Kasbah Bab Ourika

We had a lovely light lunch here after a morning trip to the Anima Garden (also well worth a visit). Bab Ourika nestles in the foothills of the Atlas mountains and is about an hours drive from Marrakech. The last three kilometres are red and bumpy dirt tracks that wind their way into the hills, but when you do finally arrive it is like stepping into another world (same feeling we had when we arrived at Dar Zemora). The setting is gorgeous and the views are outstanding.

This place is a kind of paradise. We stayed one night, as we’d waited too late to book for a multi-night stay and took what we could get for two adults and two girls, aged 8 and 6. We had a larger room in the garden, which had room for two twin beds and a King, that turned out to open to a small pool surrounded by a grassy area, all of which shared a million dollar view. Rooms in this part of the hotel were in a separate building with comfortable common spaces (places to sit and gather, including multiple fire places, and our breakfast (included in the room rate) was a buffet in one of those spaces, and was a terrific meal with a spread of great choices. I became a big fan of the square, laminated Moroccan pancakes, but also enjoyed the smoked salmon, milk, cereal, fruits and coffee. While we were there the service was consistently thoughtful and excellent. Food was diverse, wonderful (lunch on the patio under an arbor of live flowering vines, dinner in the main part of the hotel) and the ethos of the place, with an emphasis on sustainability and fresh organic food, helped emphasize the notion that this was a place to rest, recharge and to leave more well than when one arrived. We will gladly return in the future to stay again, this time for much longer.

What happened? The food (lunch) was terrible. And way to expensive. It used to be nice to go there. But they changed the menu. For the worse. Small portions. Poor taste and badly served. A disappointment. And the service wasn’t as good as it used to be. Sad. However. Great location. Beautiful view. And amazing garden.

Kasbah Bab Ourika is highly reviewed, and it is easy to see why upon first stepping inside. From a beautiful building with beautiful views, to easy and seamless experiences and airport transfers, to amazing food (get the chicken tagine - it's the best one), this place truly has it all. And this is coming from someone whose room flooded with some (much needed) heavy rains while there. The staff did all they could while we were there, but there wasn't much they could do besides provide fresh towels - none of our luggage was getting damaged, but all of the windows in our room with panoramic views were leaking (room 15). Upon departure, we emailed them with photos and videos to help them understand the extent of the issue, and they righted the situation financially. Honestly, I will be returning. I understand the earthquake created issues, and they are still working through some fixes. And I didn't even mention the best part yet... Our guided trek, during Ramadan mind you (with dry fasting), was outstanding. We were fast, so we added on a lot of mileage and views within an even amount of time. And our guide - I believe his name was Hassan, but I wish I wasn't so bad with names - was even better the next day as we visited Anou weaving collective Tizi Nougdal with him as our translator and had the travel experience of a lifetime. That sounds hyperbolic, but I mean it. We were invited into rug weavers' homes, taught how to weave a rug for an hour (and even made a row on a rug they will sell), served tea and amazing cake during Ramadan, and then had an incredible, stress free, no negotiation needed rug buying experience where all money went straight to the women making the beautiful rugs. I cannot recommend this experience more if you are looking for rugs, especially after experiencing the hell of liars and thieves in the Marrakech markets where middleman salespeople try to steal from you and the women actually making the product. We bought rugs for 10% of the price of rugs in Marrakech markets (pre-negotiation) straight from the weavers and the women could not have been happier and more friendly. Do yourself a favor and do this experience while you are staying at Kasbah Bab Ourika!

A wonderfully tranquil haven in a beautiful setting. The gardens are a delight with multiple quiet little areas to relax in. Food was excellent as was the local wine. The staff are a massive asset, friendly and endlessly helpful. We will be back.

Utterly stunning in every way! Lovely bedrooms, beautiful Hotel, gardens and spa. Amazing location in the Atlas Mountains, amazing views. Great food. Lovely dining experience all round. Nothing too much trouble. Great service and welcome. Wonderful guests too!

There are many aspects of this hotel that are great. The setting and views are stunning and the grounds are designed and maintained beautifully to make the most of this and create an idyllic retreat. The staff were also very good, helpful and friendly. Some of the main rooms in the hotel, e.g the restaurant area, are nicely done, including some lovely fires which were great in the evenings. Other communal rooms were a bit strange in their decor and need a major facelift. The big problem with the hotel for us was the quality of our room, which was poor for a hotel of this level. The furniture was bashed, nothing really fitted, dated soft furnishings (being kind), not enough or easily located sockets and the paint work needs redoing. I could go on. The food was also very hit and miss. The lunch menu needs a rethink as they could do with some lighter options. We had a couple of lovely evening meals but others were bland with over cooked vegetables.

This gorgeous hotel/retreat was the best experience of our entire holiday. We would have stayed a week but only had two days. On arrival we were greeted warmly, given a tour of the place and shown to our classic room upstairs within the hotel. It was such a beautiful large room with balcony and views over the mountain, the bathroom was gigantic with bath and shower and the most amazing organic toiletries. There are many other rooms outside the hotel and dotted through the gardens. We were actually glad to be in the hotel as it rained when we were there and we didnt have to get wet! Even lovelier and relaxing in the rain too. The entire place is huge with absolutely gorgeous gardens to roam in with a pool, and many beautiful rooms to relax in, all with roaring fires for winter as it can get cold. They also have yoga mats for the enthusiast. The bar is fully stocked and the separate restaurant is lovely, overlooking the courtyard. The food was spectacular, breakfast was included, lunch was held outside subject to weather, and dinner was a little more dressy, so take something nice with you. There are lots of hikes in the area and a waterfall to see. Up the mountain further are riverside restaurants with good Moroccan food and some shops that are cheaper than in the city. Kasbah Bab Ourika is a very special place and if you have time dont miss a visit here. We will definitely be back, for longer next time!

After 3 days in Marrakesh this same length break at the Ourika was a matching pleasure and restorative retreat. Our apartment, with views and close to the swimming pool was spacious, spotlessly clean and well furnished. The staff were all welcoming and very helpful, and the food was excellent. We enjoyed a half day trip out with a driver to visit the local Berber villages, carpet and pottery workshops, coming away inevitably with reasonably priced gifts and souvenirs. Thank you to all at Kasbah Bab Ourika, which we thoroughly recommend!