Detailed Review
Kasbah Agafay is a grand 150 year old fort-castle has been beautifully and outstandingly well-restored and is now, undoubtedly, one of the finest boutique hotels in Morocco.
The facilities
Kasbah Agafay, sits on a small hillock, just a short drive from Marrakech, the airport and the famous Medina. It is immensely stylish and a haven of relaxation and tranquility, offering unforgettable views across Berber villages, the Atlas Mountains and olive groves.
The rooms
The boutique hotel has 20 rooms, of which 16 are within the ramparts of the Fort - stylish and individually decorated with traditional handicrafts and contemporary materials with every modern comfort and luxury. There are also four sumptuous Caidal tents - beautifully designed with four poster beds, sculptured baths and private gardens or terraces. The Kasbah Agafay, is also the perfect place to rent in its entirety for special celebrations.
Guests are free to choose where they would like to dine - in one of the riads, on the ramparts, by the pool or on one of the many terraces. The cuisine is exceptional and the two chefs are highly trained in both Moroccan, and International cuisine. The Kasbah also offers cookery lessons to those wishing to learn the secrets of traditional Moroccan and family recipes.
The facilities are exceptional. The dreamy spa offers a wide variety of treatments, focusing on reawakening all five senses. One may also join yoga classes, play tennis, enjoy the stunning swimming pool or play golf at nearby courses. For the more adventurous, there are hot air balloon rides, mountain and quad biking. A stay at Kasbah Agafay is never anything short of brilliant. For those that dream of escaping to an 18th-century fort-castle, Kasbah Agafay is a unique and wonderfully comfortable retreat.
Press Quotes
"the most extraordinary open-air spa where all the herbs that are necessary grow by the side of the beds and are picked by the attendants and rubbed into you.. It is without doubt one of the most glamorous, sophisticated experiences." Guardian 07
"High ceilings, tiled courtyards, heavy burgundy drapes and tinkling fountains." Guardian 05
Independent Reviews
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“Set just outside the bustling medina, this quiet retreat is located in a historic hilltop fort with panoramic Marrakech views.”
Kasbah Agafay
By Joanna Monkhouse
Kasbah Agafay would not exist if not for the vision and dedication of Abel Damoussi. It took him 3 years to buy the Kasbah from the 36 owners, and a further 3 to restore the 150 year old building. A short drive from the medina of Marrakech, the hotel is set in the Palmerie. Views of the palms, olive trees and Atlas mountains from one side of the roof is contrasted with the desert dunes on the other. Rooms and suites lie around the five courtyards, connected by a labyrinth of corridors. Their décor combines traditional Moroccan crafts with contemporary style. The ceilings are tatoui (decorative beams), the pierced metal lamp shades and lanterns throw intricate shadows onto the white walls and verses from the Quran and the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam are carved into the tiles above the fireplaces. The riads can be booked in their entirety or by the room. The Caïdale tents face west and have sides that pull back to take full advantage of the sunset. Furnished with four poster beds, a large, shaped baths, wc, a/c and telephone, they are the most luxurious form of camping. It is the attention to detail that sets Kasbah Agafay apart - Berber tent poles have been incorporated into the four poster beds; wooden marriage contracts surround the top of the beds in the tents and also appear as curtain tiebacks; Berber tent pegs adorn mirror frames; antique keys are reborn as loo paper holders; an old harira ladle is transformed into a towel rail and soap holder; a wooden washboard becomes a bath rack - every item has been looked at for itself not just its traditional purpose. The spacious salon has leather banquettes and tables strewn with art books, a cool retreat in summer and a comfortable refuge in winter. Drapes of material hang from the high ceiling, they divide the space without restricting the light, and float in the breeze. Many of the vast carved doors come from palaces in Fez. The Atlas room is a dramatic location for meetings or private parties and has views of the magnificent Atlas mountains. The generously proportioned, sea green pool is surrounded by rose bushes, sofas with white cushions and 1920s style cast iron sunloungers. The sound of water is never far away - there are fountains in the riad courtyards, in front of the tents and there is a waterfall cascading down the terraced gardens. There is a meditation cave, a traditional hamman, three individual hammans and a floodlit tennis court. The creation of Kasbah Agafay is an ongoing project - a spa has just been completed; a modern mural has been commissioned for the wall behind the swimming pool; and cookery lessons will be held in the middle of the aromatic herb garden that supplies the spa and the kitchen. The Kasbah boasts both a French and a Moroccan chef and the cuisine is delicate in taste and size, a rarity in Morocco where a traditional dinner could feed an army. Smiling, slipper shod waiters, dressed completely in white, topped with a red fez, appear silently bearing the house drink - refreshing cucumber juice (the cucumbers are grown in the gardens). The friendly staff are attentive but not intrusive. The hilltop location is great for the views but does not protect Kasbah Agafay from the noise of trucks and mopeds on the road - not a huge problem, but a shame that it can be heard. The only other drawback is the price - this "little corner of paradise" does not come cheap. However, it is unique, and that’s what you pay for.
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