El Fenn
EST. 2004
2 Rue el Ksour, Marrakesh, Marrakesh-Tensift-El Haouz, Morocco

El Fenn
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El-FABULOUS.
Revel in this rehabbed riad, courtesy of 28-individually appointed rooms and suites and named 2014's Best Dressed Hotel by Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The magic of Morocco resonates deeply and is makes marry-making both majestic and completely made-to-measure. Soiree in sun-dappled orange and lemon tree courtyards or throw a beautiful bash around the pool-turned-Berber salon.
The Lowdown
Type
Boutique Hotel
Views
Historical MonumentSkylinePool
Style
Bohemian
Eclectic
Glamorous
Moroccan
Romantic
Days Venue is closed
n/a
Best type of Celebrations
Birthday Party
Corporate Event
Product Launch
Family Reunion
Group Getaway
Holiday Party
Retreats: Corporate, Spa, Wellness, Etc.
Wedding Ceremony
Wedding Reception

Venue Setting

With 28 individually styled rooms and suites, tree-filled courtyards, a 7000ft2 roof terrace and a family of resident tortoises, El Fenn is the perfect retreat from which to enjoy Africa's most exotic city. Combining grandeur and historic architecture with hideaway nooks, terraces and gardens, the hotel is just five minutes walk from the world-famous Djemaa el Fna square and bustling maze of streets that make up the souk. In 2002 Vanessa Branson and Howell James were looking for a holiday home and walked into the almost ruined courtyard of one of Marrakech's formerly great private homes. Nearing dusk and with the sound of the muezzin's call to prayer echoing in the air, they instantly fell in love with the atmospheric house. They soon realised that their holiday home was going to become so much more. At the time, only a handful of Marrakech's riads had been converted to small hotels and Vanessa and Howell knew they wanted to create a home from home retreat that combined great food and service with the spirit of the building's past and a contemporary decorative twist. After a two-year renovation, El Fenn opened with six bedrooms in March 2004. Since then twenty-two more rooms and suites, three swimming pools, a restaurant, bar, spa and library have been added thanks to the purchase of neighbouring riads and the expertise of renowned Moroccan architect Amine Kabbaj. Despite all this evolution though, the spirit of El Fenn remains: it's a place to kick back and enjoy the tranquility of an abundance of hidden spaces before stepping outside to soak up the atmosphere of a city that’s seduced everyone from Yves Saint Laurent to Winston Churchill.

Capacity

Seated
110
Buffet
130
Standing
150
Fees
(Prices listed here are estimates only & are subject to change)
Price range

Does this include catering fees?

No

Estimated price per head

from $55 to $170

Additional charges

We require exclusive hire of the whole property for large events such as weddings and parties. We can host smaller events such as dinners or cocktails for up to 40 people on request. Additional charges include a 5% service charge that is applied to final bills and all catering.

Insurance

Additional Insurance Is Not Required To Host An Event Here

Connect
Call Venue
Event Logistics and Amenities
(Essential event logistics and amenities to ensure a seamless and memorable experience for you gathering)
Celebrations hosted here since
2004
Curfew
2 AM
Venue spaces
Indoor & Outdoor Venue Spaces Available
Catering
Client Must Use The Catering Provided By The Venue
Alcohol
Provided By Venue For Fee – You Must Use The Venue For All Alcohol Services
Music
Indoors & Outdoors
Smoking
Smoking Permitted
Accommodations
24 rooms and suites in the main building + a 4-bedroom private house a minute's walk away.
Amenities
  • A/V Equipment
  • Wifi
  • Dining Chairs
  • Dining Tables
  • Onsite Restrooms
Inside Scoop

There are no locks on our doors because we're a family at El Fenn (but if you want one then of course we can provide it). We have two private pool suites - one chosen among the 'world's sexiest bedrooms' and the other described as a 'rock star retreat' - and don't forget to order an El Fenn mojito on the rooftop terrace as the sun goes down over the Marrakech skyline. Oh. And a Hollywood star dropped in for lunch today. We can't tell you who though....

