The Oberoi, Marrakech review: take a dip into total tranquillity

I have to confess that I had never experienced the joys of a private swimming pool before my stay at The Oberoi, Marrakech – and I’m slightly concerned that this hotel has set my expectations on a level to which I will never return.

Located within 28 acres of landscaped gardens, citrus orchards and 3,000 olive trees, this five-star hotel feels a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of Morocco’s fourth-largest city. In fact, it’s just a 25-minute taxi ride (costing the equivalent of £20) from the centre, making The Oberoi an attractive prospect if you’re hoping to dip into – and then dip out of – the ancient city’s vibrant – but certainly chaotic – souks, squares and sprawling streets.

As much as there is to see and do in the city centre, at least half a day could be devoted to exploring The Oberoi’s serene, sweet-smelling grounds (thankfully guests are provided with bikes if you need to speed up your adventuring). A central feature of the hotel is a magnificent courtyard inspired by Marrakech’s famous 14th century Medersa Ben Youssef – one of the city’s most famous monuments – and there are several calming yet majestic water features to gawk at across the property.

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Rooms, suites and villas

For such an enormous hotel, you’d imagine that The Oberoi, Marrakech would feel busy at all times – yet, thankfully, this was not the case at all. I barely saw another soul as I wandered around the resort’s beautiful surroundings, which only contributed to my sense of total tranquillity.

Perhaps part of the reason why this hotel never feels busy – even by and in the large communal swimming pool – is because 76 of the 84 luxurious rooms feature private pools and gardens. At least in my case, having my own private pool (and note: not a plunge pool, but an actual swimming pool) brought out some reclusive tendencies I didn’t know I had to begin with.

The rooms here are as spacious and opulent as you’d expect from a hotel of this quality. Yet there are also some quirky touches such as a glass-panelled door which provides direct access from the poolside to the waterfall-esque shower.

Things to do

The Oberoi has a 21,530 sq ft spa “island”, which sits upon a lake and is accessed by a raised path. It’s a truly stunning space, with light flooding in from all directions thanks to enormous floor-to-ceiling windows which overlook the surrounding body of water.

Guests can swim in the heated indoor pool, enjoy a traditional Moroccan hammam experience or opt for a massage performed by a skilled therapist in one of the luxurious private therapy suites. The hotel can also create bespoke wellness programmes for individual guests, catering to their specific needs.

The Oberoi also runs complimentary activities throughout the week, aimed at the active. During my stay, I could have (note could have) taken part in a morning run with a fitness coach from 7.30am-8.30am, as well as cross training, circuit training and cardio boxing sessions. For those who, like me, prefer to move as little as possible when on holiday, a sunrise yoga class (from 8.30am-9.30am) might be a better fit.

Eating and drinking

While the spa is stunning, if you’re travelling to Marrakesh then you most likely have tagine on the mind. The Oberoi has two main restaurants: Siniman (pronounced “cinnamon”) and Tamimt, meaning “delight” in the Berber tribal language.

Offering a typically Moroccan menu, Siniman is the spot to try local specialities like pigeon and almond pastilla (although when I visited, the pigeon was substituted with chicken), traditional Moroccan soup with lamb and – of course – tagine, with options including sea bass, chicken, beef shank and braised octopus.

Across the corridor is Tamimt, which is where breakfast is also served (more on that later). Here, guests can sample classic European dishes like penne alla puttanesca and a “rustic” croque monsieur but, in my humble opinion, you’d be silly to not order from the Indian side of the menu.

Along with à la carte options, Tamimt offers a thali-style set menu in the evenings, which blew my mind both in terms of the quantity of the food I managed to consume (I counted ten dishes in front of me at one point) and the quality, too. From the most aromatic chicken tikka to the earthiest, nuttiest jeera aloo, this varied menu boasts all the classics and more – and any fan of Indian food would be remiss to not opt for it.

But of all the scrumptious food options, breakfast at The Oberoi is the most stark evidence of the hotel’s five-star credentials. The menu features a mix of Moroccan and international cuisine, with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients. When I visited, a lovely member of staff took it upon himself to present me with a range of traditional Moroccan breakfast dishes including harira soup (made from tomatoes, lentils and chickpeas), and msemen (Moroccan pancakes which you eat with honey and almonds). All constituted a delicious, memorable start to my morning.

For those who prefer a more Western-style breakfast, all the classics – from avocado on toast to eggs benedict – are available, plus a wide variety of cold cuts, dairy products, fresh fruit and lip-smackingly-good pastries (the salty yet sweet pain au chocolat is to die for).

How to get to Marrakech

Several airlines, including Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways, TUI and Jet2, offer direct flights to Marrakech from major UK airports, with prices starting from as low as £20 one-way (with no luggage, if you book far in advance). The Oberoi, Marrakech is just a 25-minute drive away from the international airport.

For a more sustainable option, you can take the train from the UK to mainland Europe, then travel by train or car through Spain and Portugal before catching a ferry from Tarifa to Tangier in Morocco. There are trains and buses going from Tangier to Marrakech, the former taking around five-and-a-half hours and the latter roughly 11 hours.

Kate Samuelson was a guest of The Oberoi, Marrakech, where rooms start from £665 per night for a deluxe room with a private terrace on a bed and breakfast basis (including taxes); oberoihotels.com