exploring the rooms, pools, restaurants, spa and everything that makes Four Seasons Marrakech such a memorable place to stay.
Words & photography by Pete Rudd
Reading time 8-9 minutes
Four Seasons Marrakech hotel review — arriving at the Four Seasons Marrakech on a warm May afternoon, we were excited to experience a very different side of the city.
After spending four nights at a riad on the outskirts of the medina, wandering the vibrant souks and sampling some of Marrakech’s Moroccan delights, the Four Seasons offered us the chance to completely unwind.
Set within 40 acres of gardens in the Hivernage district, the resort feels a world away from the energy of the medina. From the moment we arrived, the combination of peaceful gardens, Moroccan-inspired architecture, pools and attentive service made it very easy to slow down and enjoy the experience.
This is our personal review of staying at Four Seasons Marrakech, including the room, pools, restaurants, spa and some of the places we explored during our time in the city.
Before you book
Location: Hivernage, Marrakech, Morocco
Style: Luxury resort
Best for: Couples, families, food lovers and travellers looking to relax
Highlights: Gardens, pools, restaurants, rooftop dining and spa
Nearby: Medina, Jardin Majorelle and Marrakech’s major attractions
Four Seasons Marrakech is located in Hivernage, just outside the historic Medina. The resort is designed as a peaceful base for exploring Marrakech while also giving guests plenty of reasons to stay on the property.
With extensive gardens, multiple pools, restaurants, a spa and plenty of space to relax, it works particularly well if you want to combine sightseeing with a few days of switching off.
The resort currently has 141 rooms, suites and villas spread across its 16-hectare grounds, with many accommodations featuring private terraces or balconies.
First impressions
We checked into our garden view room and stepped out onto the balcony terrace.
We were greeted by vibrant colours, lush plants and palms, pops of purple from the flowering jacaranda trees and glowing terracotta buildings. Most impressive of all was the glimpse of a distant mountain range on the horizon.
After four nights exploring the medina, the contrast was immediate. Everything felt slower and quieter, and it was exactly what we had hoped for from the next part of our stay.
The room
Our garden view room was exactly what we needed after several days exploring Marrakech.
The balcony terrace quickly became one of my favourite parts of the room. Looking out over the gardens, palms and colourful planting, it was easy to forget that the busy streets of Marrakech were only a short distance away.
The combination of warm terracotta tones, Moroccan-inspired details and contemporary interiors gave the room a relaxed feel, while the outdoor space gave us somewhere to sit and enjoy the surroundings.
One of the things I particularly liked about the Four Seasons Marrakech was the amount of greenery throughout the resort. Rather than feeling like a traditional city hotel, the property feels more like a garden retreat.
The pools
The following day, our plans revolved around relaxing — and then maybe some more relaxing.
After a huge buffet breakfast, we sipped Moroccan tea and tried some of the breads and pastries before making our way down to one of the hotel’s pools.
During our stay, we used both the family-friendly pool and the adults-only pool. Having separate spaces meant there was plenty of choice depending on whether you wanted a livelier atmosphere or somewhere quieter to relax.
With temperatures sitting around 25°C during our stay, spending the afternoon beside the pool was an easy way to slow down after exploring the city.
It was exactly the kind of day we had hoped for from a stay at the Four Seasons Marrakech: good food, sunshine, a comfortable lounger and absolutely nowhere we needed to be.
Dining at Four Seasons Marrakech
Quattro
After checking into our room and taking some time to explore the resort, we headed to Quattro, the hotel’s Italian restaurant, for our first dinner.
We chose a table beside the long water feature, illuminated by flaming torches. As the sun disappeared, an acoustic guitarist played nearby, creating a relaxed and romantic atmosphere for our first evening at Four Seasons Marrakech.
The menu offered plenty of choice, but we started with the insalata di pere e gorgonzola — pears with Gorgonzola and honey — before moving on to the main course.
We chose the lamb in a coffee crust with celeriac and liquorice, served alongside mille-feuille potato and a wild berry sauce.
Everything was beautifully presented and full of flavour, making Quattro a memorable way to begin our stay.
Inara
After a day of reading, relaxing and napping by the pool, we headed to Inara, the hotel’s restaurant serving Moroccan dishes with influences from across the Middle East.
We have tried plenty of tagines during our travels through Morocco, but this was easily one of our favourites.
The chicken with lemon and olives was tender, full of flavour and had a delicious punch of citrus. We also tried the chicken motaffa, a Lebanese-inspired dish of boneless chicken marinated with warm spiced tomato and served with fresh green beans.
Naturally, we finished the meal with traditional Moroccan mint tea before heading back out into the sun-soaked gardens.
It was the kind of meal that reminded us why food is such a big part of travelling through Morocco.
Zest rooftop bar
We are self-confessed foodies, and travel has opened up a huge world of cuisines for us. Asian flavours are some of our absolute favourites, so Zest Rooftop Bar was a dining experience we had been saving for the final night of our stay.
Nestled between the resort’s pools is a small building with curved arches and a hidden rooftop restaurant and bar. An intricately carved wooden-panel lift takes you upstairs, where you are greeted with impressive views across the resort and towards the hazy Atlas Mountains.
