Indulge in Decadent Stays This Winter at Rabat, Morocco

Updated December 2024

As we edge closer to the final days of the year and the nights start to feel unmooring, it’s time to pack your bags and follow the gentle radiance of the sun to Morocco. 

This winter, see the country with brand new eyes as you saunter through a world of  Moroccan opulence in its heartland—Rabat. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention list for being a shared heritage, Rabat is a place where time, culture, and history converge. 

The rarefied world of luxury hotels in Rabat, for one, encapsulates the city’s reverence toward its cultural legacy and its flair for glamour. 

Come stay at one of these new jewels on Morocco’s hospitality crown and experience the essence of Rabat yourself.  

Four Seasons Hotel Rabat 

With their commitment “for good,” Four Seasons welcomes everyone to rediscover the good life in Rabat with a stay at their Four Seasons Hotel Rabat in Kasr Al Bahr. Recently opened in October, this venture from Four Season is a magnetic ocean retreat ensconced at the foot of the Atlantic.

Once a sumptuous royal residence in the 18th century, this complex, featuring 6 historical and 5 brand-new buildings, is a visual masterpiece that transports visitors to an Arabian fairytale. 

Staying at any of the 200 rooms and suites will make you feel like modern royalty, but for an extra touch of luxury, book the Courtyard Suite. The sumptuous suite comes with its own living room, private terrace, and 3 bedrooms that will hide you from the woes of the outer world. 

Choose the Moulay Slimane Presidential Suite, named after Kasr Al Bahr’s sultan, for a postcard ocean view while enjoying private dining on the balcony. For a true taste of royal life, stay at the Sultan’s Riad, set within the Sultan’s original residence. It comes with a private infinity pool, whirlpool, and ocean-view terrace. 

The regal treatment at Four Seasons Rabat continues when you dine at their restaurants with signature Moroccan, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean dishes. 

When your body feels weary after all the city explorations, visit Four Seasons’ Spa and Wellness Centre to be refreshed and rejuvenated. 

Kasbah des Oudaias/Kasbah de los Udayas

Explore Kasbah des Oudaias, or Kasbah de los Udayas, a short ride from the Four Seasons Hotel Rabat. A North African castle dating back to the 12th century, this haven for artists worldwide is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. 

With its Almohade portal, the Kasbah offers a glimpse into Rabat’s ancient districts with souvenir shops, riyads, mosques, a museum, and the Andalusian-style garden, a work of art in and of itself. 

Let the Moorish Café lure you down the winding road with its ocean view and gentle breeze—try one hot cup of mint tea with sweet almond treats. 

La rue des Consuls de Rabat/The Consuls Street

La rue des Consuls de Rabat, or the Consuls Street, is a hop and skip away from Four Seasons Hotel Rabat. It holds the distinction as one of the most famous and oldest streets in Rabat where foreign dignitaries once called it home. 

Stroll down the sidewalks and admire the kaleidoscope of colors from wares sold by street vendors and shops. These days the area is famous for local leather goods, jewelries, and carpets, but you can also find a selection of scrumptious street snacks and drinks.

La nécropole Chellah de Rabat/The Chellah

Constructed in the 14th century by the Merinid dynasty upon Roman ruins, the Chellah site is “the most ancient human agglomeration ever set on the estuary of the Bouregreg River”—according to archeologists and historians. 

Spend an entire languorous afternoon at The Chellah and step into an enthralling time when the ancient Romans of Sala Colonia were still around. Drink in the sweetness of the various flowers and trees as you follow the trail to find a delightful gift down the path: a pool that houses several fish, eels, and turtles. Follow the tradition and make a wish with a coin before leaving. 

Hassan Tower

Give the unwritten story of Hassan Tower a new life with a visit to the mosque. 

Home to what is considered the world’s largest unfinished minaret and a World Heritage site, this tower is just a stone’s throw from the Four Seasons Hotel Rabat. 

The Ritz-Carlton Rabat, Dar Es Salam

Escape the winter blues with a stay in the Ritz-Carlton Rabat, Dar Es Salam, newly opened to the public in September. 

Just a step inside the “palatial oasis of contemporary majesty” will make you feel like you are inside a glossy magazine, except you get to experience the luxurious amenities with all your senses this winter! 

Whichever one of the 100 rooms and 17 suites with private terraces you choose to stay in, you’re in for a visual and temporal treat. Each room is designed with a mix of modern art-deco and traditional Moroccan décors.  

Go on a culinary journey to myriad global hot spots, with the restaurants at Ritz-Carlton Rabat presenting a blend of traditional Moroccan cuisines, Asian dishes, and Mediterranean gourmet delicacies. 

