Press Releases and Press Mentions

Our hotel has appeared in many fine publications. For recent samples, please scroll down:

The Sunday Telegraph: "Dar Les Cigognes is inspirational. Named after the cigognes, or storks, that sit on the ramparts of the Royal Palace opposite, this former merchant's home has been beautifully restored by a dedicated team of local craftsmen using traditional techniques. Each of the 11 guestrooms exemplifies a different decorative style, from the richly coloured Sahara room with a desert landscape painted on blue walls, to the ethereal Silver room with silver-coloured walls, pale tiled floor and draped baldaquin bed. The public rooms are equally stunning-anyone interested in Moroccan design will find it difficult to drag themselves away."

Condé Nast Traveller: Comfort Zone. "Dar Les Cigognes, in Marrakech's medina, has completed a six-month refurbishment and opened a second riad. The new addition, in a 17th-century merchant's building, is linked to the orginal hotel via a bridge which houses a boutique (look out for the handmade kaftans). As well as a new hammam and spa, there are six extra rooms, bringing the total to 11; all are decorated with items accumulated on the owners' travels around Morocco, including Safi pottery, Berber mirrors, and Middle Atlas carpets. The restaurant serves local specialities such as slow-cooked lamb tanzhiyya; and a rooftop café offers views of the snowcapped Atlas peaks…"

Maisons du Maroc: "Dar Les Cigognes is without doubt an environment conducive to contemplation, breathing serenity...this is a chic riad, without ostentation, where luxury is a sensation felt in the everyday."

Business Traveller: "Unusually stunning."

The Mail on Sunday: "In Marrakesh the riads are cool, tranquil retreats from the chaotic city. Dar Les Cigognes was described as 'inspirational' and is named after the storks that build their scruffy, sprawling nests on the ramparts of the Royal Palace opposite. The entrance to the riad was a simple door in a duty wall. But once inside, the architecture and interior design are stunning. The central courtyard is a deep well of light and air. The sound of the fountain, the smell of the citrus trees and the cool mosaic floor made it the perfect place for our evening meal, lit by lanterns and the starts. Morocco, someone said, is a world of interiors. Marrakesh has some of the most beautiful in the world."

House and Garden: "A charming riad that is a convenient and quiet oasis from which to explore the city…the roof terrace has magnificent views of the Atlas mountains."

Living Etc: "Spending lazy days in a tranquil riad is as cosy as curling up in front of a roaring log fire on a wet winter's day…with fires for chilly desert nights, as well as shady courtyards filled with palms and orange trees around fountains to escape the summer heat…Dar Les Cigognes has a roof terrace with views of the pink and crumbling walls of the neighboring palaces."

Architecture Plus: "Master craftsmanship steered by the incomparable Charles Boccara…a true Oasis of Calm in Marrakech."

Couleurs Marrakech: "There is an equilibrium of sophistication and simplicity born from the tight collaboration between the owners and architect Charles Boccara. With the palette of an Impressionist painter, the result is a subtle marriage of individual rooms giving onto coutrtyards of majestic proportions."

B International: Top 10 picks of where to Spend Christmas. Hedonistic Havens. Devoted to Pleasure, this destination will appeal to all your senses…"Anything that was good enough for the sultans is good enough for us. With unhindered views of the Atlas Mountains, the centuries-old Dar Les Cigognes was converted from two Riads into 11 super-deluxe rooms and one suite. The chic boutique hotel boasts a quaint Moorish charm and is only right in the heart of Marrakech's rich spicy cultural heritage. The hotel faces the gates of the Royal Palace in the old medina, with other sites only minutes away. The fact that there are only eleven luxurious rooms (the baths are simply to die for!) ensures that not only will you have the attentions of all the staff, but the exclusive clientele make this the perfect haven after a busy day in the souks or even a night on the tiles."

Evening Standard: "Dar Les Cigognes is tucked away behind an unassuming doorway. The entrance, opposite the Badi Palace, belies the serene, stylish interior with its cooling fountain and citrus trees. This 1th century former merchant's house was extensively refurbished and restored by architect Charles Boccara (Marrakech Opera House) whose signature style is a modern take on traditional Moorish design. The sexy, deep-red Harem Room's large four poster bed is draped in gold muslin and red velvet while the Art Deco Casablanca Room is pale cream with period armchairs and black and white photographs of thirties Casablanca. The intricate attention to detail is stunning. We ate a variety of dishes washed down by delicious Moroccan wines. The menu changes according to what's available in the market and what is in season. Later, climbing onto the roof for views across to the Royal Palace opposite and the towering Koutoubia Mosque, you can also spot the cigognes (storks) that inspired the name of the riad and make out their scruffy nests on top of the city's ramparts."

Mediterranean Life: Best boutique hotels around the Mediterranean. "Converted from a traditional Moroccan house, Dar Les Cigognes is built around two central courtyards, complete with fragrant citrus and palm trees, gently bubbling fountains, and soothing colours. All eleven bedrooms are unique. Romantic and exotic, they feature deep traditional baths, cool stone floors, and atmospheric lighting. After a busy day in the souks, watch the sun set from the hotel's roof terrace with its stunning views across Marrakech's minarets."

Architecture du Maroc: "The renaissance of this demeure was the fruit of a tight collaboration between the owners and architect Charles Boccara. This alchemy between a hedonistic artist and owners of certain taste and florid imagination, reminds us that this architecture is the mother of all others. That is why magic operates. This, you feel, the moment you cross the threshold, and the gentle atmosphere envelops you."

Daily Express: "Beautiful boutique hotel smack in the middle of the medina."

Western Daily Press: "Escape on a magic carpet to Marrakech and escape to Marrakech's finest new hotel."

The Times: "Dar Les Cigognes is a 17th-century merchant's townhouse that has been converted into a bijou 11-room hotel in Marrakesh-trés chic."