
A massive 7-tonne bronze entry gate glides open to reveal an oasis of opulence within the medina walls.
Housed within a legendary 1950s hotel building in the heart of the White City, Royal Mansour’s Casablanca abode pays homage to time-honoured opulence. Everything has had the royal stamp of approval, from the all-encompassing experiences to the four dining venues serving up cuisines from Mediterranean and Japan, to traditional fare hailing from closer to home.
Perhaps one of its biggest brags is that the largest rooms in the city can be found here. Serviced by attentive butlers from the apartment category and upwards, they tailor each stay to individual guests. And when the butlers aren’t around, sophisticated mod cons keep everything both inside and outside the rooms working smoothly.
Royal Mansour’s show-stealing décor proves that doing something well takes time and effort. Lovingly and painstaking restored over many years, original features like the patio and spiral staircase date back 70 years to the building’s heyday.
Everything that wasn’t salvageable has been redesigned to fit perfectly with the period features – think plush fabrics and geometric patterns, angular Art Deco lighting and marble as far as the eye can see.
After years of travellers’ sights being trained on some of Morocco’s other spellbinding cities, Casablanca is establishing itself onto the radars of more and more discerning globetrotters, and Royal Mansour have the know how to give their guests a taste of the city in its authentic form. Personalised tours include a cultural journey that takes in the rich heritage of the city via its beautiful landmarks and hidden gems, while a street art tour explores Casablanca’s contemporary urban art scene guided by experts.
Making a statement seems to be Royal Mansour’s talent, and the spa is no exception – it’s the largest in Casablanca. Snuggled in the 4th and 5th floors is 2,510 square metres of pure bliss that drowns out the city life that lies just beyond the lobby. Think restorative massages and glowy facials all using products from prestigious collaborations and, of course, a hammam. Plus, on one of the top floors, the Le Salon Barbier gives gentlemen the experience of a true Parisian barber shop.
While the sumptuousness of the hotel makes it hard to step over the marbled threshold, experiencing some of the local activities really elevates time spent here. Alongside the culture and street art tours, we’d recommend heading out with a guide to visit some of the city’s artisans in their workshops, discovering the delights of the street food scene, or making the most of this coastal location with surfing or bodyboarding lessons with Moroccan champion Adnane Benslimane.
A massive 7-tonne bronze entry gate glides open to reveal an oasis of opulence within the medina walls.
An ode to Riviera glamour with Moroccan touches fit for the elite, nothing less than the finer things are in store at Royal Mansour’s third address.
With a name that means ‘soft breeze’ in Berber, Sir Richard Branson’s Moroccan retreat in the Atlas foothills transcends the merely luxurious.