor, offering the rare feeling of being exactly where one belongs.
Royal Mansour Marrakech – A palace composed of private riads, embodying the finest Moroccan craftsmanship.
La Mamounia – A prestigious palace renowned for its sumptuous gardens and timeless elegance
Selman Marrakech – An iconic address celebrated for its Arabian horses and refined art of hospitality
Es Saadi Palace – An arty palace blending contemporary art, gastronomy and chic nightlife.
Park Hyatt Marrakech – A temple of contemporary luxury combining golf, art and architecture, with sweeping views of the Atlas Mountains.
Mandarin Oriental Marrakech – A refined retreat offering private villas and gardens.
El Fenn – An emblematic riad founded by British entrepreneur and art collector Vanessa Branson, known for its vibrant colours, cult rooftop and creative clientele.
La Grande Table Marocaine du Royal Mansour – Exceptional Moroccan gastronomy, served in an absolutely spectacular palace setting.
Dar Yacout – A medina institution, offering an immersive dinner and show experience.
Al Fassia – Authentic recipes and remarkable consistency, a benchmark of Moroccan cuisine.
Le Jardin – A lush oasis for a chic lunch in the heart of the medina.
Nomad – Contemporary Moroccan cuisine with an iconic rooftop.
Le Comptoir Darna – An unmissable address for its cuisine and lounge music.
Dar Moha – The table of chef Moha Fedal, a leading reference in gastronomic Moroccan cuisine, set within an enchanted garden.
Marrakech is linked to Europe’s major cities by regular direct flights operated by Royal Air Maroc. From Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Nantes, Bordeaux and Brussels, travellers can reach the Ochre City with ease.
Thanks to convenient connections via the Casablanca hub, Marrakech is also accessible from across the entire Royal Air Maroc network, as well as that of its partners within the oneworld alliance. The airline also operates direct flights from Marrakech to Tan-Tan, Laâyoune and Dakhla, offering the opportunity to discover the jewels of southern Morocco.
Publication date march 2026
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