Simon Wittenberg travels to Morocco to enjoy the luxurious hospitality of the first Nobu Hotel in Africa.
The first Nobu Hotel made its debut just over a decade ago, in 2013, within the Caesars Palace complex in the glitzy city of Las Vegas, and the luxury hotel chain has since expanded to more than 30 other locations across the globe.
Another property in New Cairo’s Easttown District is set to join this exclusive club early next year as the hotelier makes its first appearance in Egypt, with the 40th addition to the collection expected to be unveiled in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City in 2026.
The opening of a Nobu Hotel in Morocco in January 2023 was significant, as it marked the hotelier’s formal entry into the African market. The chosen location was Marrakech, Morocco’s fourth-largest city, a sprawling urban conurbation which sits inland from the Atlantic coastline.
Home to a population of around one million people, this popular destination draws in thousands of tourists every year thanks to a rich melting pot of culture, architecture and history, equating to an ideal location for the group’s first hotel venture on this continent.
Rather than building from the ground up, the existing Pearl Hotel in the leafy Hivernage district – one of the more affluent and luxurious areas of the “Red City”, was chosen for the new Nobu in 2020. What was different about The Pearl is that it is circular in shape, a clever design penned by the renowned French architect Jacques Garcia, and which became a physical reality in 2012.
Following an extensive three-year refurbishment programme, Nobu Hotel Marrakech was born as a contemporary five-star destination. Today, it is characterised by an impressive central floor-to-ceiling atrium with a towering Bonsai tree (lead image) and an eye-catching bubble-like metallic frontage that acts as pseudo-balconies in front of the signature Moroccan deep red façade.
This luxury property’s brilliant location in the fashionable “Golden Triangle” means that it is only a 15-minute drive away from Marrakesh Menara International Airport, and a short meander from the lively souks of the medina, the famed central Jemaa el-Fnaa square, and another big attraction – the beautiful Koutoubia Mosque, thereby making this hotel a popular choice amongst guests travelling from across the globe.
Sleeping and Dreaming
There are three floors which house the accommodation that takes the form of 71 suites, starting with the 46 square-metre Junior Suites, which we stayed in (starting from around £400 per night).
The suite categories peak with the impressive 220-square metre, top-floor Nobu Suite with two bathrooms and bedrooms and its own elongated balcony, priced in the region of £1,655 per night, which is very good value by European standards.
What is also important to note here is that over half of the rooms at Nobu Hotel Marrakech are interconnected, meaning many are suitable for travelling families.
Our tranquil and spotless Junior Suite on the first floor was well-appointed, with a hallway featuring ornate wooden panelling concealing plenty of storage and hanging space, a small ensuite bathroom that offered a “bijou” bath area and rain shower, and a separate toilet and bidet behind a frosted divide.
At the heart of the room was an uber-comfortable king bed, dressed in crisp white linen and accessories boasting grey and red tones, overlooked by a sizeable Japanese-style artwork, highlighting the fusion of Moroccan and Japanese influence, thanks to the cuisine that Nobu restaurants are ultimately renowned for, and which saw the subsequent emergence of the hotel brand.
Dining and Entertaining
What Nobu Hotel Marrakech does very well is its gastronomy and hospitality, and so much so that it is one of the hottest addresses in town for both visitors and locals for dining and a spot to dance the night away.
The pinnacle of entertainment is undoubtedly the rooftop garden, which offers 360-degree panoramic views of the surrounding cityscape, that counts the 77-metre-high minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque in the immediate vicinity, whilst the vista equally stretches as far afield as the Atlas Mountains in the distance when the weather permits.
It’s a haven of relaxation by day, with sunbathers reclined on the comfy cabanas lined with Nobu-branded towels that look out onto the narrow circular pool, whilst guests can also relax in one of the hanging rattan egg chairs or grab a bite to eat and sip on a cocktail or two (costing up to around £15 per beverage), which is exactly what we did.
The cuisine here can be described as a Mediterranean–Japanese fusion, which sees dishes span homemade dim sum to shellfish, such as fresh lobster.
For lunch, we sampled a tasty sea bass filet with a lovely tangy citrus jus and a delicious Marrakesh take on a salade niçoise (£14).
As day turns to night, the rooftop becomes a veritable hub of entertainment with a live DJ on the decks until the early hours, delivering a completely contrasting and uplifting party vibe after the sun sets.
With the capacity to accommodate up to 350 people at a time, it is undoubtedly one of the more popular areas of this property – packed to the rafters on the evenings that we visited and where reservations are a must for both residents and visitors alike.
Fire eaters, belly dancers, and tribal African-type acts serenade guests with flamboyant costumes, with Friday appearing to have one of the most action-packed schedules, going by what we experienced.
With nighttime temperatures on the cool side, visitors are kept warm by fire heaters, which is a welcomed and cosy addition. With excellent service provided by our hosts from start to finish, it must be said that our evening meals were a veritable gastronomic feast, and once again followed the aforementioned genre of cuisine, with the evident Southern Europe twist.
