News from the "Red City": Royal Mansour, the opulent five-star hotel owned by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, has unveiled the results of an ambitious renovation project. (Read our first-hand review of this Marrakech hotel, designed by top artisans to resemble the city’s sprawling ancient medina.) The property has been enlarged with a new swimming pool and nearly four acres of luxuriant gardens, designed by Spanish landscape designer Luis Vallejo with olive trees, groves of date palms, ponds, and walkways fragrant with orange blossom and jasmine flowers.
Measuring 30 meters long and 20 meters wide, the swimming pool is flanked by loungers and a sun deck. Additionally, guests can opt to rent one of the seven poolside huts, designed in a contemporary style with traditional Berber carpets. Rounding out the new amenities: star chef Yannick Alléno has developed his fourth restaurant concept for the Royal Mansour with Le Jardin. It's open all day- including breakfast and happy hour tapas. Sample menu items include langoustine tartare with gem lettuce softened in soy; spiced tuna sashimi; raw, cooked and fried artichokes; and sugar-crusted apricot on herb and orange tabouleh.
Note: the new pool area is open to both hotel guests and day visitors.