Fairmont la Marina Rabat Salé

Fairmont La Marina Rabat Salé is part of a luxe marina complex on the banks of the Bouregreg River, slightly removed from Rabat’s old medina. It’s no riad hotel but a sizable modern retreat, equipped with a rooftop swimming pool, two fitness centers, and several high-end restaurants. The sleek, spacious interiors are what one would expect from a Fairmont hotel, but there’s a distinct Moorish aesthetic in the mix: the elegant ground-level spaces, though mostly monochromatic in color, are enlivened with artisan-made glass lanterns, geometric tiled flooring, decorative ironwork, and keyhole archways.

Guest rooms and suites are more contemporary, light-filled and decorated in crisp black and white. Patterned rugs and wall panels, gold-framed mirrors, and abstract artwork depicting Moroccan landscapes add visual interest. Many have balconies with water views, and suites feature furnished outdoor terraces. All have luxurious bathrooms with products by La Bottega.

The hotel is home to one of the best spas in the city — another perk of staying in a newly built hotel — as well as a Moroccan restaurant and a French brasserie. The atrium-like lobby bar, with its white marble and lush greenery, is a treat, but the real highlight is the rooftop, which offers panoramic sunset views and stays open late into the night.