Zest has a noticeably cooler and more contemporary feel than some of the other dining spaces at the resort. The decor reflects the name, with zesty greens and citrus-yellow furnishings, while traditional Moroccan tiling is combined with sleek modern furniture.
The result is a really fun mix of Moroccan character and contemporary design.
The menu didn’t disappoint either. We tried Vietnamese spring rolls and crispy prawns with ginger, garlic and spring onion, followed by Pad Thai — of course — and black cod with red miso and pickled bamboo.
As the sun started to set, the mountain tops were tinged with a golden glow and a gentle breeze cooled the warm evening air.
It was the perfect end to our final evening at Four Seasons Marrakech.
Azzera
Our final day arrived with an evening flight home, but there was still time for one more dining experience.
Azzera Restaurant & Bar is positioned beside the adults-only pool and works well for a relaxed lunch, casual meal or an afternoon drink.
Temperatures were soaring into the 30s, but the shaded pergolas and overhead fans made eating outside a great option.
The menu is Mediterranean in style with Moroccan touches. We started with the papaya and burrata, served with a delicious basil oil dressing.
For the main course, we tried the beef fillet with thyme potato mille-feuille and grilled vegetables. The beef was cooked perfectly and practically melted in the mouth.
We also tried the whole spring chicken, coated in Moroccan spices and served with pan-fried oyster mushrooms and sweet-and-sour shallots.
And, of course, we couldn’t leave without trying the restaurant’s signature Le Citron tart.
Light and fresh, with just enough lemony tartness in every bite, it was a real highlight of our final meal.
The Four Seasons Marrakech Spa
While staying at Four Seasons Marrakech, the spa should definitely be on your list of experiences.
The spa features a sauna, steam room, hammam, hot and cold plunge pools and several areas designed simply for relaxing. The experience also incorporates Moroccan-inspired treatments and rituals.
I chose an Argania firming one-hour body massage while Pete relaxed in the sauna and spa.
The treatment room was quiet, with soft light filtering through white muslin. The therapist began with rituals designed to calm the senses, while the room was lightly misted with fragrant grapefruit. The gentle chiming of tiny brass cymbals added another layer to the experience.
By the time we left the spa, we were completely relaxed and ready to spend the rest of the afternoon doing very little.
And after several days of exploring Marrakech, that was exactly what we needed.
Exploring Marrakech
Of course, staying at a luxury resort doesn’t mean you have to spend the entire trip beside the pool.
Marrakech has plenty to explore, and during our stay we visited a couple of the city’s most well-known attractions.
Jardin Majorelle
We visited Jardin Majorelle, along with the adjoining Berber Museum and Yves Saint Laurent Museum.
For anyone who loves plants, architecture and photography, Jardin Majorelle is a fantastic place to explore. The intense blues, colourful buildings and incredible variety of plants create a completely different visual experience from the rest of Marrakech.
It is also a popular attraction, so I would recommend checking the official website and booking your visit in advance.
Useful links:
Jardin Majorelle
Yves Saint Laurent Museum Marrakech
Ben Youssef Madrasa
We also visited Ben Youssef Madrasa, one of Marrakech’s most impressive examples of traditional Moroccan architecture.
The former Islamic college is famous for its intricate zellige tilework, carved cedarwood ceilings and detailed decoration. After spending time walking through the colourful streets of the medina, stepping inside the madrasa felt like entering another world.
Photography tip: If you’re visiting with a camera, I’d recommend going later in the day if possible. With fewer people around, you have more opportunity to take your time and look for different angles and details.
Final thoughts
Sadly, our time at Four Seasons Marrakech eventually came to an end.
Our transport took us back towards the airport, but we left with the promise to each other that we would repeat the experience in a heartbeat.
After spending the first part of our Morocco trip exploring the medina, staying at a riad and throwing ourselves into the energy of Marrakech, the Four Seasons gave us the chance to slow everything down.
For me, that’s what made the stay memorable. It wasn’t just the room, the food or the beautiful gardens. It was having somewhere peaceful to return to after exploring the city.
If you’re planning a trip to Marrakech and want to combine exploring the city with a few days of complete relaxation, Four Seasons Marrakech offers both sides of the experience.
You can explore the medina, visit Jardin Majorelle and discover the city’s history during the day, then return to the resort for the pool, spa, dinner and a quiet evening surrounded by gardens.
More Moroccan travel guides
If you’re planning a wider trip around Morocco, you might also enjoy some of our other Morocco travel guides and hotel reviews:
8 Best Things To Do in Fes – Morocco — our guide to exploring the ancient city, including the medina, tanneries, restaurants and traditional hammams.
Palais Houyam – Fes Hotel Review — our experience staying at this beautiful riad in the heart of Fes.
Climbing Mount Toubkal — our guide to climbing Morocco’s highest mountain in the Atlas Mountains.
Work With Pete
I create natural, story-led photography and video for luxury hotels, resorts, tourism brands and lifestyle businesses.
Having worked with hospitality and lifestyle brands including Four Seasons, I create imagery that captures not just how a property looks, but how it feels to experience it.
From hotel interiors and architecture to food, lifestyle, landscapes and destination content, I create visual stories that can be used across websites, social media, campaigns and marketing.
View my Hospitality Photography portfolio or get in touch if you’d like to discuss a project.