Accompanied by a glass of Moroccan grey wine, which sits between a white and a rosé to provide an idea of what to expect, we sampled Nobu’s signature Tuna Tataki (£14) – lightly seared pieces of melt-in-the-mouth fish, as well as an exquisitely-prepared sea bream fillet with ratatouille (£24), a vegetable tagine with couscous, and an array of light salads.
Having a sweet tooth, I also decided on the silky smooth and warm chocolate fondant with a refreshingly cool Guanaja chocolate ice cream (£9.50), as well as a vanilla mille-feuille (£9.50), which was heavenly.
Complementing the rooftop as a primary food and drink destination, the ground floor of Nobu Hotel Marrakech is home to the Nobu Restaurant and Bar, which is situated next to the second of three swimming pools at this luxurious property.
The bar is the perfect opportunity to indulge in the chef’s signature Nobu bar snacks, and to sip on a spirit or the locally brewed premium Casablanca beer, which offers a refreshing accompaniment to a warm evening.
With Nobu famed for its exemplary standard of Japanese cuisine, and an eatery on which the whole ethos of the hotel division is effectively based, a large team of sushi chefs in the fully open kitchen are the hub of this restaurant, and the gastronomy does not disappoint. Sitting in the private alcove offers an element of seclusion from what is a busy eatery, highlighting its popularity.
The dinner and sushi menus are extensive, giving plenty of choice, and we opened our evening meal with edamame beans, followed by Nobu’s signature Black Cod and Tuna Tataki, with creamy cheesecake, raspberry jelly and wasabi sorbet to finish – dishes which were all prepared to perfection. Other options at the Nobu Restaurant include Wagyu beef, grilled sole, and King Crab.
In the morning, breakfast is served in the Galerie restaurant, just off the main lobby area. This is an all-day dining eatery, serving cuisine with mediterranean flavours. The superb buffet to kick-start the day, features a dedicated station for freshly-made omelettes, complemented by a range of cereals, bread, platters of cold meats, cheeses, pastries and bowls of locally produced olives.
“Spa-ring” and Relaxing
Nobu Hotel Marrakech is blessed with a hidden oasis of relaxation and pampering on the lower floor of this magnificent property, courtesy of the 2,000-square-metre Pearl Spa and Wellness Centre.
It is here that you will find the third and largest swimming pool at an impressive 25 metres in length, 14 different treatment rooms, and an impressive menu of treatments, spanning massages to facials, which use international and locally sourced organic products.
In summary…
Nobu Hotel Marrakech is a beacon of exceptional hospitality that the Nobu brand ultimately stands for. It is a veritable hub of luxury and entertainment at the heart of the Red City, making this property the perfect location to explore the many attractions that Marrakesh has to offer or to simply sit back and relax and enjoy the many amenities, as well as the sunshine and warm temperatures that graces this North African country.
With close to two years under its belt, Nobu Hotel Marrakech sets the ideal blueprint for any future expansion in Africa and is an example of how to do things well and how to create experiences that are memorable and leave guests wanting to return time and time again.
Sightseeing in Marrakesh
We enjoyed the following key attractions during our visit to Marrakesh, and they are a great way to explore the highlights of the Red City and beyond…
Horse and Carriage Ride
It is a common sight in Marrakesh for horses and carriages to intermingle with the traffic, providing visitors with a more authentic and al fresco view of some of the historic sites of the city, including the royal palace, the Jewish quarter, the Koutoubia Mosque, and the Jemaa el-Fnaa square. Expect to pay around £15 for up to four people for an hour’s ride after a spot of haggling.
Guided Tour of the Medina
A guided tour of the labyrinth of narrow streets lined with small individual stores is well worth a whirl, as it delivers a fascinating glimpse into the history and numerous trades that can be seen in the medina and a chance to learn more about the nooks and crannies that would be very easy to miss without a trained eye.
Seeing first-hand the crafting of leather goods, lamps, metal objects and textiles is fascinating, as well as the hundreds of people that contribute day-to-day to this area’s rich tapestry.
The White Camel Luxury Camp
For those wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, the undulating and rocky Agafay desert is around an hour and a half away from Marrakesh by car. This is the perfect location to do quad biking and camel rides, and what better place to enjoy this than the very luxurious White Camel Luxury Camp?
It houses a series of beautifully appointed lodges with private pools, and guests can witness a spectacular sunset over the desert with a glass of chilled glass of Laurent Perrier champagne and a panoramic vista extending as far as the eye can see.
For more information, see https://thewhitecamel.com.
Nobu Hotel Marrakech – Where and How?
Nobu Hotel Marrakech is located at Av. Echouhada et Rue du Temple Hivernage, Marrakech, 40000, Morocco. For more information or to make a reservation, visit https://marrakech.nobuhotels.com.
This exclusive visit to Nobu Hotel Marrakech was hosted by Lumirani Collection.
See our reels on the Luxurious Magazine Instagram page for highlights of our visit.
Read the article on our stay at Nobu Riad in Marrakesh here.
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