Sofitel Marrakech Palais Imperial and Spa sits in Hivernage, the leafy district of boulevards, restaurants and casinos between the Medina walls and the new town. The hotel lists a Moorish palace look built in 2002, with 157 rooms and suites in two buildings, set around gardens and pools. The grounds are the draw: the hotel lists an indoor pool, four outdoor pools and a children's pool, with sun loungers, a poolside bar, a vegetable garden and a life-size chess set, and one pool has Atlas Mountains views. The Sofitel Spa has five treatment rooms and offers massages, facials, scrubs, wraps and a prickly pear ritual, with a hammam, sauna, steam room and two hot tubs. The hotel lists five restaurants and cafes, including L Oasis, L Orangerie and Le Jardin, a Moroccan tea salon and pastry house, three bars and lounges and an on-site nightclub. Family travelers get a free children's club, a playground and babysitting for a fee. Rooms range from classic doubles with balconies to suites and penthouses, and the hotel lists premium bedding, air conditioning, minibars and 24-hour room service.
Who it suits
Couples and families who want a resort feel with the Medina a short walk or ride away. The hotel is described as family-friendly, with connecting rooms, free cribs and infant beds, and children under four can stay free using existing beds. Business travelers also use it, with a business center and meeting rooms. If you want atmosphere in the lanes, a riad is a better choice; if you want pools, space and facilities, this fits.
Location math
The hotel gives walking times of about twelve minutes to the Koutoubia Mosque and eighteen minutes to Jemaa el-Fna, with the Casino de Marrakech about five minutes away and well-known Hivernage restaurants a few minutes on foot. The airport is about nine minutes by car and the railway station about seven. Walking in the heat is better in the early morning or evening; otherwise taxis are inexpensive. The booking page names Majorelle Garden, Dar el Bacha and Le Jardin Secret among nearby attractions.
Practical notes
Guest reviews on the page average 8.4 from over 800 reviews, with praise for the staff, gardens, location and breakfast, and complaints about dated rooms and restaurants, inconsistent service, a cold main pool and a dim spa. Breakfast is a paid buffet. Valet parking is free, an airport shuttle is available for a fee on 48 hours notice and a city tax per person per night applies, with children under twelve exempt.
The hotel lists a spa access fee and a weekend access fee at its nightclub lounge, so check what applies to your stay. Dogs and cats up to a small weight limit are accepted. Ask for a higher-floor room with an Atlas or pool view.
Why stay here
- ✓Four outdoor pools and an indoor pool
- ✓Children pool and kids club
- ✓Spa with hammam, sauna and hot tubs
- ✓Five restaurants and cafes
- ✓Moroccan tea salon and pastry house
- ✓Gardens and terraces
- ✓24-hour gym
- ✓Walk to the Koutoubia
Good questions
Does the Sofitel Marrakech have a children's club?+
Yes. The hotel lists a free children's club, a children's pool and a playground, with babysitting available for a fee.
Is it walkable to the Medina?+
The hotel lists about 12 minutes on foot to the Koutoubia and 18 minutes to Jemaa el-Fna, though many guests take a taxi in the heat.
Is breakfast included?+
The hotel lists a paid buffet breakfast. Check your rate for any included meals.
