Amanjena, Marrakech, Route de Ouarzazate

"Stark Moorish film set hotel set some way from the centre of town"

Amanjena is the first Amanresort on the African continent. The resort’s 32 Pavilions, six, two-storey Maisons and the largest accommodation, the Al-Hamra Maison, are set within an oasis of palms and mature olive trees. Amanjena’s rose-blush walls mirror Marrakech, known in Arabic as Al Medina al-Hamra (the red city). The resort’s design emulates the old Moorish pisé (packed earth) buildings, as well as the Berber villages that cling to the High Atlas Mountains.

Marrakech was brought to radiant life by the brilliance of 11th-century Almoravid irrigation. Water is no less the unifying element of Amanjena, which has as its centrepiece, a large bassin, traditionally a holding pool to collect water for irrigation. Amanjena’s pavilions and maisons extend from the bassin, fanning out in two directions, separated by reflecting pools in a landscape of lawns and vines, emerald-clay roofs, marble fountains and glittering hand-cut, glazed tiles (zellij). The entrance to Amanjena is through hand-crafted double oak doors leading to the central promenade. There are open-air fountains on either side of the entrance and colonnaded walkways. Amanjena (which means “peaceful paradise”) opened in 2000.

Pavilions: The resort's 18 air-conditioned Pavilions include a bedroom-living room and spacious bathroom and dressing area. The living area consists of a high, domed ceiling, a king-size platform bed and an open fireplace. Brass lanterns and Berber carpets discreetly reinforce the Moroccan theme. Furnishings include a daybed with an accompanying table and chair. The suites have a mini-bar, a CD player and a TV/DVD, while green Moroccan marble and a soaking tub in a garden setting highlight the bathroom. Each pavilion has its own private courtyard along with a pillared minzah (gazebo) and a fountain. Pavilions Bassin: Six Pavilions Bassin are located around the central bassin and are of the same design as the Pavilions. Pavilions Piscine: Eight Pavilions Piscine, also of the same design, each have their own 25 sq m heated pool and an extended private garden.

Maisons: Amanjena’s four two-storey Maisons rise seven metres from floor to ceiling in a variation of the Moroccan townhouse, with trines of second-floor windows looking inward, as if to a garden courtyard. The living area, located on the main floor, features an arc-cut fireplace, a zellij wall fountain and a small bathroom. The guest bedroom, with its queen-size bed, full bathroom, double change areas and separate courtyard entrance, is also located on the entry level. Upstairs, the bathroom is defined by marble columns, domed shower, toilet rooms and a pillared, green-marble tub. The bedroom comes with a king-size bed and divan. The Maisons also offer a private 25 sq m swimming pool, a garden and minzah. Maisons Jardin: Two Maisons Jardin have garden courtyards and feature a floor fountain, a minzah, an outdoor fireplace and butler service as well as a pantry.

Al-Hamra Maison: The largest accommodation is the Al-Hamra Maison, which comprises two pavilions, a large and separate living and dining area with an open fire place and its own private butler service. Al-Hamra Maison also enjoys a private 36 sq m heated pool and two minzahs for dining and lounging. Total superficies of Al-Hamra is well over 1,000 sq m.

The Restaurant features a scalloped onyx fountain ringed by olive trees, 80 onyx columns, wood screens and a retractable pyramid skylight. Open only for dinner, it serves a la carte Moroccan home-style dishes as well as a selection of international courses. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the Thai Restaurant, which specialises in Thai cuisine and seating can be indoors or in a garden courtyard. Breakfast, lunch and refreshments are served at the Pool Terrace which also offers dinner during the summer season. The Bar (and fumoir) features smoke-tinted mirrors, old Berber daggers and Arab swords.

Library: This two-storey room is lit by ceiling lanterns and natural light filtering in through the windows cut at varying heights. It has a six-metre ceiling and fireplace. The library also has a balcony that runs around the room’s perimeter. There are books, magazines, newspapers, board games, CDs and DVDs. A variety of drawing materials are placed here for use by guests. Water colours, inks, acrylics, oils and canvases are available.

Swimming Pool: Amanjena’s heated outdoor 33m swimming pool is finished in green tiles and bordered by hibiscus flowers. There is a separate shallow pool.

Health and Beauty Centre: The hammam or steam bath is central to Moroccan life. Unsurprisingly, it has pride of place at the heart of the Amanjena Health and Beauty Centre. Each hammam (one each for men and women) is complemented by showers, washrooms, a change area and glassed-in whirlpool. Treatments at the beauty centre include massages, manicures, pedicures and facials. The Centre also features a timber-floor gym.

Boutiques: There are three boutiques within the cedar-ceiling colonnade that follows the swimming pool. The shops have some exclusive objects including a good selection of Moroccan art and handicrafts, jewellery, brass lanterns, pottery and antiques. All the linens, which include shawls, tablecloths, caftans and djellabas, are hand-woven.

Tennis: Two clay tennis courts, lit for night play, are available with minzahs at either end for drinks and breaks with courtesy Wilson tennis rackets.

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Address:

Route De Ouarzazate, Km 12, Marrakech, Morocco

Hotel facilities:

  • 39 rooms, including 7 suites rooms available
  • Air Conditioning
  • Concierge
  • Dry Cleaning
  • Fitness Facility
  • Golf Course on Premise
  • Handicap Accessible
  • Restaurant
  • Bar
  • Outdoor Pool
  • Room Service
  • Sauna
  • Tennis Courts
  • Valet Parking
  • Spa
  • Villa/Room pools
  • Gym

Photogallery:

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