Charlotte Rey’s Insider Guide To Marrakech
The Swedish-born co-founder of design studio Campbell-Rey shows us around her favourite haunts in Morocco’s Red City.
Marrakech is wild and wonderful, with a lot of contrasts; part of the city is medieval, and it’s like stepping into a different time. Coming from Sweden, which is very orderly and pale in comparison, I instantly fell in love with it — it feels alive and exotic, full of scents and discoveries.
There’s also a real sense of craftsmanship; you’re surrounded by very beautiful things, and the skills are remarkable. I am quite the foodie, and I love coming here — the food is delicious, with lots of new restaurants opening. And the people are completely gorgeous — very open and ready to talk to you.
Places to Stay
I also love Riad Mena, which is run by my friend Philomena Schurer Merckoll, a contributing editor at T magazine with incredible taste and the most stunning auburn hair. It feels like a private house, and you can buy bits you like, like pieces by local artist LRNCE, from her shop The Pink Door.
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Things to Do
Le Jardin Secret, designed by Tom Stuart-Smith, is beautiful for a walk.
For galleries, the YSL Museum is an obvious one, but there’s also Art Fair 1-54, which is held twice a year and super nice—it lists many of the great galleries in the city.
The best hammam I’ve had in Marrakech is at Riad Tarabel. It’s by women, and it’s boiling — you do the full scrub, and you come out newborn. It’s amazing.
My fiance and I love playing tennis at Atlas Tennis Club. It’s only a ten-minute taxi, but the Atlas Mountains overlook you. The courts are covered, so you can play in the shade, which makes all the difference — and there’s also paddle tennis and a lap pool.
You can also play polo at the Marrakech Polo Club, which is 30 minutes outside of the city at the Ritz-Carlton Residences — they stand unfinished, so it’s a polo club in the middle of the desert… It's wonderful. The horses are great; you can do stick and ball for beginners or chukkas if you’re more confident. You can also take some tea on the terrace overlooking the field—book in advance.
What about Breakfast
It’s quite a French breakfast culture. Café Des Épices does the best Marrakshi pancakes with honey that you drink with sweet tea. It has a nice roof terrace and it’s just across the square from the NOMAD.
Where to Eat
Le Kilim is great for dinner. It’s all red inside with simple, traditional Moroccan food and young, cool Marrakshi artists hanging out there. Mouton Noir and +61 are great spots too.
For lunch, there’s La Famille, which is an incredible women’s collective and feels like a sister to Cotswolds’ Straw Kitchen.
L’mida is also really nice for lunch and has an incredible rooftop, which was recently planted, but when it blooms, it will be spectacular. NOMAD café is a great lunch and sunset spot where the view of the mountains is breathtaking.
Where to Drink
I go for sunset cocktails on El Fenn’s rooftop. On Sundays, it runs a really fun DJ night, which gets vibey.
A few cocktails in, maybe see who’s playing at KOSY bar for late-night dancing.
Where to Shop
There’s a concept store called MORO, co-founded by Michelle Lamy, which offers quite a noir perspective on Moroccan products, including superb skincare.
Then there’s Soufiane Zarib and Bazar du Sud for rugs, Magasin General for antiques and special objects, and the shop at the Beldi for amazing ceramics, baskets and plants.
Marrakshi Life is also cool for airier fashions. Walking around the souk is always incredible; it’s just impossible to explain where to go!
Outside the City
There’s Berber Lodge of course.
But also the Jnane Tamsna just outside the city in the desert. It’s run by one of the few female hoteliers in the city, Meryanne Loum-Martin, and it’s beautiful with large, sumptuous gardens.
Something New
The Levantine is in the Afagay desert, about an hour outside of Marrakech. It’s a big villa and feels like the Parker Palm Springs in the Moroccan desert. The gardens have been exquisitely planted, with the grass planted by hand. The owner, Mahmoud, and his wife, Widad, are generous hosts and plan to run it for large events as well as smaller groups.
Charlotte Rey is the co-founder of Campbell-Rey. Follow her on Instagram @charlotterey.
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