Unwind at the Ritz-Carlton Spa by taking a dip in the Romanesque-style indoor pool—illuminated by floor-to-ceiling windows and surrounded by lush tropical gardens.

Royal Golf Dar Es Salam

Whether you prefer scoring one yourself or just relishing the view of others in action, a visit to the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam will be an interesting excursion. 

Located at a 2-km distance from the hotel, this golf course is perfect for wandering around the oak-filled forest and admiring the bloom of flowers as the ever-flowing gentle breeze and sunshine caresses you.  

Royal Polo Equestrian Club Dar Es Salaam

With vast stables and a large number of quarries and circuits, the Royal Polo Equestrian Club is a must if you enjoy horseback riding or racing. 

Situated near the Ritz-Carton Rabat, the Fédération Royale Marocaine des Sports Equestres hosts several sporting events each year. If you are in luck, you may just get to witness an epic race during your visit. 

Bouregreg River coast 

Calling all watersports enthusiasts: the Bouregreg River coast and a sprawling 37 miles of Atlantic coastline await your presence. 

An hour-or-so car ride from the Ritz-Carlton Rabat, this coast offers a plethora of activities, including sailing, windsurfing, jet-skiing, waterskiing, surfing, body-boarding, paddleboarding, and canoeing. 

Conrad Rabat Arzana

The gleaming lobby of Conrad Rabat Arzana has welcomed guests since the hotel’s opening in 2022.

Entrenched on the Atlantic Coast and surrounded by verdant greens, Conrad Rabat Arzana houses 120 rooms and suites with ocean views. 

Even if you do not get to score an oceanview suite, fret not, as the expansive coastline feels like your private backyard. 

In between frequent trips to the beach and lagoon, sample the culinary joys of the world with signature Moroccan, French, Asian, Middle Eastern and other international dishes at their restaurants. 

Take a break from all the sun and ocean for a moment of tranquility by visiting the Conrad Rabat Arzana Spa & Beauty salon; each service is exclusively tailored for utmost relaxation. 

Fairmont La Marina Rabat-Salé

Cradled at the shores of the Bouregreg River, where it meets the Atlantic Ocean, Fairmont La Marina Rabat-Salé presents the ideal sojourn this winter. The hotel has been serving quiet luxury since late 2022 and has since been the go-to stay for VIPs and tastemakers. 

Fairmont La Marina houses 274 rooms, suites and long-stay residences, seamlessly assimilating the old Moroccan charm with modern amenities. 

No matter which room you choose, you can experience the serenity of the property’s landscaped water gardens and feast on lip-smacking Moroccan dishes while gazing at the distant Rabat skyline. 

Waldorf Astoria Rabat Salé (2025)

How does staying at the third-largest tower in Africa sound to you? In 2025, fulfill that thrilling fantasy by staying at Morocco’s tallest building—the Mohammed VI Tower. 

The rocket-shaped tower will house 55 rooms, including 44 suites of Waldorf Astoria Rabat Salé across 18 floors with the most spectacular view of Rabat skyline and the Atlantic Ocean. 

With the promise of signature Waldorf Astoria amenities, two specialty restaurants, a spa, and outdoor and infinity pools, we can’t wait to see the final result. 

Waldorf Astoria Rabat Salé at Mohammed VI Tower will be located nearby the following Rabat’s must-visits: 

Grand Théatre de Rabat

Rabat continues to solidify its reputation as a cultural hub with the Grand Théâtre de Rabat. This architectural marvel, inaugurated in Autumn 2024, is a testament to the city’s modernity and artistic spirit. Designed by the visionary Zaha Hadid, the first female laureate of the Pritzker Prize, the theater is a harmonious blend of innovation and tradition. Located opposite the iconic Hassan Tower, it creates a breathtaking dialogue between the past and present, offering visitors an unforgettable experience at the heart of Rabat’s cultural landscape.

Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MoMAA) is Morocco’s first major art museum. It builds a bridge between the old and the new, the East and the West.

Moreover, it presents the cultural richness of Morocco and Africa to the rest of the world while simultaneously bringing diverse international art to the region. 

Take in all the colors, patterns, textures, and other elements of art while comfortably strolling through Morocco’s biggest museum and capturing portraits for your memory lane.  

Le Jardin Botanique de Rabat/The Botanical Garden of Rabat 

Not so far from where the latest offering from the future Waldorf Astoria Rabat Salé will be, Le Jardin Botanique de Rabat—the Botanical Garden of Rabat—has been a muse to infinite artists and architects. 

The garden is home to a bountiful of flora and fauna. It presents not only a tableau of the rich Moroccan biodiversity for visitors but it also serves as a research center for botanists and environmental scientists. 

Featured image © The Ritz Carlton