Royal Mansour and La Mamounia: Highlights from the 2026 Hotel Rankings in Marrakech
In a remarkable showcase of luxury hospitality, two prestigious hotels in Marrakech have made headlines in recent rankings released in the fall of 2026. The Royal Mansour has earned the prestigious title of the best hotel in Africa, ranking 26th in the world according to The World’s 50 Best Hotels, while La Mamounia leads the Moroccan standings in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.
The World’s 50 Best Hotels ranking, unveiled in Paris on September 15, places the Royal Mansour at the forefront of African hospitality. This luxurious establishment is celebrated not only for its stunning architecture, which mimics the intricate designs of Marrakech's medina, but also for its exceptional service and atmosphere. It features 53 private riads set within five hectares of beautifully landscaped gardens, each with its own open-air patio and rooftop plunge pool. The craftsmanship exhibited throughout the riads is a testament to Morocco’s rich artisanal heritage. Notably, the hotel incorporates a unique design element—a network of hidden tunnels that allows staff to move discreetly, ensuring guests experience uninterrupted tranquility. The culinary offerings at Royal Mansour are equally extraordinary, featuring renowned restaurants such as Sesamo, led by chef Massimiliano Alajmo, and La Grande Table Marocaine, overseen by celebrated chef Hélène Darroze.
In contrast, La Mamounia has claimed the top spot in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards for Morocco, achieving an impressive score of 99.65 out of 100. Just slightly behind is the Mandarin Oriental Marrakech, which scored 99.58. This award underscores La Mamounia's longstanding reputation as a premier destination in Marrakech, boasting over a century of hospitality excellence with its 206 luxurious rooms and expansive gardens. The hotel has maintained its three Michelin Keys for the highest standard of service and accommodations, a distinction that only La Mamounia and Kasbah Tamadot have achieved in Morocco. This high level of recognition reinforces La Mamounia’s status as a symbol of Moroccan luxury and hospitality.
It is noteworthy that Marrakech dominates the Condé Nast rankings, with six hotels making it into the top ten. Following La Mamounia and Mandarin Oriental are the Royal Mansour (4th), Selman (5th), Es Saadi (7th), and The Oberoi (10th). Meanwhile, the Royal Mansour’s global ranking of 26th from The World’s 50 Best Hotels places it in the fourth position among Moroccan hotels in the Condé Nast rankings, highlighting its exceptional standing in both local and international contexts.
Both rankings emphasize the distinct methodologies used to evaluate hotels: The World’s 50 Best is based on votes from a panel of over 800 industry experts, while the Condé Nast awards rely on reader votes. In addition, the Michelin Guide employs anonymous inspections to assess hotel quality. This diversity in evaluation criteria results in rankings that, while reflective of excellence, are not directly comparable.
These accolades come at a time when the high-end hotel landscape in Marrakech is expanding, with several new luxury projects on the horizon. For a deeper insight into the evolving luxury hotel market in Marrakech, readers can refer to our analysis on the new luxury hotel developments in the city.
As reported by latribunedemarrakech.com.
