London, October 2019: Cenizaro Hotels & Resorts has revealed details of its first property in Marrakech, La Maison Arabe. This new addition to the group marks further expansion into North Africa for Cenizaro Hotels & Resorts group, with the opening of The Residence Douz, their second property in Tunisia slated for late 2020.

La Maison Arabe was originally established in the 1940s by Hélène Sébillon-Larochette, and her daughter, Suzy. It was the first restaurant in the Medina of Marrakech accessible to foreigners. In 1946, the pasha Thami el Glaoui, granted the owners the right to open and provided Rhadija, a staff member from the nearby palace, to teach them the intricacies of Moroccan cuisine.

Famous visitors to La Maison Arabe include Winston Churchill, who visited Marrakech in the later years and dined regularly at the restaurant, alongside Queen Ingrid of Denmark, Charles de Gaulle and legendary food critic for the New York Times, Craig Claiborne, who were all huge patrons of the restaurant.

Having opened as the first boutique riad-hotel in Marrakech and Morocco in 1998, La Maison Arabe remains an intimate hotel with 32 rooms and suites, where every room is unique in its layout and decoration, most with a fireplace, private balcony or terrace. Located in the heart of the city in the authentic Bab Doukkala neighbourhood, it is only a short walk from the famous Jemaa el Fna square, a UNESCO heritage site, and Gueliz, the business and shopping centre of Marrakech.

Guests have a choice of two restaurants including Le Restaurant serving Moroccan cuisine underneath a stunning handpainted zouaké ceiling with live arabo-andalusian music, and Les Trois Saveurs, showcasing the best of French, Moroccan and Asian dining, where diners can eat on the terrace under the stars next to the swimming pool and hotel gardens. The hotel’s organic vegetable garden provides many of the herbs and produce used in the hotel’s kitchens and in their cooking workshops for guests.

After a busy day in the market, relax at La Maison Arabe’s spa with the choice of two large hammams and five massage rooms or take a dip in a choice of two swimming pools; either within the hotel in the centre of the Riad (which is even heated during the winter months) or in the luxurious gardens at the hotel’s Country Club annex, just 15 minutes away by car. Alternatively, enjoy a daily cocktail du jour, chosen by the head barman, at the hotel’s 1930s inspired bar with live soft jazz most evenings.

In keeping with La Maison Arabe’s long culinary history and reputation as one of the finest dining experiences in Marrakech, guests can take part in the intricacies of Moroccan gastronomy at La Maison Arabe’s cookery school. These workshops, open to residents and day guests, are run by a dada who has worked at the hotel for over 10 years and a local university professor who translates and has a wealth of knowledge about the city and Moroccan culture.

La Maison Arabe will be the ninth hotel in Cenizaro Hotels & Resorts’ portfolio. For more information, please visit www.cenizaro.com

Press Information
The M Collective | +44 (0)77 1104 4063 
Lucinda Buxton | Alexandra Hirst | Charlotte Fox
theresidence@the-mcollective.com

 

Cenizaro Hotels & Resorts
A leading international hospitality company with a multi-branded portfolio of independent luxury hotel properties in some of the world’s most desirable locations. Whilst each establishment reflects a distinct individual personality and sense of place, every hotel in the family embodies the legendary hallmark of excellence the world has come to know; attention to detail, and intuitive, personal and discreet customer service. One of Singapore’s and Australia’s leading hotels, Sheraton Towers Singapore and Four Points by Sheraton Perth, forms part of Cenizaro’s portfolio of hotels. Offering management and professional services for luxury hotels and resorts, spa and residential developments, Cenizaro is inspired by a total dedication to enriching experiences, and a commitment to excellence that is evident across every element of its business. The Residence by Cenizaro hotel portfolio are part of the Ultratravel Collection; the most luxurious hotels in the Global Hotel Alliance’s DISCOVERY loyalty programme.

Notes to Editor:
The Residence by Cenizaro: The Residence Tunis, opened in 1996 with 161 rooms and 9-suites. The Residence Mauritius followed in 1998 with 135 rooms and 28 suites and in 2011, The Residence Zanzibar, a 66-villa property opened. The Residence Maldives at Falhumaafushi was unveiled in 2012 with 94-villas. In February 2018, The Residence Bintan opened with 127 villas and The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah opened in June 2019 with 173 water and beach villas. The Residence Douz in Tunisia is set to open in late 2020. The opening of The Residence Douz will take The Residence by Cenizaro’s hotel portfolio to seven - Mauritius, Tunis, Douz, Zanzibar, Bintan, Falhumaafuhsi in the Maldives and Dhigurah in the Maldives. Further expansion is planned over the next two years with two more hotels in Tunisia – The Medina of Tunis and Djerba Island.