Boutique Hôtel Les Cinq Djellabas: Marrakech’s Moroccan Honeymoon Hideaway
Georgie Bentley-Buckle checked into this laidback boutique hideaway with her new husband for a few days of sunshine among the old olive trees.
By Georgie Bentley-Buckle
Discreetly located 10km north of Morocco’s ancient city, Boutique Hôtel Les Cinq Djellabas lies in the Palmeraie’s Bab Atlas neighbourhood. A hushed hideaway far removed from the city’s vibrant energy, the hotel invites guests to retreat into one of ten circular, thatched eco-lodges set within a one-hectare oasis of mature olive trees, banana plants, and palms, alongside a stylish central riad housing the restaurant and main public spaces.
A sanctuary for a quiet, laid-back luxury escape, this boutique hotel is conveniently located just 25minutes from the famous medina of Marrakech. Ideal for couples, it offers a relaxed alternative to the buzz of the North African city. Tucked away at the end of an unassuming dirt track beside an authentic local village, the setting invites guests to experience a slower rhythm of Moroccan life, while keeping the Red City close enough for easy forays in and out.
The charming and intimate property is owned by renowned local restaurateur Frederic Velissariou, who founded Le Foundouk, a dining destination that is widely considered one of the best places to eat among the medina’s maze of streets. Simple, smart and unfussy, the handful of just ten laid back bohemian, safari-style suites mean Hôtel Les Cinq Djellabas never feels crowded. We stretched out and spent our handful of September sun-drenched days moving between the privacy of our thatched, round lodge tucked at one end of the peaceful garden, to the parasol-lined, green stone pool in the centre, and the intimate restaurant attached to the impressive main riad.
Breakfast each morning invites guests to sit serenely beneath the dappled morning light among the ancient olive trees as the team fills the garden tables with baskets of pastries, bowls of fruit, and eggs to order. Lazy mornings blend into relaxed lunches, either poolside or seated in or around the restaurant, where we enjoyed classic club sandwiches, kebabs, and wraps washed down with iced rosé.
Restaurateur-owned, the hotel is well worth dedicating at least one evening to dinner on site. Bread is lovingly baked in-house, while the kitchen serves a rotating selection of signature Moroccan specialities, including fragrant tagines, best enjoyed in an intimate, private setting alongside a thoughtfully curated list of Moroccan wines. Working exclusively with local producers and sourcing fresh ingredients daily, guests are asked to pre-order their meals before 5pm: an endearing detail that enhances the charm and personal feel of this small, guesthouse-style hotel.
French entrepreneur Frederic Velissariou appointed Thierry Isbnardon as his designer to bring his vision of Hôtel Les Cinq Djellabas to life. A fusion of authentic, rustic, and textured features sits alongside bright and clean bathrooms with stone finishes, open wooden beams, and the thatching above. Uniting a harmonious fusion of styles, Thierry’s design concept unites contemporary minimalism with traditional Moroccan influences, which emphasises a light, relaxed and airy finish.
Adults only, this boutique hideaway is perfect for couples who would prefer the soundtrack of birdsong over the motorbikes and sleepless sounds of Marrakech. Positioned at the crossroads of the Fès road, the Palmeraie and the Ouarzazate road, the address of Hôtel Les Cinq Djellabas’ ensures its position is well-connected in the emerging district on the northern edge of the Marrakech Palmeraie, strewn with date palms and the old olive trees.
