Sofitel Rabat Jardin Des Roses

If you went by what the travel press says you’d think Marrakech and Morocco were different names for the same place. But there are other cities in Morocco — one of them, Rabat, even happens to be the capital. It’s less a pure holiday spot than Marrakech or Essaouira, of course, but its seaside location is charming enough, and like any capital, it’s got a need for some decent hotels: quite a bit more than decent, in fact, judging by the Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses.

Sofitel can typically be counted on to raise the stakes wherever they go; their Parisian-influenced style is sexier than the typical luxury hotel, and they’ll match up to many a boutique in the looks department. This one is suitably North African–influenced as well, with mashrabiya-style wooden screens and ornately carved headboards. Underneath it all, however, it’s an utterly contemporary luxury hotel, with all the bells and whistles that entails.

Plus a few extras. A pool is probably to be expected, but an Andalusian garden, an orange grove, and a driving range are a bit above and beyond. As for the location, it’s anything but standard business-district fare — here you’re in the heart of the historic city, near both the Royal Palace and the Mausoleum.