Name: Selman Marrakech
Address: Km 5 Route d'Amizmiz, Marrakech 40000, MA
Price range: $$$$
Rating: 9.3

#6 in Marrakech

Anniversary Honeymoon Family Holiday Boutique

"Opened 2012 fifteen kilometres south of central Marrakech — Jacques Garcia's most theatrical Moroccan project, with a 67-metre central reflecting pool, hand-restored zellij and tadelakt finishes, and a permanent stable of pure-bred Arabian horses on the resort grounds."

9.6

Room & Design

9.4

Service

9.0

Location

About Selman Marrakech

Selman Marrakech opened in October 2012 fifteen kilometres south of central Marrakech, on a hundred-hectare site at the foot of the Atlas Mountains. The brief, given to French interior designer Jacques Garcia by the Bennani-Smires family (Selman's Moroccan owners), was theatrical from the start: build a contemporary five-star resort that channelled the maximalist 18th-century Moroccan-Andalusian aesthetic Garcia is famous for, anchored by Selman's signature element — a stable of pure-bred Arabian horses kept on the resort grounds, with a permanent equestrian programme available to guests. Twelve years later, the property remains the most cinematically considered single design hotel in Marrakech.

There are 55 rooms across categories that begin with the Deluxe Garden View (45 sqm), run up through the Junior Suite categories, and conclude with five stand-alone Riads — private two-bedroom houses with private courtyards and butler service. The Royal Suite, at 280 square metres, is the celebration room — a private terrace facing the 67-metre central reflecting pool, a hand-restored 18th-century-replica zellij dome ceiling, and a private hammam. Every room is finished in Garcia's signature palette: deep emerald-and-gold zellij, hand-carved cedar plasterwork, oversized chandeliers, and antique Berber rugs.

The 67-metre central reflecting pool — running through the resort's centre, palms and oleander on both banks — is the property's identifying architectural signature. The Selman Spa, in the resort's eastern wing, runs a precise traditional Moroccan-medicine programme. The Selman Restaurant, set inside a hand-restored 18th-century-replica pavilion overlooking the reflecting pool, runs a deliberately precise menu under chef Anto Cocagne — the most-considered Selman dinner setting. Le Pavillon, the resort's all-day room, sits beside the main swimming pool. The Bar — a Garcia-designed cocktail room with hand-painted ceiling — is the considered evening room.

The most distinguishing element of Selman is the equestrian programme. The resort maintains a permanent stable of fourteen pure-bred Arabian horses, with daily riding lessons, dressage demonstrations, and Atlas Mountain trail rides included for guests. The stable is, by Moroccan equestrian consensus, the most-considered single hotel-stable in the country. For an anniversary built around horses, a cinematic Marrakech honeymoon, or a multi-generational family stay where the children's daily horse-riding programme is the highlight, this is the considered Selman answer.

Best Occasion Fit

Anniversary

The Royal Suite or one of the five stand-alone Riads. Brief the in-suite team 96 hours ahead — they will arrange a private Selman Restaurant tasting menu in the reflecting-pool pavilion, a Berber musical ensemble, a closing equestrian dressage demonstration, and a Champagne pour at the stable.

Honeymoon

A Junior Suite with garden view, dinner at the Selman Restaurant pavilion, an early-morning Atlas Mountain trail ride at sunrise, and a closing 90-minute couples' Selman Spa hammam ritual is the considered honeymoon arc. Pair with three nights at La Mamounia for a Marrakech-only honeymoon week.

Family Holiday

A two-bedroom Riad, the resort's daily children's equestrian programme (ages 6-14), and the main pool. The Arabian horse stable is, for most kids, the highlight of a Marrakech family stay. Atlas Mountain trail rides on horseback are bookable from age eight.