Venue Features
The scene:
Walk through a stone archway into Marrakech's atmospheric walled medina, turn down a small street and go through a huge front door .... Behind which you'll find courtyards full of birds and bougainvillea, the best roof top in town and an award winning decor that has been featured everywhere from Vogue to Harper's Bazaar.
Design:
Made up of interconnecting historic riads - or Moroccan townhouses - it took two years to restore the buildings in preparation for El Fenn's opening in 2004. Local craftsman used traditional techniques to breathe new life into the building. Polished lime plastering was used in a rainbow of colours to create walls, baths and bed frames, original tiling was renovated and carved cedar ceilings restored. Retro furniture sourced from local flea markets was combined with one-off bespoke pieces to create a unique interior. Fast forward eight years and in prepration for El Fenn’s tenth anniversary, general manager Willem Smit started a two-year refurbishment programme in 2012, redesigning and redecorating rooms and public spaces. The hard work paid off and in December 2014 El Fenn was voted number one out of 950 hotels to win the prestigious Mr & Mrs Smith award for Best Dressed Hotel.
Standout venue features:
We're not really about private butlers or staff being hidden from guests' view. El Fenn is a unique property that mixes style and glamour with very laidback chic. We don't stand on ceremony but we will make sure you're so well looked after that most of our guests call us a home from home.
Extra perks:
Breakfast - usually charged at €15 per head - is included in exclusive hire rental.
Awards & Notables
Awards, recognitions, or noteworthy achievements associated with the venue.
Best Dressed Hotel - Mr & Mrs Smith awards 2014 We haven't been in movies. But we've had alot of movie stars to stay.
Food Restaurants, Cafes, Bars, Lounges
This section provides insights into our diverse culinary and social offerings.
There are both traditional Moroccan dishes and European ones on our menus. Lunch is lighter and served from midday until 3pm, then afternoon tea at 4pm and dinner from 7pm. Our function menus for events also encompass European dishes and traditional Moroccan food such as salads and tagines.
The cocktail bar is perfect for a pre-dinner drink before dinner in our restaurant or you can curl up underneath one of the Berber tents as you watch the sun go down with a cocktail on our roof top terrace.
Celebration Locations
This section outlines the various spaces available within the venue for different types of events.
Orange and lemon courtyard
Surrounded by beautifully carved wood and plasterwork, this courtyard centres on a fountain and is the perfect space for a wedding ceremony.
Max capacity: 100
Price range: Included in exclusive hire charge.
Cocktail bar & restaurant
With open fires, sofas to lounge on and a bar with a mirrored ceiling, this is the perfect space to transform into a space to eat, dance and celebrate.
Max capacity: 120
Price range: Included in exclusive hire charge.
Roof terrace
Two interconnecting terraces - one with a grass lawn overlooking the famous Koutoubia Mosque; the other filled with Berber tents and sofas
Max capacity: 130
Price range: Included in exclusive hire charge
Venue matched with reports
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TVR Exclusives
Why This Boutique Hotel in Marrakech Keeps Popping Up All Over Social Media
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Travel
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Morocco can fill a camera roll without even meaning to. It’s an old country and plenty of it's finest architects, interior decorators, and hoteliers have seen what can be done with history. Modern furniture, manicured gardens, and magnificent views breathe new life into such ancient charm. Whether an oasis in the desert or a palatial hotel in the city, these are the best places to go to take the best pictures of your life. By: Jake Kilroy Venue: Camp Adounia
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Seriously guys, considering the shade of one simple dress #broketheinternet - both headlining news stories and causing mostly sane adults to question reality and their eyesight, we’d say color sure is a big deal in 2015.  Once thought to be relegated to tropical sunny weather, we’re seeing these perfect pops of color crop up from the cool coast of California to chic chalets in France. As we prefer our world view through rose-colored glasses anyway, we’ve rounded up 31 candy-colored, sweet spun-sugar shades of gathering spots from all over the globe to spice up your Insta feed and wet your design whistle. Sunny, cheerful and sweeter than summertime popsicles or a box of pastel macaroons, we defy you to get through this round-up without a smile on your face and inspiration in your heart. 
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It’s probably safe to say that everyone has an idea of what typical Moroccan style is: lots of cool textiles, intricate carvings and stonework, rich colors, etc.  El Fenn is a quaint 28-room boutique hotel in the heart of Marrakech that meets all your classic Moroccan décor expectations and exceeds them with impressive attention to detail, gorgeous views of the city, and an eclectic art collection curated by Vanessa Branson.   Katie of Ever After Honeymoons recently planned a trip for a lucky crew composed of, photographer Leila Brewster, videographer Julie Hill & planner Carolyn Chen who explored the venue and filled us in with the scoop.  
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