Sofitel Marrakech Palais Imperial & Spa, Morocco

The Review

Two nights in Marrakech. A girls trip. The Sofitel Palais Imperial. I came home already planning to go back - and I'm doing exactly that this November.

 

The Hotel

The Sofitel Palais Imperial is stunning in a way that hits you the moment you arrive. It's a proper palace - grand, beautifully decorated, with Moroccan architecture and detailing everywhere you look. Palm trees, flowers, lush greenery throughout the grounds. It feels special from the second you walk in.

We stayed in a Superior Room and it was gorgeous - rich Moroccan furnishings, intricate woodwork, teal accents, the kind of room that makes you want to photograph everything. There's a sitting area, beautiful textiles throughout and that distinct riad-influenced style that makes Marrakech hotels unlike anywhere else in the world.

 

The Breakfast

Standout. Genuinely one of the best hotel breakfasts I've had. Everything you'd want - fresh pastries, Moroccan spreads, beautiful fruit. But the highlight, and I mean this sincerely, was the omelette man. He was singing while he cooked the eggs. Singing. With absolute joy. Every single morning he made me unreasonably happy and I haven't forgotten him. That is the kind of detail that turns a good stay into a memorable one and the Sofitel is full of moments like it.

 

The Pools

The pool situation at the Sofitel is one of its biggest strengths. The main pool is large, vibey and social - busy but never feeling overcrowded because the space is so generous. The atmosphere there is exactly what you want from a girls trip. And the little touches make all the difference - someone came around to clean my sunglasses and brought a small bottle of juice in the most beautiful little Moroccan bottle. It sounds small but it's that level of thoughtful service that elevates a good hotel to a great one.

If you want something quieter there's a rooftop pool and another more secluded pool at the far end of the resort. Whatever your mood, there's a spot for you.

I had friends staying just around the corner at Nobu - also beautiful and worth knowing about - but it's a smaller, more boutique property with only a rooftop pool. The Sofitel simply has more space and more options.

 

Getting Around

Really easy. Taxis were available on demand right outside, horse and carriages if you wanted something more atmospheric, and everything we needed was within easy reach. We were just around the corner from our friends at Nobu, near cash points and close enough to explore without any hassle. We didn't venture into the medina on this trip - we were firmly in holiday mode - but we did have the most gorgeous lunch at Kabana which had incredible food and a brilliant atmosphere. Highly recommend adding it to your list.

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The Agafay Desert Experience - Camel Riding, Quad Biking and Dinner Show

This was my highlight of the entire trip and I booked it through my travel business so every detail was sorted before we arrived.

We were picked up from the hotel and driven out to the Agafay Desert - around 45 minutes from Marrakech, through beautiful landscape the whole way. On arrival we went straight onto the quad bikes for an exhilarating ride through the desert dunes. Then came the moment I will not forget - the camel ride as the sun began to set over the desert. The tranquility of it, the colours in the sky, being on a camel in the middle of that landscape as it got dark. There are no words for it really.

After the camel ride we sat down to a traditional Moroccan dinner under the stars with a full fire show and live music and cultural performances. The food was lovely and the whole evening was entertaining from start to finish.

One crucial tip - it gets very cold in the desert once the sun goes down. Take layers. Genuinely, take more layers than you think you need.

 

Buddha Bar 

A whole other level entirely. The food was incredible, there was a full show of dancers running throughout the evening and by the end of the night everyone in the place was up dancing. It was entertaining from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. Exactly the kind of night a girls trip deserves.

 

Would I Go Back?

I'm already booked to return this November and I cannot wait to explore more of what Morocco has to offer. Two nights felt like the perfect introduction but I know I've only scratched the surface. The country gets under your skin in the best possible way.

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Bottom Line

Marrakech is more accessible, more affordable and more extraordinary than most people realise. The Sofitel Palais Imperial is the perfect base - beautiful, central, impeccably serviced and full of the kind of small moments that make a trip unforgettable. The omelette man alone is worth the flight..

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I booked this entire trip through my travel business - hotel, desert experience, Buddha Bar, all of it. If you want to do Marrakech properly without the stress of planning it yourself, get in touch and I'll take care of everything.